10
Tips for Buying a Parrot
by Milo Piros
Parrots are one
of the most attractive and rewarding animals in the world. Though
parrots are very intelligent their requirements and demands are
quite different from other types of pets. They need the care and
attention of their owners far more than other household animals.
Most of the parrot breeds are both noisy and destructive; and
the larger breeds live for a much longer time than the smaller
ones. Therefore it is necessary for you to think carefully about
the following issues before buying them.
The foremost
thing to consider is whether you want to buy a single parrot
for your entertainment and pleasure. If so you might want to
purchase a small group of parrots for keeping in indoor cages.
They will make a beautiful collection and can also breed.
The price of your
parrot is another matter of concern that must be taken in to
account. You must decide on roughly how much money you are willing
to spend - not only on the bird but also on its food, housing,
training, and care. These things can sometimes cost a great
deal. Sometimes, people spend a significant amount on buying
a parrot but then at a later stage, hesitate to spend money
on its care.
Parrots are not cheap pets, and in recent years, their prices
have increased hugely.
The next thing
to take into account before buying a parrot is the environment
where you are planning to keep it. You must decide which type
of parrot you want to keep and whether it can survive and adapt
to your environment and lifestyle. Whether big or small, all
types of parrots require sufficient space for exercise and play.
Therefore, you will need to keep them in a cage that is big
enough for them to spread their wings and move a little bit.
You also need
to think about your neighbors - because some of the big parrots
like cockatoos and Amazons make a lot of noise that can cause
significant disturbance. Their twice-daily periods of vocalization
at sunrise and sunset are appreciated by those who love birds
but can be quite disturbing for those who do not like birds
or loud noises.
Since parrots
require a lot of both mental and physical stimulation you will
have to make sure that can you have enough time for taking good
care of your parrot. If you are planning to keep more than one
parrot then you will have to allot sufficient time to take care
of each member of the group. Also, you will need to find a reliable
person who can take good care of your pets when you are not
in town or you want to go on a vacation.
When you select
a breeder from which you want to buy a parrot make sure that
the supplier offers a money back or exchange facility on your
bird for a reasonable period after purchase. This is because
if the birds you choose do not turn out to be suitable for your
requirements or they develop any signs of disease, just after
short period of your purchase, then you will be able to exchange
them.
If you are buying
an adult parrot then check carefully that the bird looks healthy
and appears to be bright and alert. If you want to buy a baby
then before buying check that the baby you have selected has bright
eyes and healthy skin which should be free from clinging hand
feeding formulae. Check that the birds have been kept in a clean
place.
After you have completed
your research and decided which parrot you want to purchase, the
next thing you must decide is where to buy your bird. Here are
some of the options at your disposal:
Breeders
Many of the breeders are bird-loving, caring persons
who breed parrots out of love. However, some breeders just breed
birds for the sake of earning money. They do not have complete
knowledge of breeding and rearing young parrots. So before buying
a parrot from a breeder you should talk to different breeders;
look at the cage, living area, and other facilities they are
providing for their birds.
Pet Stores
Most of the pet stores are generally not a good place for buying
a bird. Usually the staff members and storeowner of a pet store
are not breeders and they do not have up to date information
about all their birds. The information provided by them for
the customers is usually not accurate. They only know one thing
well - and that is how to sell their animals.
Bird Specialty
Stores
These can be a good option to buy a bird. They are generally
pet stores that deal particularly in birds only and have good
a knowledge of them. Since their livelihood depends upon their
bird quality they usually sell good birds. Often the birds available
here are bred on site, as most of the owners of the pet sores
are themselves good breeders.
Rescue
Groups
Rescue groups adopt the birds, which have often been discarded
or left by their owners. These groups take good care of the
birds and adopt them out to people after making sure that bird
is healthy and ready to adopt the new environment. While adopting
a bird for a rescue group don't think that you are buying a
scratch but think of it as the reward of offering a home to
someone who needs your help.
© Milo Piros
Milo Piros is the
Author of "The Parrot SuperPak" Sign up for his FREE
4-part parrot training course, learn: Speaking, Trick Training,
No Biting and the 'Up' Command.on the Internet.