Parrot Yes or No?
With the right home parrots have the potential to make excellent, highly interactive pets, prized by their owners, but they are by no means easy, low maintenance pets. Tame companion parrots require daily attention and interaction with their owners, and need to be housed in a cage at least large enough to allow the bird to spread its wings and move about comfortably. Companion parrots also need to be fed a diet that includes fresh vegetables and fruits, and a smaller amount of seeds and grains; dietary requirements vary with species and the activity level of the individual parrot. Other elements essential to a companion parrot's well-being include appropriate toys to chew up and play with; veterinary care; and social time out of the cage whenever possible -- preferably on play gyms or other out-of-cage perches. The larger parrots can be expensive to care for, messy, destructive, and loud, and some individuals may exhibit some aggressive behaviors during adolescence. Like dogs, parrots require some amount of basic training to mature into good companions. Their intelligence means parrots learn new behaviors - both good and bad - easily. Many parrots end up having to be re-homed because their owners did not realize the level of care or expense required when they purchased the bird, or did not understand such common behavior problems such as aggression, biting, screaming and destruction.
Parrots can be very rewarding pets to the right owners, due to their intelligence and desire to interact with people. Many parrots are very affectionate, even cuddly with trusted people, and require a lot of attention from their owners. Some species have a tendency to bond to one or two people, and dislike strangers, unless they are regularly and consistently handled by different people. Properly socialized parrots can be friendly, outgoing and confident companions. Most pet parrots take readily to trick training. Trick training can also help to redirect a bird's energy and prevent or correct many behavior problems. Some owners successfully use well behaved parrots as therapy animals. Some owners have trained their parrots to wear parrot harnesses (most easily accomplished with young birds) so that they can be taken to enjoy themselves outdoors in a relatively safe manner without the risk of flying away. Parrots are prey animals and even the tamest pet may fly off if spooked. *please read "parrot behavior" for further info*
Although parrots can be messy pets -- often throwing food and damaging furniture with their beaks if they can -- many parrots may be potty trained to some extent and are generally odorless; however, certain species of Amazons and Pionus have a distinctive odor most owners find unpleasant. Most parrot species, with some notable exceptions, are relatively good pets for most pet allergy sufferers. However, all the species of white cockatoos produce large quantities of feather dust and may be problematic for people with allergies. Cockatiels, rose-breasted cockatoos, and African greys also produce smaller amounts of feather dust.
Parrots can be very rewarding pets to the right owners, due to their intelligence and desire to interact with people. Many parrots are very affectionate, even cuddly with trusted people, and require a lot of attention from their owners. Some species have a tendency to bond to one or two people, and dislike strangers, unless they are regularly and consistently handled by different people. Properly socialized parrots can be friendly, outgoing and confident companions. Most pet parrots take readily to trick training. Trick training can also help to redirect a bird's energy and prevent or correct many behavior problems. Some owners successfully use well behaved parrots as therapy animals. Some owners have trained their parrots to wear parrot harnesses (most easily accomplished with young birds) so that they can be taken to enjoy themselves outdoors in a relatively safe manner without the risk of flying away. Parrots are prey animals and even the tamest pet may fly off if spooked. *please read "parrot behavior" for further info*
Although parrots can be messy pets -- often throwing food and damaging furniture with their beaks if they can -- many parrots may be potty trained to some extent and are generally odorless; however, certain species of Amazons and Pionus have a distinctive odor most owners find unpleasant. Most parrot species, with some notable exceptions, are relatively good pets for most pet allergy sufferers. However, all the species of white cockatoos produce large quantities of feather dust and may be problematic for people with allergies. Cockatiels, rose-breasted cockatoos, and African greys also produce smaller amounts of feather dust.
While many parrot species do well with well-behaved children, and can be good family pets, they are generally not a good child's pet due to their potential lifespan and care required. Parrots require consistent daily care and attention and are also longer lived than most other companion animals. Lifespans range from around 15 years for a budgie or lovebird, to 20–30 years for a cockatiel or small conure, up to 80 to 100 years for Amazons and Macaws -- although a more reasonable lifespan for larger parrots is estimated at 50–60 years. Additionally, a young child could unintentionally injure a small bird such as a budgie; some parrots unaccustomed to children may find the high energy level and noise of a young child threatening and may bite. Households that are suitable for pet parrots are said to be "bird-safe". *please read " bird-safe homes" for further info.*
The decision to bring a parrot into your family is a major commitment that should not be taken lightly. Please ask many questions, gather information, ask more questions, research, and ask more questions until you are certian that being a parrot owner is the right thing for both your family and parrot.
Good luck on your journey.