[Twister]

KarenHorn...I don't believe anywhere in my post did I say that cakepro should "practice" on another bird. My intention for posting is to help her make the most informed decision she can make. If she were interested in a cockatoo or even an eclectus, amazon or african grey, I would have done exaclty the same thing....listed every negative trait I could think of so that she knows EXACTLY what she is getting into. I'm not doing it to be mean or to say that these are terrible birds. I've owned or known all of the birds above and loved every one of them. I've also been frustrated beyond belief by them.

For example, my beautiful female eclectus, whom I loved so dearly. She was very bonded to me, tolerated other women and totally DESPISED men! (Probably didn't help that I got her right in the middle of a very nasty divorce! LOL!) When I met my current husband she attacked him every chance she got. She went from a bird that had total freedom to roam the house to one that had to be locked up constantly. I lived with guilt every day but loved her so much I could not bear to part with her. Then one day she attacked my husband and nearly took his eye...she literally missed his eyeball by less than a mm!! He would likely have been blinded in that eye if she had hit her target. I searched for a long time and finally she found a home where the people loved her as much as I did. It breaks my heart to this day!

So that's two parrots I have been responsible for and have had to find new homes for them...and I have experience! This is the point I am trying to make. I would never want another bird to have to be moved from home to home. It's just not fair. I would also never want another person to ever feel the sadness I feel over my parrots.

Cakepro...you, in the end, will do whatever you and your family decide is best for you. I just hope that I have helped to make sure that whatever bird you decide upon can spend it's entire life (and yours!) being happy with you and your family.

If I could just give one last piece of advice...whatever bird you decide upon...make sure that however you think you will interact with it in the future, that you start out that way. For example, if you think down the road that you will only be able to spend an hour or two a week handling the bird, then accept that and treat the bird this way from the moment you bring it home. I know it sounds cruel since they should have at least 2 hours of physical interaction with you every day, but the reality of life sometimes dictates that this can't happen. Also, be prepared, if one of your children develops a special bond with the bird, what happens when that child goes to college? Parrots are not usually allowed in dorms, too loud. Your child leaves home and the parrot can literally pine away to death. Although I admit this is extreme, and more common with a cockatoo than a macaw, but it can happen.

Once again, just make sure that you're making the right decision for yourself and the bird. By posting here and asking, I hope you're on the right track.