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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if anyone out there has a parrot?

38 replies

MermaidTears · 22/10/2016 21:53

I find them absolutely fascinating, but I have noone to ask in real, do they not squawk all night keeping you awake?
I do know that they can be extremely loud, from videos on YouTube, but I've never met anyone with a pet parrot to ask these questions!

OP posts:
GinIsIn · 22/10/2016 21:58

We don't now but used to when I was growing up. Parrots aren't nocturnal. You cover their cage at night and they sleep until you take the cover off.

ThePinkOcelot · 22/10/2016 22:02

I have an Indian Ringneck (parakeet) and an African Grey.
No, they don't keep you awake as are covered at night and sleep through. They can be noisy, but not constantly.
I love them. They can be very amusing. Especially African grey who is just finding his voice. They are very messy though!

user1473509591 · 22/10/2016 22:03

My neighbour has an African Grey and gosh he's a noisy little thing. If she has her doors or Windows open he's constantly whistling and talking to myself. I don't mind though, as sometimes he comes out with expletives and it's hilarious

Original poster
MermaidTears · 22/10/2016 22:04

Funny enough the Indian ringneck is what I am interested in, they look so beautiful and appear much smaller than other mccaws.

The only thing that would put me off is I thought they would squawk during the night, so that's great to hear that they don't do that.

Any tips or advice?
Did you get them from babies?
I love love love hearing them talk.

Another valid point is vet care.... is it easy to find vetenarians who treat them?
Insurance etc?

OP posts:
ThePinkOcelot · 22/10/2016 22:13

We have had Charlie since he was 3 mths. He's now 3.5. Well we call him he but don't think he is a he as not developed proper ring round neck. Plus males are supposed to be better talkers. Charlie is friendly but not overly. He will step up on to you and land on your head and preen you hair (sign of affection apparently!!) but doesn't like being stroked or cuddled - African grey does. They are lovely little pets.

ThePinkOcelot · 22/10/2016 22:15

Sorry, to answer your question, I just googled avian vets in my area - there were only 2. Insurance- Charlie isn't insured as just can't afford it at the moment.

GinIsIn · 22/10/2016 22:17

They are extremely intelligent and need a lot of stimulation. They can self-harm if under-stimulated - pulling out their feathers etc. They can also be aggressive, and those beaks and claws really hurt! Also they can live for 50-60 years so you need to be prepared for a lifetime of costs, vet's bills etc. A lot of vets have no parrot experience, you'd need to look quite carefully for one that did. Lastly, they take up a LOT of space - you need a really good sized cage and it needs to be somewhere where there's plenty going on to keep them entertained.

GinIsIn · 22/10/2016 22:17

Oh, just to add ours was an African Grey too.

MrsNuckyThompson · 22/10/2016 22:18

I think birds in cages is one of the most cruel things going. HTH.

GinIsIn · 22/10/2016 22:22

MrsNucky we didn't really have a lot of choice - ours was not a purchased pet, she flew into our window when we lived in DRC and was too badly injured to ever release into the wild. Pretty sure hitting her with a shovel, which was the alternative, would have been crueller.... Hmm

Babyroobs · 22/10/2016 22:36

I also think it's so cruel to keep birds in cages. My friend has an African Grey, he is amusing with some of the things he says but also irritating ( pecking my shoes all the time). He has caused damage to their rented home. He is out of the cage a lot and does seem to get quite a lot of attention. They live for ages apparently.

yesterdaysunshine · 22/10/2016 22:37

I agree with Nucky

Tokelau · 22/10/2016 22:41

I have a green Amazon. He is in his late forties. He was given to my parents before I was born. I've read that parrots often become attached to one person. Ours was closest to me because I spent lots of time with him (only child!) and gave him lots of attention.

He's lived with me for about ten years. I can hold him and stroke him, and if I'm careful, I can cut his claws. He doesn't really like other people. He likes to talk to them but won't let anyone else touch him. He will attack other people if they get too close, and his beak is incredibly strong, and could do a lot of damage. He loves to be spoken to and whistled at. He doesn't talk much, just says hello, and wolf whistles.

He does screech sometimes, but never in the night. He usually screeches if there is a lot of noise in the kitchen. I don't know if he is joining in or saying go away! I also can't use the phone in the kitchen, as he chirps or screams if he knows I'm on the phone.

Out of choice, I wouldn't have any animal that has to live in a cage, but as I have inherited him, I give him the best life that I can.

gettingbythistime · 22/10/2016 22:45

I also agree with nucky. Mind you, I can't bear to see any animals in cages. The older I get the harder I find it including fish in tanks

Somewhereundertheduvet · 22/10/2016 22:50

Never owned a Ringneck but we used to get plenty in the garden when we lived in South London!!

to ask if anyone out there has a parrot?
dalmatianmad · 22/10/2016 22:51

I had an indian ringneck for nearly 25 years (inherited when my brother passed away).
She died recently and I miss her but wouldn't have another, I hate the idea of caged birds and only had her because of the circumstances we were in.

She was noisy and messy, ate everything in sight, I couldn't prepare anything without her shrieking for some, I let her out daily and she used to make a bee line for the fruit bowl and would happily pick up apples and throw them all over the kitchen floor Grin she was quiet at night time, I coversed her cage up.

They are a lifetime commitment so think very carefully!!

ComfortingKormaBalls · 22/10/2016 22:55

OP can you rehome one?

dalmatianmad · 22/10/2016 23:01

That's a good idea comfort! There is a local charity that are constantly advertising for foster carers for their parrots...

Original poster
MermaidTears · 22/10/2016 23:05

I could do, as long as they were tame.
I may look into that further!
I really wouldn't have thought of that. Despite my other pets being rescues.
Do you know the name of the rescue?

OP posts:
Original poster
MermaidTears · 22/10/2016 23:06

somewhere what a beautiful photo Smile

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 22/10/2016 23:11

Hard work... thats what birds are!

Depending on which you go for some have the mental capacity of a small child, and require every bit as much work as a dog would.

Noisy - destructive - live a REALLY long time - limit what you can do inside your home (windows open? smoke? cook stuff? swear?)... and if you let them out (which you really must!), shit everywhere and wreck things.

There are a lot of bird rescues, and almost all the birds that come in will have behavioural problems due to neglect/maltreatment - feather pulling/plucking self harm type behaviours are pretty common, as is destroying stuff, as is being really noisey, and also being aggressive and violent toward people.

I did a lot of research into birds as I would love one, but having met so many with issues and knowing a lot of very experienced bird keepers, I have gone right off the idea!

SabineUndine · 22/10/2016 23:13

I wouldn't get one. I looked into it a bit when I got my own flat, and decided on cats instead. There are lots of issues you need to address with parrots:

  • they need space to fly around
  • they are as intelligent as a toddler so need entertaining that much too
  • they live to be very old - I was about 40 at the time, and have no kids, so I would have needed to ensure someone could look after a parrot when I'd gone
  • they are expensive to buy legally, and like all birds, quite hard to look after if they get ill.

So in the end I got two rescue cats, one of which is still alive and breathing down my neck as I type this

Dapplegrey1 · 22/10/2016 23:17

We have got an African Grey.
I would not recommend them as pets unless you are prepared to let them out of their cage every day for a minimum of two hours. Ours has caused terrible damage to the house, snapping off chunks of picture frames, biting the top of the door and the architrave, and stripping lining paper off the walls.
They also need company as they are flock creatures.
We love our girl but she needs a lot of care and their needs must be met.
As another poster has said, if they suffer stress they will pluck their feathers. Also, as has been said, they live a long time.
They are sensitive and destructive (not deliberately, obvs, ) so think long and hard about getting one.

ShtoppenDerFloppen · 22/10/2016 23:48

I have an umbrella cockatoo - 46 years old now - he was a rescue from an awful situation.

He is quite loud, when he wants attention. His bites can be quite painful. However, I absolutely adore him. He is a cuddle bug, and is my dog's best friend.

He only bites when he feels threatened, so it is not like he is randomly aggressive.

As for noise - once the house is dark at night, so is he. He is an early riser, generally calling at about 7 am, but I get up early too, so it doesn't bother me.

MsMims · 22/10/2016 23:56

Floppen those are such sweet photos with your dog!

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