Does anyone have a parrot?

[canthavetoomanylights]

Thinking of rescuing one. We’re retired so have plenty of time at home, but don’t want another dog or cat. The house is quiet tho and we would love something.
Would welcome any thoughts or advice.

Please don’t take my question as a dig or anything like that it’s just a genuine question? Why did you think it was a good idea to get one?

It’s ok- apparently goldfish have a 30 second memory. Every trip round the tank will be a new place for them!

I have heard a (possibly apocryphal) story about somebody leaving a parrot in a room with an Alexa smart speaker, then finding out several days later that the parrot had been ordering things from Amazon.

Because he’s delightful and cute and I love him very much. even though he bites me and flies at my head to stop me from getting anywhere near my DH, he’s a lovely pet.

@saveforthat

Friend of mine had one. Beautiful bird but all the reasons on here not to have one. Long lived, highly intelligent, require company. It liked my friend but not his wife. I've never seen such a mess as they leave. Feathers and dust everywhere and when eating seeds and nuts it was like watching a spraying machine so you are vacuuming constantly. Big cage required but obviously you let them out. It was devious as well. My daughter loved it but feared it's seemingly gigantic beak. Eventually my friend rehomed it in a sanctuary.

Great description. Like having a toddler for poss 40 years.

You don't get an option. Amazing creatures but they demand attention. The wild is the best place for them. Somebody mentioned vets. That's expensive and apparently you can do a test with a plucked feather but good luck getting one.

What could wrong owning a large carnivorous reptile with a mouth full of deadly bacteria?

Did you bother reading the last paragraph of my op. Yes we had to rehome him and with hindsight agreeing to take him was a big mistake.
However, we spent 14 months interviewing potential new homes and turned down a lot of potential owners due to them having children, neighbours or other pets.
He is much happier now so you can stop hoiking your judgy pants.

Don't they live for something like 60 years? That's a heck of an undertaking even if they're in their 20s already!

As am I, indeed just yesterday I drove a round trip of 80 miles to take a fledgling pigeon to a wildlife sanctuary after it fell from its nest with its sibling. The sibling died and there was no way I could leave the poor thing to the local cats.

There you go

Beautiful

What a gorgeous bird Springbuck!

😂Genius!!

Ive only read page one, not that I ever wanted a bird/parrot and I dont agree with keeping birds anyway but never knew they were such a nightmare to keep.

Loving these anecdotes. I would never home a parrot because of all the mess and destruction, but if you can cope with that then they would seem to be great company and very comical. They would definitely outlive me though.

I've always wanted a parrot but ultimately it's cruel to keep them as pets. No wonder they're destructive .

I would never keep a pet that terrorised one of my DC.

40 years on average so a lifetime commitment but seems a full time job caring for one plus all the drawbacks mentioned.

I think it should be illegal to keep them (and most birds) as pets unless you have an aviary and can let them free fly.

I would love a parrot. They are amazing and very clever

I have had cockatiels, they are lovely pets, we never kept them locked in a cage, so would join us in the living room of a night.
Now we have green parakeets feeding in our garden on the feeders every day, we have flocks of them where we live in the UK, so its lovely to watch them and not have the stress or mess.

Thats a braw big birdie 😍