Parrots - What Do You Know?

[iron25]

I'm considering getting a parrot and was wondering if anyone with experience of parrots could answer a few questions:

1. Which type of parrot is the best to get?
2. Are they easy to keep?
3. Do they cause much mess?
4. How long do they live?
5. Where's the best place to get them from?
6. How much do they cost?
7. Do they need to visit the vets for injections etc?

I did a bit of investigation last year but gave up in the end as it seemed like more work than I could be bothered to do Any advice would be helpful.

[Chimaera]

Just had a quick Google and found this, give it a try, there seems to be a lot of info on there.
A mate of mine had an African Grey parrot, I think they live for years, but get bored easily - this one seemed to delight in pulling out it's feathers - they like company, so don't get one and leave it alone all day!

[iadom]

What you really want is a Norwegian Blue.

Sorry, stupid boy I know, but I couldn't resist it.

[Ramrod]

They live a long time (50 yrs). Lots of commitment. They also seem to get attached to a single person and hate everyone else.
imo............unless you are willing to let the bird out of it's cage on a regular basis, you shouldn't have one.

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by Ramrod

They live a long time (50 yrs). Lots of commitment. They also seem to get attached to a single person and hate everyone else.
imo............unless you are willing to let the bird out of it's cage on a regular basis, you shouldn't have one.

sort of echoes what is was going to say , lots of commitment , think hard about it , bit like getting a dog and leaving it alone all day and then finding your house ripped to bits because it was bored , except in this case you might end up with a bald parrot

[Ramrod]

Yep.....parrots...........toddlers with wings......and beaks

[Keytops]

Have to agree on the commitment stakes, they can be an awful lot of hastle to look after, and if they decide to be 'playfull' they can almost destroy your house, and probably take a couple of fingers off as well.
If you really want one, start small - go for something like a Cockatiel, Kakariki or even a Parrotlet - all the personality of a full sized parrot, but without the beak power or destructive tendancys.
They all need a lot of looking after though - be prepared to let them out of their cage daily and fuss them or they quickly get board.

[bulkylad]

Originally Posted by iron25

I'm considering getting a parrot and was wondering if anyone with experience of parrots could answer a few questions:

1. Which type of parrot is the best to get?
2. Are they easy to keep?
3. Do they cause much mess?
4. How long do they live?
5. Where's the best place to get them from?
6. How much do they cost?
7. Do they need to visit the vets for injections etc?

I did a bit of investigation last year but gave up in the end as it seemed like more work than I could be bothered to do Any advice would be helpful.

my parents have parrots, an amazon and a goffins cockatoo, both are very cute and the amazon talks like mad i'll try to help with your questions
1, best type of parrot is very hard to say really, if you've had no previous experience of parrots though i would go for something small, maybe even start with a cockateal or a budgie
2. I would say no, ideally they need fresh fruit morning and night, as well as a complete diet, i think its called prettybird, also as said in previous post they need lots of attention if they don't get it they tend to start plucking their feathers and this is near impossible to stop
3. they don't really cause too much mess but to avoid health issues the cage should be cleaned every day, also be aware they can be toilet trained but most still tend to do their business on the floor or sofa
4. really depends which breed you buy, a macaw can live to 80 ish
5. do a serach for breeders close to you
6. again depends on breed, they can cost up to 1000+
7. yearly visits are advisable as well as chipping them

hope this helps a bit

[Halcyon]

I knew someone who had one and they had it about 20 years I think. They live ages.
They look really nice too but can make a mess.
I'd advise you to get a large sized cage as there are varieties of parrots that get quite big.
They love fruit.
Oh, I dont know if you have kids, but be careful if you do as they can bite.

[iron25]

Originally Posted by ramrod

imo............unless you are willing to let the bird out of it's cage on a regular basis, you shouldn't have one.

I could never get a bird and not let it out of the cage. Seems cruel to me.

Originally Posted by keytops

go for something like a Cockatiel, Kakariki or even a Parrotlet

Don't like cockatiels and I did a search on kakarikis and it looks like they need lots of room and are very active and need to fly so they're a no-no.

Originally Posted by bulkylad

my parents have parrots, an amazon and a goffins cockatoo, both are very cute and the amazon talks like mad i'll try to help with your questions
1, best type of parrot is very hard to say really, if you've had no previous experience of parrots though i would go for something small, maybe even start with a cockateal or a budgie
2. I would say no, ideally they need fresh fruit morning and night, as well as a complete diet, i think its called prettybird, also as said in previous post they need lots of attention if they don't get it they tend to start plucking their feathers and this is near impossible to stop
3. they don't really cause too much mess but to avoid health issues the cage should be cleaned every day, also be aware they can be toilet trained but most still tend to do their business on the floor or sofa
4. really depends which breed you buy, a macaw can live to 80 ish
5. do a serach for breeders close to you
6. again depends on breed, they can cost up to 1000+
7. yearly visits are advisable as well as chipping them

hope this helps a bit

Some good advice there and like I said in my original post, they seem like hard work, surely they can't be that difficult to keep A few years ago I looked into getting some tropical fish and whilst reading about them you tend to think that they need a lot of attention and looking after and it puts you off getting them. However, I have had them for several years now and it's not as hard as some people make out, in fact, it's quite simple. Feed them once a day and clean them out once every three weeks.

[daxx]

Imagine a bored two year old in a parrot suit without any underwear on and a 'biting' habit

[Halcyon]

Another option if you like singing is Canaries.
My gran has some and they sing all the time.

[aliferste]

I believe Pirates like them

They are annoying as hell. My Dad had an african grey up until a couple of months ago. He had to get rid of it as it hated everyone but him, and bit everyone he could, including my very young nephews. They make a lot of noise, and yes do copy everything, normall the really annoying noises like the beep beep of reversing vans, the phone, the dog next door, babies crying etc. I would only get one if you have a lot of time, and a lot of patients

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Colin

I would only get one if you have a lot of time, and a lot of patients

I have a lot of patients.......