Hi! Dave here

[DaveD]

Hello, I've been reading the board for a few weeks now and thought I should post and introduce myself. I'm married, no kids, with a very spoiled Rat Terrier ruling our home. I've always been taken with birds and have wanted a parrot as long as I can remember.

I had a pair of paraketes ( wish this board had spell check :D ) as a youngster, but it was the 60's and I never knew they could be tamed and interacted with. In my early 20's I had a cockitiel that an ex girlfriend claimed as hers when we broke up. The tiel was just learning to talk and loved to take showers with me.

I've been considering several different types of parrots and have narrowed it down to Timneh Grey, Eclectus, Cape Parrot, or Maximillion Pionus. I've visited the one store in my area that I could find that has some parrots just to get some exposure to some of these birds, but once I decide I'll be purchasing my parrot from a breeder. Having been involved with dog rescue (and having great disrespect for puppy mills (I'm sure there must be parrot mills too)) I'll be very picky when choosing a breeder.

Anyway, I've enjoyed the board so far and look forward to the day I can post bragging about my new fid!

Dave

[svolk]

Hi Dave, welcome! I like your taste in birds I am also researching Timneh African Greys, Eclectus, and Pionus, I am leaning towards one of these as my future larger parrot. You should be able to get some good advice about all of those around here, there are quite a few TAG and Eclectus owners, as well as a few Pionus owners (I don't know about the Cape Parrots though).

EDIT - I just noticed that you are in Michigan, do you mind me asking where in MI? My husband and I live in south eastern MI. I have not begun to look at breeders yet, but maybe we could put our heads together if we find a good breeder!

[fatma]

Hello, Dave. Welcome to the board!

[DaveD]

Hi Svolk, I'm from the Grand Rapids area near the lakeshore. there are several good breeders in the state (based on my limited knowlege at least). I haven't decided on any as of yet. There is a bird fair in GR on April 1 that I plan on attending and hope to meet a variety of breeders so I can ask questions and learn.

I'm in no hurry to jump in yet, this is a big decision and I'm going to take as much time as it takes to be sure that I can find the best match for our home.

[svolk]

I know what you mean, we are not in a hurry either. It will probably be over a year before we seriously begin looking, we still want to save up a lot of money and do other things (and just enjoy our fairly new little fids too!). It's as big a decision as adopting a kid, and for us our animals are our kids so we do not want to rush things (we have many other animals as well).

I'm a bit south of GR, I'm close to the Ohio border in Blissfield (small little town). I am going to tell my husband about the GR bird fair though, I've never been to one. Just from what I've found in the classifieds in Bird Talk and other places, there does seem to be many breeders in this general area, within a radius of a couple hours or so.

[Monica]

Parakeet... proper name budgerigar, or budgie for short... and that does seem to be what many people have had when they were kids...

Cape parrots are pretty rare in the states, and go for $1,300 to $1,500 each... They sound like wonderful birds, but again they are rare to be seen... and is also the most expensive of all the birds you've posted. The other three would be much easier to aquire, especially an ekkie or african grey.

But in whatever you choose, I'm sure you'd be happy with any of the choices! Good luck in your search!

[AmandaB]

Hello Dave!

[Rue]

Originally Posted by DaveD

I've been considering several different types of parrots and have narrowed it down to Timneh Grey, Eclectus, Cape Parrot, or Maximillion Pionus.
Dave

MAXI PI!!!!

...or a White-cap...can't go wrong...trust me...

[Breelynne]

Hi Dave, Welcome to BirdBoard.

[DaveD]

Originally Posted by Monica

Parakeet... proper name budgerigar, or budgie for short... and that does seem to be what many people have had when they were kids...

Cape parrots are pretty rare in the states, and go for $1,300 to $1,500 each... They sound like wonderful birds, but again they are rare to be seen... and is also the most expensive of all the birds you've posted. The other three would be much easier to aquire, especially an ekkie or african grey.

But in whatever you choose, I'm sure you'd be happy with any of the choices! Good luck in your search!

Thanks for the correct spelling 5 years of college and I still can't spell for beans

I've been doing alot of research and the prices aren't a major factor for me. What is is a bird that is a good fit in my house and will be happy here. My choice list at this moment goes like this:
Tag
Cape
Eclectus - Maxi
but only because I haven't been able to spend time with a Cape or a Maxi yet. Once I have spent some time with all of them I'll have a better idea of what we're looking for.