So, you want to buy a parrot

Yes, parrots are sweet looking and fascinating, but their care is far more complex than a cat or dog. They are not like having a cat or dog. There is MUCH to consider.

Consider these things!

How much time do you have?

How much space do you have

How much noise can you or your neighbors tolerate ?

Parrots are loud, loud, loud

Did I mention that parrots our loud?

Are you really prepared?

Did you know that parrots are very destructive if left unattended?

Do you know that you can not just let a parrot sit in a cage all day and do nothing more for him than feed him?

Do you know that some parrots will self-mutilate if they do not get interaction and regular stimuli?

Do you know that you will be doing a lot of cleaning with this bird?

Do you know that bird poop stains clothes, furniture , and carpets indiscriminately?

Do you know that you can't take a day off from their complex care just because you are sick with the flu?

Do you know that they can bite hard and it is natural to do so?

Do you know that your parrot could out-live you?

Who would take care of him when you are gone?

Did you know that your feathered friend does not adapt to you, YOU adapt to HIM!

What will you do when your bird becomes sexually mature and he exhibits sexual behavior? There is no spay and neutering option for avian pets......

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Well, now that you know all that,

Are you a perpetually nurturing person? If so, you may be ready for an avian pet!

Do you have lots of patience? Do you follow through with commitments with die-hard dedication ? If so, a parrot might do well with you.\You've done the research? Good, but there will be much more to learn as you and your new friend get to know each other........

What to look for?

The over all appearance. Feathers aren't always an indication of bad health because a molting bird can look pretty scruffy, but make sure that it is not anything else.

Does he pluck his feathers?

Eye pinning. Do his eyes dilate when excited or scared?

Is the grasp of each foot strong and equal?

Are there any open sores or growths?

Are his droppings a normal color?

Do you know what normal is?

Is he fearful or curious of you?

Does he make a clicking noise when he breathes ?

Is there some kind of documented history on this bird and age, origin, etc?

Does the store, breeder, or rescue offer a return if you do not feel you can care for the new pet?

You and your new friend can have a wonderful bond that will last for years to come.

Your friend can be playful and humorous.

Your friend can learn to love you and your family..

Having an avian pet can be a rewarding experience.

Having and avian pet can teach great responsibility.

Having an avian pet is a unique experience and should be treated as such...If you do not feel you can handle all these situations for the long term , you may want to reconsider....In the event that you cannot keep your bird any longer , due to whatever reason, call the breeder where you got him/her to see if they will take him there. If not, you have a responsibility to insure that you find a good and educated home for this avian pet Not all people understand avian care and rescues are becoming more and more full......

These are just a few things to consider Please do the research before committing to any bird.

More about parrots

When a person walks into a pet shop, they are naturally awed by the majestic looking bird in the cage. The pet shop owner, or breeder, might get him out and let him interact with you, especially if he is a hand fed baby. He may move close to you to be scratched on the head, or even cuddle. He may look at you with big, sparkling eyes and say, "Hello!" This is adorable and VERY appealing. This is also the "perfect image" that we take home with us as we contemplate the pet we just fell in love with, and consider how we might come up with the money to buy him.What we don't realize is that perfect picture is not always so perfect.There is much more going on with the birdie psyche than that of a cat or dog. At the very least, it's different. It is why they are called exotic pets. It is not just because they originate from abroad. It is also because they are unusual, interesting , mysterious, an enigma, striking, strange, and even bizarre. These are all terms that can be found in a thesaurus as it pertains to the word exotic.

First of all, of all the creatures in the world to be caged, if you think about it, the last of them should be a bird. A creature made to fly and climb through the treetops is not naturally built or inclined to cage dwelling. They don't live in holes like rodents, or caves like other animals. They live in trees and clefts in the rocks and mountains. They dance in the wind. And, for this reason, you should not take a parrot/bird home unless you are committed to making their life as comfortable as possible for as long as necessary, which is forever.Small and large, birds can be housed in flight cages to give them room to fly around, as nature would have it. If you can not do this for them, then you must continue to allow them time out of the cage on a daily basis. There will be times when this is not feasible, but on most days this must be done.

When we move into the larger and more intelligent birds, we can never completely fathom just how much stimuli they must have. How much and what type will vary from species to species.For instance , an Amazon parrot is often times not real active and will be content with tv, toys , and some of that daily involvement with the family. Our Amazons' favorite past time is watching for the pizza delivery guy. They will also balk when we run them around the house for exercise. Other species such as Conures might scream to get your attention and move around a lot, and change of toys for any bird is always in order.

A Cockatoo must have that daily physical attention or they become very discontented and may self-mutilate. They are a very touchy- feely bird and will simply waste away without that contact.

Noise; Noise is the big factor and when you walk into a shop, or a person's home, and hear the twitter of birdie noise, just multiply that by ten and fit it into every single day of your life. I have had people come to my home to look at Sun Conure babies and say about the Sun Conure noise coming from the bird room, "Oh, that's not so bad."

Well, our Sun Conure pair is in the bird room, they have each other, toys, tv, and other birds. They are also used to being in the bird room and getting attention from us as we work around the bird room, which is quite often. They have been conditioned to be content where they are, so it is true; their noise is not that bad. If you bring a new baby home, and for the first few weeks he is held and cooed over whenever you are home, that is what he is being conditioned to be content with. Then once that stops and you settle into a more practical routine, this perfect bird becomes problem bird, and the " Oh thats not so bad noise" becomes a noise that can wake the dead. This is the number one mistake people make when they bring a new bird home.

Re -homed birds can be particularly challenging. When you buy a bird that has been in multiple homes, you are bringing a lot of baggage into your home. Parrots especially do not re-home well, and it may be months before you win his trust and can begin interacting with him on a more intimate level. Most people just aren't willing to wait that long to have the perfect bird and get frustrated. You can not just expect to reach in and pull a new bird out of his cage and not get bit. People do not realize at this point that this their own fault. They may even return the bird, or sell him to another party and this just adds more baggage.

My son and daughter in law are dealing with a re-homed bird that went through some serious circumstances. His owner commited suicide and the owner's family were scared of him and "handle" him with a broom. Months later this bird has become deeply attached to my son and daughter in law, but they are dealing with his foul language. Ok, that's funny at times, but this young couple is contemplating a family and though they are committed to keeping Mr. Potty Mouth, they will not want that language used when children come along.

I know another situation where a well-meaning young woman brought a re-homed Cockatoo into the home. One of the many things he did before he was re-homed again was work his way into the family's attached garage; and pull all the tacks out of the apholstery of the horse carriage that they use in the family carriage tour business.

There is no such thing as a perfect bird. There is no bird that is going to be quiet most of the time, not bite, not destroy furniture, entertain you or your guest on command, or not squirt through the bars of the cage on to your oriental rug; Or not reseed the forest by swishing his beak back and forth in his dish while piles of seeds fall to the floor. It just doesn't happen.

So if your perfect picture is that beautiful creature dazzling in the sunlight that is streaming into that special, sunny nook, and he looks perfect, and only talks when spoken, and never makes a mess, and always welcomes your hand anywhere near him or in his cage, [music please] you better take another look.

The best situation happens when a person allows a parrot/bird to be what they are. They should never hold the status that a prized collectible piece of art would hold. Just like children, they all have their own personalities and stress points, and some may be more social than others.

So before buying a bird, do lots of research and think about it for awhile before making that commitment. Do not settle for any bird just to have a bird. Research the different species and visit them if you can. Most reputable breeders will give you their time and discuss the different issues with you. I can not stress this strongly enough ! Do the research, do the research, DO THE RESEARCH..