{"id":9794,"date":"2018-08-25T11:17:07","date_gmt":"2018-08-25T16:17:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/windycityparrot.com\/blog\/?p=9794"},"modified":"2018-08-25T11:17:07","modified_gmt":"2018-08-25T16:17:07","slug":"what-are-the-absolute-worst-types-of-parrots-for-a-first-time-bird-owner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/?p=9794","title":{"rendered":"What Are the Absolute Worst Types of Parrots for a First-time Bird Owner?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once again, although well-intentioned, people are breaking down your choices into the macro of species (Quora question).<\/span><\/p>\n

One answer started with<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Cockatoos<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Macaws<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Amazons<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Yet these three species come in close to a combined 100 flavors.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Major Mitchell cockatoos are not loud, and not necessarily cuddly<\/span><\/p>\n

    Bare-eyed cockatoos are all but demure<\/span><\/p>\n

    Noble macaws are only 12 to 14 inches long.<\/span><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/macaw-parrot-information-focusing-large-macaws-2\/<\/p>\n

    Hyacinth macaws are up to 44 inches long – 4 times the size of a noble macaw.<\/span><\/p>\n

    You can\u2019t compare the two just because they are macaws.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

    Everything about the 2 species is different.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Birdcage size, diet, inside and outside of the cage environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Mealy Amazons, are the largest of the Amazon parrot species at 15 – 17 inches long and weighing up to 2 lb (about 900 grams)<\/span><\/p>\n

    The smallest Amazon, white-fronted Amazons are less than 10 inches long and weigh only about 220 grams, almost a quarter of a Mealy amazons weight.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Because they are Amazons, does not make them identical pet birds to keep<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

    Ringnecks are in the 110 – 120 g range as well as Senegal parrots but – Ringnecks are 12-16 inches long vs a 7-inch Senegal.<\/span><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/what-are-the-cons-to-buying-a-mature-african-grey-parrot\/<\/p>\n

    Why do I make these differentiations?<\/span><\/p>\n

    I can place a perch in a Senegal’s cage on the side, one or two inches from the back of the bird cage. <\/span><\/p>\n

    The Sennie’s tail will not touch the back of the cage.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The Ringneck’s tail would be rubbing and poking through the rear cage bars requiring more preening time and less chance it (the long tail) will ever look its best.<\/span><\/p>\n

    That\u2019s just a single perch issue – there is much more to consider.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Long tail birds need play stand perches higher so their tail doesn\u2019t get dragged below the bird.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Presuppose nothing when bringing a new bird into your home.<\/span><\/p>\n

    You can’t assume that it will talk, be playful, or bond with every family member.<\/span><\/p>\n

    We have a friend who’s a first-time caged bird keeper who bought a Timneh African grey from a breeder exactly a year ago this week.<\/span><\/p>\n

    All the “experts” on Quora will tell you not to get an African grey as your first bird.<\/span><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/product\/prime-vitamin-water-soluble-for-birds-by-hagen-hari-71-lb-320-g\/<\/p>\n

    \u201cStart with a cockatiel, it\u2019s your best play.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    Our friend Kim, runs one of the finest day cares on the planet.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A single African gray parrot is no challenge when you have been providing care and guidance to young humans for a quarter of a century.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Zoe (her Timmy) is loved by everyone in the family and the family reciprocates.<\/span><\/p>\n

    She gets along well with anybody in the household and all the daycare students.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The experience has so emboldened Kim that she is now seeking a second African grey parrot.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Yes, Martha, parrots are much like potato chips, you just can’t have one.<\/span><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/23-videos-23-species-amazon-parrots-many-never-heard\/<\/p>\n

    But I digress.<\/span><\/p>\n

    As luck would have it, an elderly (in his 80s) customer of ours is in the process of giving up a Congo African grey since his wife died recently and the bird is too much for him to handle alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

    I believe the bird has been in the family for decades.<\/span><\/p>\n

    I need to fact-check this.<\/span><\/p>\n

    In any case, he is about to relinquish the bird to a good friend of ours who runs a private rescue where we have gotten a couple of our birds from.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Catherine (my wife) is in the process of reaching out to the rescue operator, with the hopes of enabling at least a dialogue with her and Kim.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Stay tuned.<\/span><\/p>\n

    In the meantime Jessica, if at all possible I would advocate that you spend some time in a bird rescue.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Some here on Quora are fanatics who that dictate you should volunteer your time, which I certainly would not discourage.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Just visiting a bird rescue though, will offer insights about the hundreds of species of parrots that we keep as pets.<\/span><\/p>\n

    How all these people on Quora can predict the outcome of a single parrot\u2019s relationship with you is mind-numbing.<\/span><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/product\/higgins-safflower-gold-parrot-size-no-sunflower-3-lb-1-361-kg\/<\/p>\n

    Go back and begin to understand birds and their 99 million-year evolutionary existence because right now your question to somebody like me who provides caged bird care solutions for living sounds something like this:<\/span><\/p>\n

    “Should I get a dog a pony or a horse” They’re all four-footed mammals, right?<\/span><\/p>\n

    Birds are the only pets you can have that fly.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Think about that.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n

    BTW – if you don’t like to vacuum, don’t get a bird.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    Written by Mitch Rezman<\/span>
    \nApproved by Catherine Tobsing<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201c<\/strong>\u00a0Mitch, you are right on the mark, birds are individuals. A certain amount of tendencies can be expected from each group, but like us, not all Chinese people use chopsticks, and all Italians don’t speak with their hands! I advise new owners that their first bird should not be one with anger and training issues. In 50 years this has worked well. I only have 4 bird brains now: 26 yo B&G, 24 yo Congo, 76 yo blue-front Amazon, 20 yo Alexandrine. I love what you do for all birds, Aloha, Chris\u00a0\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201c<\/strong>\u00a01 rescue grey then another rescue grey then a rescue cockatoo…. and always on your web site for help….the vacuum cleaner is essential!! thanks, Lee and the birds\u00a0\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Once again, although well-intentioned, people are breaking down your choices into the macro of species (Quora question). One answer started with Cockatoos Macaws Amazons<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":142151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_mo_disable_npp":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[206,239,196,188,197,204,244,205,256,200,229,231,250,201,254,217,221,245,214,232,222,257,248,190],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa-grey","category-amazons","category-bird-behavior","category-bird-cage-info","category-bird-enviornments","category-bird-rescue","category-biting-birds","category-budgies","category-caique","category-cockatiels","category-cockatoo","category-conures","category-eclectus-parrots","category-feeding-pet-birds","category-finches","category-habitats-for-caged-birds","category-hormonal-issues-in-birds","category-indian-ringneck","category-large-macaws","category-lovebirds","category-parrotlet","category-pigeons","category-quaker-parrot","category-senegal-parrots"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":{"landsacpe":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/close-up-military-macaw-1.jpg?resize=800%2C445&ssl=1",800,445,true],"list":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/close-up-military-macaw-1.jpg?resize=463%2C348&ssl=1",463,348,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/close-up-military-macaw-1.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/close-up-military-macaw-1.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1",800,800,false]},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/close-up-military-macaw-1.jpg?fit=800%2C800&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phcfkq-2xY","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9794\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/142151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}