If you think you want a parrot...

Here are some things you should know.  I have

had my Murphy since she was weened

about 14yrs. Parrots are amazing highly intelligent

pets that entice many people to buy them.

People love the thought of having

a pet that can talk to them.

I love my Murphy girl dearly but I

knew what I was getting into before

I got her. I had a Blue

Front Amazon- Gidget before her that

sadly died from a deformed

liver.  I knew the moody

temperament of an Amazon and that

they are not for a inexperience bird owner.

They require a lot of attention and care

if they are going to have a good life.

Not all parrots are going to talk.  Murphy

talked all the time and then

stopped and now only says what she needs

to, to get what she wants.

This is NOT a pet that can sit in a cage

for you to look at, to admire the pretty

 colors of their feathers.

They need to be part of the family

and want to interact with

you.  You are their flock.

They will demand it by screaming

which often leads people to stick

them in a different room which is

exactly why they were screaming in

the first place! Thankfully mine don't scream
but when you hear "Mama" a thousand
times because she wants out you have  to
let her out! They require

many toys to busy themselves

when you are not home.

They will chew up the toys

so you will need to buy more, or

make them yourself.

They have to be sturdy and nontoxic.

Parrots NEED a variety

of food.  Just seeds is NOT going to

cut it!  You need

to feed them a variety of food

all the time for a life span that

can go up to 75 years!

Even if you do all these things and provide

everything your Parrot needs... you need

to realize they are an extremely

hormonal animal that cannot be

spayed or neutered.  Some are more

so than others and are considered

"hot or Hormonal" during

breeding season.  They want to

breed and cannot help their raging hormones.

Murphy has been really hormonal lately.

She has bitten both of my ears.

Oh the pain and clamping power of that beak!

Which brings me to another point- if

you have small children don't get a parrot.

They can bite and they need attention.

With kids of your own you won't have the

time for them so just don't do it.  I hate to

see discarded birds with all sorts of

feather plucking disorders !

It's just so sad!

There is no set reason as to why

or what sets her off.

She goes into an overly

excited mode.

She's bitten me and my husband.

She attacked my foot last weekend.

She is not allowed on the floor

but she climbed down off her perch

and got overly excited.

In an effort to get Murphy

under control we have changed things up.

I have moved her cage to a new location.

Swapped her and Petey's cages.

Not sure Petey likes it.

but that's my only option at the moment.

Also my Vet recommended birds have full

spectrum lighting but Murphy's

not getting her light right now.

It stimulates  Summer lighting

and makes her want to breed.

So we will save that for winter

when it's really dark. 

See Petey has her light on in

the picture above.

I also changed out Murphy's

toys giving her new

things to play with.

So far so good with the changes

I also will not let her on my shoulder

as birds think they are

dominate in their flock hierarchy when

they sit taller than you.

All that said....I obviously love my

Murphy and that is why I go through all this

trouble to care for her.  I am grateful

I have her.  I just think people should

know the reality of parrot ownership

before they jump in to owning one.