Hello all. My wife and I are considering adding a new bird to the flock. We currently have a 1 year old green Quaker Parrot, and a 6 month old Senegal Parrot. We love them both and love the differences in both of them. The Quaker is a great!! talker but not very snuggly, he likes to do all the affection giving. The Senegal is a little angel, loves to snuggle and play but isn't the best talker in the world(She Tries real hard though). We have 3 birds in mind right now. A Blue Quaker, Hahn's Macaw, and a Eclectus(Maybe a SIE). That all being said any input on a Hahn's Macaw and a Eclectus, things to look for, pro+cons, or any other input you have would be very much appreciated.

I've heard from other eclectus owners that they're usually not a one person bird. They tend to like all members of the family and not just one person. However, a woman I talked to had an eclectus that was just hitting maturity, and said that he was being a little terror. I don't really know from my own experience though.

Boy you've chosen fairly full spectrum... From my experience bird sitting and being around the bird shop and working for one of my mentors I'd have to say, if it were me I'd choose either the Hahns or the Blue Quaker. Their diets aren't nearly as specialized as the Eclectus' are, The Eckie alarm call is so totally annoying to me I think they're beautiful birds but I don't think I'd want to own one.

The Hahns are cute little birds, But they can be pretty intense, can get loud and as with a lot of the mini macaws they have a tendency to have quite an attitude as they mature.

Quakers...well, they're one of my favorite makes no difference in the color to me... So I guess for me it would depend on how much money I had to play with as to which bird I'd get of the two.

I'm a lot of help aren't I...

So what prompted you to choose the three you've chosen?

Well the Quaker is Pretty Easy......I love my Gizmo, I love everything about him, thought it would be cool to have a blue one or maybe even a Palid Ice Blue. The Hahn's Macaw well I had a chance to interact with one a few times. It's was like a cross between my Quaker and my Senegal. Very smart like my quaker yet snuggly and lovey like my Senegal. Plus I think they are gorgeous. Now the Eclectus I just think that a female Solomon Island is one of the most beautiful birds out there. I don't know alot about them, not as much as I would like to know. I have been doing alot of research on other boards about them. I was hoping that there might be a few owners on here that might give me some input.

I have an eclectus and I wouldnt let their diet scare ya off. I feed mine like I do my other birds and he gets along great. A good pellet, a little seed and fruit and veggies.

How about a child? I have a 7 year old boy. My Quaker and Senegal are great with him and he is great with them. How would a Eclectus fit in with our family? I don't want to displace one of my birds because I got a new one and I surely wouldn't want a bird that I wouldn't feel safe being with my son.

I have a Hahn's macaw and she is a gem.
Truly, a macaw in a pint sized body. She is affectionate,clever,active,cuddly,super smart,talkative,and a clown!

She was initially bonded to me and only me. But when my mom made the effort to befriend her, Mia welcomed her friendship with open wings
Around people she doesn't know she's shy but not mean.

She's very active. Much more so than my Quaker was. She has a big cage and a big playstand... and I still wish I had more for her to play on!

She's 7 months old and talks up a storm. She learns QUICKLY! She knows several words and phrases. She's very articulate and is developing different tones. Her "hello" is the cutest. You can totally tell what she wants. Example:
Sweet "Hello" (means HI, get me out of the cage)
Aggrivated "HELLLLLO" (Means.. why haven't you taken me out yet)
Questioning "hello??" (if she hears someone outside of the door... like an "are you there..." or if she wants my attention when I'm doing something)
Declarative "HELLO" (ya ya ya .. I'm here I'm just busy beating up this toy)

She's funny. I was trying to teach her the game peekaboo and she doesn't like not being able to see me. So if I hid my face behind my hands, she would walk up... pull my hands down and give me this look as if to say "what, do you think I'm an idiot? I know you're in there"
So I tried hiding under a blanket. Still, she marches around and burrows under the blanket to be with me. And gets SO excited, like "yyeesssss I found you!". I guess she likes hide and seek better than peekaboo. She does say "peeka" and "abooo"... it's asking too much for her to say those two together though I guess

I can go on and on and on. She makes me smile everyday.

She's not a screamer. I know this varies from bird to bird- but Mia has never been a screamer. She gets excited. Like when I come home she will let me know she's happy to see me. But for the most part, throughout the day... I hear from her "Hello, I love you, come on, step up...". It's all words. It's cute now too because she mumbles a LOT. I can't wait to hear what comes out of her mouth sometimes. I live in a bedroom with her, my parakeets and parrotlets. And she's by far, the most quiet.

Any negatives? veeeeeeeeeery few!
-when she's super excited she can get nippy. Not BITING but she'll put her beak on you and squeeze a little... it's not really painful, just annoying
- she throws. LITERALLY... THROWS her pellets at me. I guess she want to share? She loves it when I vacuum so
- she's brave. to a fault. she has no problem taking on my dogs!! She marches right up to them... and they just look at me like "MOMMA.. THE BIRD... IT'S COMING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DOOOOO" lol...
-she's clingy. Always wants to be with me. And it's hard to say no. I spend time with her daily. She's out of her cage for HOURS. But I think it's important for a bird to amuse itself and learn how to play by itself. It was SO HARD... especially when she was still a baby baby. She'd sit on her perch and just STARE at me. It so hard to say no! Today, I was vacuuming around her stand and she was out (having a conversation with the vacuum... she loves the thing!) and all of a sudden I feel something on my back pocket. I was close to her stand and she hooked on and went for a ride.
-be prepared to set limits. She is a macaw- NO means NO. When she was a baby, and she bit too hard, she'd get a time out in her cage (which meant staring longingly at me with sad eyes) When she threw a tantrum, she'd get a time out. When she tried to climb onto my head- TIME OUT. Be firm. Be consistent. I now have an incredibly well behaved bird who knows what the word "no" means. Who I can trust around necklaces, buttons, glasses because I know she isn't going to touch them and if she shows interest, I tell her "no" and she remembers how to be a good girl!

I love her to death, I don't know if you can tell!?
To me, she's the perfect package!!

Good luck with your decision! Always remember, no two birds are alike, I'm just relating you my experiences with my Hahn's!

I think that if you get him young then he will be as good with your boy as the other two. They normally dont like loud and chaotic households. They like a more laid back serene one. It is just me and my hubby here so mine does object to company if it gets too noisey. But I think if it is raised with a little more noise then he will be used to it. Mine is a male. I do think they are more laid back than the female. I have had mine at least 4 years and he was a year old when I got him. He has NEVER bitten me. I think an eclectus can socialize with the whole family. even though the females are quite beautiful.. I would suggest the male for the family pet. Ive never had a female but as i understand it they are more tempramental and can be more hormonal. I think the screaming will depend on each bird. Mine doesnt scream much unless company comes. We dont have a lot of company so he isnt used to it. But if I am having a group over and they are staying for a while. I just put him in another room. He likes that better. Keep in mind that in these birds the female is the boss. The male mostly helps feed and sounds the alarm of danger. So he is just doing what he thinks he is suppose to be doing.

I voted blue quaker only because I don't know anything about the other two. Plus I would want a bird that my other two could possibly get along with. The other two are a little big I think for safe interaction. I dont know for sure so just ignore my comment!!

Maybe i'm biased on this question but we got a hahns macaw a few months back, she is a DNA's female and was about 7 months old when we got her from the breeder. we LOVE that bird! she can be loud at times but her noises dont get on my nerves like some other birds noises. she is cuddly, sweet, playful and sooooooo much fun and best of all she doesnt seem to favor any family members over another and shes great with the kids!

That is very good information to know about the difference between the male's and female's. I almost took them off the list, it really seems that people were trying to run me off from getting an Eclectus (More on another board than here) I guess what I really need to do is find a store or a breeder somewhere that has one and interact with them. It's the only species of bird on my list that I haven't had a chance to interact with.

I will add that they are not a cuddly bird per say. They dont like head scritches. Im sure their are some who might but as a rule, no. But they do like to just sit with ya while you do your chores or watch tv. A lot of people teach them to be secure percheing on a basket handle that wont turn over, and carry them from room to room so they can be with them. They like to be with you even if not cuddling.. Mine is actually very quiet compared to my other birds. When he does scream it can be loud but that is not often. Just do your research.

All great info!!! Thanks a bunch!!!!!!

UPDATE: I have decided on a Pallid Blue Quaker. I love quakers so much , plus he/she would be a better fit with my current flock of a green quaker and my Senegal. Thank you all who gave great info!

I have a blue quaker and love her to bits...I'd chose one of the other two because I already have a blue quaker...I feel in love with a female eclectus as a pet shop. I walked over to her and started to have a chat with her and tell her she was very beautiful (she loved it) so I pushed my luck a little bit and offered her an arm to step onto, she jumped on and started telling me all about life and wanted to play...if only she had been for sale...she belonged to one of staff...

I Have a male electus.. now my advice.. if you get an eclectus go with a male.. their just as gorgeous.. as the females, without the attitude.. females are known to be quite a handful at times, heck its a female.. and a male eclectus is awesome, everyone I personally know who have eclectuses would all say thats your best choice.. not a lovee bird, and the ones I know do their alarm call, only a couple of times a day... and really quicly too when they have grown up in a nuturing, and respectful household of their needs.. the diet doesnt scare me off either, it works, lots of veggies and fruits, we eat alot of that here in our home.. so it works for us... brown rice and beans.. mixed bean soups.. fresh herbs.. they eat heck everything if you give it to them... and wow what a vocabulary, my electus blows my friends cags and tags... away.. he's special though LOL, he was raised by me.. (smiles), but seriously, very laid back bird, easily entertains himself, and never has hurt anyone, respect their needs and they make wonderful pets.. check them out on youtube.. not a one owner bird either.. everyone holds Gucci