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11 Common Parrot Misconceptions Debunked (From BirdChannel.com)
Misconception No. 2: Parrots Aren't Messy
Some people see a bird in a cage and assume the cage will contain any slight mess the bird might make — only to discover that the parrot routinely throws most of its food out of the cage or smears it on the wall and scatters toy bits and shredded paper. In the wild, parrots eat one bite out of about ten, dropping food to the ground to rot and enrich the soil. As far as the parrot is concerned, your floor needs a lot of rotting food and she’s doing you a favor.
Some people see a bird in a cage and assume the cage will contain any slight mess the bird might make — only to discover that the parrot routinely throws most of its food out of the cage or smears it on the wall and scatters toy bits and shredded paper. In the wild, parrots eat one bite out of about ten, dropping food to the ground to rot and enrich the soil. As far as the parrot is concerned, your floor needs a lot of rotting food and she’s doing you a favor.
Misconception No. 3: They Won’t Bite The Person Who Feeds Them
A parrot can and will bite you for all sorts of parrot-centered reasons, though they usually will try to avoid biting when they can. The parrot might be bored with no toys or old, worn-out toys. The parrot may have warned you with her body language that she didn’t want to be petted, but you didn’t pay attention. He might be trying to take a nap and doesn’t want to come out, but you kept insisting.
A parrot can and will bite you for all sorts of parrot-centered reasons, though they usually will try to avoid biting when they can. The parrot might be bored with no toys or old, worn-out toys. The parrot may have warned you with her body language that she didn’t want to be petted, but you didn’t pay attention. He might be trying to take a nap and doesn’t want to come out, but you kept insisting.
Learn your parrot’s body language; in the wild things rarely escalate to biting because the parrots understand one another’s body language.
Misconception No. 4: Birds Don't Need Toys
In their native habitat parrots spend about 40 percent of their time foraging for food. This usually involves a lot of chewing and gnawing, with occasional screaming for effect. Since you probably don’t have a stand of trees in your living room, good quality toys make an acceptable substitute for all that chewing. Parrots get bored easily, so you’ll need to rotate and replace toys frequently. Without any toys, you may soon have a screaming, biting, feather-plucking disaster on your hands.
In their native habitat parrots spend about 40 percent of their time foraging for food. This usually involves a lot of chewing and gnawing, with occasional screaming for effect. Since you probably don’t have a stand of trees in your living room, good quality toys make an acceptable substitute for all that chewing. Parrots get bored easily, so you’ll need to rotate and replace toys frequently. Without any toys, you may soon have a screaming, biting, feather-plucking disaster on your hands.
Misconception No. 5: Parrots Are Quiet
A quiet parrot is either sick or dead. Live, healthy parrots chatter, tweet, squawk, scream, scratch, mumble and make all manner of noises. Should your bird detect a new sound in the driveway or the kitchen, he is likely to scream loud enough to let the neighbors know about it and notify the police. The call of a macaw in the rain forest can travel for five miles. Imagine that sound within five feet. An unhappy parrot will scream until you’re sure your ears are bleeding.
A quiet parrot is either sick or dead. Live, healthy parrots chatter, tweet, squawk, scream, scratch, mumble and make all manner of noises. Should your bird detect a new sound in the driveway or the kitchen, he is likely to scream loud enough to let the neighbors know about it and notify the police. The call of a macaw in the rain forest can travel for five miles. Imagine that sound within five feet. An unhappy parrot will scream until you’re sure your ears are bleeding.
Misconception No. 6: All Parrots Talk
It is said that all parrots can talk … if they want to. Some of them, however, do talk, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you tire of hearing "Wanna a treat!” and "Bye bye!” You will never tire of hearing your parrot say, "I love you!” though.
It is said that all parrots can talk … if they want to. Some of them, however, do talk, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you tire of hearing "Wanna a treat!” and "Bye bye!” You will never tire of hearing your parrot say, "I love you!” though.
Misconception No. 7: Birds Can Go To A Regular Veterinarian
The cost of a routine annual well-bird exam at your avian veterinarian’s will make you weep. Basic veterinarian education includes chickens but not "exotics” like cockatiels or other parrots. This means an avian veterinarian must take extra (expensive) classes throughout their career to keep up with the latest research and findings. Lab work often has to be sent to Florida or some other distant place, at great cost.
The cost of a routine annual well-bird exam at your avian veterinarian’s will make you weep. Basic veterinarian education includes chickens but not "exotics” like cockatiels or other parrots. This means an avian veterinarian must take extra (expensive) classes throughout their career to keep up with the latest research and findings. Lab work often has to be sent to Florida or some other distant place, at great cost.
Misconception No. 8: Parrot Care Isn’t Expensive
Everything related to parrot care is expensive. Not just a little more expensive than for dogs or cats, but wildly more expensive. A good toy for a macaw can cost $60 or more and may last only two days. The fresh veggies and fruits parrots need are more expensive than that frozen generic stuff you eat (also see "Birds Can Go To A Regular Veterinarian" and "Parrots Don't Need Toys"). Organic, top-of-the-line pellets costs as much per pound as good steak. Expect a large, well-made cage to cost about as much as two house payments.
Everything related to parrot care is expensive. Not just a little more expensive than for dogs or cats, but wildly more expensive. A good toy for a macaw can cost $60 or more and may last only two days. The fresh veggies and fruits parrots need are more expensive than that frozen generic stuff you eat (also see "Birds Can Go To A Regular Veterinarian" and "Parrots Don't Need Toys"). Organic, top-of-the-line pellets costs as much per pound as good steak. Expect a large, well-made cage to cost about as much as two house payments.
Misconception No. 9: Parrots Only Bond With One Person
This is one of the silliest things I’ve ever heard in the parrot world, and believe me: I’ve heard some amazingly silly stuff. Parrots can and do form all sorts of relationships. They may love one member of the household beyond all reason today, only to decide three weeks on they love someone else more. Parrots bond with their parents, with their siblings, with their human slaves . . . er, owners, other birds and even other animals. And yes, sometimes with inanimate objects.
This is one of the silliest things I’ve ever heard in the parrot world, and believe me: I’ve heard some amazingly silly stuff. Parrots can and do form all sorts of relationships. They may love one member of the household beyond all reason today, only to decide three weeks on they love someone else more. Parrots bond with their parents, with their siblings, with their human slaves . . . er, owners, other birds and even other animals. And yes, sometimes with inanimate objects.
Misconception No. 10: A Baby Parrot Will Never Change
Parrots are among the most resilient of animals. This comes from their excellent ability to adapt to changes in their environment. Humans come and go, other animals come and go, cages and houses change, foods change, toys change, the weather changes. That sweet big-eyed baby parrot in the pet store will grow and change into an adult parrot, complete with the onrush of hormones and desire for mating, and on into later life.
Parrots are among the most resilient of animals. This comes from their excellent ability to adapt to changes in their environment. Humans come and go, other animals come and go, cages and houses change, foods change, toys change, the weather changes. That sweet big-eyed baby parrot in the pet store will grow and change into an adult parrot, complete with the onrush of hormones and desire for mating, and on into later life.
Misconception No. 11: It’s Just a Bird; I Can Always Get Another One
You may be able to buy another parrot, but you can never truly replace one. Each parrot is an individual with its own unique personality. Your affection for one will never be the same as your affection for another one. Loving a parrot connects you to nature in the most profound way and changes you for the better.
You may be able to buy another parrot, but you can never truly replace one. Each parrot is an individual with its own unique personality. Your affection for one will never be the same as your affection for another one. Loving a parrot connects you to nature in the most profound way and changes you for the better.
11 Common Parrot Misconceptions Debunked (From BirdChannel.com)
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