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Post by scottj on Dec 25, 2005 13:43:00 GMT 10
Which do you you think has the ultimate personality?
I personally like the African Grey.
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 8, 2006 8:56:55 GMT 10
It depends on what you are looking for. I have no experience with greys (only because they are far too expensive here for me to buy other wise I would have owned one long before). When I was researching to find another bird, I wanted something different to what I had already owned...............budgies, tiels, 'toos, etc as well as a few other breeds. I really wanted a grey because of what I had read and seen on tv about them. But the price sorted that out pretty quick. I then looked into ekkies and discovered they are similar (in my opinion from reading about other peoples greys and ekkies on other forums I have been on). Eclectus are supposedly rivelling the greys in intelligence and talkablilty and I have to say my girl is the most intelligent bird i have owned.
Cockatoos are lovely birds and when I lost one of mine and had to give my other one away (ex hubby got upset because bird chewed stereo cabinet...........had no sense of humour), I swore i would never own another one.............until I got my galah, then she died 15 years later and I did consider another 'too or even a major mitchell. The 'toos are intelligent, can talk and absolutely love to be loved. But they are loud..............very loud, love to chew everything, no holds barred. One of mine also chewed a dining chair vinel off so I rushed the chair into the upholsters and begged them to fix it before 3pm that afternoon (so ex hubby did not see the damage) and they did and he never knew ;D .
If you are in Australia then greys are very expensive and 'toos are much cheaper also.
Ultimately I would research heaps and make your final decision after researching heaps...............then decide what you can afford.
Good luck
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Post by cockatoo16crazy on Jan 20, 2006 18:18:17 GMT 10
Personaly i love both sorts but i like the llok of both of them (wether it be black cocky or white cocky) (timmeh or congo ) they are both good. African greys are the smartest animal in the world and they cost about $4500 to $5000 in australia so the price dose put you off. But there are plenty of good cockatoos you can own.
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Milly
Addicted Member
Posts: 64
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Post by Milly on Jan 23, 2006 16:38:45 GMT 10
Well, I was in complete shock when I first found out the price for an african grey parrot!! A man in pet shop told me 5-6.000$ and I was joking asking if it could be purchased on l.b.  . An african grey hand reared parrot in Serbia costs 600 Euros which is less than 1000Au$. I had a chance to visit a friend last year who has one, young bird, now is about one year old. They don't know the sex because over there it is not possible to do DNA testing. Parrot is beautiful, alert, looks smart. I am a member of a foreign forum (from my home country) and there are a few people who own greys, all young birds (under 2 years of age). Plus other ones like eclectus (vosmaeri, cost less than 1000Au$ as well, blue fronted amazon, same price, scarlet and blue yellow macaw is about 1600Au$). One grey 9 months of age started to break his feathers the other day, not plucking but just biting them. The owner is desperate, of course. Why I am writing that is because, after everything I know about greys reading different articles, magazines and one book, I have opinion that yes, they are smart but, they are very sensibile and high maintenance. They get upset easilly, they need lots, lots of patience, attention, they can pluck from hundreds of reasons any time and even if they are much cheaper here I wouldn't consider one. Our cockatoos are more easy going birds for example yet very smart too. Cockatoos and greys are really different two sorts of parrots, it is like comparing Lamborghini and Ferari  . Each one has positive and negative points and I just think that when thinking about having one only one thing matters: if we are the right person for that kind of bird and can offer him/her all they need in captivity of our homes for many yers to come... |
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 23, 2006 17:31:09 GMT 10
that was very well said Milly. I also am a member of a few overseas forums of which greys and macaws are very popular. They are much cheaper over there than here. I have seen them for around $500 - $1000 US. Yes i had forgotten that a lot of people say they pluck and stress too. But in their defence, I have read that about eclectus and so far my girl (red sided eclectus ) is beautifully feathered, not stressing, thrives on activity (as opposed to what I read ............... needing peace and quiet) and is the best bird I have ever owned..............have owned a few in my time (I was around when dinosaurs roamed the earth. ;D ask my kids they will agree ;D).
I would probably still own a grey if I could, but I would own a macaw too, and a quaker, and another 'too etc etc..................... I would own them all if I could ;D I am just greedy ;D
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Milly
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Post by Milly on Jan 23, 2006 22:26:18 GMT 10
Vankarhi, I have read your posts on one forum and this one so I know about your experience with dogs and birds you have. You are one very capable lady having dogs, birds not mentioning 6 kids  and having all under control . Yes, eclectus parrots are prone to feather plucking too, here are photos of a girl who is about year and a half old. The owners, couple with no kids, left for holiday and she plucked while they were away (she was minded by owner's brother). It happened last winter and there's no big change unfortunatelly. I was upset seeing her like that because I know her since she was very young and with beautiful feathers (vosmaeri). img318.imageshack.us/my.php?image=napred0ft.jpgimg318.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ledja2xu.jpgthis is really heart breaking  |
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 24, 2006 7:40:10 GMT 10
Poor baby, she must have really missed her mummy and daddy when they were away. I have no doubt my girl would probably do the same (I hope not) but she does love to be with us and we try to take her when we do go away. I know she would stress and be lonely if left with someone she really did not know. We are actually going away for a few days soon, but will leave the teenagers at home so they can look after the animals................going to a conference at a resort, not sure we should take Skye with us here, but have asked hubby to inquire about taking Skye with us. If we can, then I probably will take her.................will have to really think about that one.
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Post by vankarhi on Jan 24, 2006 7:45:09 GMT 10
I would hope that being left at home with 3 family members she sees all the time would not be much different to her, but only one of those 3 actually would even bother to handle her or Rani, so i would have to make sure that child (Rhianna) would do that for me. It is a worry isn't it, you do have to consider "all" members of your family.
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Post by Justin on Mar 15, 2006 9:10:46 GMT 10
Well I'm partial to African Greys. My first big bird was a Grey. I'm also owned by a Mollucan Cockatoo & Blue and Gold Macaw.
Ryley, our Molly, loves to be the center of attention here. IF there's ladies or kids around he goes bananas and wants to come out and play and ham it up for them. He thrives on ambient attention and knows absolutely no strangers. I've always said that if you want a clown who loves to show off and be the center of attention then research and look at purchasing a too.
If you're looking for a bird that likes to kick back and watch everything evolve around them and chip in with a smart mouthed comment every so often then look at a Grey.
Imagine you're birds are in a classroom.
You're African Greys & Eclectus will front row center listening and learning. Behind them will be you're Senegal, Meyers & other Poicephalus. Behind them will be you're Macaws. Behind the Macaws will be the Amazons and up the back disprupting the class with their antics would be the Cockatoo's.
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Post by vankarhi on Mar 15, 2006 10:06:01 GMT 10
Hey Justin, I love how you likened the birds to kids in a class room. ;D ;D ;D
My ekkie might possibley be a bit different to the norm, I am not too sure as I have only had contact with one other and she is a baby (Skye is not a baby, the other female ekkie is).............a lovely and loving baby non the less, but her true "colours" (so to speak) may not have not shown yet.
I actually had the opportunity to see a real live Grey at the Hypermarket pet store in Brisbane last month (feb 2006) and I was all hyped up to see this "Grey" after all that i had read about them. I don't know what I expected now, but I surely was very excited to see this bird.
When I saw her, I went straight up to her and started to talk to her (Like I do with all birds and animals in pet shops ;D), she just ignored me and kept right on eating her food and then dunking her food in her water, then eating her food and dunking her food. She just ignored me. I could not believe it. I have never seen a bird who did not react at all.........either with fear of curiosity. Meanwhile behind me was a corella jumping up and down, dancing and talking trying ever so hard to get my attention...............I have never liked the corellas to look at (just my own preference) but this little fellow and one I saw in Bundaberg last Nov/Dec won my heart and I told my hubby recently that if i decided to get another 'too type bird it would be a corella.
I actually rang my husband and told him that I had seen the Grey and was dissappointed. I told him that Skye had much more colour and beauty and much more personality. My ekkie loves visitors and greets them even if she does not know them........with a big "hellooo" even if we are out and about at shops in a town she does not know, she will say hello to people as they walk by and even wolf whistle at them, and i guess that is what surprised me most about the grey was the total lack of interest. From my reading from other overseas forums and books that I have read, the Greys can be shy and can be a one person bird.............so I guess I can understand, but it still surprised me.
I am not dissing Greys by the way, just telling of my experience with "1" African grey that I met and I am sure that when in their own environment with their own familiar family they are probably different birds.
But I will say I am so glad I have my female ekkie, I just love her to pieces, she actually talks in context too quite often now and my friends just think she is wonderful. I had some friends over yesterday and they were amazed at her trying to join in our conversation and when we laughed so did she, then she was talking (mumbling, but it sure sounded like she was conversing) and we could hear lots of words and laughs too.
Just thought I would share..............sorry it is sooooo long. ;D ;D
p.s I just remembered something I wanted to say also. I went back to visit the Grey.........hubby was with me this time so I wanted him to see her too, but unfortunately they did not have her out yet, so I dragged him around to look at the corella and he was out the back. I was talking to the corella and he was showing off (LOL) and i put my face up to the cage when he came over to give me a big kiss..............I saw his blue tongue poking out. I have heard of birds using their tongues to taste and feel with, but had never seen one until then. It was just so cute and no I did not actually touch him or let his tongue touch me, but just the fact that he wanted to kiss me was cute.
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Post by Laraine on Mar 15, 2006 13:24:13 GMT 10
I'd just love an African Grey, but I think I'll need to win lotto first. What they lack in colour they make up for in intelligence and personality. Have you seen the clips of Einstein the African Grey in the US....just brilliant.
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Post by vankarhi on Mar 15, 2006 13:35:31 GMT 10
Yes I have seen the clips to that, it is amazing. ;D
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Post by fuzzydragonfly on May 25, 2006 14:05:14 GMT 10
I was just reading this topic, African grey prices are very steep from what you say although when I compare that to zebra plecos (a black and white 15cm sucking catfish) which costs you between $1000-$2000 for one it makes it look like african greys are not that badly priced. Although I have seen the odd zebra plec sell for less.
If I won the lotto I'd prefer to have one African grey as opposed to 4-5 rare fish which would just sit around and look pretty.
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Post by vankarhi on May 26, 2006 8:55:31 GMT 10
yes there are expensive animals in whatever type you may be looking at heh.
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Post by fuzzydragonfly on May 29, 2006 22:00:09 GMT 10
Very true,
It all comes down to how much money you have to burn and what alternatives there are.
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.
. Each one has positive and negative points and I just think that when thinking about having one only one thing matters: if we are the right person for that kind of bird and can offer him/her all they need in captivity of our homes for many yers to come...
