Four Questions Before You Have A Parrot As A Pet
Without a doubt, having a parrot as a pet is a huge responsibility and a very important step in our life. Asking the right questions can help us make the right decision that will affect our pet’s well-being as well as our own.
Am I just going to have a parrot as a pet?
This is one of the most important aspects, because parrots have a complicated emotional life and depression in parrots is a reality. One of the best solutions is to have two or more parrots for companionship, because the mirror myth has been shown to have no effect on your well-being.
In case you cannot have two parrots, which would be important to have a good environmental enrichment program for companion parrots, you should spend several hours a day playing and interacting with him.
How much does a parrot cost as a pet?
Having a parrot as a pet is expensive. However, their biggest costs are those associated with their care: the necessary facilities, environmental enrichment, food or veterinary expenses represent an amount of money to be taken into account.
In general, we could estimate that a parrot costs us at least 2500 reais per year, which should be multiplied by its longevity, which is between 50 and 80 years. The total lifetime expenses of the parrot can be doubled in long-lived species.
If we choose the best option for our parrot and we have a partner, having two long-lived parrots can cost a lot of money.
They are also pets given to behavioral problems, which can be resolved by hiring training sessions led by qualified ethologists and trainers, which can increase these expenses.
Where to have a parrot as a pet
The ideal is to keep the animal in an aviary. That is, in a wide installation of at least one and a half meters in height and two meters in width, which will allow the animal to fly to exercise its muscles.
There are smaller cages on the market, which will require the parrot to be free for several hours or you can train the animal for free flight, which will require a lot of dedication.
Even so, it is important that these cages are of adequate size: the cages must allow the animals to fully extend their wings and flap them, in addition to allowing the animal to fly everywhere.
How much can I commit?
Unfortunately, many parrots end up abandoned or inherited due to their high longevity. There are species of parrots that reach 100 years, and many of them exceed 60 years.
Are we willing to spend so much time with an animal? Will we be able to take care of him if we go to study in another city? What if they give us work in that town? What if we get married? A parrot is a lifetime commitment, so you should think hard about your purchase before making it.
These are not species that live little and require little care, such as parakeets or pigeons. Also, it is important to note that small parrots can be noisy birds and that we will have to be patient. They also have a longer lifespan than other species, as we mentioned earlier.
Parrots are animals with a complicated diet, a behavior that makes it difficult to care for your parrot and that requires a huge commitment. If you are willing to accept it, go ahead.
But keep in mind that they are also animals with a lot of attachment and a lot of emotions, which we can destroy life with improper handling or abandonment. Having pets is a big responsibility, which in the case of parrots reaches a high level.
