With an estimated 11 million birds living as pet, Parrots are now thought to be the fourth most common household animal after dogs, cats and fish. Parrots are amazing companion animals. They are highly trainable, they can be cuddly and affectionate and if treated correctly they form a strong bond with their caretakers. The flip side is that they are social animals, intelligent, born to fly free and so they demand a huge amount of attention and mental stimulation in order to thrive.

The common thing that happens with a parrot is you gradually stop giving enough time and energy to your pet, especially in the long run when the joy of a new pet begins to ware thin. To make matters worse, many parrots become aggressive once they start maturing sexually. But aren’t they very similar to us in the sense how frequent we show mood swings during our teenage days; there is always more anger shown than a smile or laughter. So parrots can also display a slight variation in behaviour due to their raging hormonal activities.
Companion parrot is a general term used for any parrot kept as a pet that abundantly interacts with its human counterpart. Species that can be kept as accomplices include Large Parrots such as Amazon, African Greys, Cockatoos, Hawk-headed Parrots and Macaws; mid-sized birds such as Poicephalus, Rose Ringed Parakeets and Rosellas and many of the smaller types including Brotogeris, Budgies, Cockatiels , Parakeets, Lovebirds , Parrotles and Lineolated Parakeets.
Parrots are beautiful and entertaining to look at. They are smart, can learn tricks easily. They are highly intelligent and hypersensitive both emotionally and physically. With the right home, parrots have the potential to make unordinary, highly interactive, affectionate and entertaining pets, prized by their owners. They however shouldn’t be considered easy care or low maintenance birds. They must never be underestimated.
If you ever think of bringing a pet bird home, chances are your house-maid or favourite aunt has filled you in with various kinds of information about what all the parrot brings with it. If you are yearning for a feathery friend to sit on your shoulder and ask you for crackers, bring home a parrot. Unfortunately the companion parrot has joined the ranks alongside the most discarded, homeless pets. Parrots are inherently wild creatures, even if captive bred, they retain their wild traits. Their loud vocalizations help them communicate with mates and neighbouring folks. That is why they are often mistaken to be loud ad nerve wracking for some people. Improper handling can teach an already fearful or even a tame, loving bird to bite, besides dramatically affecting their health. Learned aggressive behaviour from mishandling is the primary reason why are secluded or they die prematurely.
Parrots can talk amazingly. Many people are initially attracted to parrots for their ability to talk, sing and mimic noises they are exposed to. Many learn to use words in context; for example calling family members by name or requesting certain foot items. They have the desire to interact with people usually trusted ones. Parrots are great friends of children. Properly socialized parrots are outgoing, friendly and confident pets. They readily take trick trainings. Training helps redirect the bird’s energy and keeps a check on their behavioural troubles. Some owners teach their parrots to wear ‘ parrot harnesses’ so that, if taken outside, they enjoy without any risk of flying off.

There are several points an owner must store in his/her mind while deciding to keep a pet parrot. If you are a parrot enthusiast, remember they need specialized nutritional needs. Tame parrots require to be housed in a cage atleast large enough to allow the bird to spread its wings, move about comfortably and exercise, otherwise they tend to become obese and unhealthy. Parrots do not need complicated nutrition. If you are new to the world of parronting, you may think that all you have to do is give your bird fresh seeds and water to drink. But parrots eat a lot more like a tremendous variety of nuts, fruits, foliage and even grubs, also fresh vegetables. Things that are too fine for the humans or other animals can be poisonous for your parrot. There is a large variety of parrot food available for the optimal health of your parrot.
A common myth is to keep lovebirds in pairs, its best to keep two males together because female lovebirds are territorial. Parrot owners should train their pets like stepping into a carrier, thus giving you an opportunity to become a better communicator which is a rewarding treat to your bird. Pretty soon, you will have a happy parrot to cheer up your household. A long run commitment for your feathered friend may seem an easy task but like a human relationship, parrot owner relation has its own ups and downs.
Parrots have complicated brains. You may often hear that parrots scream, are messy. Parrots tend to be loud creatures since they are wild. Pet birds might quickly learn to skip all the signs of aggression and jump straight to bite. Last but not the least, parrots need space and chance to play and explore with their beaks and feet. Parrots are wild animals tamed by us. They weren’t bred to be perfect pets, so your bond will not be intuitive as with a domestic dog or cat. Don’t expect your parrot to look for ways to fit into your home. Instead you are going to have to work to encourage acceptable behaviour and communicate its reward.

Parrots have strange body language. Feathers and beaks are difficult to read than fur and fangs. Learning those subtle signs and then acknowledging them will resist your parrot from resorting to biting and screaming to get what it needs. Parrots are intellectual animals which means they can learn new behaviours- good or bad. Appropriate sized toys are a necessity for them. The lifespan of a parrot is long, it may outlive its owner. Adult parrots are often re-homed by their owners or offered for adoption from a parrot shelter, make great pets after they adjust to their new home. And for the fact that they are messy, look at your disorganised room. Alas! You are no less.

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