Some time in the future I would be intrested in getting a larger pet bird. So I have been thinking about it

 

I have always wanted an Timneh African Grey but would be happy with a Congo African Grey to tell you the truth never heared anything about them over here so always thought they where an american bird however I have come to find out that you can get them in Australia. My worry is that the bird would get bored and they do live for 70 years so what would happen to him after I am no longer around or no longer able to take care of him? This goes for most on the list but what happens to the guy if something happens to me?

 

An Eclectus is another one that I would like to get. My local pet store had a female in and she really was a nice bird she had been hand tamed after someone brought her to Ivan (a bird breeder and the owner of the store) and he hand raised her. She was never really for sale and finally went home with one of the shop staff. I do like the them but have heard horror stories about the females being really agressive. Either way I think I like the color of the males anyway.

 

Now a Macaw would be the crown in my crop, I LOVE these birds and Ivan has one who i have meet and he really is a nice bird, however I just get a little worried about them they are a little big for me. If I had one that was really tame I might consider taking him on but i am just not sure if I am really for this....

 

I love black winged Lory's and the Dusky Lory for colours but again I have heard how they can be so naughty etc... but that might go for all birds. Most of the Lory's you see are the rainbow ones so many you can't have a black wing or a Dusky one as a pet anyone know?

 

I think the Blue-fronted Amazon is cute but know nothing about them or know anyone who has had one.

 

Someone said I should get a Conures but I have no clue what they are either so am going to have to look them up.

 

I don't like Cockatiel don't ask me why but they just get on my nerves....

 

I know that now is not the time to get one. I have been offered larger birds and have managed to say no (yeah I know I shocked myself there as well!)

 

I need to make sure I have enough time once I get breeding up and running for the budgies. I also need to think about how I am going to house the new addition to my family. Not to mention that my sister does not like birds (she is now scared of buddy again!) and my other half is a cat person

 

So ideas and thoughts please.

Just so you know Coco the galah has setled down after me tormenting him by pulling him out of the aviary at night and is being a much nicer boy now You can always borrow him before you get a large bird to see if you are ready

He tried to bite my breast off! I would take him my only issue is that my sister is really really scared of galahs I did talk to her about it, she is willing for me to get something else but I think she would freak out about having to do anything with him if i went away for a while.

 

I am keeping my eye out for a cheap larger cage and after all my guys get out of quarantine i might take you up on the offer. i would be to scare to bring him around here at the moment.

Yeah he was cranky that night. Something to do with me going out in the dark and whisking him off his perch when he was sleeping. I won't be doing that again

Yeah I know, if my sister was not really scared of them then I might say yes alot sooner. I have two weekends away soon and also all my birds health issues so maybe after that is all behind me I can look at taking him for a while and seeing how we all get on.

I personally like Rosellas. They are not too loud and are kinda like big budgies and have cute chubby cheeks./ I was looking after a wild one for awhile and his chirps (well calls) weren't that loud. I would love to have a crimson or eastern rosella myself. Kakarikis I have heard are very quiet and like to forage on the ground they are cute and are just a little bigger than a budgie maybe cockateil size.

I think major mitchells are pretty, but that is all I know about them.

Edited July 10, 200817 yr by Sailorwolf

Thanks for that SW tad not thought of them, will have to google them

Whatever you get just remember that it will need LOTS of training. The bigger birds are much smarter than budgies and need lots of training, especially through their 'teenage' stage to stop them going of the rails.

Yeah i know, part of me is a little "you always wanted an African Grey or an Eclectus so don't settle" See I could take on Coco and he could live for another 30 years. I know that I would grow to love him but I would always want one of the others. I don't think I would have more then one and really this would be something that I would get in the next 4 years after that i would not.

...or a barraband, or an alexandrine... or an indian ringneck... or a plumheaded parakeet... or a 'Too....

Trust me, you'll want another one But I know what you mean. We love our big birds, when we get our new house they will have their own room. An African Grey is one of those birds you need to be around alot for. I'm not prepared to get one until I am home most of the time.

 

If my ringnecks ever get off their butts and breed you could have a ringneck baby and when the galahs are set up in their new aviary we hope to have some galah babies too.

Edited July 10, 200817 yr by melbournebudgies

That is why i am thinking an Eclectus is the bird for me. I know that Ivan has them every now and then and if he knew I was looking for a male he could get me on in or know where to get one that has been hand raised. i would not mind taking on an older bird but again that scares me cause you never really know their history.

 

SW - thanks great help now i have to go look all of these guys up! Wikki here I come!

 

ETA - my sister just walked in on me looking at pictures of Eclectus males and she thinks they are cute! OH MY GOLLY GOSH! I showed her pictures of others but she says she could live with an Eclectus.

 

okay so now people try and talk me out of getting one, if you can't do that I will look at getting one at the end of 2009.

Edited July 10, 200817 yr by Angelic Vampyre

Hi, Have you thought of getting your sister her own bird? To try and help the fear... Last week I got a pair of Bourke Parrots, there pink and grey and a little bigger than a budgie. But there so timid- and the great thing is that is the nature of the bird. If you could find a hand raised one of these- they don't bite and are not really squalkers- from what I've been told. There not as playful as a budgie also...

 

I also have Indian Ringnecks- which I love, but would not reccomend with your sister around as they can get agressive. I have had some pretty good bites from Chicko- who is not 12 months old yet- and I handraised from 2 weeks old... My Husband is Chicko's favourite..

 

I love Alexanderines, and would Love one in the future..

 

I hope your sister is able to get over her fear of birds. Well I'm 25 and I was petrified of birds- would not even go into my husbands Aviary to feed his Ringnecks. I had to get over it pretty quick when I had to handraise Chicko last year... And look at me now- birds birds everywhere. Having one that she has too look after or help with that is pretty tame might really help... Depending on her age!!

My girlfriend adopted a rescued Electus with a lot of issues they have the same exact problems that your greys and other big birds have. In general big birds from what I understand need constant companionship and if not trained in the early years to be a bird then you will have a lot of behavioral seperation anxiety issues, also the big birds do tend to cling to one person as their mate. I think the biggest I would go because of the time I realistically have would be a cockatiel the other thing that has pushed me away from the bigger birds is the life span I don't know anyone who would want my bird when I am passed on so I would need to find a good bird rescue organization that would let me will my bird to them. I would start with a rescue organization with bigger birds and talk to them they are very knowledge and even if you did a petfinder in your area on the type of bird you are looking if you are really serious maybe consider adopting one that has already been through the teen years this is when most birds are given away because people are afraid they will bite them, their family members or they have a baby and don't have the time necessary for the bird.

Also check out King Parrots, very similiar to eccys

King parrots yes and the other one that I always get confused with them.Red belly green back (or is that a king parrot?)

Princess parrots are cute too.

 

I've heard eclectus are neurotic.

Hi, Have you thought of getting your sister her own bird? To try and help the fear...

 

I got Buddy a cute little Budgie for her sort of step daughter and she was all okay with him untill for some reason now she can't even put her hand in the cage and change his water without freaking out. Not sure what happened but it must have been bad.

 

 

In general big birds from what I understand need constant companionship and if not trained in the early years to be a bird then you will have a lot of behavioral seperation anxiety issues, also the big birds do tend to cling to one person as their mate. I think the biggest I would go because of the time I realistically have would be a cockatiel the other thing that has pushed me away from the bigger birds is the life span I don't know anyone who would want my bird when I am passed on so I would need to find a good bird rescue organization that would let me will my bird to them.

 

The age thing does worry me. i am going to look around and see what there is however in my will my money goes to my animals and is controled by whoever looks after them. Eg if I drop dead tomorrow MB would get my budgies and an allowance to be able to care for them. (have to change that around a bit as i can't expect her to take all of them, maybe selected budgies and the others she has to find good homes for or something...hmmm...)

 

 

Also check out King Parrots, very similiar to eccys

 

Will do you where talking about these the other day, i think Ivan has one in at the moment he has raised.

If you are gettin a cock it will basically mean if you get an eccy it will be red, if you get a king it will be green.

The age thing does worry me. i am going to look around and see what there is however in my will my money goes to my animals and is controled by whoever looks after them. Eg if I drop dead tomorrow MB would get my budgies and an allowance to be able to care for them. (have to change that around a bit as i can't expect her to take all of them, maybe selected budgies and the others she has to find good homes for or something...hmmm...)

Wow, I'm honored

If you are gettin a cock it will basically mean if you get an eccy it will be red, if you get a king it will be green

 

I am sure you have that the wrong way round the males are green and the females are red in the eccy's

Eccy cocks are green

 

Bob and I are looking into Eccy's to hand rear, there's some going for 300 dollars in nest here

So tempting for such a gorgeous bird and soo cheap which can be raised to our own standards, but with the Lori's and the Cocky's and all the other birds It will probably be too much to handle. I've also heard they're VERY loud... Which when having a sulfur cocky isn't really what i'm wanting... A birdy "p*ssing match "

 

Anything can be the tamest of pets, just depends if you will be hand rearing and training it yourself or relying on others...

I personally would not reccomend a barraband though VERY had to tame, even Peggy has gone feral now... although still puts up with my **** and will allow herself to be handled

I'm dreaming about indian ringnecks - maybe one day......

 

I've heard conures are very loud. I really like sun conures, but I wouldn't want very loud bird

I was buying millet from one breeder and he had a Eclectus couple - really beautiful birds , and expensive

 

I don't think I want a single bird, I would be afraid of not having enough time for him and also of what will happen to him after I die :hap:

If you are gettin a cock it will basically mean if you get an eccy it will be red, if you get a king it will be green

 

I am sure you have that the wrong way round the males are green and the females are red in the eccy's

 

 

 

Yes I do have it the wrong way around If you got a male King he would be bright red

Ivan has this really nice little guy in at the moment. Going to go in and see what he is cause I like him and he talks to me and knows I am nice to him and jumps on my shoulder when I go into the bird room. He is very cute. Will have to get my sister to check him out as well. MB maybe we could go have a look at him.

No worries, I am pretty busy over the weekend but I can work someting out. What hours is he open?

Just found out that he is a green king parrot. He has been hand tamed by Ivan and and is around 4 - 6 months old (the shop girl who I don't like is not very good with birds) will have to go see Ivan about him as she said that he could only be sold to approved people and I would have to jump through hoops. (she so does not know who I am, and yes I know that sounds stuck up)

 

What is a good price for one? He seems like a really nice bird and has always been really nice to me. A few people have mentioned that King Parrots are better the eccy's so food for thought.

 

By The Way MB openning hours are

 

Mon:9:00AM-5:30PM

Tue:9:00AM-5:30PM

Wed:9:00AM-5:30PM

Thu:9:00AM-5:30PM

Fri:9:00AM-5:30PM

Sat:9:00AM-5:00PM

Sun:10:00AM-5:00PM