I currently use doves and am thinking about adding a somewhat larger bird to the act. I have been thinking about an African Grey Parrot or some type of Cockatoo. I am looking for a bird that trains easily and is not super loud (I don't want a lot of screeching and carrying on in the house by the bird). Does anybody have any suggestions on the best type of bird to use?

Parakeet...stay away from the big birds unless you're ready for a BIIIIG commitment

I agree and those things can be very costly also. If you just want a bigger bird, look into white fantail pigeons. Less costly, easier to care for also. If your used to caring for doves, fantail pigeons are similar.

I use two in my current act myself. They are 3 to 4 times the size of a dove.
They won't hand train as well as doves, but you can harness them just like doves.

General grant did this with his giant runt, and I use harnesses for my pigeons as well. Fantastic production really, huge, white and they have a really big wingspan. They look fantastic on stage, but like any animal they take some work to get working in your act.

Steven

Thanks for the comments so far. Dan, I know purchasing a bird such as I am suggesting is a HUGE commitment as far as training and just spending time with. I am still leaning in that direction (not immediately though) but I also appreciate the comments from Haywire about the pigeons. If I ultimately decide against a parrot breed, that is something I will keep in mind.

Hey Revmike,
Check out Phoenix Landing, largest Parrot rescue on the East Coast. I have 2 Macaws, Merlin my B&G and Rainbow my Bolivian Scarlet Macaw, Kasuku our Congo African Grey, Spirit our Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo and Charlie our Yellow Nape Amazon. Just spent Sat with Ice McDonald and most of what we talked about was parrots, especially macaws.
Dan is telling you the truth..Macaws are a huge commitment and a handful...
If you're looking for a great parrot to work into your act and also make great pets, I'd recommend starting with either a Yellow Nape Amazon or a Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo, small enough to produce but large enough that the audience can see them easily..I do not recommend a Molluccan cockatoo or an Umbrella for a first time owner.....Sulphur-Crested Toos are pretty much self-relient, they're velcro brirds like the Umbrellas....Puck has a great Sulphur-Crested too, Hoppie in his act and he is adorable..
Greys are fantastic talkers, they will have a 1 hour conversation with you and not repeat any word or phrase, some Too's scream, macaws definitely scream, especially when they're playing...AMazons are usually talkers, whistlers and song singers...so if you live in an apt, the Amazon would be the way to go, but if noise is going to be a problem, stay away from large parrots.. All 5 of ours are in the same room and talk to each other all of the time..
What were you considering putting into your act for which parrot???
Bill

The grey is a great bird, and a very good choice. If you spend time you can make them talk on cue, do tricks. Dave Womack Uses one in this Parrots in Parrot from sketchboard. you can find it easliy on youtube.
It is one of the more easy and affordable exotic birds to work with.
Another "good thing". the bird does not have much of a tail. In producing a bird you will have much more options. No tail to hide, less chance to break feathers...
One thing: the bird is not colorful...
Cockatoo is less easy to train, and can scream the ears of your head. On stage you can cover this with music. smaller audience not...

Not to forget to mention, "easy" is relative. And an and exotic bird is a bird for everyday of your life, up to 50-80 years long...

How about a duck? I have been using them for 5 years now and they are well liked by the audiences I perform for! They can be messy but are fun to have in my act!

I actually thought about a Duck, particularly since I have a Rabbit/Duck Bucket. I have wondered how in the world you keep them quiet as every duck I have seen is noisy. Also I wouldn't want to keep a duck in the house. How would they do outside (yes I know regular ducks live outside but what about domestic ducks - it can get below zero where I live).

I have 3 ducks that are kept outside in a hutch type of house in a shed. They do very well as long as they are out of the direct elements. Today is -17 and they are fine! THey do require more frequent water changes during the cold but other than that they are doing well. I use some hay as well. Noise usually isn't an issue with mine if they are seperated. I use a duck bucket as well and any of my ducks do fine in it and are fairly quiet.

That would actually work well. I have an outside patio that is at least partially sheltered from the elements. Would just have to clean it out and then build or buy a hutch. Thanks for all the info.

Right at this moment, I think it is way more original to use a chicken or duck in your act, than an exotic bird. less worries also...

Good luck in finding one, I don’t think God makes quiet parrots.

Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

I've been using oriental silky chickens for years now.
Ray

A company named Avain Fashions makes "Bird Diapers". They make them from the size of a Parakeet up to a Duck. I use a Sun Conure Parrot that rides into folks homes (for the party) on my shoulder. They always ask, "What's she wearing?" They smile with RELIEF when I inform them it's a bird diaper. Avain Fashions calls them "Flight Suits" (they can fly wearing them if you allow) as that is way cooler then "Bird Diaper"....lol.
Yours,
Aragorn of the 2 Rabbits, 4 Chinchilla, 2 Doves & Merlina the Sun Conure Parrot

I just recently bought a Harlequin Macaw, and I was wondering what kind of books and materials were out there on exotic birds and magic shows?

ErickGibran,
Harlequins are just as cuddly as a Blue & Gold, maybe more so, extremely gentile and very mild mannered. You're going to have to do your homework because there are very few of us actually using parrots, compared to the general Magician population. It's a huge commitment, but worth it.
I just took my Yellow-Nape Amazon & Congo African Grey to a show today. They had a great time and loved the attention.
Bill

My best performer is the Green Winged Macaw. Aside from that, I have a Scarlet, Hyacinth, and a Blue & Gold Macaw. I also own other parrots, but macaws are my best performers. I find them more intelligent than my cockatoos. You can see some of them in my website.

As for DVDs, so far the best ones are from Dave Womach. Next to that would be Tani Robar and Steve Martin.

Steve Martin's are great. I still have the old videos!!

SnakeBabe gave you the best advice so far.

If you seriously don't want screeching or carrying on by a bird, you need to give up right now on adding a larger parrot, ESPECIALLY a cockatoo or grey. Greys are extraordinarily smart and will mimic absolutely ANY noise they hear.

Cockatoos...check out http://www.mytoos.com and turn your speakers up all the way.

Not trying to discourage you, but if noise is a real issue for you, it's going to be a REAL issue for you.

Good luck!
Robert

AFRICAN greys are the most wonderful bird I ever owned! our little girl is 3 80+ word vocab talks up a storm! they truley understand! never screams, and whistles all the time! they are very independant and quiet! research alex of dr. irene pepperburg! alex passed away few yrs ago but he knew shapes colors and textures etc! then theres EINSTEIN the grey from pet stars who is great with his sound effects!