Vasa Parrot

[JaydeParrot]

Hi, was wondering if anyone knows anything about Greater Vasas? I'm still thinking between a grey and a Vasa (mealy amazon maybe but I figure it would be 'way' too loud). I wondered if anyone knew about the noise levels of Vasas? I've heard they're meant to be able to pick up words as easily as an african grey but have a life span of 30 to 40- which is good as I think it's unfair to buy a pet if it will definitely out live you. Greater Vasas are relatively cheap but rarely sold as their dull/all black colour and strange mating changes (the cloacas swell on both genders and the female loses all head feathers and it's head turns yellow during the breeding season), tends to put people off. If I went for one it would have to be a baby because there are no rescues. Does anyone know if Vasas are quietish/ if they live longer than 40 years, any other pros or cons?

[Michael]

Don't know a ton about them but I do know you won't find them in rescues and the few breeders that carry them often have 5 year waiting lists.

[JaydeParrot]

They are more available around here, saw some chicks going for ecivalent (did not spell that properly) to about 650 dollars, there are also 'some' second hand breeders, for some reason parrots seems way cheaper over here. Essentially finding and buying the bird isn't the issue but knowing more about the noise level e.t.c is important.

[Pajarita]

I would worry more about the diet than the noise. Vasas are not easy birds to keep healthy.

[JaydeParrot]

Why? What's wrong with the diet? Why is it difficult to keep them healthy? I can't find many sites that talk about Vasas, so if you have any knowledge or experiance, I'd really like to hear about it, .

[Pajarita]

They require largely varying amounts of protein depending on the season as well as some animal protein during the breeding season. It's hard for people to switch a bird's diet so drastically. Most parrot owners just fill up a bowl with pellets and give them some fruit and call it a day.

[JaydeParrot]

Is there a book or something that tells you how much protein and when they need the amount changed? The way you're explaining it, the diet of a Vasa sounds almost as complex as an Electus (that's what put me off getting an Electus parrot).

I'd been thinking of a bigger parrot than a Senegal that's quiet enough for an apartment. I was really thinking of something in the range of 400 plus grams and was stuck between an african grey or a vasa parrot as those were the only two that seemed to fit my idea. Admittedly I haven't completely decided on one or the other yet and was even considering a king pigeon or a pionus and having them from a baby as their lifespans aren't as long as the first two.

One guy has offered me a cheap 12 year old Mealy Amazon that needs a little taming down. I'm fine with the taming, he tells me it's a very quiet bird, but I hear amazons are meant to be very noisy, so am unsure if a Mealy would be too loud?

No need to lecture me about not rushing out to buy one, I'm taking my time looking around to decide upon the right bird, I'm just hoping someone has any ideas on which they'd choose out of the five birds I mentioned (Vasa, grey, pigeon, pionus, mealy).

[Wolf]

Interesting parrot, I've never heard of this parrot before, so have been reading about them as my time allows. Parrots always seemed to me to be a bit odd as all of the hawk/ hook beaked birds that I had ever seen were predatory ( eagles, hawks, owls, etc. ). I always thought that there had to be a link.
The only thing so far that I have found to help answer your questions is that they are pretty much non vocal until they reach sexual maturity (3 to 7 years ) and then are vocal only during breeding season.
I will let you know if I learn anything more about them.

[Pajarita]

Yes, a Vasa's diet is as complex as that of an eclectus and they, like the ekkies, are deeply affected by a diet which is not as it should be. Information is scant on them but you can find some in the net if you do a thorough search.

Mealies are one of the largest zons and male zons can be VERY aggressive when they 'need a little taming down', do you have the experience and time to deal with a large, aggressive bird? Because, with zons, you have no choice but to keep them at a solar schedule or you will end up with a sexually frustrated bird - and, with male zons, that always means aggression. Male zons are big, fearless, powerful birds that will not back off just because you give it a good home and, when they attack, they're scary! My husband is terrified of mine even though they have now mellowed and would not fly out to attack any longer and, in truth, I think he got bit only once... but he has seen the damage they've done to me.

[JaydeParrot]

It's a DNA sexed female mealy, would bein female mean she's safer?

As I said, there's no particular rush, I was just looking for an over 400 gram quietish bird. The grey I mentioned in a different message is still for sale, whenever whenever I go to see him he bops up and down, if I stand close ihe does a skirt dance, apparently he isn't usually that friendly to people, which can sorta endear you to a bird.

The complex diet kinda puts me off the Vasa idea as I would always panic I'm feeding it wrong.

So, unless anyone knows of any quietish birds over 400 grams I'm down to the choice of a pigeon, pionus, african grey or female mealy.