Thinking of getting a large flock memeber

[ccg]

Hello everyone, hope you and your fids are all doing well!

I have been thinking about getting a larger parrot, possibly a male eclectus, CAG, amazon or a macaw.

My experience is limited to conures, a Nanday and a GCC. In addition to those I plan to get either a Sun or a Blue Crown Conure, + ether another GCC or a Blacked Capped Conure.

First off I have done a bit of research on all the larger species and realize I am in for a lot of work, time, money, noise, and need to master toy making. I know the ongoing cost of getting a larger flock member will not be cheap and I am prepared for that. The new member would be housed in the main living room with my 2 current conures, and possibly 2 more. What larger species do you think would would prefer the company of the conures in the same room? I have fallen in love with the the greys, amazons, eclectus, and macaws. It is so hard to decide... Knowing I have little experience with the larger birds, what would you suggest I get? Please don't take talking ability into account when recommending a species.

Any pros, cons, or even if you want to talk me out of this please do, the more advice and opinions I get the better off I will be.

Thank you everyone,

[Amie]

I think you should spend a little more hands-on "getting to know you" time with all of the species you mentioned, as they are all QUITE different. Ekkies and Greys are closer in their behaviors than the others.

It's a lot like comparing the two kinds of conures (pyrruhra and aratinga). A sun conure and a green cheek are different, even though their names both end in conure.

Greys and ekkies are very low-key. They hang out. They can be crazy and require a lot of attention, but my ekkie and the greys I've had are happy just "spending time with you." Scarlett will hang out on her cage in the same room as us all day if the mood strikes her, and I won't actually have to DO anything. (even though I tried many times to have her come hang out with me yesterday, she only left her cage for shower time).

Amazons are friggin' clowns. Those guys are goofy. They are (generally) more active than greys and ekkies, but many can entertain themselves. So, they may be loud and may be moving, but they don't necesarily need you to be spending your undivided attention on them. Greys and ekkies go through loud, crazy times, too. . . .but with Zons it's a way of life.

Someone (I think Irish, maybe) described macaws as the loud, crazy frat boys of the bird world, and in my (although limited) experience, she hit it on the head. They do require more hands-on attention than the other 3 species, and are much louder and more costly. And mini-macs aren't as similar to their bigger cousins as they appear to be.

If you already have two conures, the adjustment to a large bird may not be hard at all for you. Two smaller birds and one Grey/ekkie/amazon probably require similar amounts of attention. So I wouldn't worry about that. But I think you need to do a little more personality probing and narrow it down a little more. From the species you already have, I'd say an Amazon might fit best in your life. But that's a complete guess knowing very little.

If you do start leaning towards a Zon, the lilac-crowned is my favorite!!! Orange wing and blue front are very pretty but a little more expensive and a bit larger, I think, and the Mexican Redhead (or Green cheek) are pretty popular and easy to find (in the states) so there's lots of information on them.

[ccg]

Thank you for all your inpu! A few months back I did a lot of research on the eclestus, and was even set to get one, but the wife was trying to sell him without he husband knowing, so the deal never happened. From what I have read and you suggested, the amazon seems to fit me and my conure family life style. A macaw would be high on the list as well. I visit a local breeder weekly who is an older guy and even help him out around the place a bit. He has a few greys that I take out and play with, an amazon I am in love with, hes 64 years old and is his pet. I'll continue to read and research for the next few months bore I do anything. An eclectus doesn't seem to fit in as well with my flock as a couple other options I have it seems. Plus I do plan on getting another 2 conures eventually...

[LoveMyBeak]

Once you get a macaw you wont go back, try spending sometime with a B&G you wont be dissappointed.........LMB

[Amie]

Originally Posted by LoveMyBeak

Once you get a macaw you wont go back, try spending sometime with a B&G you wont be dissappointed.........LMB

Yeah, that's a dangerous subject for me We are NOT a macaw family (we're a little too low key and laidback) but I have fallen in love with several of our bird friend's B&Gs. Every time her guys have a little one during the summer and we go hand feed while they're on vacation, hubby has to list all the reasons why a B&G doesn't fit with all of our other animals --and it takes a lot of convincing

Ekkies aren't for everyone. And if a grey fits in your life, so will an ekkie and vice versa (for the most part).

Also, don't think that I'm downplaying macaws!! They don't fit in my life, true, but the wild and crazy macs fit in with LOTS of people. If you look hard enough, you can find a good macaw breeder with B&Gs for similar prices to Amazons, many are less expensive than Greys and ekkies. But, bigger birds require bigger diets, hence the "more costly" aspect. And loud is always relative. People who think my ekkie is loud would DIE with macaws. Scarlett does her flock call twice a day, and the rest of it she just mumbles and talks to herself and to us when we're close enough. And, to show you how relative loud is, Scarlett's flock call is loud, but a sun conure screech sends chills up my spine. Not as loud as my ekkie, but the pitch is higher. . . .

Keep us updated!! I LOVE when someone comes on here for the decision process and then puts a downpayment and finally gets a baby. Happy endings are great!!

[xafsmom]

I love the big macaws. Tigo, our B&G is exceptionally loving and gentle, but plays very hard lol. She's entirely my daughter's bird though, and while she accepts me as a flock member, I don't get near the affection as my daughter gets from her. The mac that I would dearly love to get, but is out of my price range this year, is a Red Fronted Macaw. Soooo beautiful and I'm told they're great pets and less boisterous as the bigger birds, not that Red Fronteds are small! They're not as colourful as their bigger brethren though, but there's a definite appeal to them!

CAGS and conures, at least in my house, get along quite well. Izzy is totally a different personality than a New World bird, but I love the contrast. I would suggest a Hahn's, but they're not bigger birds in size. I love the Hahn's though!

[Liezlmd]

Before you discard the idea of an Eclectus read up about them on Land of Vos.. I love my Rosie. She is the first bird I ever had and I am enjoying every minute of learning about her, making her food and spending time with her... I do have a 9 to 5 job, but my mil is at home the whole day and Rosie is doing just fine with that arrangement. I usually take her out of the cage after work.. She is gorgeous, but the males are gorgeous too and have a nicer temperament according to what I read.. But my Rosie is sweet too!