Looking for the right kind

[Fportilla77]

They should be flighted and it's really rare that senegals will learn to talk

[Wayne361]

They should be flighted and it's really rare that senegals will learn to talk

Its not rare....mine talks all the time. They are just not known to be fantastic talkers but most do talk.... That being said, NOBODY should purchase a bird due to speaking potential.

Wayne

[cml]

I agree with some of the stuff here, but we got an amazon as our first bird and a pionus as our second, and so far its working great. There's been a few setbacks and issues that we've dealt with, but as long as one doesnt give up, most things can be solved! We had a biting issue with Stitch that Ive through time and blood have been able to solve .
I think all it takes is motivation and determination, and you can tackle almost any problem.

There is no way that Stitch is ending up in a rescue just because he wasnt a "starter bird". That said, I agree that amazons definetely are not easy birds. Their beak is very powerful and they have very big personalities. I can see that some people throw themselvs into more than they thought when getting an amazon.

I am also not sure that getting a budgie first would have been a smart thing for me, because part of why I love Stitch so much is because of his intelligence and feelings (not intending to start a debate on whether animals feel or not, but I believe they do). I am sure budgies are very smart as well (not trying to rack down on them at all, I think they are very cute ), but my general impression is that you dont get the same level of interaction with one as you do with a big parrot.
I can SEE and feel how much Stitch and Leroy want to spend time with me, whereas most budgies Ive read about, especially if they arent forced to be solitary birds, dont like to spend time with people other than training with millet ^^ (of course this is just what Ive read here on the forums and other places online as well).
For me, that would have diminished my interest with parrots and thus not have been a good starter bird for me at all.

And all the "I've done my research" stuff is bull because you can read about it all you want but when you're ears are ringing or your hands are bleeding it's entirely different.

Yes, this is very true. You can do research on species, visit birds, etc, but until you actually LIVE with a bird you have no idea whats coming. However, doing extensive research will at least mentally prepare you for the life with parrots , even if some people cant take it when they experience it for real.

[Nir]

I agree with some of the stuff here, but we got an amazon as our first bird and a pionus as our second, and so far its working great. There's been a few setbacks and issues that we've dealt with, but as long as one doesnt give up, most things can be solved! We had a biting issue with Stitch that Ive through time and blood have been able to solve .
I think all it takes is motivation and determination, and you can tackle almost any problem.

There is no way that Stitch is ending up in a rescue just because he wasnt a "starter bird". That said, I agree that amazons definetely are not easy birds. Their beak is very powerful and they have very big personalities. I can see that some people throw themselvs into more than they thought when getting an amazon.

I am also not sure that getting a budgie first would have been a smart thing for me, because part of why I love Stitch so much is because of his intelligence and feelings (not intending to start a debate on whether animals feel or not, but I believe they do). I am sure budgies are very smart as well (not trying to rack down on them at all, I think they are very cute ), but my general impression is that you dont get the same level of interaction with one as you do with a big parrot.
I can SEE and feel how much Stitch and Leroy want to spend time with me, whereas most budgies Ive read about, especially if they arent forced to be solitary birds, dont like to spend time with people other than training with millet ^^ (of course this is just what Ive read here on the forums and other places online as well).
For me, that would have diminished my interest with parrots and thus not have been a good starter bird for me at all.

And all the "I've done my research" stuff is bull because you can read about it all you want but when you're ears are ringing or your hands are bleeding it's entirely different.

Yes, this is very true. You can do research on species, visit birds, etc, but until you actually LIVE with a bird you have no idea whats coming. However, doing extensive research will at least mentally prepare you for the life with parrots , even if some people cant take it when they experience it for real.

is gcc personality more similar to a budgie or a bigger bird like senegal in your opinion.

[cml]

is gcc personality more similar to a budgie or a bigger bird like senegal in your opinion.

From what Ive gathered from the GCC owners on these forums, they seem to be bigger birds in smaller package , but I havnt ever met one myself.
The only conures Ive met was a couple of aviary sun conures, and that doesnt give you an idea of what they are like as companion parrots, so I have no personal experience withthem at all.

From what Ive read though, they seem to be intelligent and goofy birds that likes cuddling, with the biggest downside being a nippy period that if left untreated, can become a problem. I think they sound like lovely birds .

Its the same with Senegals really, I dont have much personal experience with them. I have met a few and interacted with them (step up etc), but thats really really limited exposure. Those particular senegals were very wellbehaved, but I think a lot of other people here on the forums are much more knowlegdable about senegals than me.