Parrot Myths & Misconceptions

[Zanizaila]

I recognize many of the things said in this thread and I am also very tired of things like... "Does it talk?" "No, but she can-" ...and they immediately lose interest.
Or with Saga, they always say "Is that a parrot?" "She's (or "it") just a baby, right?" "She will grow bigger, right?" Etcetera.

But this was the part that got me:

Another misconception about companion birds is that a lot of people seem to believe you have to get two of them. Budgie owners especially do this.

You don't need to buy birds in pairs! In fact, if you do, the birds will more likely bond to each other and they won't bond to you as much. The pair may become defensive of each other against you, or they might not get along at all and then you'll have to get a second cage or give away one of the birds.

Of course they should be two. Parrots are flock animals and a human can never substitute for another parrot. Some birds may not want or accept a partner of its own kind because the way it was raised, hand-fed with no contact with other birds, but they are flock animals and are more social than we are, we can never give them the same as another bird could.

Would you (not just Kathleen, I mean all of you) rather live with only a bird for the rest of your life than have your friends, family and spouse around? No, because a bird can not give you the companionship you need from humans.

[liz]

I have always had at least two of everything. 2 budgies, 2 ferrets, 2 cats, 2 hermit crabs (which turned out bad during mating season. One wanted to and the other didn't) then my daughter brought home a pet rat. It was alone. She played with it but it was alone when she wasn't there. If that wasn't bad enough my son brought home a dog. A dog did not fit in my life at the time. Would you believe that the dog and rat became friends. The dog would bring pieces of dog food and put it in the rats hand that was reaching through the cage. I had to bring that dog with me when I visited people with dogs.

I believe there should be two. Two cats sleep together, two dogs play together and two ferrets can trash a house and still be bonded to you. Why not birds the most intelligent have friends to play with and still be bonded to their human.

Also a pet peeve. People believe parrots mimic. Yes they do when they are young just like children. Then they learn the meaning of the words like children and learn to put them in sentences and ask questions.