Hi from Arizona

[Beckyaz]

Hi everyone,
I'm Becky and I am new to the forum. My husband and I have a lot of experience, especially with macaws, greys and few other smaller ones (caiques, poicephelous, conures). I have done a lot of volunteering, foster work and bird sitting. We currently do not have any parrots, but have lived with a military, an African Congo, a caique and a Meyers either as foster birds for a while or until they passed. We are interested in getting another parrot, but we having SUCH a hard time making a decision on the type. We love so many different parrots that it makes it really hard. We only want one parrot that we can give him the time and attention needed. We have considered an African gray, a milder amazon (lilac, mealy or others
) a pionus and even a lineolated parakeet, each for their own unique reasons. We LOVE macaws, but the size for cages and other macaw things are not right for us right now. The amazon has always interested me, but having never had one in my home, it seems like the biggest risk. The others I have first-hand experience with. I am hoping to get to know owners on the forum with personal experience raising and living with these guys so that I can keep learning and weighing the options for this big decision. My husband and I both love parrots and both appreciate different things about
them, so that makes it hard sometimes. . I guess the upside is that we have rarely met a parrot we dont love. Thanks for reading!

[Cage Cleaner]

IMO, and from personal experience, one shouldn't get a bird as a compromise for another bird. If you are interested in Amazons, get an Amazon. Any bird you get, you will have for many years to come. Others may disagree with me, and recommend that you get a "starter" bird instead, for more experience before you delve into a "big" bird. But, you seem to be fairly well-experienced already, and I absolutely do not believe in such things as starter birds anyway.

With all that said, though... I really like Linnies. Especially baby ones that aren't weaned yet (NOT SAYING to buy an unweaned parrot). They are so cute when they beg.

[jrz2az]

Hi! I live in AZ too, so I thought I'd speak up. I'm certainly no expert, so I really won't/can't give advice. Your post says you have experience, so that's good; I inherited my first 2 parrots so I have struggled with behavior issues etc. We have 2 Amazons (bonded pair) and they are for sure a handful. It sure would have helped if I had known more about training them and honestly I think my fiance's mother (from whom we inherited them) did not know much about parrots either other than to love, clean and feed them. Luckily the weather in Az is such that it's easy to wheel the cage to the patio to hose it down and give them baths etc. My Amazons are (in their cage) on the patio right now enjoying the weather and enjoying being away from my African Gray. It's nice to have some quiet in the house, but that's a whole other story.

If you're in the Phoenix area, I can tell you about a good bird store, where we got our African Grey, and the owner is quite experienced with birds and does house calls (within his area) for wing/toenail clipping.

I would think that when looking for a new bird, you might check bird stores, vets, Craigs List (friends of ours found 2 parrots - separately - that they LOVE on CL) for adoptable birds because there are birds who need a good home, rather than starting from a baby. You may then be able to find out info from current owners on behavior and habits, etc. for that particular bird. Izzy, our Grey, has been wonderful and he's 7 years old; his previous owners became ill and could no longer care for him. He's quite the chatterbox and we have lots of fun with him.

Good luck!

[liz]

Welcome to the forum.

If you volunteer at an avian shelter you should be able to choose the individual bird that connects with you.

Myrtle, my rescued amazon, just buzzed me and smacked me on top of the head with her wing.
I'm just grateful she does not poop while flying.