How to Know if a Parrot is the Right Pet for You

They TALK! They DO TRICKS! They're SMART & BEAUTIFUL! And they don't have to be taken for walks! How can a parrot be anything but an ideal pet? Well, errrr, in a whole lot of ways; as this owner of a Goffin's cockatoo for nearly 20 years can attest....

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Friends/acquaintances with parrot keeping experience.
• Unbiased research materials: books, videos, Internet sites, etc.

1. They amuse us with their antics, but they have a dark side. The dancing cockatoo on You Tube... hilarious talking parrots on Animal Planet's "Pet Star" ... amazing tricks performed at theme park shows... It's no surprise that many people are so charmed by parrots that they think a bird MUST be THE pet for them.
   Sadly, most people's pre-bird buying "research" consists of talking to pet store personnel gung-ho on making a sale.
   The unwanted cat and dog population is a huge problem in this country, but at least well documented, thanks to Bob Barker and others. The growing unwanted BIRD problem is way underreported. Many birds end up getting passed from owner to owner, as their novelty wears off; or in shelters like Marc Johnson's Foster Parrots in Rockland, MA.
2. Parrots don't make any attempt to confine their mess to the bottom of their cages. Parrots are a flock animal. In lieu of other birds, they bond with human companions - which is why they appeal as pets. In the dense treetop jungle canopy, parrots keep in touch with their calls - and it isn't the pleasant trilling of a canary! It's harsh, grating and LOUD shrieks and screams. If you are noise sensitive, live with a noise sensitive person, or near neighbors who don't appreciate a lot of loud noise; a parrot is NOT for you. The racket can wear on even the most tolerant of people REALLY quickly.
3. Smart, beautiful, fun, BUT...... If you can get past the noise, there's still the mess factor to contend with. Clean-up duty does not stop with regular once-a-week at minimum cage cleanings. Parrots are notoriously messy. In the wild, this serves the purpose of helping to propagate the rainforest, as they scatter seeds all over. Domestic parrots delight in throwing seeds, feathers, cage litter, etc. as my housemate says "from one end of the house to the other"; and even daily sweeping/vaccuuming can't keep up with all of it, all of the time.
4. Pippy, the Goffin's cockatoo with friend. Last but not least; putting it bluntly - your average cat or dog is good for maybe 15 years. A large parrot can live for 50-100 years: literally a lifetime committment and often then some. Not to mention that intelligence and temperamentally speaking, parrots are often compared to 3 year old humans.
   Yes, I own a bird and yes, she is a lot of fun. And no, I'm not trying to deny fun to others. I've had a nearly 2 decade committment to stewardship of this living creature. Had I been fully aware of the responsibility involved from the outset, I may never have bought this bird 19 years ago.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're still convinced you'd like a parrot, research all the materials you can get your hands on: Books, videos, Internet sites.; etc. Be sure to check out www.fosterparrots.com
• Smaller birds like parakeets, lovebirds, finches, canaries and cockatiels are a great alternative. In addtion to being much less expensive, the problems outlined in this article are proportionately smaller.
• How to Prevent your Pet Parrot from Feather Picking, How to see Wild Parrots in the US of A and How to Photograph your Pet Bird are also available by George Sommers
• Due to recent laws, at least most parrots are domestically bred and raised - not plundered from the wild where many populations are plummeting.
• Larger parrots are going to cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars - a large investment, especially if you don't know what you're getting into.
• A parrot not getting the proper amount of socialization may start plucking its own feathers; a heartbreaking, difficult to solve and unattractive problem.