this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2025
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Parrots

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Possibly taking a parrot in the future (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 6 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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Me and my wife are considering adopting some parrots in the not so far future. My wife has never had birds as pets, but we visited a breeder/rescuer of exotic birds (the photo I'm sharing is with one of their birds that was all too happy to be on my shoulder) and she fell in love with their macaws. I've had some parakeets in the past (a long time ago) and always loved the idea of having a parrot, specifically an African grey, but never had the chance to give them a good place until now. So we are in the planning phase and how would we balance having both breeds.

If I'm understanding correctly greys and macaws can have some issues as the dust the greys create with their skin can affect somewhat the macaws so at the very least they'd need different cages. What are people's experiences about this kind of cohabitation between different breeds?

I'd also want to ask if there's any content creator that shares videos or info about their parrots and life with them that any of you enjoy, or maybe some of you. Unfortunately this Lemmy channel seems a bit lacking in interaction and content, so I'm creating this post with the hope it gives people a reason to post more and create some conversation. I do not have accounts in other social media so it is hard for me to go around searching for content, so if those content creators are somewhere that needs no accounts all the better.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

My friend had birds for a good portion of her life, she worked in a pet store and took care of their birds, and had a cockatoo for something like 15 years. Paraphrasing, but here's what she told me:

Owning birds, especially intelligent birds, is one hell of a commitment. Are you ready to have a flying toddler who will never grow up? Who will live as long as you? Longer even? How about an eternal toddler who has bolt cutters attached to its face? How do you feel about loud, sudden screeches at any time of the day or night? Do you have valuable items out that you don't want damaged? Do you have the type of home that can accommodate the amount of three dimensional space they need? If you were thinking you could keep one in a cage as their main habitat you're sorely mistaken.

Having a super smart pet sounds cool until you realize that they need entertainment, and stimulation, and not allowing that is a form of cruelty. If you don't provide it they will find it for themselves, very often in ways you do not approve of. Like any exotic pet, its needs can take over your life entirely, and unlike a dog there's no way you can just hire a pet sitter to take care of it. You will likely never be able to just "take a weekend away". Parrots are known to take sudden and intense dislike to people on a whim, how will you handle that if it's someone you want to have over more than once in a blue moon?

I'm not going to say there's no hope or don't do it, but it is NOT a decision to be taken lightly. A bird like an African Grey is an "expert" bird owner level bird. If you can take care of a friend's cockatiel or maybe a conure for a week and you fall in love, then maybe you can get one too. But there's many good reasons my friend owns a pigeon now instead.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Thanks for your comment :) Indeed you are absolutely right on all accounts. I did skip that kind of explanation as I wanted to keep more on point on the two questions (cohabitation between species and content creators to start watching some stuff).

Anyhow, as you bring all those points up I'll try to address them all.

  1. A flying toddler with bolt cutters attached to the face... Well, I have two kids, one 8 yo diagnosed with ADHD and high functioning autism, and a second nearly 4 yo that we have already been told will be checked for ADHD at the daycare... After these two, I feel quite ready for the parrots x) jokes aside, indeed I expect the parrot to be a challenge in an entirely new and different way, nothing we are not at least feeling ready and still be surprised.

  2. Loudness, yes, I'd rather go with the African grey because they tend to be "less" loud, but if my wife wants to have some Macaw I'm afraid we will be "enjoying" a lot of noise... Nothing too new either, kids tend to be noisy too x) and our cats do run around at night plenty making noise and shouting and playing. On this topic I feel like some birds are nicer to hear than others and from what I gather the breed we would choose are fine on the noises for us.

  3. Our home is indeed incredibly good for parrots. Aside of the fact that we'd need to parrot proof a few places and items (all of those are being planned). We have an open space that communicates the living room with the upstairs so they would have plenty of space vertically as well to fly and we are planning how to put real branches to let them perch in many places so they can be close to us or having their own space, whatever they prefer overall. And of course a big enough cage for them to call their own safe space. I am already considering for the spring that I would get ready a cage outside in the yard to let them enjoy the fresh air when weather allows and the breeder would be training them on using a leash to rake them outside more safely.

  4. I work from home, having the company (and distraction) of a parrot is something that I actually look forward to, and as such I expect to be able to keep them plenty of company, and more importantly, keep them estimulated providing plenty of activities that are safe for them. Of course, also understanding that they would also enjoy the company of parrots, which is why I would want to avoid having only one.

  5. As I have mentioned, we have other pets, currently two dogs that are already quite old (and I fear won't be a lot longer with us). Also two cats, one pretty old as well. And a pacman frog too, which is basically like having a pet rock that actually needs feeding. In the past we've also had a couple of snakes and a couple of hamsters. I'd rather say that we have quite a bit of experience handling animals with very varied needs. Introducing another animal is always a difficult process that can cause stress for any of them, which is why we are very slowly thinking about this and planning towards the future.

  6. Unfortunately I dont have anyone close that owns birds, it is quite uncommon around here I guess. The breeder we visited is over 2 hours away by car and that's the best source of info I have currently. They were incredibly nice and helpful when we visited them. And they have an incredible amount of birds very well set up and taken care of (they also rescue and help relocate). There we managed to experience spending time with cockatiels, cockatoos, African greys, macaws and others. Like I said in the post I've always wanted a parrot, but I always discarded the option as too difficult and complex. For the first time after actually spending time with them I feel like it is a possibility.

I have tried to cover all topics and think well and thoroughly about this step we plan on taking, but please do let me know if you consider I'm missing some aspect. And most of all I value any experience that people would want to share.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I showed her your post, so here's what she responded with (paraphrased in places)

It sounds like they have some advantages over the average parrot owner, but I would be extremely hesitant to have a parrot (certainly not two) in a house with a little kid and other pets. Parrot bites can be really severe. My buddy's macaw bit through his lip, and my own cockatoo bit through my ex's ear. I absolutely would not want a large parrot around my child... Even though I do love parrots and know what to look for when it comes to hostile body language. I've seen bored macaws try to essentially trick people into getting close enough to bite them. You cannot expect a 4 year old to be able to handle an animal that can easily break their finger. All you are going to do is traumatize your child, then saddle them with an angry parrot who is still around for decades after you die.

Also, having two parrots is not likely to be a good idea. If they hate each other, that's a problem. This isn't like a smaller cage bird where they recommend getting more than one. Then, if they decide they like each other, they have no reason to be tame to the humans.

Typically you end up with a parrot bonding to one human and hating everyone and everything else in the house. That can mean potentially violent jealousy of your child, your spouse, etc. especially after the parrot hits puberty. The reason why the macaw bit through my friend's lip after never having bitten anyone before? He had just kissed his wife and the parrot disapproved.

They need a ton of training so when they hit puberty and lose their baby personality to (sometimes) become violently jealous, they need to know who is in charge. A large parrot should never, ever be allowed to sit on anyone's shoulder. Always keep it below eye level and away from your face. Not only for safety, but because it establishes the human in the socially dominant position.

I mean, sure, there is a chance it will work out... but there are also countless, countless parrots sitting at rescues who go through this exact cycle while breeders convince people to buy babies.

Lemmy may be lacking parrot content, but the other site isn't. You should probably read this thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/parrots/comments/1ir8843/i_will_never_encourage_people_to_get_a_parrot_and/

If you insist on caring for a parrot, try fostering a single bird from a rescue and see how that goes first.