The Reality of Parrots as Pets

Parrots can be entertaining and quite attractive to the eyes. They are highly intelligent, can be taught tricks, and provide companionship to some people. Unfortunately, parrots are one of the most discarded homeless pets in North America alone. They are certainly the most complex and most misunderstood of domesticated pets. 

Are Parrots Good Pets?

Parrots are 398 species of tropical and subtropical birds (the greatest diversity living in Australia and South America). Some characteristic features of parrots include their curved beaks, clawed feet, and strong legs. In general, parrots are brightly colored and have astonishing plumage.

However, the harsh reality is that keeping a parrot as a pet could be a very long-term commitment. Some species of parrots, especially the larger parrots, can live up to 50 years time.

In addition, parrots are animals that are inherently wild. Even if captive-bred, they share many traits with their rainforest and jungle-born relatives. Things such as loud vocalizations, harsh bites, and aggression when held captive are just some examples of wild traits your domesticated parrot may have.

Parrots are one of the most annoying, destructive, dirty, and loud pets you can have. To be a good parrot owner, you must be willing to accept these traits and even work with them for the rest of that bird’s life. Because people don’t understand this, there is a very high chance that they will abuse and neglect the birds. Many parrots, especially the “easy,” popular small breed of parrot, are rehomed constantly, and possibly with an even worse guardian than the previous.

Parrots, in general, are quite noisy, and their screams can be heard from miles away. You need to be willing to tolerate these vocalizations in order to adopt one. This is all part of a parrot’s nature, as these sounds help them in the wild with communication with other parrots. Small parrots’ shrill screams can often be heard from far away. These screams are often repetitive and annoying. Some people find that a parrot, even a budgerigar (also called a budgie or parakeet), is too loud and annoying.

Parrots and their beaks are designed for constant chewing, including breaking and opening nuts, foraging for food, and chewing branches. Their beaks (which can be quite large on different species) can also be dangerous and cause serious injuries to humans. This is pertinent to the Macaw, which has a bite strength of 500-700 pounds per square inch, enough to cut off a human finger. Not only that, but even small species of birds, such as a Conure, has a significant, powerful bite that can cause a decent amount of pain.

Not only that, but aside from loud calls, potential aggression, and being messy, it takes a lot of time and patience to truly bond with a parrot. They are naturally prey animals, so interaction with humans is completely foreign to them. Even those that are hand raised by humans and have a social nature to them, developing trust and true bondage to your parrot is a marathon with no true destination. You will never know if the trust you make with a parrot will break, and when something does break a bird’s trust, it is very hard to gain back.

To leave off on a positive note, despite all the aforementioned truths about having parrots as pets, if you are successful in bonding with your parrot or have the mentality of acceptance, patience, and determination – you may have one of the most exciting, rewarding experiences of having a pet parrot to call your own. As a parrot owner myself, I have a sense of pride knowing that my birds are quite happy and trust me as their owner. It does take time and patience, but the rewards are unfathomable.