before you buy a parrot...

What are the main things to think about before purchasing a parrot? 

Hmmmm, all birds may bite!  Especially if you have small children, you will have to think about this one.  Children need to be trained to move slowly around a parrot. Most kids do not think about how they dart around, jumping, rolling – all just normal play - which is pretty scary to a bird until it gets used to the activity in the home. 

Are you in an apartment, condo, or townhouse?  If so, a large macaw, or a large cockatoo may not be the perfect pet for your dwelling.  If you are in a single home, but are very close to your neighbors in distance, they still may not be the best bet. Cockatoos greet the sun in the morning, and tell it good-bye at dusk.  Some are more exuberant than others.  I have had some that hardly make any noise, but it is something to consider. 

Do you suffer from asthma or dust allergies? African Greys and cockatoos are not a good choice then, due to their dust and powder that is shed daily. 

What other pets do you have?  Our birds are raised around dogs and bunnies, so they are used to other critters, although your existing pet may not be happy to share you with another. It will take time, maybe several weeks or months for the #1 pet to adjust to your new parrot. Some older pets can get quite jealous when the new bird is brought home. 

Parrots have long life spans.  African Greys have been documented to have lived over one hundred years! Many older birds do not have accurate records of when they were hatched, and who has owned them over the years, so we really don’t know how old most of them are.  But, many macaws have been tracked that have lived over 60 years. It would be good to make plans for your pet if anything were to happen to you. 

I usually tell my customers that they must think of the time in the future when their intended pet has said and done all their tricks a thousand times.  Then, the owner must think of how much time they will want to spend with that bird, and start spending that amount of time NOW.  All birds are like small children – they get used to the attention given, and are bewildered and confused when a few months or years later do not get the hours of attention they had in the beginning when the bird was new. So, the bird may do SOMETHING to get attention – pluck feathers, scream, or bite; all unwanted traits, and the bird will be deemed bad, although it is usually the fault of the owner for setting up the bird to fail as a good pet. I have tried to give the pros and the cons of owning the different species of parrots here on our website, to help you make an informed decision as to which parrot might fit in best with your family and surroundings.  If you have any questions, please either e-mail or call and I will be happy to assist you!!