hahn macaw vs grey,confused!!!

[naomi]

hi all parrot owners around the world

im new here and im just thinking to buy new parrot.my family have cockatiel and ringneck parrot and i want to buy something for myself.

yesterday i contact breeder in my city and they have avaible baby hahn and afican grey.i keep trying to decided which one i should buy.both of them are my favorite and my family also support me to buy one.please help me to decided which one is better,and all the pro/con for the species.

thanks for the help!!!

[GlassOnion]

Definitely Greys, if you are willing to socialize him as much as you can while he's young. Hahn's Macaws are naturally VERY nippy, almost every one I know bites hard and often, leaving bloody holes in their owners' fingers. They have a huge attitude and a loud call, very demanding birds I believe.

[naomi]

hi glass onion,thanks for the advice.

since im just finish university and i work at home so i will not have any problem to socialize with bird .my best friend keep a timneh grey and it awesome.im still really in doubt about this two species.my mom prefer hahn but my dad pefer grey .

please keep all the comment coming!!!thankssss

[Grey_Moon]

Well...that's a pretty big difference in birds.

I'd say it comes down to what sort of companion bird you're looking for and what 'downsides' from each species you're willing to deal with (keeping in mind each bird is an individual---you may end up with a bird who because of either genetics or the way it was raised doesn't have the typical characteristics.

I own a Timneh as well, and I have found them to be slightly more outgoing than the Congo greys, she isn't afraid to talk in front of strangers or take food from them, but isn't so great about wanting to be touched by them (head scritches are an exception).

Hahns:
-if you want a more gregarious, acrobatic, hands on sort of bird who won't mind close contact
-if you want something more outgoing with more energy
-if you're a sort of active on the go person as mini-macaws don't sit still
-if you are a bit more brash in your own personality, as the hahns are a little more in-your-face
-if you want a fairly resilient bird who is less apt to be shy or afraid

CONS:
-nippy, they tend to be in my opinion much more excitable and thus will pinch you
-louder
-constant activity (for me, it'd be a minus, but for you it might not be)


Greys:
-if you are a more shy/sensitive soul, you might like the grey (they seem to be less confrontational and more empathetic) more than a macaw or amazon that tend to bolder and may not be a good match for someone who doesn't like being a bit more assertive
-if you want a calmer, less hands-on bird (don't get me wrong---greys *NEED* a lot of attention, but they're less likely to want it in the velcro-bird sort of way of being plastered on your chest or crawling on you)
-if you want a sweet, shy and yet goofy bird
-if you want an empathetic bird (i find they really watch and tune in to you and your state of being)
-if you want a quieter (comparatively) bird, they chat and whistle a lot on and off, but in terms of tone, pitch and volume they would be more likely to be quiet than the new world birds
-if you enjoy intellectual yet extremely intuitive relationships with people (greys are thinkers, and often referred to as little old men in grey suits) they are very quiet and refined and may make a good match for someone who likes to sit quiet and watch tv or read a book at night, and you may develop an almost telepathic communication between the two of you

CONS:
-if you want a bird who will be comfortable with tons of people coming over and who goes to check out everyone--this probably isn't your bird, even my timneh is unusually outgoing and she's not about to wander over to say hi anytime soon
-if you want a bird who won't be easily startled or upset (greys are notoriously sensitive and prone to feather-plucking issues)
-if you have dust allergy issues (they're a powder down bird)
-if you want a more high-energy, goofy acrobatic wrestle-and-play-puppy-with-feathers, not your bird
-if you want a cuddly velcro bird
-if you don't have the time/patience to really win them over and dedicate yourself to an almost zen state of mind and completely rethink your bird-human relationship and instead are looking for more of an easy going relationship greys *not* your bird (they do not give their hearts, trust and souls to you easily, and are quick to take it back)
-if you see yourself getting more birds/pets in the future, greys are known for being jealous and not sharing their people well at all

So...ultimately, the choice is up to you.
I love my grey, even though she frustrates me some days and I look at all the macaws and amazons and goofy little senegals etc wondering if I've made the right choice. Would I like to know what it'd be like to have a bird who would wrestle and bounce and play and not make me constantly second-guess myself and if I was doing things right ? yup.
But it's so much more rewarding when she chooses to fly over to me and want a scritch, it makes me feel so awesome, and I enjoy the quiet respectful understanding we have and how much she is in tune with me and how much she teaches me just by reflecting myself back to me.

[naomi]

hi grey moon
wow your reply really make me think and very helpful.

i saw 1 congo grey rescue,6 years old,sex unknown.but i guess is she.when i look at her,she comes straightly to me and ask for a head scratch.i give her small scratch and she ask more.i open her cage there,she walk to on top of her cage and giving her head again to get scratch,lol.

i really fall in love with her,but the rescue guy said she NEVER accept anybody hand to step up.i give my hand,she look at my hand and walk away.is it possible to tame her if i bring her home??is she too old to train?many people said sometimes when u bring a bird to your home,they are not the same bird anymore that u see in petshop/rescue.im scared i cant tamed her and she will refuse to step on my hand forever
which one is always better?purchase a baby grey or rescue grey?
and how much dander they produce?i dont have allergy but if extremely too much maybe not good for my family(have to ask my mom if she is okay)

im very calm person,like to sit on my sofa,play computer,read books and watch movie.
probably grey is better choice for me??
sorry for many question,just want to make sure i get friend for life.
thanks again

[Grey_Moon]

No problem

My own timneh is now about 12 years old and she and I met at about the same age the grey you are considering is now. She came from a neglectful home where they smoked all day and she was left to her own devices in the basement in a rusty cage with old perches and only a bell, she was afraid of everything and exactly like this grey would come over for a scratch but would run away/bite when you asked her to step up.

I can say now that, 7 years later, she happily steps onto my hand to come out of her cage and although she *still* doesn't like to step up off the cage she is certainly not the same scared bird she was before. She gets into everything and will happily try new foods or explore a new toy. IF you want a grey be prepared to be patient, it took me a year and a half to really win her over, but it certainly can be done and the bird can be tamed and taught not to be scared.

A baby grey will come with its own challenges, they are just different than that of a rescued bird. I personally like to rescue birds more as I enjoy helping a bird who needs a home and not contributing to breeders as there are enough unwanted homeless birds as it is. I also find it more rewarding because you actually have to work for the bird's trust and love and it is so much more awesome and amazing when you finally have that breakthrough moment with your rescue bird.

Greys are dusty enough that you will need to wipe down their area every few days and make sure they get daily baths but definetly not so dusty that the dust just floats off them. But you will notice more dust than say with a macaw.

I would say given your lifestyle perhaps a grey would be better suited, but the biggest indicator will be how you and the bird feel about each other. You'll kinda just 'know' that that's the bird for you.

[naomi]

hi grey moon,

fewhh i take a deep breath and i will take her on tuesday.
i hope everything is gonna be alright and i hope we can get along with each other.
wish me luck with her,thanks for the big help

[Grey_Moon]

Good luck

It'll be the most wonderful, frustrating, reduce-you-to-tears-of-joy relationship you'll ever have.
Not being species-ist but there's nothing like a grey