what should i do

[kornel351]

Hey guys my name is kornel.I am from the island of saint Lucia where the Amazona versicolor parrot is the national bird.I grew up on a farm taking care of over 8,000 boiler chickens and Layers.I Have 4 Rottweilers.I moved to the united States to where I kept freshwater fish,saltwater fish and reptiles( beardies and Leo's) I also have multiple budgies, a green cheek conure and a cockatiel. In 6 days I will turn 18 which would make me able to find a job.I am a twin me and my brother have always wanted to keep macaws and cockatoo's.I am also joining the military but while I am gone my mother will be taking care of them and spending time with them as she is home .I say them because I plan to get 2 so that when we aren't playing with one it would have a next one to play with.I am writing this to here others output on this situation as I have never had experience with any macaw or cockatoo speices.I am looking into the hyaincth macaws as well as the blue and gold for the cockatoo's I really want the palm cockatoo or the umbrella cockatoo. Ask for space I live in a apartment if I were to get them by summer time I would put them in the living room.I am a very responsible owner I always take my conure and cockatiel as well as my bearded dragon on walks as I want my animals to see what nature feels like. I am also looking into the best pellets available for them any suggestions? I want nothing but the best for them .

 

[GaleriaGila]

Wow!
You're really moving fast!
I'm not sure where to start... well, okay, how about with pellets?

Harrison's Bird Foods
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. 30-ish years ago, Harrison's was still a small company. My vet was actually able to talk to Dr. Harrison about my bird's species and status, and they decided on the High Potency. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff. My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day.

 

[kornel351]

Wow!
You're really moving fast!
I'm not sure where to start... well, okay, how about with pellets?

Harrison's Bird Foods
I feed Harrison's, supplemented by fresh healthy treats. My first, and later, my current avian vet recommended it. 30-ish years ago, Harrison's was still a small company. My vet was actually able to talk to Dr. Harrison about my bird's species and status, and they decided on the High Potency. My bird loves the pellets now, but to get him converted, my avian vet suggested putting pellets out all day, and putting seeds (his old diet) out for two 15-minute periods a day. That would sustain him but leave him hungry enough to try new stuff. I presume the same technique could be used to get him to eat other healthy stuff. My guy was eating pellets in a couple of days, and now I can feed a good variety of other stuff, knowing he has the pellets as a basic. Pellets are out all day... fresh treats a few times a day.

I used to feed my conure those pellets using the same method that the vet gave u to decrease the amount of seeds and increase the amount of pellets everyday but I stopped because the problem I had was that he didn't like them nearly as much as the seed mix that was fed to him by the pet store but I supplement him with vitamins and fruits .Yes I'm a very fast mover this actually has been in our minds for years as we are huge animal lovers.I don't only want it cuz it can talk I want them because they are big , beautiful and intelligent .I have kept birds my whole life including chickens ,black birds and doves which I also forgot to mention but nothing close to a macaw or cockatoo.I did plenty of research as well because I want to make sure the animals have a comfortable living .

 

[SailBoat]

Getting any additions to your current gathering until you have completed your service time is just not kind on your Parents, nor the Parrot(s). Parrots develop longterm relationships and you are planning on a three year trip or longer prior to the time needed to develop the relationship. Why would the Parrot trust you later when you just show-up three or more years into the future.

Provide your service to this Country, serve well and with honor! When you finely come home that its time to consider a Parrot. NOTE: None of the Parrots that you listed would be recommended for living in an Apartment - unless you like moving often.

 

[kornel351]

Getting any additions to your current gathering until you have completed your service time is just not kind on your Parents, nor the Parrot(s). Parrots develop longterm relationships and you are planning on a three year trip or longer prior to the time needed to develop the relationship. Why would the Parrot trust you later when you just show-up three or more years into the future.

Provide your service to this Country, serve well and with honor! When you finely come home that its time to consider a Parrot. NOTE: None of the Parrots that you listed would be recommended for living in an Apartment - unless you like moving often.

I understand what are saying but it's gonna be more of a family pet than my own .Ask for the living in an Apartment I also see where that could be a problem too but it's not really a small apartment but ik they make a lot of noise so that might be something I have to figure out myself.Hmmmm...I think I need more time to think bout this that I thought because I really want one and so does my family but then again I really want it to be as happy as possible.

 

[chris-md]

What you. Red to understand about parrots is they often bond with just one person, and can run the gamut from nice to others to downright aggressive to anyone who isn't their chosen. If you're being deployed you most assuredly won't be that person and in fact could be subject to aggression.

And I hope you've done your research on these birds you propose, and money isn't a factor. For a BPC and a hyacinth, you would be out $40,000-$50,000 just for the birds alone, nevermind the, what, $10k needed to house them. Wouldn't you rather have both a macaw (say, a blue and gold) and a nice Lexus or Benz?

Also, I'm surprised no one has said this, NONE of the birds you propose are appropriate for an apartment. The cockatoo alone needs a cage approximately 10ft x 10ft. An apartment doesn't accommodate that. I can't emphasize enough BAD IDEA.

Not to mention the noise these birds make.

 

[kornel351]

I am considering a blue and gold macaw as well because I know the hyaincth macaws are endangered in the wild and they are very hard to find as for the living in the apartment yes Ik a apartment is not the best choice . We are however going to be moving out of it some time around the summer .But I really have to think bout this because I know it's not the best time to get one but then again I always wanted one and don't know how long I could hold myself before getting one .

 

[chris-md]

You do realize many of the macaws, and many parrots in aviculture in general, are endangered/threatened/at risk, right?

 

[kornel351]

You do realize many of the macaws, and many parrots in aviculture in general, are endangered/threatened/at risk, right?

I am well aware of that I mean I have been pondering on getting one for a long time so I know because of habitat loss a lot of macaw speices are endangered .

 

[sonja]

I agree with everyone else - wait!! Until you are out of the military, until you have a single family home.
In the meantime, to get your parrot fix, volunteer at a rescue!!!!!! You will get tons of experience with different types of birds. You will learn way more about their care and what you like and don't like about different species than you would ever learn from reading. And you won't put any parrots at risk of losing their person, or home, when you go to the military, the neighbors complain about the noise, etc.
Volunteering will be the best thing you can do to set yourself up for successful parrot ownership in the future.

 

[itzjbean]

All great advice has been given. I will say, you know that a couple of the species you are interested in are $10,000 + dollars, right? The Hyacinth usually goes for around that range and the Palm Cockatoo is even more, I've seen them around $12-15,000. I will say that macaws and cockatoos do NOT make good apartment dwellers. Good luck!

 

[KimMichele]

I should think you could try a refuge. Hyacinths are hard to take care of, simply because they are so large.