Parrot-Puzzled: Any Advice?

[songsparrow]

Hi -- I am doing much research, as I would like to get a parrot. My criteria:
1.) Relatively quiet 2.) Medium to small 3.) Social 4.) Potential to talk. I am looking at Poicephalus, Pionus, and the small but mighty Pacific or Celestial Parrotlet. Now, in my web searches, I've often found species descriptions like this one:

"In captivity Cape Parrots are often referred to as the "Gentle Giants", they are an extremely intelligent medium sized bird. At least as smart as African Greys, Cape Parrots can learn to talk quite well. They have large powerful beaks capable of cracking any nut but at the same time are rarely known to bite."

Then I go on to a forum, for example, and the real-life experiences seem to be all about harrassed, frantic humans with large bandages on their fingers, begging for help in order to modify their attack parrot's behavior. How am I to reconcile this? I read descriptions of the Jardine's, supposedly the perfect parrot, then other descriptions stating the Jardine's are reputed to be nippy. My friend told me her friend's green-cheek conure is schizophrenic, so loving one minute, then drawing blood the next. I can understand mouthy: I have a german shepherd dog, and they are mouthy. You can find a photo of the original Rin Tin Tin sitting beside his owner, his owner's elbow in his mouth. Pure GSD, and the behavior is easily deflected onto toys, for example.

Should I give up on my dream of a beautiful Jardine's companion? Should I get a Parrotlet, so small that what could he do to anyone?

Thanks, Deborah

[Young]

LMAO.. Parrolets are pint sized little goofers that think they have Macaw bodies. They are lovers as a whole but without lots of attention, and toys, can be easily bored. They can also be little buggers at nipping.

I babysat one and the little fart "Ruled" the roost so to speak. Had all of my Conures in a tizzy for 3 days! Lol.

Kinda like a hurricane hit, then left, and I got to deal with the tortured, destroyed remains. :)

I guess like any bird, it depends on it's human and how the human nurtures it.

I am, purely by the "birds choice", a conure human. They can be chatty, mine talk, and I don't need an intercom system when my sun conures decide to speak their mind. However, I wouldn't trade them for anything. As with humans, you are not going to find a perfect bird the doesn't take the opportunity once in a while to express themselves, get angry, etc... I think it all depends on the birds past and the birds present human.

Which ever one you pick, just give it lots of love, kisses, attention, a healthy diet, and a good home environment. I think you'll both be happy.

[songsparrow]

I work from home, so can give a bird needed attention. (GSDs need a lot of attention too, and mine is a very very happy dog.)
What I'm trying to do is to evaluate species description in order to choose a bird that will fit our home -- I know that individuals will vary. I also know that parrots go through development stages: this I can handle. But I don't want to go buy the Pitbull of the bird world, so are Poicephalus for instance generally kind, or generally aggressive? This is my confusion -- trying to get a true handle on a description. I would like to get a parrot species where it's possible to modify any biting behavior, mainly because I don't want myself or anyone else ending up with stitches or broken fingers. Am I worrying too much?
I wonder if I'm in the right heading. Should I be posting on the Pionus or Poicephalus threads?
(Actually in general I like Pitbulls.)
Thanks again, D

[MicahEspudo]

I would go for what you want.
If you feel a Jardine would fit in well with your life, then get one.
Some things you can do before buying the bird is visit stores or people with those birds and play with them. This way you can see their personality.

Oh... and don't think a parrotlet is going to keep your fingers unscathed.
I have take hard bites from my parrotlets... I would take a bite from a jardine any day!!!!
Parrotlet bites hurt! If you don't mind maybe (depending on the individual bird) getting but SUPER HARD from time to time, then a parrotlet may be your bird. But if pain is an issue I would go with a small conure or a Jardine... They may be bigger, but their bites ain't got nothing on a parrotlet!

[songsparrow]

You are comforting me in some bizarre way.
I am hitting the pet stores, although in our neck of the woods, it's a bit hard to find a variety of parrots.
Cosmo and I saw a green-cheeked conure in PetCo the other day. Cosmo stuck his nose in between the bars, and the bird banged on it with the curved part of his beak. Startled, Cosmo backed off, but then tried the same thing with the same results. Having routed the dog, the parrot turned his attention to me, but fortunately only wanted love and scratches. I'd've taken him home then and there, but I am attempting to spare my husband as much as possible, and I have heard that conures vibrate your eardrums in piercing ways.
I also played with a blue-and-yellow amazon child, what a dear, and an even younger African Grey at another pet shop (in Van Buren). I fell instantly in love with the Grey, a feisty and very mouthy fellow. He determinedly kept climbing up to the back of my neck, where he would stay. The shop owner would grab him and warn, 'I'm gonna BEAT you!!' The parrot loved it. I just know that will be his favorite phrase when he begins to talk. I would've bought him then and there, but I promised my husband that I would wait until next year (to give me time to get a feel for different species), and I have also read that Greys are rigid birds. I travel occasionally, so need a bird that won't be catatonic when I return.
As you can see by the above, I'm such a pushover that I fall in love with almost anyone. I saw a Pacific Parrotlet (I think -- they were at a street vendor's in Quito) in Ecuador, and I fell in love with HIM.
D

[songsparrow]

Oops maybe the blue and yellow was a macaw?

[MicahEspudo]

Originally Posted by songsparrow

I work from home, so can give a bird needed attention. (GSDs need a lot of attention too, and mine is a very very happy dog.)
What I'm trying to do is to evaluate species description in order to choose a bird that will fit our home -- I know that individuals will vary. I also know that parrots go through development stages: this I can handle. But I don't want to go buy the Pitbull of the bird world, so are Poicephalus for instance generally kind, or generally aggressive? This is my confusion -- trying to get a true handle on a description. I would like to get a parrot species where it's possible to modify any biting behavior, mainly because I don't want myself or anyone else ending up with stitches or broken fingers. Am I worrying too much?
I wonder if I'm in the right heading. Should I be posting on the Pionus or Poicephalus threads?
(Actually in general I like Pitbulls.)
Thanks again, D

Any species has the potential to be kind and gentle, it's just some species can be more nippy and or moody.
The personality of the bird all lies in it's upbringing.

If you get a well socialized bird then it will be sweet and loving.
It also depends on if you continue to properly socialize the bird AFTER bringing him/her home.
Sure there are some cases where everything was done right, and the bird is still a problem. But these cases are rare, and usually it was a humans wrong doing and no fault of the bird's.
Generally there are species/groups of birds that are more laid back than others, such as Pionus. Pionus are also generally pretty quite as well.
I actually have heard Senegals (a member of the Poicephalus family) refered to as the pitbulls of the bird world. But my friend has a well socialized sennie whom has never bitten anyone!
One of my favorite Poicephalus is the brown headed parrot, you may want to look into them as well.
Honestly... I could probably name fifty parrot species that could fit into your home. You just need to do as much research as possible (which it seems you are doing) and decide which species you fancy.

Also don't be wary to have a bird shipped to you as long as it is from a good and reputable breeder.

Oh... and don't get me wrong from my above post... I love my parrotlets, and my pitbull!

[songsparrow]

OK. Much encouraged, I'll do just that.

[Tricia Mullins]

First off I am not a expert, I have only been owned by a bird for 3 months now. However we did a lot of research & got tons of opinions equily goods & bads on all the birds we looked into. we finally rested on a IRN & this was purley gut instinct, we had been looking at them, the breeder was awsome, it felt right! And she is such a wonderful addition to our family! So I guess I am trying to say, get the general idea of what you may want & then let your gut tell you whats right, it's never steered me wrong. Good Luck!

[PMattix]

What about a Tiel?

I love my little guy!!!!