Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Rich,

    1.	A Grey is out. I don't think you'll get a Grey to love strangers.
    2.	Go the whole hog and get a Macaw !

    Jim Burke

    Jim,
    	That IS the reason I don't want a Gray.  Too bad, they are gorgeous
    birds!!!
    	How are Macaws for talking?  As good as a nape?  Better than
    a sulfur-crested?  The only thing I don't like about Macaws are
    their loud SQUAAAAWK! (goes right through me)  But that was from
    the larger Macaws.  Boston Pet in Cambridge has a beautiful, all
    blue Macaw (It is HUGE!!!) for a mere $25,000.00 (Boriguard is his
    name "Bo" for short).
    
    
    				Rich
    

    That BLUE macaw is probably a hyacinth macaw.......Blue and Gold
    is the most prevelant and not too awful priced...(1600 or so)
    
    I have two napes that can outscream a macaw, so dont sweat the noise.
    They also stop (or at least dont as much)squack as they get tamer
    and tamer. Matter of fact, My macaws let me know when I am neglecting
    them by squacking.
    
    I have em all, Greys, napes, yellow heads, Blue fronts, Blue and
    gold and green winged macaws and moluccan cockatoos and without
    a doubt the macaw is the most outstanding as far as initial 'grab
    you by the throat' beauty and size. And they are as capable of speach
    as an amazon, just depends on the "quality" time spent with them.
    
    hope this helps.
    
    if not, give me a call!  226-6821
    chet

    re .2
    I would disagree about the Grey -- two of my friends have hand fed
    Greys who beg for head scratches and crawl onto the hand of annyone
    who walks in!
    

    Your friends have some outstanding Greys.  From my personal experience,
    I would tend to agree with .2.  My Grey goes into screaming hysterics
    when strangers even walk a little too close to his cage.  My
    sister-in-law has a hand-fed Grey which she raised from a baby.
     He gets very upset with stranges around and lets her and them know
    it by biting everyone, including her, rather viciously.  They seem
    to be, at least these two do, a good bit more nervous than Amazons.
     I also have a Red Lored Amazon who, while he prefers women strangers
    to men, will let strangers handle him to some extent without biting.
     I have only seen him bite when pushed a little too far, as in when
    someone insisted on handling him and he did not want them to.  However,
    he gave these people fair warning first, by backing away or taking
    a foot and pushing the hand away.  He also loves children, no matter
    what sex and no matter how roughly they handle him, although we
    keep a close watch on the situation.
    
    Laurie
    

    Does anyone know of any reputable breeders of napes and sulfur-crested
    Cockatoos?  As stated in .0, I won't be buying til spring.  How
    about prices for these, domestic and wild?  I am leaning HEAVILY
    towards a domestic bred but may, in certain cases consider a wild.
    Oh, breeders in the Boston/Maynard/Tewksbury area will be closest
    for me.  How about more comments on birds?  and these I've chosen?
    
    				Rich
    

    I made a mistake!  The Cockatoo I was looking for, and told was
    the best talker for Cockatoos was a Triton not a Sulfur-crested.
    The Triton Cockatoos I've seen were around $2500-4000 but I was
    told by a friend that a good price would be $1600.  Does anybody
    know a good price for these OR any info on them?
    Thanks.
    					Rich
    

    Rich,
    
    If you are looking for a cuddly bird then the Cockatoo may be your
    best bet.  I have a hand fed Yellow Nape and he is a splendid talker
    in every sense of the word!  He can pick up phrases in a matter
    of days, depending on the difficulty.  I taught him to sing Jingle
    Bells within 2 weeks, and he is just 18 months old.  He is extremely\
    intelligent and learned his favorite person's name (My husband Don)
    all on his own and knows when to call him.  He loves my husband
    and lets him do most anything to him but no one else can cuddle
    with him.  Napes are independent, fiesty birds and have mood changes.
    What you have to determine is what you want from your bird.
    An excellent talker, a cuddler, or a little of both.  I knew
    what I wanted most, (a good talker), researched the best talking
    birds and found the Yellow Nape (in my opinion) to be the best
    overall.  They do squak at times but not nearly as loud as an
    McCaw, and I usually know that he wants attention and If I am busy
    I suffice with a chicken bone which he readily accepts and picks
    at for 1/2 hour or so.  We thoroughly enjoy his antics, and above
    all his great intelligence.  He has brought us many enjoyable hours
    and we wouldn't trade him for the world.  His speaking ability
    is superb.  I took a tape of him when I visited my mother in Calif.
    Last week and they could not believe that it was a parrot!
    
    Best of luck on whatever you choose!  
    
    Denise.

    Thanks Denise.  I guess my problem IS what I want in a bird.  I
    DO want an intelligent/excellent talker/VERY handleable (by all)/
    playful (as much as a Cockatoo?) and then some all rolled into one
    bird.  It looks like there isn't just ONE type of bird that will
    satisfy all my requirements, and more on an individual bird basis.
    I would just like to know the TYPE of bird I am looking for, THEN
    I can go and find the "best" one of THAT type.  Not an easy thing.
    I may have to sacrifice some characteristics for others, but which
    to choose???  Do I sacrifice looks and friskyness for a great talker
    and a high IQ?  It looks as though if a Triton (or Sulfur-crested)
    Cockatoo could be as good a talker as a yellow nape, I'd have no
    problems decidine.  On the other hand, If a nape was more striking
    in it's looks and antics/playfullness, I'd buy a nape.
    	At least I've got plenty of time to ask questions and play with
    different types of birds.  That's why I have been inquiring about
    other types to search for that may fill my needs.
    
    			Thanks again,
    				Rich
    

    
    There is nothing (keep the flames low, this is only this writer's
    opinion) prettier, and more playful than a Blue & Gold Macaw...
    
    However, they are not known as real good talkers.  They will talk
    some if you work on it, but they are not a nape, double yellowhead
    or a gray....
    
    		-dick

    I don't understand....
    
    My Grey loves to play, gives nice kisses (not rip your nose off),
    likes to get turned upside down and tickled on his feet, says
    all kinds of stuff including "Tickle Tickle Tickle", Loves to have
    his head, neck (like around what would be his chin) and under his 
    wings scratched, has never once bitten to break skin... The list 
    goes on...  <To me my Grey is the perfect bird.. Loves hugs and 
    kisses, talkes up a storm and doesn't SCREAM or growl>
    
    My Cockatoo just loves attention period!  She will SCREAM and I
    mean LOUD for it.  She says "CLARE BEAR" pretty ledgibly.  You
    can do just about anything to this one and she would love it.  She
    especially likes to snuggle.  I love Clare, but get some doosies
    of headaches listening to her scream... We are working on this!
    
    You can't place so much enphesis on the breed.  I feel REAL strong
    about this.  Birds are so unique and I don't think alot of peole
    realize this.  Alot of my friends say "Oh you have an African Grey,
    Don't they bite hard?"  Don't fall into those stereotypical beliefs
    that have been going on in different breeds.  Spend time with the 
    bird before you buy it and learn about how the bird spent his first
    few months, this will make all the difference!  
    
    NOTE:  I'm not saying all Greys are affectionate and all Cockatoos
           are screamers!
    
    Re: -1
    
    How can someone flame you for loving your bird!  Let um try! IMHO
    
    Karen

    RE .11  Karen,  I just couldn't resist...
    
    What's IHMO?
    
    Also, I do think that hand raised or wild caught does make a big
    difference.  Although they exist, I don't think as a norm that wild
    caught greys ever get as tame as you describe with yours.
    
    Laura and Mad Max

    I second .12, wild caught greys are more difficult to tame.
    
    Ed (IMHO  :-))
    

    re: 12
    
    Hi Laura!
    
    Yes there is truly a BIG diff between hand-fed and wild caughts.
    I just got a bug up my B_tt yesterday.  I have heard some comments
    recently from some folks about breeds of birds and I just think 
    its not fair to the bird to judge him on his breed.  
    
    A breeder brought in two of his hand fed baby Grey's for show
    and tell.  Absolutely the sweetist things.  One man started 
    telling a potentially interested woman that Grey's growl and 
    they can get nippy, pluck their feathers, Don't tame well etc.. 
    Well needless to say I opened my mouth as I was holding one 
    of the babies and told the guy what I thought about his comments.... 
    I guess I could have gone a little easier on the guy, but I think 
    the woman is going to buy one!  That makes it all worth it to me.... 
    If she would have listened to this guy, this bird would have
    lost one opportunity to go home with a really nice woman
    who will give him lots of love!
    
    Well I did it again,  I promise I'll drop it (ie get off my soapbox)!
    
    Karen