The responsibility of having a parrot as a pet
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/03/2017 (3171 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Dogs and cats are typical pets. Some younger kids start off small with hamsters, gerbils and fish.
Some folks have birds as pets. Cockatiels are quite popular. Then there are the bigger varieties, such as lovebirds, parrots and macaws. I myself have lived with a blue-fronted Amazon parrot for the last 30 years. Billie the Kid caught my eye at Petland in Eaton Place (now Cityplace) 30 years ago.
At $1,500, I couldn’t really afford her at the time but one day I showed up and she was in the bird bargain bin for $788. When I found out that they live for up to 100 years, I thought: “Why not? A lifetime buddy.”
The initial cost is expensive but to feed them is peanuts, literally — she loves peanuts. Her diet is mainly seeds, but I also give her fresh fruit and vegetables daily.
The first two years are quite crucial in forming a bond with birds. In the wild they often live in pairs and preen each other in those hard-to-reach areas, such as the back of the head and the chin. As owner, you become that substitute bird or companion.
Now, unless you are willing to give them lots of attention, I wouldn’t recommend getting a parrot. They like to be a part of the action, so if you’re in the other room and they hear you, they will start squawking.
That first year with Billie was tough. She bit me many times with her powerful beak (with 500 psi of pressure).
It is much easier to gain a bird’s trust if you purchase them at a younger age.
First of all, I had to let her know I wasn’t a threat to her. After being in a pet shop for two years she was not very trusting.
This started off with petting her head. The second stage of trust comes when they let you pet their backs. The third stage is when they will actually lie down on their backs in your hand — a submissive and trusting position.
Billie is very fun to have around. As well as picking up a few words and sounds that she mimics, she also whistles some nice tunes.
Many people don’t realize the time, attention and affection you need to devote to a bird. If neglected, they will start to mutilate themselves by pulling out their feathers.
Sometimes the ‘novelty’ of a pet may wear off and the pet is neglected. Parrots are a huge responsibility but they can also be your best buddies, as Billie and I are 30 years later.
Yeah, she has an attitude some days and can be a little rascal (everything to a bird is a potential chew toy) but like a dog or cat, parrots are wonderful companions.
Here are some YouTube links of Billie in action:
Billie sings Mexican Hat Dance: https://youtu.be/hYtuWIdE-gk
Billie thinks she’s a dog: https://youtu.be/Zy1k5vQaaAQ
Billie says hello: https://youtu.be/IclizzAD0Ps
Doug Kretchmer is a freelance writer, artist and community correspondent for The Times. Email him at quidamphotography@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @DougKretchmer