EsJ87
Meeting neighbors
Hello !
I am here to gather some opinions on some of y'all Aracari experts. . .
WARNING SUPER LONG POST AHEAD! Stay with me.... & help! lol
MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
I've owned birds all my life, budgies, parakeets, cockatiels, etc... My Mom currently has an African Grey so I'm familiar with the necessities of a medium size parrot. In fact, I helped with much of the handling the first year he was home (but then I moved out) and now Mom is his ONE PERSON and he hates everyone else. . . My husband and I previously adopted a Pineapple Conure, she was super smart, very cuddly, and easily clicker trained... BUT were unable to keep her in our for multiple reasons, so we ended up returning her to the original owner/breeder. I was totally heartbroken, and my husband promised at the time when we owned our own house maybe we could adopt another bird... 2 years later, and here we are 2 months into our large new single family home!
__________________________________________________ _
My husband had decided to gift me a bird for my birthday this year (in April).
He had selected a Solomon Island female (because i don't like the color green lol) Ekkie as the bird of choice... and was planning to purchase a baby in advance, and take me to the pet store to let me hold it once it was weaned before saying "SURPRISE ITS YOURS!"
However, We went to visit some Toucanettes and Aracaris from Jennings' farm a week ago (just for fun! I had no idea he was going to let me get a bird!) ... long story short I kinda fell in love with many of their qualities... They're quiet, super cuddly and no biting or plucking! I personally loved the Curls and Chestnuts but they are out of my price range - So I am considering an Ivory bill or Lettered instead. After seeing me with the Toucanettes, he decided then and there he wasn't so sure anymore that he should pick a bird FOR ME since I'll be the main caretaker, trainer, and maid
LOL So he ruined his own surprise and told me I'd be allowed to get a feathered friend for my birthday this year - Even if it WAS an Aracari instead of an Ekkie....
To be totally honest, my husband HATED the conure's constant barrage of seemingly random screams... and the conure also bit his fingers bloody on almost daily occasions. We aren't sure what lead to these behaviors and I tried multiple avenues for diversion, training, etc to no avail. . . So - my husband did a lot of research in picking the SI Ekkie due to their speaking ability (which i Love in Mom's grey), more docile/calm nature overall, their relative quietness in parrot-speak (no 90 min screams), and the fact that they aren't really NEEDY birds like a cockatoo. I'm VERY MUCH drawn to the species once I was able to do some research on the over the last few days. . . However, I fear that while I may tolerate and even learn to respect their random screaming and hormonal biting - That my husband may not be so forgiving WHEN it does happen.
I AM TORN!
Should I go for the more common Parrot...trainable, talkative Ekkie that will occasionally bite, pluck and scream.... Or should I go with the safer bet of a small, quiet, cuddly yet independent Aracari toucan that won't present any of those issues (but will also possibly be nearly as entertaining)... SIGH.... First World Problems y'all! Apples and Oranges - I'm having such a hard time!!
HELP!!?!
PS - Our current family only consists of myself, my husband, and 2 doggies. An Aussie Shepard (4) and a lab mix (5). . . We live in a 2000+ sq foot home with huge open spaces, and I would plan to have my new bird free-flighted under supervision. I'd also like to do clicker training with any bird I would adopt as I found it to be great fun!
I am here to gather some opinions on some of y'all Aracari experts. . .
WARNING SUPER LONG POST AHEAD! Stay with me.... & help! lol
MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
I've owned birds all my life, budgies, parakeets, cockatiels, etc... My Mom currently has an African Grey so I'm familiar with the necessities of a medium size parrot. In fact, I helped with much of the handling the first year he was home (but then I moved out) and now Mom is his ONE PERSON and he hates everyone else. . . My husband and I previously adopted a Pineapple Conure, she was super smart, very cuddly, and easily clicker trained... BUT were unable to keep her in our for multiple reasons, so we ended up returning her to the original owner/breeder. I was totally heartbroken, and my husband promised at the time when we owned our own house maybe we could adopt another bird... 2 years later, and here we are 2 months into our large new single family home!
__________________________________________________ _
My husband had decided to gift me a bird for my birthday this year (in April).
He had selected a Solomon Island female (because i don't like the color green lol) Ekkie as the bird of choice... and was planning to purchase a baby in advance, and take me to the pet store to let me hold it once it was weaned before saying "SURPRISE ITS YOURS!"
However, We went to visit some Toucanettes and Aracaris from Jennings' farm a week ago (just for fun! I had no idea he was going to let me get a bird!) ... long story short I kinda fell in love with many of their qualities... They're quiet, super cuddly and no biting or plucking! I personally loved the Curls and Chestnuts but they are out of my price range - So I am considering an Ivory bill or Lettered instead. After seeing me with the Toucanettes, he decided then and there he wasn't so sure anymore that he should pick a bird FOR ME since I'll be the main caretaker, trainer, and maid
![](http://www.parrotforums.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
To be totally honest, my husband HATED the conure's constant barrage of seemingly random screams... and the conure also bit his fingers bloody on almost daily occasions. We aren't sure what lead to these behaviors and I tried multiple avenues for diversion, training, etc to no avail. . . So - my husband did a lot of research in picking the SI Ekkie due to their speaking ability (which i Love in Mom's grey), more docile/calm nature overall, their relative quietness in parrot-speak (no 90 min screams), and the fact that they aren't really NEEDY birds like a cockatoo. I'm VERY MUCH drawn to the species once I was able to do some research on the over the last few days. . . However, I fear that while I may tolerate and even learn to respect their random screaming and hormonal biting - That my husband may not be so forgiving WHEN it does happen.
I AM TORN!
Should I go for the more common Parrot...trainable, talkative Ekkie that will occasionally bite, pluck and scream.... Or should I go with the safer bet of a small, quiet, cuddly yet independent Aracari toucan that won't present any of those issues (but will also possibly be nearly as entertaining)... SIGH.... First World Problems y'all! Apples and Oranges - I'm having such a hard time!!
HELP!!?!
![](http://www.parrotforums.com/images/parrots/red.gif)
![](http://www.parrotforums.com/images/parrots/greenyellow.gif)
PS - Our current family only consists of myself, my husband, and 2 doggies. An Aussie Shepard (4) and a lab mix (5). . . We live in a 2000+ sq foot home with huge open spaces, and I would plan to have my new bird free-flighted under supervision. I'd also like to do clicker training with any bird I would adopt as I found it to be great fun!