Many people like to keep birds as pets, and of these species, parrots are the most popular. This type of bird ranges from tiny, 6-inch parrotlets to giant macaws and cockatoos. They are not the right pet for everyone, though, and you should do your research before adopting one.
Something that people who are considering becoming parrot-parents need to think about is that their bird will likely live a very long time. Macaws and larger species can live over a hundred years. Even tiny species may have a lifespan of 20 years or more. This is a very long commitment, and in many cases, means making plans for your bird should he or she outlive you.
Understand before getting one that your bird will be messy. Food and waste are going to be deposited all over the cage, as well as in the surrounding area. If you like keeping an immaculate home, perhaps these are not the right pets for you. Even when cleaned regularly, the area a parrot lives in is typically at least a little messy.
The smallest birds in this group are not screamers, but pretty much every other bird the term 'parrot' encompasses are. This can result in you being a very unpopular neighbor, if your bird is responsible for annoying or keeping people awake. And you can expect your bird to scream, as they do this to express both happiness and unhappiness.
Flocks are the natural social groups of parrots in the wild. Some people attempt to make their birds happy by getting them another bird as a friend. This works-- but the birds rarely remain tame after bonding together. In order to keep a tame bird happy, the human in his or her life needs to take over the role of the flock. This means spending lots of time with your bird, interacting and just hanging out.
If you do decide that you can meet the needs of a pet parrot for time and attention, consider the cost. Bird cages are expensive, and need to be relatively large, especially for the bigger birds. And though budgies and lovebirds are fairly cheap, most other species are quite expensive, even the small ones. Plus, medical care for a parrot can be much more expensive than that for a dog or cat, as they need to see an exotics specialist.
Living with a parrot can be a great experience, for the right person. But do your research before getting a bird, so that you can figure out ahead of time whether that person is you or not.
Something that people who are considering becoming parrot-parents need to think about is that their bird will likely live a very long time. Macaws and larger species can live over a hundred years. Even tiny species may have a lifespan of 20 years or more. This is a very long commitment, and in many cases, means making plans for your bird should he or she outlive you.
Understand before getting one that your bird will be messy. Food and waste are going to be deposited all over the cage, as well as in the surrounding area. If you like keeping an immaculate home, perhaps these are not the right pets for you. Even when cleaned regularly, the area a parrot lives in is typically at least a little messy.
The smallest birds in this group are not screamers, but pretty much every other bird the term 'parrot' encompasses are. This can result in you being a very unpopular neighbor, if your bird is responsible for annoying or keeping people awake. And you can expect your bird to scream, as they do this to express both happiness and unhappiness.
Flocks are the natural social groups of parrots in the wild. Some people attempt to make their birds happy by getting them another bird as a friend. This works-- but the birds rarely remain tame after bonding together. In order to keep a tame bird happy, the human in his or her life needs to take over the role of the flock. This means spending lots of time with your bird, interacting and just hanging out.
If you do decide that you can meet the needs of a pet parrot for time and attention, consider the cost. Bird cages are expensive, and need to be relatively large, especially for the bigger birds. And though budgies and lovebirds are fairly cheap, most other species are quite expensive, even the small ones. Plus, medical care for a parrot can be much more expensive than that for a dog or cat, as they need to see an exotics specialist.
Living with a parrot can be a great experience, for the right person. But do your research before getting a bird, so that you can figure out ahead of time whether that person is you or not.
About the Author:
For those of you that enjoy parrots, we believe you should think about parrot training. We have some simple techniques for you to start using right now.
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