So Many Choices!
Sometimes the parrot you get finds you. Whether you adopt the bird of an ill family member, marry someone with a bird, or buy a parrot on impulse at the pet store, the type of parrot in question isn’t up for debate. It’s what was available based on the circumstances.
Heck, a bird could land on your head when you’re in your backyard. This happened to my mother when she was little, and she had that budgie for 16 years. While there are plenty of “I wasn’t intending on getting this particular type of bird, but…” stories that end well, there are many that don’t. It’s generally better if you make a carefully planned, well-researched decision about what kind of parrot to get. This doesn’t guarantee total domestic bliss, but it helps.
There are literally hundreds of species of parrots. Many of them aren’t common in the pet trade, but there are still lots of choices. You’ll have to narrow your picks down to “the short list”. That’s not too hard because there are whole categories you can rule out based on what you’re looking for. Take size, for instance. Big bird or small? And what is small?
Compared to a macaw, an Amazon is small. But if your idea of a pet bird is more on the budgie end of the spectrum, then an Amazon is pretty large. Maybe the thought of a beak that can completely surround your finger doesn’t sit well with you, or you’d rather not have a parrot whose cage is bigger than your first apartment. Maybe it’s not even the size of the bird that’s the deciding factor; it’s the size of your wallet. If you have less than a thousand to spend, you’re probably out of the Amazon-or-bigger range. Remember, you’re not just buying a parrot, but also a cage, toys, food and other parrot paraphernalia.
Probably the next consideration is noise. Not “Can you tolerate noise?” but “How much noise can you tolerate?” Parrots are not quiet pets. Even those with less-noisy reputations let you know they’re there, and an active parrot is going to bang around on and holler at his toys.
If a tranquil home is important to you, you might steer clear of Amazons, cockatoos, macaws, lories and large conures. Not only are these parrots very vocal, they are very loud. Their voices carry easily across thin apartment walls or closely-spaced houses. Consider instead one of the African parrots, such as a grey or a Senegal. A pionus, eclectus or cockatiel might also be a good choice. An ear drum-friendly species will keep you in better standing with the neighbors.
What about mess? It’s a given, just like noise. Larger birds will disperse larger amounts of feathers, uneaten food, and “used” food. Powdery parrots like African greys and cockatoos can challenge your allergies and your dusting skills. Active conures and Amazons may not be as big as most macaws, but they can go head to head in the mess arena.
Thinking about a lory? You will want washable walls. And don’t forget those destructive abilities that will forfeit your damage deposit quicker than you can say “new wall trim”. No large macaws or cockatoos for the house proud, unless you can keep your bird under 24-hour surveillance or develop amazingly long arms to stop split second beak assaults. If small holes in your belongings aren’t a problem for you, your choices are broader. Even an African grey or the biggest Amazon can’t take down a whole table leg in one bite. Is that cockatiel looking even better, or perhaps one of the smaller conures?
There are also parrot personality aspects such as talking ability, playfulness and cuddliness to consider. Taking these things into account should get your list even more focused. Once you do get your picks narrowed down really tight, choosing from two or three species can have even the most well-tempered and agreeable families battling in heated arguments.
Dad wants a macaw, mom wants a cockatoo. Or dad wants to focus on playfulness and mom wants to focus on talking ability. What’s a well-meaning family to do? You may end up with more than one parrot. A budgie could land on your head, you know!
Heck, a bird could land on your head when you’re in your backyard. This happened to my mother when she was little, and she had that budgie for 16 years. While there are plenty of “I wasn’t intending on getting this particular type of bird, but…” stories that end well, there are many that don’t. It’s generally better if you make a carefully planned, well-researched decision about what kind of parrot to get. This doesn’t guarantee total domestic bliss, but it helps.
There are literally hundreds of species of parrots. Many of them aren’t common in the pet trade, but there are still lots of choices. You’ll have to narrow your picks down to “the short list”. That’s not too hard because there are whole categories you can rule out based on what you’re looking for. Take size, for instance. Big bird or small? And what is small?
Compared to a macaw, an Amazon is small. But if your idea of a pet bird is more on the budgie end of the spectrum, then an Amazon is pretty large. Maybe the thought of a beak that can completely surround your finger doesn’t sit well with you, or you’d rather not have a parrot whose cage is bigger than your first apartment. Maybe it’s not even the size of the bird that’s the deciding factor; it’s the size of your wallet. If you have less than a thousand to spend, you’re probably out of the Amazon-or-bigger range. Remember, you’re not just buying a parrot, but also a cage, toys, food and other parrot paraphernalia.
Probably the next consideration is noise. Not “Can you tolerate noise?” but “How much noise can you tolerate?” Parrots are not quiet pets. Even those with less-noisy reputations let you know they’re there, and an active parrot is going to bang around on and holler at his toys.
If a tranquil home is important to you, you might steer clear of Amazons, cockatoos, macaws, lories and large conures. Not only are these parrots very vocal, they are very loud. Their voices carry easily across thin apartment walls or closely-spaced houses. Consider instead one of the African parrots, such as a grey or a Senegal. A pionus, eclectus or cockatiel might also be a good choice. An ear drum-friendly species will keep you in better standing with the neighbors.
What about mess? It’s a given, just like noise. Larger birds will disperse larger amounts of feathers, uneaten food, and “used” food. Powdery parrots like African greys and cockatoos can challenge your allergies and your dusting skills. Active conures and Amazons may not be as big as most macaws, but they can go head to head in the mess arena.
Thinking about a lory? You will want washable walls. And don’t forget those destructive abilities that will forfeit your damage deposit quicker than you can say “new wall trim”. No large macaws or cockatoos for the house proud, unless you can keep your bird under 24-hour surveillance or develop amazingly long arms to stop split second beak assaults. If small holes in your belongings aren’t a problem for you, your choices are broader. Even an African grey or the biggest Amazon can’t take down a whole table leg in one bite. Is that cockatiel looking even better, or perhaps one of the smaller conures?
There are also parrot personality aspects such as talking ability, playfulness and cuddliness to consider. Taking these things into account should get your list even more focused. Once you do get your picks narrowed down really tight, choosing from two or three species can have even the most well-tempered and agreeable families battling in heated arguments.
Dad wants a macaw, mom wants a cockatoo. Or dad wants to focus on playfulness and mom wants to focus on talking ability. What’s a well-meaning family to do? You may end up with more than one parrot. A budgie could land on your head, you know!
posted by Chet Womach at
2:59 PM
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