Tips for Prospective Parrot Owners

Parrots have been kept and treasured as pets for thousands of years. Since long before the times of the stereotype picture depicting a pirate with a parrot on his shoulder, the servants of wealthy ancient Roman families cleaned the ornate cages the birds were kept in, and taught them to talk. Some ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics clearly depict pet parrots as well! In modern times, it seems that more people are discovering what amazing creatures these birds are, and are making the move to become parrot owners themselves. Though they are truly magnificent creatures, owning a pet parrot may not be for everyone. Before biting off something one may not be able to chew, there are several things to investigate before taking the plunge.

Parrot species each have general characteristics in common, but each bird is uniquely individual. It has been said that people don't pick their birds, but rather that birds pick their people, and I have found that this is, for the most part, an accurate statement. It is common that a bird, even when enjoying attention from and the company of everyone in the house, will have a favorite person he or she will bond with. In extreme cases, they may even become nasty tempered toward, or even try to bite people other than their favorite, though this habit can be changed with patience and training. This behavior is more prevalent in some species than in others.

Also take into account that many species of parrots are quite noisy! I've heard of people who have had to literally give away their pets because they made such a racket, the owner literally was in danger of being evicted! In one instance, the pets were Blue and Gold Macaws, birds costing thousands of dollars each! If you're seriously thinking of adopting one of these birds, it would be wise to make sure you're on EXTREMELY good terms with your immediate neighbors!