Hello from brazilian future parrot owner

[guilobo13]

Hello guys,
Finally I found one of the best websites about parrot, I'm so happy because me and my son are so excited, we really want buy a parrot but, I'm so confused. What kind of parrot is better for us? I had many of birds in Brazil, including a small parrot called Janday. ( I don't know how call in English). II'm still research and I count with you guys to help us.my son has 7 years old. Thank you so much and I'm sorry about my English, I don't speak very well.

[Wolf]

Well hello and welcome to the forum! There is no need to be sorry about your English. Just be patient with us and I am sure that we can find our way through any difficulties that may come up. We call that one a Jenday here as well. Looking forward to sharing with you.

[Pajarita]

Bemvindo! There are so many wonderful species of parrots in Brazil, I don't know what to recommend. Personally, I would definitely go with a Brazilian species because it would be so much easier to feed as you would have access to everything in its natural diet (something all parrot owners would LOVE!). Seu Inglês é muito bom, não se preocupe com isso! (Sou de Uruguai)

[guilobo13]

Thank you guys. Wolf, do you have african grey right? What you guess, they should be friendly with my family?

[Wolf]

Hi
I think that Pajarita thinks that you live in Brazil, but if I read things correctly you are Brazilian but you live in New Jersey. Is that right?
Yes, I have a Congo African Grey Parrot.
I wish that I had an easy answer to your question, but I really don't. Greys are very special to me and the reason has a lot to do with their intelligence, but just as much with their emotional capacity, which is the part of their personality that makes them difficult to keep happy, for most people. But it also means that they bond much deeper than many other species. They have a strong tendency to bond with one person and pretty much ignore everyone else. They may tolerate others or they may totally reject the idea of anyone else even touching them. And if you get one from a breeder then when it is about 18 months to 2 yrs. of age it will go through puberty and at this time it may change the person to whom it has bonded and rebond with another family member. They are very picky about their special person. Kookooloo will not allow anyone to touch her except for me and she will not allow anyone to touch me when she is on me. but, I honestly could not ask for a sweeter or more devoted bird, and I really don't think that one exists.
Will he/ she accept your family? I don't know ! It may accept them or you, depending on who he/ she chooses to bond with, as part of her flock, he/ she may just tolerate them or he/ she may just outright reject them and refuse to have anything to do with them.
Well that is the best answer that I know how to give to you and I hope that you will find it to be useful to you. Thank you for asking.

[guilobo13]

Yes, you right, I live in NJ.
Oh my god, so beautiful answer and I feel how much you like your birds. I guess the african grey is not for me, unfortunately. I'm still looking,but the more I look the more confused I get. Lol
Guys, thank you so much.

[Harpmaker]

Welcome guilobo13!

We usually advise people trying to decide on what bird to get to volunteer at a parrot rescue. You get a chance to see what different birds act like. You can also get a bird that has already past the stage where it would be choosing a mate in the wild, when it often changes the person it loves the most. You may even find an adult bird that adores you and your son, and give it a home forever.

Take your time choosing because many parrots live a long time, and it is hard on everyone if you get one that is incompatible with you or your son.

Good luck! And enjoy your stay.

[Pajarita]

Yes, sorry, my bad, I did think you were posting from Brazil (we get international postings all the time). Like Wolf said, greys are not 'family' birds but, then, very few parrots are. Even species that are said to be good 'family' pets (like pionus or amazons) have numerous individuals that are one-person birds. It also depends on the family itself, whether there are children, teenagers or adults, if there is a 'stay at home' person, the number of birds and the set-up, etc. In my personal opinion, macaws and cockatoos, when they are well-adjusted, tend to be more flexible about liking several people than other species BUT not all of them are the same (I know of several that are intensely one-person birds and, them been so big, it's a huge problem!) AND they are both extremely 'needy' species so if they have to stay by themselves all day long, they don't ever work out in the long term (they scream, they pluck, etc).