New Parrot Owner

[Eve_Schick]

Hi!
I've never had a parrot before and I didn't really know what to put for the subject, so anyway, I'm going to adopt the parrot that chooses me so, i just need to know, are there ant good books that I can check out? Any use-full information for 1st time parrot owners, I'm 15 about to be 16 (I know that I'm really young, but I don't do much so I need a friend (that's sounds awful, I've got friends but we never do anything) and I absolutely love animals, just so you know I'm not the average teenager, I want to become a Zoologist, (but that has nothing to do with anything, well i guess but anyway) please share story's and anything your willing to share to me, I'll appreciate anything you share
Thank You -Eve

[pennyandrocky]

the best way to learn about parrots is in person. find a parrot rescue near you and volunteer. rescues are always looking for people to come play with and help care for their birds it helps to socialize their birds while giving potential parrot slaves experience to know exactly what they are getting into. some things to think about first parrots need a lot of attention who's going to give yours what it needs when you're in school? they're expensive they need fresh fruits and veggies daily, lots of different toys to destroy, they need room to fly and a special avian vet. what happens when you move out of your parent's house? most apartments won't allow a loud bird to annoy neighbors. when you find a partner what happens if your bird and they don't get along? do you plan on having kids one day? parrots don't really care for fast moving loud children who will take attention from them. I was a teenager when I inherited my grandmother's and while I loved him I had to make a lot of sacrifices to properly care for him. they live a minimum of 30 years depending on what you decide that's decades with a 2 year old who can fly.

[Pajarita]

Yes, she is absolutely right. The best way to learn is to volunteer every day for three months in a rescue. Note that I say every day for three months, not a couple of hours a week for two weeks and leave it at that. The reason I say this is because parrots are not like dogs which would play with us when we feel like it and, if we don't play, they don't stop loving us but parrots do. Parrots are expensive to keep (all that organic produce, toys, AV bills, etc), labor-intensive and terribly time-consuming animals. Cats share their house with us, dogs share our lives, whatever they might be but, with parrots, it's the other way around: you have to re-adjust your life around their needs and that means spending 3 to 4 hours every single day, 365 days a year, with them, getting up early even on weekends and even when you are not feeling well, cleaning and cooking for them on a daily basis, etc. It's worse than having a kid because a kid grows up and becomes gradually independent but parrots don't.

[marie83]

I do so wish that people would stop comparing cats and dogs to parrots (less on the cats as they are naturally more independent) giving them the impression that life is so easy with a cat or dog because it isn't- at least not if you are doing things right. Each species has its own (and some different/some the same) needs and despite the fact that's dogs have been messed about with genetically so much it is still not acceptable imo to leave them shut in the house all day by themselves whilst you go out to work, they still need a hell of a lot of mental stimulation, training, grooming, exercise etc. I'm sorry but a vast amount of people do think its ok to only let their dogs out in the garden and never or rarely take it for a walk when the majority of breeds (there are exceptions due to age/medical conditions/genetic issues etc ) would be much better off having way more than the 2x 20 min recommended walks. That's only 40 minutes out your day but just like parrots dogs require much more than "minimum" and the 40 minute minimum is just for the exercise part..... The RSPCA have had to start turning people down because the dog will be left on its own for over 4 hours on a regular basis and the rise in behavioural problems in pet dogs continues to go up and up....


"dogs share our lives, whatever they might be but, with parrots, it's the other way around: you have to re-adjust your life around their needs and that means spending 3 to 4 hours every single day, 365 days a year, with them, getting up early even on weekends and even when you are not feeling well, cleaning and cooking for them on a daily basis"
This applies to all animals not just parrots, as owners its our responsibility to change our lives to fit with the animals we keep whether that be a birds, horse or dog.

Now sorry for putting my rant in right here, its just seriously annoys me and this is the second post I've read today that implies a dog will fit around our lives and it will be fine. That said I do realise this is a parrot forum and this is the main topic of conversation but I've seen it so many times that people suggest this kind of thing and that other animals are an easy option when they aren't, its people who just aren't putting in the effort they should be. I'm not saying parrots are never harder to own, absolutely not-for instance I have never owned a cockatoo, but exactly the same considerations need to be thought of otherwise - companionship, exercise, safe toys, replacing toys, diet, holidays, vet care etc.