Which should I get ...? Are there any differences in these birds ..? Intelligence wise? Life Span? Ect ...Thank you!
Answers:
Depending on how old you are, know that both are like sending a child to college on the amount of the cost. A grey does not demand the cage space a macaw does. A macaw also has a loud scream compare to a grey. Macaws will voice their opinions more so then a grey and need to be vocal. Where as a grey will and can tend to be more noise makers. Greys can be plucker's if you modify their daily schedule in the slightest. Both can live to be 80+ with a proper diet of pellets and veggies, pasta, meat, cheese, fruits, and table food. Both have specific food requirements.
Greys have a vitamin A and D deficiencies, while the macaw needs a high protein diet which is found in meat. Both are found to die of Fatty Liver Disease which cuts into their life span drastically.
The macaws tend to get nasty when they hit sexual maturity, and if you have never had a bird i would not reccomend one as a first bird. A macaw has a 750lb beak pressure, and for that reason alone they can be intimidating to a new bird owner. You can NOT fear a beak on a macaw, or they will rule you.
Most macaw cages have play pen tops, why(it's the most stupid things cage designers have done)who knows, macaws should never be above your eye level. That means never allow the bird on your shoulder, if you choose a macaw. Macaws do more damage to people's faces sitting on shoulders then i have seen in all my years (20+ yrs).
The intelligence wise, both have the intelligence of 7 yr old children, but so do cockatoos. I do not beleive the greys are the #1 talkers, i have dealt with cockatoos that are much smarter then a grey could ever be. Never saw a grey pick a pad lock and then place the key back where they got it from and look to see if anyone saw them do it, LOL. Other species of birds were never tested yet, that's all.
The diets are important, so you want a baby that has the right diet. The more variety of foods you feed, the healthier the bird will be. Feeding one thing, is not going to make your bird healthy. Feed it what you eat, and off your table will give the bird the variety of vitamins, proteins, and minerals the bird needs to be healthy.
What bird you pick is entirely up to you. Know that it's a life time commitment and think now that if something might change in your life, this kid isn't leaving home for the rest of your life. It's something you will be passing onto your relatives if you feed it properly. So if your life style changes, or you go to college, this bird will be with you. Don't make this decision lightly.
Good Luck with your decison!
I like macaws. They are much bigger and better looking, but the Greys are among the top talkers.
Which every bird you buy, it will be a life long commitment. Both birds would need much care and attention, even more than humans as they get very bored easily. I find that the African Grey is a fantastic mimic, really human sounding. I don't have much experience with Macaws but they do have very big beaks being a much larger bird! I think the life span of a macaw is around 60-80 years and the best pets are the gold and blue ones, either male or female. Try www.allmacaws.com. Not sure how long an African Grey lives but I would have thought 20+ years at least. Both parrots are extremely intelligent. Good luck
Parrots - any parrot - can easily live up to 100 years, so you might want to consider that when you're looking at these birds. Both are very intelligent; but it really depends on how much you're willing to work with them to get them to understand what it is that you want them to do! I think the African Greys might comprehend things faster; and they are very much a one-man bird - meaning they will take faster to one particular person. Both birds need to be socialized with other people; as with any parrot...and macaws are naturally bigger, and probably more expensive. But, you would have to check out the breeder and get some more research on your birdie selection! But they're great companions and lifelong friends to have if you're willing to dedicate some time, love and affection.
Both of the species can live a long time (you will probably have to will them), require alot of space and attention, and are very intelligent, provided you spend time with them teaching them. My dad has always had macaws, and my good friend has a grey. Dad's house is alot louder!! A macaw's piercing screams can cause your ears to ring, if you get one of the larger species. Both of these kinds of birds can also be very intimidating to someone who is not experienced with them. Hyacinth macaws are known for being the most laid back and easy going of the species. They still can use their enormous beak and hurt you unknowingly if not trained properly, and they carry a hefty price tag. Probably the most expensive of the macaws, and one of the largest next to the green-wing and the Buffon's (or great green). Macaws can also be pretty messy. I remember when I was really young and dad went to go get his first blue and gold from a breeder, she said to make sure we put newspapers outside of the cage for about 3 feet all the way around the cage, we didn't believe her. We soon learned once we got home! Any way if you love the macaw species, maybe look into getting a Hahn's macaw or yellow-collared macaw. They are alot smaller, easier to handle, beautiful, and smart. The Hahn's are my personal favorite of the smaller macaws, and the yellow-collared is also a great choice. The illiger's (dad has one that is his baby) and military macaw's are catagorized as mini-macaws. They are bigger than the Hahn's and yellow-collared (if your looking for a medium to large size bird) but not as huge as the blue and gold's, scarlet's, green-wing etc. Good- luck with whatever you choose!!
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