by Brad&Maz » Thu Sep 19, 2013 7:03 am
Actually, it does not "suck" owning parrots. They are pets for people who want more than just an animal that they percieve as an object rather than a thinking, feeling entity with emotional needs. As a younger person, I worked in several pet stores and I have 23 years experience owning African Greys. I start with the caveat that every individual bird is different from the next. However, 99% of the time, what ever issues a bird has, they can be overcome by an owner who invests the time and has great patience. I have worked with abused and neglected medium to large parrots who when I first encountered them, were incredible hostile if not outright vicious. Yet, after, sometimes months of daily gentle treatment, these bird have slowly developed into gentle affectionate pets. I am sure that there are birds that cannot be "turned," but they are not common. I have always found that even with Greys, constant socialization (substantial daily attention and exposure to many people and different environments), although at first can be difficult for them, usually results, to a greater or lesser degree, in a bird that accepts more people, becomes less stressed over changes in their enviorment and generally, a calmer bird. The key is to spend as much time possible with a parrot while not over reacting negative behaviors (such as biting). Again, patience and persistence is the key. One of the best things I ever did for my Grey, who was initially shy and nippy, was the bring him to my office several times a week (I have that luxury). There, he was exposed to and recieved attention from many people a day. Eventually, he warmed up to the staff and has been a relatively outgoing bird, although he still prefers me, he accepts most people.
Owning a parrot has much in common with parenting a young child. The only way do to it correctly is to make the necessary investment of your time, effort and patience. No doubt, such a requirement is not for those who simply wants a "pet." The rewards of properly "raising" a parrot are that you have an affectionate, intelligent, loyal and often comical animal who not only "bonds" to you and interacts with you like no other animal can (other than perhaps chimpanzees, dolphins, etc.), but you find yourself "bonded" to it as well.