10 Things You Should Know Before You Get a Parrot.
…but no one told you.
Things Everyone HAS Told You
• Parrots Bite
• Parrots Scream
• Parrots Make a Mess
Is it true…sort of….
Parrots Are Wild Not Domestic
• Behave as prey species
• Bring the wild to your home
• Have no chosen traits
• Not motivated to respond to your displeasure
Parrots Come in Species Not Breeds
Felis domesticus
Poicephalus senegalus and Poicephalus rufiventris
Psittacus erithacus and Ara chloroptera
What the difference in a species?
• Different diets
• Different behavior
• Different body languages
• Different preferences
Parrots Have Strange Body Language
Birds have very different body language from dogs and cats and it is far more subtle.
• Feathers
• Wings
• Dilating pupils
Parrots Require Complicated Nutrition
• Parrots need variety ( you can’t get it all from a bag)
• Different requirements for different species
• Require more fresh food and longer prep time at meals
• Different dangers from the table
Parrots Have Complicated Physiology
• Specialized veterinary care
• Different diseases
• Less identifiable illnesses
• Sensitive respiratory system
• Delicate bone structure
• Different Dangers, diseases, poisons
Parrots have Complicated Brains
• Parrots need interaction
• Parrots need time outside of the cage
• Parrots need enrichment
• Parrots need a challenge
• Parrots thrive in an environment worthy of investigation
Parrot Training is a NecessityNot a Possibility
Training is about communication and choices.
Parrots need interaction and some control of their environment.
Why Train?
• It’s a conversation
• It’s a relationship builder
• It’s forward thinking
• It’s fun!
You Have to Have a Lifelong Plan
A large parrot may be with you for the rest of your life. How sure are you about what you’ll be doing with the rest of your life?
5 Heartbreaking Reasons Parrots Need New Homes
• Assisted Living
• Senility
• Unexpected Illness
• Foreclosure
• Divorce
You Need A Lifelong Commitment to Learning
Scientist learn new things in the laboratory and in the field every year. There’s much to learn still about parrots.
• Nutrition
• Physiology
• Behavior
Just Because You Hear it Often Doesn’t Mean It’s True
Common Wisdom is only common. There’s rarely any wisdom involved…
10 Things You Should Do Before You Get a Parrot…
…or now that you already have.
• Find an excellent vet
• Find an avian consultant
• Join a parrot club
• Subscribe to magazines (Bird Talk and Good Bird especially)
• Buy some videos
10 Things Continued
• Learn about applied behavior analysis
• Hone your positive reinforcement skills
• Go to workshops and lectures
• Go see parrots in the wild
• Buy my book!