Any parrotlet owners?

[Josh]

I was introduced to two parrotlets yesterday and I fell in love. Do any of you have any experience with these birds? Tell me everything!

[Kymiie]

My aunt has a parrot, but its weather you believe my story!
My aunt accidently ran over her cat OOOPS (uncle at work) See where this is going?
The parrot (named bow) convinced his name was Rob? Lol dont as me how!
Anyway....
He told my uncle she ran over the cat befor my aunt got chance to do it!
My uncle laughed, but soon was devistated!
xx

[dreadyA]

My dad has some. They are cool little ones. But I don't know anything about them though

[GBtortoises]

I used to have a breeding pair of Pacific Parrotletts about 12-14 years ago. They were awesome. But the wife enacted a "no pets in the main part of the house" rule. So I had to part with some things, them being one of them!

The males are affectionate and enjoy interaction. The females can be independant. Our female used to have a fit wheneve the male was out of her site and would fly around the house looking for him, chattering the whole time. He'd sit very quietly on my wife's shoulder in her hair almost as if he were hiding from the female! Whne he was put back in or on the cage with her she'd come running up to him sqwaking like crazy almost as if she was scolding him! Being a guy, I always felt sorry for him! I wouldn't have wanted to live with her either! LOL

[Tom]

I had one years ago. Don't remember the latin name, but we called him a Pacific Parrotlet. Very cool little dude. Similar in personality to a good conure, but much quieter. Well, at least mine was.

[GBtortoises]

My male was quiet. The female never shut up! Draw what conclusion you will from that statement. LOL

[Josh]

hahaha! looks like i'll be purchasing a male!
how can you tell when these birds are hand trained? is there any way to reliably tell their age?

[dreadyA]

(02-18-2010 06:49 PM)Josh Wrote:  hahaha! looks like i'll be purchasing a male!
how can you tell when these birds are hand trained? is there any way to reliably tell their age?

hit up a parrot forum! where are you getting yours from?

[sammi]

(02-18-2010 10:35 AM)GBtortoises Wrote:  I used to have a breeding pair of Pacific Parrotletts about 12-14 years ago. They were awesome. But the wife enacted a "no pets in the main part of the house" rule. So I had to part with some things, them being one of them!

The males are affectionate and enjoy interaction. The females can be independant. Our female used to have a fit wheneve the male was out of her site and would fly around the house looking for him, chattering the whole time. He'd sit very quietly on my wife's shoulder in her hair almost as if he were hiding from the female! Whne he was put back in or on the cage with her she'd come running up to him sqwaking like crazy almost as if she was scolding him! Being a guy, I always felt sorry for him! I wouldn't have wanted to live with her either! LOL

Oh man that's hilarious! I pictured the whole thing as I read it

[Candy]

(02-18-2010 02:49 PM)GBtortoises Wrote:  My male was quiet. The female never shut up! Draw what conclusion you will from that statement. LOL

This is unlike the Cockatiel who is the opposite of this. I'm sure my husband would agree with you on the female never shuts up theory.

Now can someone tell me what kind of bird this is. I take it it's a Parrot mixed with something else, but what's the something else? And posting a picture would be even better so we can see what Josh is considering buying.

[dreadyA]

my gf's cockatiels hiss at me! moody old birds

[Tom]

(02-18-2010 08:50 PM)Candy Wrote:  

(02-18-2010 02:49 PM)GBtortoises Wrote:  My male was quiet. The female never shut up! Draw what conclusion you will from that statement. LOL

This is unlike the Cockatiel who is the opposite of this. I'm sure my husband would agree with you on the female never shuts up theory.

Now can someone tell me what kind of bird this is. I take it it's a Parrot mixed with something else, but what's the something else? And posting a picture would be even better so we can see what Josh is considering buying.

They aren't a mix. They are an actual species. I'm not sure how many. Saying "parrotlet" is kind of like saying "macaw". Its a common name describing a general group of birds. I'll do a google search and try to find you a pic. They are little itty bitty birdies though.

[Josh]

[GBtortoises]

Great photo Josh! The bird on the right is an "original" strain. The bird on the left is genetically bred to achieve it's color. I don't follow the species much anymore, mainly because if I did I'd want some again, but I think breeders are now producing yellows and a couple of different blue and green hues.

They are their own species (name escapes me) and are just slightly smaller than a Love Bird, bigger than a Parakeet. Short tail, true parrot beak. I have only experienced the original color strain. The females are all green and the males are green with strips of blue behind their eyes (as you can see in the photo). The males also have a blue strip in their wings.

Really sweet little birds. As is often common with birds, one alone will bond closely with it's favorite human. A pair will usually bond with each other only. The male that we had was more attached to my wife than his bird mate, which I think is why she was constantly sqwaking for him, I think she would get ticked off when we would open the cage and he would immediately fly to my wife! They are very smart little birds (as most are). The male would sit on my wifes shoulder, often time right next to her ear. My wife had long curly brown hair at the time and when the female would be flying around looking for him and got close, he would scurry under my wife's hair and hide on the back of her neck from the female!

If they were together they were usually very quiet. Our house is full of large house plants which the birds loved to sit in. I can't tell you how many times we used to let them out of their cage and because they were so quiet, forget about them and leave the house. I'd come back hours later and have to go searching through all the house plants to find them!

We used to keep a pair of Cockatiels at the same time and the two species interacted pretty well as long as one of the females wasn't nesting. I've had other species over the years but the Parrotletts and Cockatiels are still my favorites!

Uh-oh, I'm feeling an urge, better stop talking about them now!

[TortieGal]

I have been wanting one for a while now. From what I read they are little but act like a big parrot and will hold there food with there foot to eat, pretty cool.
I don't have room right now, but hopefully soon.