Post #64722 by KuKuAhu on Fri, Dec 12, 2003 6:53 PM

I am inclined to agree with Trustar and the comment that this is not a bar accessory we are talking about, but a very social and needy animal with the smarts of a chimp. I have two parrots that were "taken in" by me from owners who could not or would not care for them.

Things to consider:

Old "cool looking" cages are toxic parrot death traps. The tend to contain lead and will poison your bird quickly. Never use a "vintage" cage to house a bird.

Parrots are not cheap and require complex diets to maintain health. You cannot simply feed them bags of seeds from the market.

Perrots require very specialized medical care from a qualified avain vet. You can't just take them anywhere for an annual eaxm. Be prepared to pay $$$$ for the speciality.

Parrots require 10-12 hours of sleep each night and like to rise with day break. They also like routine and hate change. If you like to hang out in your bar late at night, this is obviously not going to work.

A parrot needs at the very least three hours per day of active out of cage time preferably with you to be mentally and physically healthy.

Parrots will destroy things via chewing. They never grow out of this habit as puppies do. It is in thier nature to chew. That means they must be supervised when out of the cage so that they will not ruin your house or hurt themselves.

Wings must be clipped regularly.

No ceiling fans.

No non-stick cookware (can release toxic fumes that are deadly to birds).

No spray cleaners, spray deoderants, aerosol hairspray, strong cleaners that create fumes, no smoking, no oven cleaners, no paint fumes. (all toxic as birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems).

You'll need someone who can care for your bird whenever you travel. As you might imagine this can prove dificult since it isn't as if many people have three houre a day to lend to your birds playtime, much less the ability to maintain a complicated routine.

These are just a few things to consider. It isn't that I am anti-parrot ownership or some PETA freak show or anything, it is just that far too many people purchase a parrot with absolutely no idea as to what is involved in their proper care. This leads to neglected, mean, loud, destructive, and often sick birds that are impossible to handle and often lead short miserable lives.

Parrots are not like fish that you can feed and enjoy as ornaments. Nor are they anything like dogs or cats that can be neglected occasionaly with little ill effect provided they are fed and watered.

I'd say that having a parrot is a lot like having a two year old child. Except that this two year old stays two for it's entire life span of at least thirty years.

I love my parrots. They are affectionate and intelligent, and a joy to live with. They are also a royal pain in the ass at times and need constant attention. They will also be the only birds I ever own knowing what I know now.

While feeding rum soaked fruit to a parrot makes for an amusing anecdote, the truth is that it amounts to cruelty by poisoning. Keep in mind that Don's parrots never lived very long.

Sorry to be a drag. Do some web searches on parrot behavior and you'll see what I mean.

If I can answer any questions should you decide to pursue this, please let me know.

pele