Wow Laurie! Thats a menagerie! What fun that must be. Our Congo is only 4 months old so we have him in training to be a really sweet bird. Hope he stays that way. Of all your birds which one is your absolute favorite? Angel J

Is there anybody here? Anyone want to chat about their feathered friends? I have a Umbrella ****atoo and a Congo Grey Angel J

DON"T get a ****atoo (or a Macaw) as your first bird! I did, and did not know anything about birds beyond parakeets. He was SOOOO destructive. Rowdy demolished one room, chewing up doorframes, and window frames, and ate holes in the sheetrock! He also would not let anyone except my sister get close to him. We even sent him to stay with a breeder for a couple of weeks in hopes that a girlfreind would tame him down. HE ATE HIS WAY OUT OF THE CAGE! Through 2 layers of chain link and was squashed under a tin roof when the guy found him, he was almost dead in the TX heat. Breeder guy called and asked us to come get him. I found out from the vet that Rowdy was not 6 months old like the pet store had told me, but a wild caught bird and more than 6 years old! He is with another breeder now in West Texas. Like you, I thought ****atoos were so beautiful and elegant, AND I had always heard that they were loving and could be tame. NOT Rowdy. My second bird was a Conure. She was soo precious. She bonded with my Mom and when my Mom died in '92, Cricket greived herself to death. We couldn't do anything about it. Now we have a 13 yr. old Blue & Gold Macaw named "Bones" and a 15yr old African Grey named "Riff-Raff". They are way to smart for their own good. Bones carries on conversations with you and has a memory like an elephant. He amazes me sometimes with the thing he says. Riff-Raff is much quieter but more musically inclined than Bones. We have had both of them since they were in pin feathers. Good luck in your search, and whatever you choose, stay away from parrolets (pocket Parrots) which are so beautiful, but are little demons in feathers! Valencia

Hi Welcome to the birdmommy world I like to think we are all a bit nuts I have to say I agree with Donna 110%, you really need to do your homework before you bring home a baby. All baby birds are loving little snuggle butts that have no bad habits and are relatively quiet, but once they hit the "terrible twos" and those rough teenage years things change dramatically. I LOVE ****atoos, they are such bundles of love, but they can also become very emotional if they are left home alone all day and be destructive to themselves. I think next to Ekkies, they are the second worst feather pluckers. I have yet to see a fully feathered one. It's amazing how even though I have had my fids (2 Conures and 2 male Ekkies) for years now, I am still learning. Good luck with yours! Carrie

Sorry to hear you where not a Grandma Donna