5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Get a Parrot

OK, so I’m a hypocrite.

I have eight parrots at the time of writing, and yet I’m advising against parrot ownership.
Actually, I’m not saying don’t get a parrot. But I would love you to know the reasons you shouldn’t get one, so that if you do, you can be prepared.

I’ve heard people liken parrots to angry toddlers with wings…and they have a point.

1. Parrots are noisy

She looks like an angel…but she can scream for an hour solid!

Noise doesn’t really covey the array of sounds you’ll be subject to if you choose to share your home with a parrot. But parrots talk, I hear you say. Oh yes, some will, but they will also squawk, scream, cry, shout and generally make a racket. Some species are quieter than others, but there’s a lot of individual variation. I’ve yet to meet a quiet Amazon or Cockatoo. Smaller doesn’t necessarily equal quieter either – it often means higher pitched! Even if you can stand the sound, can your neighbours?

2. Parrots are messy

We’re back to the toddler analogy. If you’ve ever watched a small child fling its dinner all over the table, floor and walls you’re pretty close to imagining life with a parrot. The simple addition of a pomegranate to the food dish can make your walls look like something from a murder scene. And if you haven’t invested in non-spill dishes…well, lets just say its amazing how far a parrot can throw a metal bowl.

3. Parrots are destructive

Those beaks are designed for chewing. Even small beaks can make light work of a door frame, coving, skirting boards or wall paper. And the bigger beaks? A macaw can dismantle a door in a single afternoon (I remember talking to a lady whose Greenwing Macaw did just this while she took a nap and left him out of his cage).

As a side note, most parrot toys are designed to be destroyed. A destroyed toy is a successful toy. We might buy them because they look pretty, but they’re not cage ornaments. Look at it this way: the more they chew inside the cage, the less they will chew outside the cage.

4. Parrots are tying

Are you in all day, every day?

Think its hard trying to find someone to feed your cat while you’re away for the weekend, or check on the hamster while you lie on the beach somewhere tropical? Who do you know that will be happy to pop round at least twice a day, clean food (and more!) from your floor and walls, and change water, dry food and fresh food for a parrot?

And bear in mind that parrots have a lifespan of anything from 15 to 80 years.

5. Parrots are expensive

I’m not just talking about the purchase price. In fact, its often possible to re-home a parrot for free. Even hand-reared baby parrots can often be bought for just a few hundred pounds. A good cage will add another £1-500 depending on size, and it’s wise to factor in a vet check and micro-chipping for another £100 or so.

Over their lifetime, even small parrots can cost you well over £20,000. Yes, you read that right – £20,000. Here’s the maths, based on average costs for an African Grey Parrot: Food and treats: £20/month; Pet insurance: £10/month; Toys: £10 month;
Yearly costs: £480 x 50 years = £24,000. And that’s assuming there are no additional cages, veterinary bills, or other expenses.

Parrots are great!

Despite everything, parrots are amazing creatures and I love having them in my life. I can live with the noise, mess, destruction, tie and expense, and if you can too…then welcome to parrot ownership.

Come back soon for more information on:

How to choose a parrot
Where to buy a parrot
Is bigger always better?
It will definitely talk, right?

About
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Catalina Tate

I’m Catalina and I’ve always loved birds.

Outside, inside, wild or domesticated.

There’s something about birds that makes the world seem more alive and makes my life richer.

The past

It began with bird-watching trips with my parents from the age of 4 and continued throughout my childhood with trips to zoos and nature reserves both at home and abroad. I could name over fifty species of exotic waterfowl while I was still at primary school (cinnamon teal anyone?) and my fascination never waned.

Despite the plethora of other pets at home (cat, stick insects, hissing cockroaches, gerbil, dwarf hamsters), birds never featured in the line-up. Perhaps partly because my Dad accidentally trod on his own pet budgie at the age of 11?

The present

My first pet birds were chickens. A wedding present from friends, we were given three beautiful blue-laced bantam Wyandotte pullets. These were soon followed by three friendly-but-dim light Sussex bantam pullets and two buff rock bantam pullets. Hens have been a permanent feature in our garden ever since.

My husband and I purchased our first parrot in 2011 – Jo, our blue-fronted Amazon. By this point we had established our own bird supplies shop in Boldon http://www.gardenfeathers.co.uk, so we knew she could be with us 24/7.

The flock soon expanded to include a rescue cockatiel (Paul), a yellow-thighed caique (Skippy), a donated African Grey (Jimmy), two rainbow lorikeets brothers (Bert and Ernie), several pairs of Celestial Parrotlets and most recently a pair of black-headed caiques.

The future

I don’t know where life will take me, but if there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that birds will always be a part of my past, present and future.

Catalina Tate