Would You Make A Good Parrot Parent?
March 24, 2023
With the popularity of so many colourful and entertaining parrots on YouTube and TikTok, the desire to own one of these beautiful pets has grown substantially. But is a parrot the right choice of pet for you?
Parrots are complex animals with a high level of intelligence. They are loving, rewarding birds that can give their owners endless hours of entertainment and attention. But they are also very demanding pets that require a lot in the way of upkeep. So before you go out and buy the first parrot you see in the pet store, there are a few things you need to consider first:
Parrots Aren’t Cheap!
The cost of a parrot will vary depending on size, rarity and talking ability. The bigger the bird, the bigger the price tag. It’s not just the cost of buying the bird, you’ll also have to fork out money for a large cage, food and veterinary bills. It all adds up and the initial costs can run into the thousands.
Parrots Are Vocal and Loud
Not only will parrots chit-chatter along with the TV and radio, they are prone to vocalizing loudly and demonstratively at dawn and dusk. So parrots are not the ideal pet for city dwellers who live in apartments and condos. You need to be far enough away from your neighbours so your parrots' vocals won’t disturb them.
Parrots Are Messy and Destructive
Parrots are not exactly delicate eaters. They will spill and scatter food and seeds everywhere. Together with fallen feathers, dust and dander, they can produce a lot of mess. This requires regular cleaning of their living areas every couple of days. Their strong beaks need to chew on things. So if they are flying about the house, they will gladly latch on to wooden door frames and start gnawing away. They are also particularly drawn to stripping wallpaper and chomping on cornices!
Parrots Live A Long Time
The bigger the bird, the longer their life span. Parrots can live in excess of 50 years. So if you’re considering buying a parrot, make sure you’re ready for a lifetime commitment.
Parrots Need Space To Fly
Even the largest of cages won’t be ample enough space for a parrot to stretch their wings. They need room to fly and get their daily exercise. This might require building a separate aviary indoors or outdoors or devoting a special room for flight time. If you have high ceilings in your house, you could supervise flight time in the home, but you’ll have to parrot-proof it first. All this means that you need enough living space to accommodate your parrots’ physical needs.
Parrots Need Companionship
Because parrots are highly intelligent, social animals, they get bored easily and don't like to be left alone for long periods of time. They require a huge amount of time and attention from their owners. While this can be rewarding, you need to make sure you can commit to the time needed to make your parrots happy. If you're going to be away from the house for a long time, you'll need to find someone to take care of your bird.
Ethical Considerations
Parrots live in the wild in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. There are 398 species found mostly in Australasia and South America. Until recently, many of the parrots finding their way into Western households came from illegal poaching. Now you can find reputable breeders at home who responsibly raise these birds to make good pets. However, the popularity of parrots as pets all around the world has increased to a point that it’s endangering their survival in the wild. So before you buy, consider the ethical issue and make sure you find an accredited breeder.
Alternatively, you can visit a pet store or a parrot rescue or bird shows or zoos to get your bird fix.
This article is not meant to discourage you from getting a parrot as a pet. It is only intended to raise awareness. Without adequate care and accommodations, the health of the parrot will suffer and many are surrendered to shelters when the demands become too much. The best advice is to start small and ease your way into owning one of these magnificent birds.