Are parrots good pets?

[Pajarita]

Good article... not so much the first part but definitely the second one!

http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2015/0 ... _pets.html

[liz]

They are more like additions to my family. Mine will outlive me. The cockatiels will not be effected by my passing and will do well with anyone with parrot knowledge.
In my will I name my son to take them after me. He cannot keep them but I trust him to find them good homes. I have also told him that this forum may hold their new humans. I have given a lot of information about their personalities in Rambo & Myrtle and hope they get a good home for it.

[Michael]

Yes and no. Simply put, parrots can be good pets for the right people. The kind of people that can understand them, respect their need to fly, give them the right environment to live in, have sufficient funds to provide proper supplies and vet care, and most importantly people who simply want what a parrot really is. For everyone else, parrots would be a lousy pet and not at all what they'd expect.

[Pajarita]

Yep, I agree with you a 100%, Michael. Problem is, out of 1,000 people who own parrots, there are only 2 or 3 who are willing and able to keep them right so, statistically speaking, they don't make good pets.

[Michael]

I think 2/1000 is being a bit cynical and extreme. I would say maybe about 1/10 do a reasonable job. Sure it leaves things to be desired but those people genuinely care and do the best they can under their circumstances. Many people don't care though and will pass the bird on to someone else when they realize they weren't cut out for keeping a bird.

[Pajarita]

Well, I think that the difference of opinion comes from the different criteria we use. You use care and trying their best while mine is husbandry. People might care and try their best but if they are not able to keep them under good conditions, then, although they might be willing, caring and super trying, they still would not be a 'good home'.

[seagoatdeb]

I agree with Michael, probably about 1 in 10 do a reasonable job. It depends who is judging the criteria. I have heard some people say that people that have more than two birds and have a bird room are terrible because birds need to be with their flock not in another room. Some people say not giving them outside time is reprehensible. Some people say all the birds that escape are free flighted and it is irresponsible. And on an on. its like with kids, are you wrong not to home school? So different people are going to rate owners different. If you love your bird and do what you think is the best that is great. A reasonable job is fine with me. When people research and get support everything improves. Thats why forums are so great, we can all learn new things to improve the lives of our parrots.