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BEFORE you decide to get a Parrot

janicedyh

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Janice
That Video needs to be a sticky and shown to every new person that comes here asking "Should I get a bird"
 

Mama Kirs

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The Netherlands
Very good post. Whilst reading it I got pooped on by our Quaker Teddy. All he had to do was walk or fly to his cage, but no...shizzting on me seemed to be a better option .
 

Hyacinth

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Very good post. It's truly amazing the amount of poop that can come out of a little Maroonbellied Conure. I trained her to go over the toilet when I first get her out, which helps, but it won't be long before there's more because of their fast metabolism.
 

Clueless

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Even when they say " Parrots, in a sense, are lousy pets!", people need to GET IT .... they are our companions ... not our pets and certainly not our toys
I agree.....
 

Jisoo

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yes! this is what some people need. i feel lie people are like, i'm getting a parrot! there going to be so easy to take care of, mess free, and quiet! And they underestimate the parrot's skill at being messy and noisy
here's a vid-
 

macawpower58

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They are lousy pets!
They eat your house.
They break your eardrums.
They ruin families.
They break your bank account.
They stop friends from coming over.
They make you lose your housing.
They bite!
They poop on you.
They don't listen.
They are neurotic.
They are demanding.
They are everything you don't like in life.

For 70% of the population, they are the worst nightmare they ever envisioned.
For 10% of the population they are their income.
For 10% they are that beautiful fixture they show off.
For 5% they are that 'inherited' obligation that they like and tolerate.
For 4% of the population they are a dream that someday will put them in another group.
For the 1% they are what makes our lives whole and we live our lives around them.
 

msplantladi

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I got this from Alabama Parrot Rescue. They also have tons of other info. In fact, before you rescue from them you have to complete what they call "Birdie Bootcamp" and take a test. They also require a home visit and to visit with them several times so they can see if the bird "chooses you. Honestly, they are one of the finest rescues you will find.
Totally agree...there really needs to be stricter guidelines for all rescues.
 

NClive

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Nohora Yoder
I read this on the Parrot rescue site in my city. I think anyone entertaining the idea of getting a parrot needs to read something like this. I know we have lots of info here....a ton, (good, bad, ugly for example) but, there are so many people that come here trying to decide on what type of parrot they want and those people are dreamy eyed and may not realize until its too late that they just are not prepared...hence...another bird needing to be re-homed. This post is from the parrot rescue where I have an application on file, have taken the "birdie bootcamp" that is required plus taken the follow up test as proof I now have knowledge of the material. Even when they say " Parrots, in a sense, are lousy pets!", people need to GET IT .... they are our companions ... not our pets and certainly not our toys

Living with a Parrot

Before you head out to the pet shop or breeder’s, you need to know one simple fact. Parrots, in a sense, are lousy pets! Why would I say that? Think about it for a minute. They are expensive to buy and even more expensive to maintain. They are noisy, dirty, dusty, messy, domineering, destructive, demanding, unpredictable, can be mean as a snake, and they can hurt you. Honestly, what more could you NOT want in a pet? It is an indisputable fact that parrots are not the right pet for everyone. It is our intention to inform you of some things you need to know before making a decision that could be one of the most rewarding or most regrettable of your life.

What we are about to present are just the facts of living with a pet Parrot. Have you considered:

Parrots are wasteful – Buy $30 worth of groceries and throw $24 worth in the trash as soon as you arrive home. Do this several times a month. Parrots require fresh food in addition to pellets (not seeds) and are wasteful eaters. If you can’t afford the wastefulness of a parrot, you can’t afford the parrot.

Parrots bite – If you have a parrot, you will be bitten, usually just hard and sometimes really hard. Consider yourself lucky if they bite and release. Walnuts and Brazil nuts are no challenge to a large beak. How do you think your skin and bones will fare? An angry parrot may bite and continue to clamp down.

Parrots are demanding – Plan on spending several hours every day interacting with you bird. In the case of Cockatoos, they crave the physical contact of their flock – YOU are their flock. If you don’t have the time or the desire to have this much interaction with a parrot, reconsider your decision to bring one into your home.

Parrots are messy – Anything within their reach is fair game to be dropped to the floor. This includes food, treats, toys and of course, poop. Dried droppings can become hard as concrete and fresh droppings can be difficult to remove from porous surfaces like clothing, carpets and furniture. Plan on cleaning the area around their cage 2 to 3 times a day. Cage papers must be replaced several times a week. The cage, toys, perches, play areas and stands, must be cleaned at least once a week and sometimes more depending upon the bird. Birds are clean by nature. They spend several hours a day, every day preening themselves. Don’t be selfish and ignore the mess. If you can’t or won’t spend the time necessary to keep the parrot’s home clean, then a parrot isn’t right for you.

Parrots are noisy – All parrots talk, squawk, sing, or scream. They do it when they’re happy, scared, mad, on alert, or just for no reason at all other than to do it. If you live in an apartment or condo, your neighbors may become your enemy. Do loud noises bother you? Are you a nervous person? If the noise would be a reason to find your parrot a new home, DON’T bring the parrot into your home!

Parrots poop – It’s inevitable. it will be on your floors, carpet, on their cage, on your furniture, and yes – on you. More important is the daily observation of what the poop looks like. You can tell if they are sick, if they are eating too many watery fruits, if they aren’t eating enough of something, etc. The poop must be cleaned off daily or the build up will be more disgusting than daily clean-ups. Birds are messy, not dirty. Don’t force them to live in substandard conditions because you are too busy or too lazy to tend to the mess.

Parrots require daily care – Planning a vacation? Travel a lot with business? Enjoy frequent weekend getaways? Need to paint? What about if you are ill, have an accident, or die? Where will your bird stay? Find someone to care/board your parrot before you get a parrot. Local bird shops may be a place, but do you really trust them? Parents, friends, siblings, neighbors are a good choice, but find out if they are truly willing beforehand. The day will come when you must board your parrot for one reason or another. Make certain you are prepared for that day.

Parrots should see an Avian Vet – Routine vet check-ups are a must, but what about medical emergencies? Is there an avian vet in your area? Not all vets see birds and not all vets that see birds are qualified avian vets. Locate the nearest avian specialist before you need them and get prices on routine care vs. emergency care. Wings and nails can be clipped by yourself, your vet, or qualified pet shop. Be careful, blood feathers and nails will bleed if a mistake is made. Do you have the money to spend for the initial vet exam, the yearly exams, and medical emergencies? If not, then please consider your overall financial situation. Parrots are expensive from the very beginning. If you get a great deal on a “used” parrot, there may be health problem and $1500 (or more) later, you may have a healthy parrot. If you don’t have an emergency stash, get one now. If you can’t afford to divert any funds to an emergency stash, you can’t afford a parrot!

Parrots chew – If you don’t provide chew toys, they will find their own (sheetrock, furniture, wood trim, themselves, etc). Parrots don’t care what value an item has to you, all they care about is chewing, so provide plenty of chew toys at all times, as well as stimulating toys. Play with your parrot, remember they are intelligent and enjoy a variety of activities. Toys are a MUST to achieve a happy, healthy parrot. Add the cost to your budget, if your budget can’t absorb the cost, don’t get the parrot!

Teflon kills – All nonstick surfaces have Teflon type coatings that produce a gas that kills birds quickly! Opt for stainless, alum, copper, glass, ceramic or enamel. TEFLON coatings can be found in many household appliances such as ovens, toasters, irons, waffle irons, coffeemakers, blow-dryers, etc. If you think just this one time won’t hurt, YOU ARE WRONG! If you can’t part with the nonstick stuff, then at some point you will be parting with your parrot from death of the fumes.

Other Toxins – Certain plants, smoke, aerosols, fragrances, candles with wicks that contain a metal stem, carpet fresheners, air fresheners, FeBreeze, some essential oils, certain hair products, certain foods (avocados, caffeine, alcohol, chocolate) contain toxins that are hazardous to your bird. As new products are added to the market, new dangers arise. You must continue to educate yourself on these hazards. Be prepared to parrot proof your home. If you can’t forgo the use of these items and are unwilling to keep your parrot out of harm’s way, why spend the money/time for a parrot at all?

Parrots require daily attention – Your parrot needs your undivided attention for a considerable amount of time. Each species and each bird is different. A Cockatiel may only want 20 mins 3 times a day, but a Cockatoo may only be happy when they are by your side for hours at a time. Are your evenings filled with school activities, work from the office, college courses, etc? PLEASE reconsider the notion to bring a parrot into your home if you can’t spend quality and quantity time with that parrot!

Parrots need discipline and structure – Discipline is not punishment. It is establishing boundaries, respect, schedules, education, and acceptable behaviors for both you and your parrot. In order to effectively discipline yourself and your parrot, you must first learn what is considered normal behavior and what is considered destructive behavior. This means you are going to have to READ, READ, and READ some more. Do you have the dedication it takes to effectively discipline yourself and your parrot? If not, don’t set yourself up for failure and jeopardize the well-being of another parrot by unknowingly encouraging behavior that will only pave the way for the parrot to placed in another home.

Parrots are destructive – A large parrot can and will remove gemstones from their settings! Earrings or other piercings will be removed with or without a piece of flesh. Parrots seem to love metal and enjoy breaking chains into pieces. Clothing will have a new look that is personalized by your parrot. Little holes around the arms and neck is normal. Anything that is 3 dimensional is considered fair game (rhinestones, studs, sequins etc). Eyeglasses are no exception! If this behavior is unacceptable, then a parrot in your home is unacceptable!

Parrots can be jealous – Parrots may consider children and other pets as rivals. Be cautious of this fact. If you have or are planning on having children, you are in for a rocky ride. Be forewarned!

If after reading this you still want a parrot, I welcome you and ask that you commit yourself to being the best friend you can be to your companion Good luck and remember that right now may not be the best time for you to become an owner, you be the judge. Please remember to always keep the parrot’s best interest at heart.
Thank you very much for sharing this valuable information.
I rescued a NC, we stay at a friends house for about a week and they have some parrokeets and this NC but they were upset with the latest due to his (I really don't know his gender but since he is really attached to me we decided he is a male.) non stop screaming.
Their practice was to change his food and water once a week, therefore I started cleaning up his cage every day and changed his food as well, the screaming reduced a lot.
One day he said to me Hola (Hello in Spanish) and, I tought at the begining it was my imagination, but then he repeated ( the issue is NCs don't speak as clear as other parrots,) and he was in a English only spoken home; then I said Hola back to him and he was really happy. When I was at the house he didn't scream too much.
By the end of the week we left, and he stoped eating, he was depressed, his owners called me and asked if I wanted to have the bird, I tought about it for a day and accepted him, because I saw his conditions (sometimes the kids tried to be funny putting the vacuum cleaner hose near the bird to see his reaction; the poor bird was absolutely scared).
We went to bring him home at night, to make things easy on the bird, he was happy to see me and at the sae time abit scared. Instead of bringing him home in the cage, I placed his stand inside a cardboard box that we made some holes and carried him on my lap, while the cage was in the back. when we arrived home, we put him inside the cage and, to our surprise he started eating ad went to bed as he were used to he different house.
He barely screams, only once that I had the blinds up and he saw our neighbor's cat, and,once I explained to him that the cat can't enter the house, he caled down, anyway I only open the blinds a little bit and moved his cage to a place he can't see the neighbor's yard any longer.
One time my niece came with her little baby and we allowed her to play the "baby shark" song on Youtube on the house TV, and our bird was happy dancing and trying to sing. After that I always play kids songs on the TV and he now knows them, even ask for the one that he likes; i.e.: "meow", mens the three little kittens, "bip", means the five little birds, etc.
He used to say "I Love you", but I think it was more like from being scared or something, since he stopped saying it when her feel at home. He is scared of brums, as well as vacuum cleaners and if he sees me wearing gloves, he moves as far away as he can, and is paying close attention to all my movements. Usually I explain to him that I am cleaning or whatever I am doing, and give him a treat with my gloved hand, to help him overcome his fear.
on the other hand, he only poops in the same place in the cage, and during the day he likes to be on top f the cage and moves and poops outside of the cage on the same spot.
To avoid any inconveniences, I cut pieces of the big plastic bags the same size as his cage trays, and, place them in replacement of newspaper. I wash the plastics with water and dawn soap with a little bit of vinegar and replace them twice a day. same thing with his food and water containers.
Once he was picking his feaders and we had a hard time finding what was the reason of it: One big bag of food that we bought at the pet store had small insects in it. I found out, because I started to have tiny bites on my hands after I served his food, and one day I was able to see a couple of tiny things moving on top of some seeds.
Any leftovers food he doesn't eat goes to the wild birds outside and he knows it, so he tries to eat all his food, unless he wants to share with the "poor kids outside who have to look for their food."
He doesn't know how to fly, which is good for us, because he stays in and out of his cage and on top of a little table that I have next to his cage.
For my husband and I, this Nanday Conure is the best pet we have ever had. He is very sweet and lovely, especially with me.
 

NClive

Meeting neighbors
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4/29/20
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22
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Nohora Yoder
Totally agree...there really needs to be stricter guidelines for all rescues.
I wish there were more rescue places like that, since the majority of them, really don't have time or don't care about the wellbeing of the animals, and there is still a lot of a buse towards them.
 

NClive

Meeting neighbors
Joined
4/29/20
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22
Real Name
Nohora Yoder
They forgot to mention jealous of the spouse as well. Gracie tolerates my husband on a good day on a bad one.... he bleeds.
Yes, my Rorro allows me to do whatever I said and never had even tried to bite me. He bites my husband. And when my husband is watching the news or any TV show, he complains all the time, requesting his music or his favorite TV show (Maya the bee).
 
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