Parrots As Pets: Is A Parrot The Right Pet For You?
Parrots are bright and lovely and the idea of having one at home and teaching him or her to speak is impossible to resist for some of us. Here are some things to keep in mind before you bring home that lovely macaw you saw at the pet store.
Parrots are pets that demand time and attention. They are more akin to dogs than to hamsters although you may place them in a cage. This is to say that they are highly sociable and do well in environments where they feel physically and mentally stimulated and engaged.
Parrots are creatures that make noise. This is an integral part of this bird and there is no question of expecting to find a quiet parrot although there is a wide range in how loud they can get. Amazons, Macaws, Cockatoos and African Grays are probably the loudest while Pionus, and some medium-sized Poicephalus, such as Senegals and Meyers, are relatively quieter for their size. Budgies, Lovebirds, and Parrotlets are not very loud and they do not tend to scream. There is some what of a correlation between the birds that are loud and that are some of the best talkers though.
Parrots are extremely intelligent creatures that are often compared in their intelligence to chimpanzees, dolphins and even human toddlers. So having a parrot at home can be a really exciting experience for the humans around. You will have the opportunity to see the way this bird processes the world around it. If you choose to train it in talking or doing tricks it will be a fascinating pedagogical exercise.
What are the hands on mechanics of having a parrot at home? Parrots have to be fed nutritious food but fortunately commercial pellets provide most of what is necessary and you can be creative in the vegetables and protein you feed your bird. Parrots have to be kept in clean cages and you should ensure that they are housed in large enough cages where they can spread their wings. They can be messy eaters and this means that you have to be prepared to do some regular clean-up in and around the cages. Parrots need stimulation and you can provide this through some one-on-one time and through judicious use of toys.
Educate yourself thoroughly about the various types of parrots that are available as pets. Some of the most common parrot species people choose as pets are Cockatoos, Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Macaws, Amazons, African Grays, Caiques, Pionus and Poicephalus. Everything from size to temperament, to sociability and mimicry ability are relevant in making a choice that will work with your life style. A four feet macaw may not be the best bet for someone with limited space and getting a lone lovebird may not be a great beginning for a happy pet-owner relationship. Once you know what is out there, make an honest assessment of how much time and effort you are willing to spend on your pet and choose accordingly.
Parrots are birds with a long life span and any commitment that you make to this bird should be taken seriously. They are interactive and capable of strong emotional connections and so it is advisable that you do a test run before deciding that this is the right choice for you. There are breeders who will allow you to bring a bird home for a couple of days to see if there is a good match between you and the bird before you take the final step of taking on parrots as pets.
The author, Karla Deacon, is an expert parrot enthusiast. For more great information about parrots as pets visit ParrotCareBasics.com