Bill wrote:Oracle wrote:My son is desperate for a parrot ..... Any tips or advice on keeping one?
Naturally I am against this ... but as far as children go ... introducing them to a variety of animals is extremely beneficial in the long term .....
So I'll weigh up the pros and cons....
But are the parrots bred for retail?.... surely they are not still removed from the wild?
With very few exceptions all the parrots in Cyprus pet shops are from from breeders in Cyprus .
You really need to buy one at a early age that has been handled regularly and better still hand reared by a reputable breeder.
I would really advise you to have a good look on the internet before you decide on a parrot of any description ~ how old is your son ?.
Parrots don't really make family pets as they often bond with just one person to the exclusion of everybody else ~ unlike a cat or dog .
My parrot will ask for a kiss in the morning and before bed time and repeatedly as for a tickle from me but will attack the side of the cage if my wife goes near her although she does remember and like two of my three sons and lets them play with her when they visit
Parrots live up to 50 years so it's very much a long term venture.
They are noisy beyond belief and not really suitable for flats unless you hate your neighbours ~~ very noisy if you are not paying them enough attention and are quite vicious to those it takes a dislike to If you suffer from any kind of nervous disposition parrots are not the kind of pet to have.
If you are really insistent on a parrot as a pet there may be a possibility of looking after mine for a couple of months whilst I'm back in the UK and on my travels ( plus getting my dole money ) the experience will be enlightening.
Unfortunately she talks almost non stop from morning to night in both Greek and English ~ entertaining for the first few days but will eventually turn you into a nervous wreck.
Think very carefully before committing to a parrot ~ a dog or cat would be a better proposition
Sadly with most children's pets it's usually left to the parents to clean up and look after them and a cat or dog is a lot less hassle
Bill
This paragraph made me laugh - thought you could be talking about Mrs Bill and not your pet parrot!
Just out of interest, how are parrots with other household pets? Do they get jealous etc? Would it be wise to have 2 parrots to keep each other
company?!
BTW, 'dole' money went out with the Ark, think it is called Jobseekers Allowance these days - then again...........................!
Bubbles x
