zs_phil

iTrader: (1)

hi all just wondering if anyone on here has a macaw for a pet or any other large exotic bird,been to a garden centre today and next door was a pet shop
and they had a fantastic blue and gold macaw who loves to have a tickle and walk on the floor of the shop quite funny to watch really.
how are these for pets ,i know they are noisy but dont know how noisy as we have a neighbour and also 2 children.

boxst

I had a sulpher crested cockatoo and it was a great pet: Friendly, chatty (slightly noisy!) and as it was called Indiana I spent way too long getting him to whistle the theme tune to Indiana Jpnes.. With children, I'm not so sure. They are a little temperamental and can bite.

DYK

Let me say this too you,Noisy is an understatement fooking does your head in is more like the answer.Wanna watch telly forget it,unless you wheel the cage into another room,constant squawk squawk.Damn thing knows when i wanna watch a bit of tv,it starts yapping away almost like it's doing it on purpose just to **** me off..I tell it too shut up and now the damn bird is telling me too shut up,and it knows my name.Can't wait till this one snuffs it.

thesyn

Very intelligent and get bored very easily.
Think of them as a 3 year old with a pair of pliers, got bitten by an African Grey once!!
They are also long lived.
Probably best if there is someone home all day.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Ask Sara, I heard she has had a Cockatoo in the past

jasey

don't they live for 60-70 years

boxst

They can live up to 100 apparently. I should go and see mine, I gave it to a zoo when life was too difficult and I couldn't spend the amount of time required to look after him.

Steve

DYK

100 LOL it will live longer than me,ive been told porkies then.Wasn't even my idea to have it..Im just not having it,how can it live too 100 it's an effing parrot,ohhh i can just imagine it laughing at my Funeral.so is no chance it's gonna snuff it anytime soon then,**** me sideways.

worley

A collegue has one, nasty piece of work (the bird that is);

Lol, 70 years is about right, plenty of time to shorten that then?


Nik

Rapid17

Sti-Tom

i have had an african grey ( lovely parrot ) and my in-laws have had 2 x cockatoos and they have an amazon parrot now!!

BAD POINTS
very noisey
live to aprox 70ish
make a terrible mess
they can smell if not cleaned out every other day!
very destructive when out of the cage
need attention all the time
they will bite!! even the tamest of parrots
vet bills can be very large ( trust me i know ) imho a sick bird is a dead bird!!

GOOD POINTS
there lovely birds
talk and sing
mimics lots of noises ( phone/alarm/etc )
they can be your best friend

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

I looked after a parrot for someone about 20 years ago.......all it did was eat, squawk and deficate (to put it politely).

I think you have to be a fan of birds / parrots to get one LOL

Shaun

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Have to say, the Parrot ownership experience sounds a lot like knocking about with J4ckos mate.

Gordo

need constant attention and massively increase your risk of lung cancer. other than that they're great

zs_phil

iTrader: (1)

loved him to bits but i slept on the matter and couldnt justify spending £2000 on a pet so instead will be spent on the car

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

..............blimey, I thought our mutt was expensive at £800 !!!

Shaun

zs_phil

iTrader: (1)

£1650 for bird but said £2000 for bird and cage and toys etc but yes i could buy another boxer puppy miss my other