Not everyone is a cat or a dog. Some people are parrots. You have a lot to think about if you've made the decision to get a feathered friend. There are many species of parrots, all with different sizes, personalities and requirements.
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| Should I Get A Parrot As A Pet? |
It's not just about choosing a parrot that you find pretty. Considering the characteristics of different species and your lifestyle is key to finding the right fit.
This is an informative article. Nodisk One is not permitted to make a diagnosis or recommend any form of veterinary care. If your pet is in pain or ill, we recommend that you take him to the vet.
8 Considerations Before Getting A Pet Parrot
All pets are a liability, but parrots offer one of the most extreme cases. Their long life, combined with their intelligence, means pet parrots need specialist care over a long period of time. So before you decide for sure that a parrot is the perfect pet for you, think carefully about the following questions…
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| 8 Considerations Before Getting A Pet Parrot |
Do you have the time?
Parrots are incredibly intelligent creatures and can get bored quickly in captivity. Additionally, most parrots are very social creatures and will spend time together in nature. This means parrots need a lot of personal time each week.
The caring parrot owner should be ready and available to spend quality time with their bird every day and to provide an ever-rotating selection of toys to keep life interesting. Can you reasonably afford to spend 30-60 minutes a day with your pet parrot?
Do you have the budget?
Parrots are expensive to buy and their cages aren't cheap either. More than that, a large bird eats a lot of food, easily destroys toys, and is likely to need specialist veterinary care. Owning a parrot is therefore not a hobby to be considered unless you are sure that you have the necessary funds to cover all eventualities and to ensure that your bird receives the best possible care, whatever the cost.
Do you have suitable insurance?
Although a significant budget may be required for daily care, it is still not an alternative to pet insurance. While pet parrots often cannot be insured by traditional providers, a limited number of companies are willing to provide cover for exotic pets like parrots.
Have you thought about longevity?
Parrots are very long-lived, and many of the most popular species can live for 50 years or more. This means you need to think carefully about whether your parrot is likely to outlive you and, if so, who will take care of it. Also, even if your bird is only about 30 years old, honestly ask yourself if you'll still have the same level of passion for your pet three decades from now. Otherwise, a parrot may not be the pet for you.
Are you (or your neighbours) sensitive to noise?
Parrots make noise - there's not much you can do about it. While some birds are calmer than others, most parrots will squeal if excited or stressed. Also, larger birds make more noise.
So be aware that from time to time you and your neighbors may come across a noisy bird. Before buying a parrot, make sure that such loud cries are unlikely to cause problems.
Are you too proud of your home?
While the parrots aren't necessarily too messy, they crack the seeds and then drop the empty casings wherever they may fall. Parrots also naturally generate a certain amount of dust which will end up in any room they are kept in. Finally, let's not forget that with their powerful beaks, parrots are capable of causing serious damage to your furniture if they seize it. The successful and happy parrot owner appreciates this and accepts that the small mess or mangled tablecloth is a small price to pay for caring for a parrot.
Have you thought about the holidays?
What do you plan to do during your two weeks of summer vacation? Taking your bird with you is probably not possible unless you are on vacation in your home country. Very few pet boarding houses also accept parrots.
Although you are lucky to find one, most parrot owners have to choose between no vacation at all, a staycation, or leaving their bird with an understanding family member. Make sure you have a plan in place before bringing your bird home, because once you have it, it is your sole responsibility.
Have you thought about family events?
Family gatherings can be a wonderful occasion for the "human" part of the family, but try to think of your parrot too. Birds, even larger ones, can get stressed when there are lots of unfamiliar faces around, and screaming children rushing around are often not an ideal situation for parrots. Therefore, if you like to have family groups for rowdy dinner parties, consider where you can place your parrot's cage so that it is isolated from the worst of the mess.
Only when you can confidently answer all of the above questions and have solutions to all potential problems can you be confident that you are ready to bring a parrot into your home for the first time.
Advantages And disadvantages Of Getting A parrot As A Pet
There are a lot of pros and cons to buying a parrot, and I think this was the post that inspired me to start this blog in the first place. What got me started was our poor psychotic cockatiel, which we bought from a pet store. With a lot of time, kindness and patience, we have brought her to the stage where she is comfortable being handled. She loves getting out of her cage now. That wasn't always the case, however - and she certainly wasn't an "easy" first parrot.
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| Advantages And disadvantages Of Getting A parrot As A Pet |
As someone who has always owned pets and worked with animal rescues for most of my life, I am very committed to educating the public about the complexities of parrot ownership. We currently have five birds - Parrot, Cockatiel, Canary, Umbrella Cockatoo and Senegal Parrot. They each deliver us a unique challenges, but they also enrich our lives with a good amount of joy.
The Inconvenients
Below I have listed some aspects that occur in the daily life of parrot owners. I don't consider them as "inconvenients", but rather as points of which we must be aware:
Noise
Even our celestial parrot can do a lot, and its noises are only squeaks compared to the cries of a cockatiel. A parrot's cries can harm your ears. The Senegal parrot can pierce concrete walls , while A Cockatoo can carry for three miles
Disorder
Birds depend on a clean environment, but they are incredibly messy. Bits of seeds and pellets will be found stuffed into every other nook and cranny imaginable. The walls will be covered with the food they throw away and the floor with the debris from their toys. In the wild, their food stream is a wonderful thing - it helps the environment by spreading seeds. Not so much in a house. Birds also release dust particles when they preen and molt once a year.
Owning parrots will change your life
The care regimen for a parrot requires dedication. It usually starts for us with a practice, followed by a nutritious breakfast, then everyone showers with me before spending some quality time exploring and playing (each time, for an hour, about three to four times per day for each bird). You will walk your bird in its harness or in its transport cage, and cook for it twice a day. Proper care helps it stay the happy, tame, manageable pet you want.
Diet
Unfortunately, you can't just offer seeds or pellets alone to your feathered companion - there's a lot of cooking involved. Proper nutrition prevents health problems, prevents mood swings and biting, and helps a parrot grow beautiful feathers. Birds with a poor diet may lose their feathers or start plucking (also biting and screaming). Raw vegetables and some fruits in moderation are a good start.
Toys are essential. Above all, any bird, parakeet or macaw, needs toys in the cage. Parrots have amazing minds and suffer if they can't use them - and even simple finches need toys to be healthy. A bored parrot will bite, scream repetitively, or pluck its feathers.
Costs
It starts with a high initial cost, as the parrots themselves are not cheap. The cages they live in are also expensive, and the toys they need can break the bank: they'll need new cage accessories every couple of weeks or so. Then there is the food, the vet, etc. after some time, it all starts to add up.
Danger
Yes, for large birds (like Bobo, our umbrella cockatoo) there is an additional risk. These parrots are so large and operate at such a high level of instinct that they pose a danger to you - experienced owner or not - and your family, pets and friends. You could adopt a baby bird that is completely trustworthy, but once it reaches adulthood, expect trouble. You will want to find a rescue or parrot party and learn how to restrain your bird in the event of an attack.
Flying
Clipping your bird's wings is doing it a huge disservice. Flying is the most natural form of exercise, of course, and many birds will become depressed, obese, and unhealthy if they don't allow it. You don't need to clip your bird's wings to tame it. Clipping can actually interfere with the taming and bonding process, because suddenly the "flight" option of fight or flight is removed. Right now, your bird can only bite. The disadvantage of a flying parrot is that it can penetrate everything. Trying to watch out for a parrot is like trying to watch out for a toddler.
No smoking, please
If you are a smoker, be sure to do so outside and away from your bird. Second-hand smoke is devastating to a parrot's sensitive respiratory system and can cause residual picking and health issues.
It's a lifetime commitment
Parrots are long-lived. Budgies and parrots can live 15 to 25 years; the largest birds are known to survive for over 60 years.
Damage to your home
Big or small, these beaks are deceptively strong. It's a parrot's instinct to chew, and nothing will stop it - the damage is simply not its fault. They can gnaw through furniture in seconds when you turn your back. Parrots will also poke holes in your clothes, walls, lampshades, mouse pads, and anything left unattended.
Rearrange your lifestyle
This is perhaps one of the biggest problems for some people. You can no longer use aerosols, scented candles and non-stick devices - and leaving windows open, among other things, is excluded. Birds also make fabulous alarm clocks. They dictate when you wake up, go to bed, and what you do, when you do it. After all that, there's also the inability to get in and out of town on a whim.
The Parrots manipulate you
Even the smallest parrots are very intelligent and are not "just" a pet at all. All parrots instinctively know how to control their humans. It's not just the cute looks when they want something, it's the well-placed bite to make us go away, or the squeals and squeals when they want to get out. Even well-trained parrots bite.
Their love can change on a whim
Because birds are selfish creatures, they select their favorite humans - often they will just "click" with one person, and no one will be allowed near them or their chosen one. Parrots will switch loyalties instantly if they feel they will get more of what they want from someone else.
Your Parrot may never speak, But it will scream
they vocalize at dawn and dusk and sometimes just to let you know they are happy to be alive.
Have children?
Owning parrots is often compared to bringing a toddler and the accompanying tantrums into your home – for life. Parrots also tend not to be great with children either, as their naturally high energy levels and quick movements can drive your pet…crazy. Or bite it.
Hormones. Every year, about twice a year after reaching sexual maturity, parrots become very different from two-year-olds in that they desperately want to mate. They usually become much more difficult to handle. Hormonal cycles are just another thing to deal with. Without warning, parrots will bite, scream, and act aggressively. Their moods will also worsen.
No hugs, please
Related to the previous point, one of the biggest hormone triggers, and something to avoid at all costs, is petting and cuddling an adult bird. If you want an animal for these things, you probably want a cat or a dog. Only companions touch outside of a parrot's head, neck, and feet (that's sexual), and once your pet sees you in that role, he'll want what you can't provide. When you inevitably fail to do so, your bird will turn on you in frustration.
If you do not take care of them properly, they will develop problems.
Biting, plucking and screaming… Unhappy birds can have many behavioral problems. Truth be told, sometimes even if you do everything right, your pet will do these things. It's true that just being hormonal in the spring can lead to the dreaded behavioral issues. Captive parrots need your time, love and respect, and if you can't give a fixed number of hours - a good estimate is 3 hours, minimum, to keep a single pet bird flexible and happy - towards that every day a parrot is probably not for you.
Advantages
Like any animal, parrots are totally dependent on you for everything from their basic needs - good nutrition and clean water/environment - to their socialization and training. The points listed above are, of course, the downsides of ownership, if you consider them as such. However, there are many positives to owning a bird:
They are rewarding pets
Parrots bring a lot of trouble and stress, but the feeling when your bird overcomes one of their challenges is unique. The bond between bird and man is also very special.
Personality!
Each bird has its own personality and peculiarities. No two are the same.
Their complexity is a wonderful thing
These animals wouldn't be as attractive if they were cage ornaments. They bring joy to their owners as they experiment, explore, and use their sharp minds, and that's something to be cherished.
There are few things that can compare to overcoming the prey instinct and developing a bond with someone. A bird choosing you as its person means it finds you trustworthy - perhaps one of the truest compliments possible.
Parrots are icebreakers
Do you have a parrot? It's a great way to meet new people or even just strike up a conversation with strangers. When you walk your bird – a wonderfully rewarding activity – everyone will want to stop and meet it.
Keep warm/cold
You'll never need to take your parrot out in the middle of the night and freeze or roast it (as the case may be) while it decides where to poop. Oh, speaking of which? Bird waste does not stink. That doesn't mean you don't need to clean the cage daily, though.
Secure apartment?
It's a pro and a con. Apartments and other rental accommodations often allow caged birds rather than cats and dogs, BUT parrots are very destructive, and if they gnaw through your rental accommodation you will be in very big trouble. They are also loud and are not good with neighbors, but do not need the same space as a dog.
An incredible 75% of parrots living in captivity in the United States live in less than adequate living conditions, and it has been estimated that the average parrot will have in the first seven years of its life, 5 to 10 homes.
Why adopt a parrot instead of buying one?
Adopting a bird is a better option than buying one for a variety of reasons. First, it's the right thing to do because commercial farms are flooding the market with exotic pet birds, many of which end up in rescue groups as consumers realize the complexities of caring for these animals. Buying a parrot from a pet store or breeder only compounds the problem.
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| Why adopt a parrot instead of buying one? |
By adopting rather than buying a parrot, you are helping to reduce the demand that drives the commercial breeding of pet birds. Also, if you're buying a parrot, you probably won't have much support if you have any questions about your bird's behavior or care later on. In contrast, reputable parrot rescue groups provide that support, offering advice and resources as you and your new bird adjust to life together.
How much do parrots cost?
Another good reason to adopt rather than buy a parrot is that you'll likely spend a lot less money. The price of a parrot depends on the species and can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Adopting a parrot costs considerably less and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have saved a life.
Conclusion
If you're looking for a colorful companion with a bubbly personality, there's no shortage of parrots to choose from. Although the iconic Macaw or African Gray is the first image that comes to mind when you think of parrots, there are still plenty of other adorable varieties to choose from.
Whatever type of parrot you ultimately choose, make sure you are well prepared before bringing it home. Do your research on the type of parrot you choose so that you are well equipped to cover all of their needs. Some birds need lots of interaction, some need lots of space, but all need lots of love.
Only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, are used by Nodisk One to substantiate the information in our articles.
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