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1: The Pros and Cons of Life With a Parrot

Parrots engage us from the first moment we catch sight of them: Their feathers are gorgeous, they seem to represent an exotic landscape, and they are as interested in us as we are in them. If you have not spent a lot of time with a parrot, you may be surprised at the attention a parrot gives to every detail of a human’s movement and tone of voice. And, in response, their attempts to get human attention are fascinating. The sounds they make, the way they move their bodies, the color of their feathers are interesting, but their fascination with us is gratifying—flattering even. Additionally, parrots take us from the mundane, ordinary life of our homes and lead us to imagine life in a foreign and magical place.

Introduction

Living as a companion of parrots for more than twenty-five years—currently with two African grey parrots—and as a writer about parrot behavior, biology, ecology, and husbandry (the keeping of what is essentially a wild animal in a human home), I can tell you that I would not be anxious to acquire a third companion parrot who was neither a cockatiel nor a budgerigar (parakeet).

The principal reasons for this come from the fact that a parrot is a wild animal, evolved to live in places where they fly miles each day, communicate with their flocks with loud calls, and where the detritus from their feeding serves a useful purpose. I and many of my parrot-loving friends have faced difficulties with neighbors over the noise that our parrots make. We tire of cleaning the mess that seems to reappear over the course of an hour. Our partners and friends resent the time, attention, and expense lavished on our birds. We wrestle with our conscience over the difficulty of providing an environment and companionship that is stimulating enough for an animal as intelligent and as persistent as a parrot can be. At times, we have talked with one another about our problems, sought solutions, engaged with consultants, and worked with veterinarians, nutritionists, and experts in animal behavior.

I have thought hard about how to open this book about a species that has brought so much pleasure and richness into my life. Psittacines, as parrots are called in scientific circles, are a very large and diverse group of birds. Mainly, they live in equatorial climates in the wild, and many of their habitats are disappearing at alarming rates. In fact, for some species of parrots, only the skills of aviculturists (bird breeders) have kept them alive.

Thousands of people around the world have dedicated their lives to studying, raising, and understanding this most fascinating group of birds. Whether a parrot belongs in your home or not is a very personal decision. What I can tell you echoes what everyone else I know who loves and respects parrots will say: think hard about your adaptability, your willingness to commit to a parrot for many years, and your ability to provide what your companion needs, including making trade-offs in order to spend time with your companion parrot.

In addition to being demanding, psittacines are so long-lived that scientists believe they hold a key to unlocking the secrets of staying young. As a result, anyone who has a parrot larger than a parakeet can expect that, unlike most other companion animals, the bird will live for fifteen to eighty years, depending on the species. (Consider this: many of us have difficulty committing to live with another member of our own species for that length of time!) Parrots not only speak a “foreign” language, but they also have needs that are completely different from our own. In addition, as companion animals, they are completely dependent on us for their well-being. This is a trust that begins the day you decide to bring a parrot into your home. My goal here is to help you envision, to the extent possible, what your experience of parenting a parrot can be. Depending on your expectations, the choice of species you make, and your flexibility, your experience can be either a lifelong and mostly positive experience or a frustrating and unhappy one for both you and your parrot. Let’s look at both the positive and the potentially difficult aspects of this endeavor.

Parrots are only a few generations from their natural ancestors and are essentially still wild animals.

Why Keep a Parrot?

Companionship, admiration, and tradition are among the many reasons people choose to keep parrots. Parrots are good company—they are intelligent, interaction-seeking presences. Parrots sometimes want play but more often they seek a flock relationship: a contact call first thing on waking, a greeting when you return, a desire to be involved in whatever you do. Admiration and fascination for the parrot as a “being” is what initially draws people to these birds, and may be what grips some of us for a lifetime. Finally, some families have a tradition of keeping parrots. Adults remember their family parrots and want to provide that experience for their children.

Companionship

The United States census tells us that more people than ever are living alone. A friendly whistle and a bit of a talk in the morning may be just what you need to shake off some loneliness. Sharing an ordinary breakfast with a parrot offers you moments of genuine affection and reassurance. Your bird may ask to have his beak stroked or to go to your finger so that you can provide him with bites of your own breakfast, which will be infinitely more interesting than whatever you planned to feed him. Before heading out for a very busy day, having a few minutes just to talk things over as you change the paper and exchange yesterday’s water for a fresh supply can be gratifying. This may be one of the high points of your day—just the morning routine.

Parrots love their routines, and their needs help give our own lives stability and meaning. By providing for his needs in the way of food, toys, social interaction, and a clean, well-lighted place to live, you enjoy the daily constancy of a relationship. For people who have few demands in their lives, a companion bird provides a focus and a purposeful routine of care, feeding, and interaction. Sometimes, life with your parrot will be an unbelievably rewarding experience.

Well-socialized parrots are highly interactive and often affectionate companion animals.

Link to the Wild

For some of us, parrots provide a link to the wild that is otherwise missing in life. While living and working in cities or suburbs, we long to be elsewhere, living in a remote place filled with trees and the calls of monkeys and birds. In other words, the fact that a parrot is not a domestic animal, molded through thousands of generations of selective breeding to fit in with our lives, is exactly what we’re looking for. Before we head out for work, we’d like to be reminded that there is something else in the world, something not quite so civilized as our version of life.

Lifetime Fascination

Some of us cannot stop admiring the beauty, the wonder, and the complexity of wild birds. We have to have birds in our lives. We cannot imagine life without birds as an integral part of each and every day. We realize that we not only need to have birds in our lives, but we work to preserve birds in their natural habitats so that their species can flourish. These are the people who join various national and international associations to support research into understanding companion and wild birds, and who promote their health and welfare, associating with others who also cannot stay away from these sometimes raucous companions. Even when our parrots are stubborn, we remember that they are doing what they’ve evolved to do (at least we remember that most of the time!). What makes them difficult is also what makes learning about them so satisfying.

Other Reasons

Parrots have been companions of humans for thousands of years; for many Native Peoples, these birds’ feathers provide essential elements for religious ceremonies. For many others, parrots’ ability to mimic speech or sounds is an attraction. Whatever the reason you fall in love with these birds, there is likely a species that will suit you and your living situation, if you are willing to provide what that bird needs.

Why Not Keep a Parrot?

There are many reasons not to keep a parrot. The trick is to anticipate them and decide whether you are a parrot person. If you love antiques and oriental carpets and covet the perfect looks from Architectural Digest, a parrot is not for you. You will resent the mess, the non-designer cages, and the parrot paraphernalia. If you love the obedience of dogs but want the colors of a parrot, get a poodle and have your groomer sculpt and color his hair. Do not expect a parrot to be obedient. If you want another pet but feel you don’t have much time, a parrot is a poor choice.

The Worst Possible Scenario

Whenever I try to explain why one might not want to have a parrot, I suggest the following scenario: Imagine a two-year-old who will never grow up and out of the “No!” phase. Now, give the little tyke a small chainsaw (if you don’t believe that is a fair comparison for a beak on a bored parrot, you definitely haven’t spent enough time with parrots). Finally, imagine that the chainsaw-wielding two-year-old can fly.

Now, a budgerigar is a bird with a teeny-tiny chainsaw that is targeted toward paper and other easily chewed items like the pages of cookbooks or knitting patterns. A scarlet macaw, on the other hand, can crack a 1 × 1-inch piece of wood with a single closing of his beak. To be a successful parrot companion, you have to be an anticipator, a bad-behavior preventer, and a person who can swoop in and present the feathered two-year-old with something so interesting that he is no longer interested in cracking the leg on your antique chair or chasing after your sister’s newly pedicured scarlet toes.

If Decor Is Important

In addition, the larger parrots require large accommodations. If you are a person who values flawless carpets and Japanese wood-carved figures, think again before considering a parrot as a pet. To the parrot, everything in his environment is for chewing, tasting, pulling apart, and examining. Most parrots are jungle natives. Their ecological role is as a spreader of partially digested seeds and a provider of uneaten plant parts and nutrients that serve as fertilizer. This evolved behavior will not change because you have brought a parrot into your home. Although there are cases of people potty training their parrots, in general, this approach does not work well for a variety of reasons. Inevitably, your most valuable and rare figurines will be the ones that attract your parrot’s attention, and you’ll need to put them behind glass or in an enclosed display area out of your parrot’s way.

If you value your furniture and home décor highly, a parrot is probably not a good choice for you.

Do You Value Obedience?

Unlike domestic animals, parrots have no interest in pleasing you. Training a parrot is a bit like training a cat. You have to find a way to appeal to the parrot’s higher want. The trouble is that, without quite a bit of experience, this is much more difficult than training a dog. If you do want to train your parrot, there are simple approaches that work. The issue is that you must follow the experts’ directions, because nothing about training your bird is intuitive. This is all practice, repetition, and patience in rewarding very small improvements.

To enjoy having a parrot as a companion, you have to be able to put aside your ideas about what is acceptable behavior and find a way to coexist with an animal who evolved in the treetops, to lives in flocks, and to spend a majority of the day foraging for food. If you cannot provide either these conditions or conditions that mimic the parrots’ natural environment in these critical ways, your life together will not be as happy as you both would wish life to be.

Family Cooperation

One of the most practical parrot behaviorists in recent years is Liz Wilson. Her advice about the difficulties of having a parrot as a companion is that not all household members are enthusiastic about living with a bird. Because parrots can be so difficult, for the relationship to be successful, it is essential for everyone in the home to be enthusiastic about the prospect. Everyone in the family will need to handle the bird, keep the same rules, and cooperate with one another in parrot-related responsibilities. This cooperation begins prior to acquiring a bird. If everyone is not enthusiastic, then acquiring a parrot is a mistake. The placement will not be a success.

Questions to Ask Before Acquiring a Parrot

How long have I been committed to acquiring a parrot as a pet?

If your answer is less than six months, then think again. Even the smallest parrots are long-lived. Make sure you want to commit to a beautiful (and needy) animal’s well-being.

Is my family as enthusiastic as I am about this pet?

Any pet impacts the entire family. Parrots, especially those with loud voices or those who require lots of space, do have a significant impact on everyone in a household. Allergies, as well as attitudes that include being frightened of birds, pressure the bird-lover in the household into relinquishing her pet quickly. Consider waiting until another time in the family’s evolution before getting an avian companion.

Do I live in a place that will allow parrots? Will my neighbors be troubled by my new companion?

Everyone dreads living uncomfortably next door to someone who hates pet noise. And an angry neighbor wears on your happiness. Consider whether your apartment, condo, or neighborhood association allows parrots. Also, even when they do, consider those who live near you. If you know in advance that there will be trouble, wait until you (or they) live elsewhere.

Do I understand that parrots are not easy pets and that they are not people-pleasers like dogs?

Many people are under the mistaken impression that parrots don’t require much care. Nothing could be further from the truth. Parrots are intelligent animals who need daily attention and companionship, adequate toys, and numerous food choices to keep their minds busy. Without these things, parrots begin to do things to demand your attention. When this happens, most parrots quickly lose their homes.

Am I willing to devote the time and funds required for the proper care of a parrot?

The purchase price of a parrot is simply the beginning. You will need an indoor cage; a way to provide full-spectrum sunlight or an outdoor cage; a continuous supply of destructible toys; fresh (or frozen) fruits and vegetables, in addition to a high-quality pelleted food; and an annual veterinary examination in addition to periodic beak and nail trims. If you don’t have forty-five minutes a day to spend with your pet, consider either a very small parrot, such as a budgie (parakeet) or a different type of pet that is more independent than a companion parrot.

Owning a parrot requires a significant time commitment. Most species need more than an hour of interaction each day.

Why Parrots Lose Their Homes

Concerned about the number of parrots losing their homes, avian veterinarians Susan Clubb DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian) and Michelle Goodman studied the reasons that parrots are given up for adoption. Among the unanticipated reasons that parrots are relinquished to adoption agencies or abandoned include “changes in the family structure such as deaths, divorces, financial difficulties and moving into places that do not accommodate pets, etc.” However, in addition to those problems that cannot be foreseen, many parrots are given up because their owners’ expectations have not been met by the parrot or because new parrot people become either bored with their new pet or upset because the parrot has not behaved well.

Clubb and Goodman found that although “not enough time” was reported most frequently as the reason for relinquishing parrots, further questioning revealed that “dissatisfaction with the relationship,” “unfulfilled expectations,” or “inability of the owner to communicate to the parrot their wants and needs” played a significant role. Goodman and Clubb believe that although the incompatibility issues that lead to negative behaviors such as aggression, noisiness, and feather destruction could be resolved through training and enrichment, in many cases the relationship between bird and owner had already deteriorated past repair.

Before getting a parrot, make sure everyone in the household will enjoy living with one.

To Make Good Matches, Education is Key

These researchers concluded that the most important way to keep parrots in their original homes is to educate the prospective parrot owner about “appropriate bird choice and reasonable expectations.” Surprisingly, they found that “many [parrot] purchases are impulse buys.” Your reading of this book is an excellent first step in learning about what type of parrot might work as a member of your family and what you should expect to do to keep your parrot happy and healthy.

Among many other educational opportunities you can explore include local bird club meetings, online communities, and visiting specialty veterinarians or rescue organizations.

For every family that has a negative experience with parrots, you can find families who treasure their avian companions and who go to great lengths to ensure they are well cared for and have everything a companion bird could want. These parrot lovers gather at local and national meetings, through online communities, and at their local bird specialty stores and behavioral seminars. If you’ve never visited an avian veterinarian’s office, you’d be surprised at the number of people who create friendships there in the lobby waiting for their well-bird checkups or talking about the concerns they have for a bird who needs treatment.

As with any other specialty interest, people who love parrots have an instant affinity for one another. We understand their worries, their difficulties in getting to the best veterinarian for their bird, their need for that expensive puzzle toy that will keep their cockatoo busy while they are on the telephone, the concern they have in the spring when some birds become more difficult because of their reproductive hormones, their worry when a bird begins to barber or pluck his feathers. These are concerns that those who do not have parrots find difficult to understand.

If you decide that a parrot is right for you, I’d urge you to join with some more informed parrot owners who will be glad to share their knowledge and help you begin your long and fascinating journey into the world of the parrot.

With so many species to choose from, each with slightly different anatomies, different dietary needs, behavioral quirks, and challenges, as well as their own endearing qualities, you may be able to find a parrot who fits your lifestyle, your home style, and your personality style. If you cannot, many opportunities exist for you to volunteer to spend your time with parrots while not taking full responsibility for an individual parrot for his lifetime. These opportunities include local rescue groups and humane societies, bird clubs, and events that support behaviorists and researchers as well as companion parrot owners. There may even be opportunities for you to work regularly with a parrot person who lives near you.