| I realize that most of you already own | | | | you have reasonably consistent work hours or |
| parrots. However, if you are like most | | | | live on a consistent schedule? Parrots need |
| parrot parents, you are tempted from time to | | | | consistency in their lives. They live on a |
| time to add to the flock. Whether you are | | | | schedule and they expect their humans to do |
| buying your first parrot or your 10th, the | | | | the same. They can adjust to different |
| considerations are the same and you want to | | | | schedules to an extent as long as there is |
| be smart. There really can be too many | | | | consistency. Too much change can result in a |
| parrots for some people while other people | | | | stressed out parrot! Parrots want to be |
| are happy to care for dozens and dozens or | | | | awake, uncovered and fed in the morning. Many |
| even hundreds of parrots. I've learned these | | | | of them like to get up at sunrise and will |
| things that must be considered because of my | | | | tell you about it if you try to sleep in. |
| personal experiences and experiences of my | | | | They want to settle in for the night not too |
| friends in relation to becoming new parrot | | | | long after it gets dark outside. During the |
| parents. Yet, I have had to make mistakes to | | | | hours in between rising and going to bed for |
| learn from them myself. Even with years of | | | | the night, they want their humans to pay |
| experience with parrots, it is easy to make | | | | attention to them. 6. Do you have the time |
| an error if you don't go back to the list of | | | | and willingness to provide proper training on |
| factors and review them from time to time. | | | | a consistent basis? Parrots need to learn |
| 1. What is your motivation to buy a first | | | | good manners through basic training. If you |
| parrot or to add to the flock? You've all | | | | want your parrot to learn to talk, you'll |
| read about my SunDance, the sun conure I had | | | | have to provide that training as well. You |
| from age eight week until her death. I'd like | | | | will find that you need to teach your parrot |
| to tell you how wrong my motivation for | | | | what belongs to it and what it should not |
| buying her really was. Now, understand that I | | | | bother; keeping in mind they only learn this |
| enjoyed 17 happy years with her and loved her | | | | to a point because they are mischievous, |
| dearly, but my true motivation was flawed. I | | | | curious creatures by nature. Parrots can |
| would not have missed those years with her | | | | actually be potty trained, but only through |
| for anything. My honest motivation was that I | | | | consistency and training can that happen. |
| had just moved from cold and snowy Colorado | | | | Some talented parrots can learn to use speech |
| back to my former home in Cape Canaveral, | | | | in context to let their humans know what they |
| Florida and bought a brand new bicycle. | | | | want, but only if the time is spent to teach |
| Everyone in that area rides their bicycles | | | | them the words. A parrot, as a rule of thumb, |
| around town and on the beach and very good | | | | takes almost as much time as a two-year old |
| bicycle paths are provided. I had seen | | | | human to raise properly! 7. Are you willing |
| several people riding their bicycles with | | | | to learn about your parrot and ensure it has |
| parrots and I wanted one to ride my bike with | | | | the proper care? In order to care for a |
| me! I already had cockatiels and budgies but | | | | parrot properly, you need to know what |
| I wanted a beautiful, striking, bigger parrot | | | | species it is and what that species needs to |
| to show off riding around town. Now, realize | | | | be healthy and happy. Some parrots, Lorikeets |
| I had already been published in Bird Talk | | | | and Hyacinth macaws for example, have special |
| magazine and I was dumb enough to think along | | | | dietary needs that must be met in order to be |
| these lines of motivation. Guess what? | | | | healthy. There are State laws in the United |
| SunDance was terrified at the sight of a | | | | States about certain species and I'm sure |
| bicycle! There was no way in the world that I | | | | this is true in other countries as well. |
| could get her to even consider sitting on me | | | | Quaker parrots, for example, are illegal to |
| while I was NEAR the bike, much less on | | | | transport in some states and in others they |
| board! However, things worked out and I knew | | | | are illegal to even have possession of. Some |
| enough about parrots to love her for what she | | | | states require closed bands to remain on the |
| was and we were happy, even though I never | | | | parrots; others do not. The parrot owner has |
| went bike riding with a parrot - but then how | | | | to investigate and learn about their specific |
| safe would that be, anyway? I would NOT | | | | species and how to best create a healthy, |
| recommend it at all! Why do I tell you this? | | | | happy home for the parrot. 8. Do you have |
| I am sharing this because it is so very | | | | space in your home for a parrot or another |
| important to search ourselves and find | | | | parrot? I once lived in a one-bedroom |
| exactly why we want a parrot. If we want it | | | | apartment with a dozen small parrots. That |
| as something to impress our friends or to | | | | isn't for everyone, however. If you choose a |
| show off as a status symbol, we are using the | | | | large parrot, you'll have to have sufficient |
| wrong motivation. The only right motivation | | | | space to put a large cage and you'll probably |
| is that we have a place in our lives that | | | | want a place for a play gym. Parrots are |
| will provide room and care for the parrot and | | | | messy and you can't just put their cage |
| we want to give of our selves and our time to | | | | anywhere. They'll often sling food onto the |
| the parrot. After all, it takes work and | | | | walls and make a mess with their food on the |
| dedication to keep parrots properly and they | | | | floor. 9. What is your housing situation? If |
| require a consistent schedule and daily | | | | you rent your home, are pets allowed? Are the |
| attention. 2. Is the expense something you | | | | walls sufficiently sound-proof so that your |
| can afford initially and over time? Parrots | | | | parrot will not bother neighbors and result |
| are NOT inexpensive. The bigger parrots cost | | | | in complaints against you? As I said, I did |
| lots of money. Sure, a budgie isn't a major | | | | live in a one-bedroom rental apartment for |
| investment, nor is a cockatiel, but you also | | | | years with a sun conure without getting any |
| have to provide proper housing, food, treats, | | | | complaints. Whether that had to do with my |
| toys, vet care, and you have an expense in | | | | neighbors or fate, I can not say. I do know |
| time you have to spend with the parrot. If | | | | that most of my neighbors loved seeing |
| you want a large parrot, before deciding you | | | | SunDance and our walls were not thin. Many |
| have the money for the parrot, price the | | | | apartments or attached homes allow lots of |
| large cage it will call its home. A large, | | | | noise to travel between apartments. 10. Do |
| sturdy parrot cage that would be roomy enough | | | | you have the dedication needed to give a |
| for a blue and gold macaw, for example, can | | | | parrot everything it needs? Just as with |
| cost as much as the parrot! Toys for big | | | | raising a child, there will be times that you |
| birds can run into money as well. Some of our | | | | have to spend money you may prefer using for |
| subscribers have stated in their interviews | | | | something else to obtain things your parrot |
| an average expense of up to $500 per month | | | | needs such as health care, a new cage or |
| for total average expense of caring for their | | | | toys. Also, your parrot will expect you to be |
| parrots - and they only have one, two or | | | | with it during part of every day. I hear too |
| three! Sure, this includes their wing | | | | many stories about people who obtain untamed |
| clipping or other grooming by a vet and | | | | parrots and then don't have the dedication to |
| health check ups, plus lots and lots of toys | | | | tame them. It can take months or even years |
| and treats. Even a budgie, however, costs | | | | to get an untamed adult parrot to become |
| money and it has to have the things it needs | | | | trusting of humans. Do you have that kind of |
| to be happy and entertained. 3. Consider | | | | dedication? This is a good time to bring up |
| family structure and family stability. Right | | | | the differences of buying an adult untamed |
| now you may be a single person with lots and | | | | parrot and a hand-fed well-socialized baby |
| lots of time to spend with a long-lived | | | | parrot. If you want to ensure you have a |
| parrot. But what happens to the parrot if | | | | loving pet that will allow you to handle it |
| you... a) Marry and have children? b) | | | | and pet it, you should buy a hand-fed baby. |
| Become unemployed? (Do you have the resources | | | | Even with a hand-fed parrot, if the parrot is |
| to care for the parrot during times of | | | | allowed to exist as part of the parrot flock, |
| financial stress?) c) Are you in college and | | | | it will learn to be a parrot. If a baby |
| have time right now, but once you enter your | | | | parrot is placed in a loving family as an |
| new career, will you be working long days and | | | | only parrot and you follow guidelines about |
| leaving before daylight only to return after | | | | spending time every day with your parrot, |
| dark? d) Do you travel a great deal or plan | | | | you'll almost certainly have a loving, cuddly |
| long international trips? SunDance loved me | | | | parrot. Some untamed adult parrots become |
| through more than one marriage, several jobs, | | | | trusting and loving; this depends on the |
| different housing and even different family | | | | parrot and the humans involved as well as |
| components. However, that might not be the | | | | dedication and consistency. 11. Do you want a |
| case for you. Think long and hard about your | | | | parrot that talks and will NOT be happy with |
| future plans. She traveled with me at times | | | | a non-speaking parrot? The only way to |
| and other times visited with her Grandmother | | | | obtain a parrot that is guaranteed to talk is |
| (my mom) or with another trusted friend or | | | | to buy one that is already talking! There is |
| relative. I once had to change roommates | | | | absolutely no guarantee that any specific |
| because SunDance could NOT stand the roommate | | | | parrot of any species will talk. There are |
| I chose. She was right and I was wrong, but | | | | African Greys that never learn to say a word |
| nonetheless, I had to go through finding | | | | and others that seem to know most of the |
| another roommate because I couldn't afford | | | | Webster's Dictionary. Can you love a parrot |
| the housing alone. There's a lot to consider | | | | no matter whether it ever speaks? Will you |
| about what could happen in the future. Also, | | | | love the parrot for what it brings to your |
| parrots are long lived and plans must be made | | | | life, no matter what? If you don't feel you |
| for their care should something happen to | | | | can be happy unless you have a parrot that |
| you. They can easily outlive their owners. | | | | talks, you should either buy a parrot that |
| One African Grey in Alaska was documented by | | | | already talks or look again at your reasons |
| Bird Talk magazine to be 112 years of age! | | | | for wanting the parrot. If you do want a |
| 4. Do you have time and desire to provide | | | | parrot that talks and is also tame and |
| attention to your parrots every single day? | | | | loving, you can purchase a species that is |
| One mistake made by many parrot buyers is | | | | known for talking ability and then train the |
| that they buy a hand-fed just weaned baby | | | | parrot, hoping it will learn to speak. But |
| parrot and, because the parrot is new, pay | | | | you have to keep in mind that there are |
| loads of attention to the parrot. Then, | | | | absolutely... no guarantees no matter what |
| reality sets in and the parrot doesn't get | | | | anyone tells you! Final Thoughts If you |
| nearly as much attention as it previously was | | | | consider all these factors and become well |
| lavished with. Some parrots become stressed | | | | educated about the parrot you intend to |
| out by this and begin to pluck feathers. | | | | purchase, you'll make a very good parrot |
| Cockatoos are especially emotional parrots | | | | parent. If, however, you find yourself |
| and, if you choose a cockatoo, you should | | | | thinking you may not be able to provide |
| begin at Day One paying only as much | | | | enough attention or your other pets may cause |
| attention to the parrot as you reasonably | | | | danger or stress, you might want to think |
| expect to provide on a daily basis. 5. Do | | | | about your purchase further. |