Do Parrots make good pets?

Question

I'm relativly new to this sort of thing but my wife has set her heart on getting a Parrot and I'll probably go along with it to keep her happy, plus I'll have lots of fun teaching it new words I'm sure! Can you tell me some of the basics for looking after them? so if we do get the pet then we'll know be complete novices.

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

Parrots are a lot of work. But they're worth it. It's fun trying to teach it tricks & all that. However, be ready for a longtime commitment.  MAKE SURE you do the research on whatever type of parrot you choose because we don't need anymore abandoned parrots in shelters because people couldn't care for them and didn't know what they were getting into.

Answer 2

They are both good pets and bad pets. There are many parrot species to choose from. I think your probably thinking of a macaw. Macaws are really loud and they are not for a beggining owner. I reccomend a green cheeked conure. They are very quiet,playful and they live long lives. They need a cage that is at least 24x24x24x24 cage. Theyre wings should be clipped so you can take them out and interact with him without it flying away. They need a varied diet of cracked nuts,fruits,veggies,soy foods and/or legumes.

Also, NEVER get a parrot simply because you want to teach it to talk. there are so many other good qualities of parrots to look forward to and if he bird doesn't talk you may not care for it as much.  

Also they love toys that they can shred so buy destructible bird toys from the store. Clean the cage once a week to prevent mites and fungus.

Only buy a parrot that doesn't reach out to chomp on your finger if you put your hand towards it.

Answer 3

The good ones do, but the bad are very bad.  And I'm not worried about the parrot, I am worried about you.   It is a lot of hard, time consuming work, expensive and worrying.  Get a book first, read it and then 'think' about getting a parrot.

Peace.

Answer 4

Hi,

First thing i will say is to buy a good book and have a good read first.

Secondly if you really want one then buy one from a breeder, this way they will help you, when my uncle bought one the breeder gave him an info pack on how to care for the bird.

As for basic care you need food and water, fruit and veg, toys, and plenty of exercise. Parrots also need lots of time, as they are very social and if left alone for a long while then they will pull feathers out and go mad. You can feed the parrot any fruit or veg, raw potato, avocardo and chocolate are poisonous to your parrot so stay well clear.

Anymore info just e-mail and i'll try and help.

Answer 5

Parrots do indeed make excellent pets.  The parrot once belonging to Winston Churchill is now back in the shop where he originally purchased it.  Unfortunately it cannot be sold on.  It's entire human vocabulary is made up with swear words directed at someone called Adolf.  Cannot imagine why.

Real History and Churchill's War The foul-mouthed parrot at Winston Churchill's side during Britain's darkest hour of World War II is still alive and cursing Adolf Hitler.

http://www.fpp.co.uk/History/Churchill/p...  

That's the thing about parrots - they do tend to live a very long time.  Not sure just how long, but we can expect a parrot to live well beyond the life expectancy of your average human.  So, if you do decide to buy a parrot - it will have to become a family heirloom - to be handed down to the next generation etc.

Pictures of parrots - be patient - this site has loads of photos of parrots and takes a while to download to your PC - 25secs.

http://www.photovault.com/Link/Animals/B...

Answer 6

You have to know exactly what you want and what you are letting yourself in for.

I would not advise anyone without experience to get a cockatoo or other large parrot.

An African grey or amazon are good for first time owners but all come with their own risks.

African greys create a bond that is very strong and it is usually with one person and one person only. If it bonds with you, it will tolerate your wife and that's it. so be careful if it is your wife that wants it and not you. Amazons can be the same but are a little more out going. All parrots are destructive and given enough freedom will destroy anything and everything. On the other hand, if they know what they can get away with and what they cannot they can be fantastic pets.

They are very entertaining and if you get a good bird then you will have a fantastic pet for a very long time.

This is another factor you have to think about. Greys make such a bond, that if are passed on to someone else they can suffer from depression as the grieve for their owner. All parrots can live for a very long time. 50 years or more in some cases so really do have to REALLY want one before you take one on.

I would suggest you do a lot of reading before making your mind up. I love my parrots to bits and, after 13 years, wouldn't be without them, but there are times when they are little buggers and I could willingly roast them.

Answer 7

If you pick the parrot that will fit your lifestyle and that you can afford (in time and money) then the right parrot can make a wonderful pet.  Know they are noisy, bite, are very messy, and will destroy anything they can.  You can't use teflon or any candles, or air sprays etc since their respritory systems are so sensitive.  You will probably have to use vinegar and baking soda or GSE to clean your house sicne the fumes of what you probably use are too harsh.  Even smaller parrots need about 1 hour a day outside the cage minimum. And toys, cages, playstands, and avian vet visits rack up costs.  If you have the time, money, and dedication then a parrot might fit well with your family.

First think of what parrot you want.  If this is your first bird, stay on the smaller side.  Look into lovebirds, parrotlets, budgies, cockatiels, black cap conures, maybe even a green cheek conure. All are on the smaller side and won't be as demanding.  Thses species are easier for people who don't know much about birds to take care of since most don't mind spending the day in a cage with lots of toys and tehn once you get home spend time with you.  Do research see which is in your budget and which has the better size and personality for your family.

Basic care:

~Cage must be cleaned a minimum of once a week.  Paper shouldprobably be changed aroudnd 2-3 times a week.  Their food dish and water dish should be washed daily.  You'll probably end up sweeping or vaccuming at least once every day.  Toys and perches should be cleaned as needed, probably once a week.

~They need a good diet of about 2/4 pellet, 1/4 seeed, and 1/4 fruits and veggies.  Try to get in 3-4 different fruits, 3-4 different veggies every week to give them lots of different nutrients.  I give my birds veggies about 4 days a week.  Many people however give their birds a diet that is mainly fruits and veggies, but to do that you have to be sure you cover every nurtient and it takes a lto of work and research so your bird doesn't become malnurished.

~Water needs to changed daily, maybe even more than that depending on how messy they are.

~They need to be bathed so provide a large dish(not too deep) or mist them daily.  This will promote skin and feather health.

~They need a playstand.

~Foraging toys are amust in and out of the cage.

~Be sure to give them lots of love and care and be very patient.  When your baby bites be sure to not react.  I jsut say No and ignnore them for a few minutes. But there are many methods.  Pick one and stay consistant.

~You baby has to see an avian vet as well.  Annual check ups help insure you are doing the right things and your bird is healthy.

Answer 8

Parrots do make great pets, just not every bird is for every body. I would research differnt bird breeds, and see which ones would fit your lifestyle the best. Good luck!

Answer 9

The first thing to remember is all parrots need plenty of company if they dont they will get bored and start feather plucking. Also i find the hardest thing is finding someone to look after the bird when you are away.please think hard before you buy they do make fantastic pets but they can also be a nightmare if not treated properly.I suggest you buy from a local breeder a bird that has been hand reared and so will be easy for you to handle also if you have problems you can ring the breeder for advice. P.S  get the best cage you can afford it's got to last a long time ,parrots don't like change

Answer 10

Some parrots learn and talk more words as what you have spoken. But you have to get a male parrot to make your wife more happy. Coz female ones are more talkative than the male ones. And maybe she will tell all your secrets that made your wife think mad.

Answer 11

Parrots can be a good pet if you get the right one for you.  Remember parrots can be noisy and your neighbours might not like all the squawking so if you do get a parrot make sure your neighbours are OK with it.

Try this site to find out all you need to know about parrots and there care.

Answer 12

Hi, if you need to know everything, well, almost everything on parrots, especially how to teach them to talk, you are more then welcome to e-mail my aunt in Cape town - [e-mail] - she had a parrot was able to speak over 400 words in a year. But unfortunately it died, negligence of the vet. But she's very good with them.

And she's a professional artist, if you're interested in a few good paintings.

Good luck.

Answer 13

No they do not they make EXCELLENT PETS!!!

Answer 14

Aww it's nice that you are trying to keep your wife happy:)

Well the basics are feed it and water it.

Fresh water daily. Feed it some fruit and veggies to give him a nutritionally balanced diet.

Room  him where no loud noises or drafts are to effect your parrot.

He need toys to keep him entertained.

Boredom is the first sign of depression which later leads to death.

I would spend around 15 minutes a day with him. Talk to him stroke him have him sit on your arm while your doing something peaceful like reading studying or watching television.

The more you talk to him the more he'll pick up:)

Good luck.with your parrot and wife:)