Having a parrot in your life is more than having a pet, it is having a feathered child. Just like children, you and they will form deep and lifelong bonds with each other. Any good parrot to parrot parent relationship comes with hard work and dedication. In this blog, we share the top characteristics of good parrot owners.
Be Observant
Within the first few weeks of being with a parrot, you’ll start to understand their routine or behaviors. Parrots are creature of habit and generally speaking are pretty predictable.
Good parrot owners are observant to anytime change occurs and frequently checks the physical health of their bird buddy. With parrots and birds in general, illness hits quick. Keep an eye for fluffy feathers and overly sleepy behavior, a change in appetite, difficulty breathing, unusual poops. I’ll write a separate blog on this soon.
Good Parrot Owners are Good Listeners
A ‘Good Listener’ doesn’t only mean listening to what your feather baby’s saying in their squawks, screams or chirps. Being a good listener also means to listen and understand their body language.
Parrots don’t speak the same language we can (obviously syd!) but they are incredibly expressive and will try to communicate in their own way through subtle body language, vocalizations or behavior shifts.
A good parrot owner notices the subtle little things – the slanting of the eye when they are angry, the warning nibbles when they don’t want to be touched or the type of call they are making. Listen to what they are trying to say overall, responding in the right way builds the bond between you and them.
Practice Patience & Have Grit
Mark my words… they will test you (but it is worth it!) 😂
Patience will be key when growing with your parrot. Parrots are incredible intelligent so they learn, but sometimes it’s hard for both sides to understand each other so it will take time and repetition to master tricks. All good things come with hard work, and when you see them “spin” or “flip” for that first time, you’ll be over the moon.
In terms of behavior, calling and squawking can be the most challenging. It is an early adjustment that happens to everyone. This is them trying to communicate so be patient and try to understand what the cause is. Othertimes, they are being whiny so you can tune them out.
Synergy and trust are earned slowly with parrots. A good parrot owner is endlessly patient, knowing that real progress happens in small, baby steps.
Show Empathy
I really liked this point from BirdTricks’ post Are You A Good Parrot Owner Or A GREAT One?, she shares:
good owner loves and enjoys the company of their bird, but the great owner understands that life with a parrot is a gift. They never take for granted the effort put out every day by their bird to fit into human society
She is totally right. It is important to show empathy to our companions. They are born in a world where they are the minority and surround by unfamiliar things. We’ve brought them into our world, so we should reciprocate by showing empathy and giving them the needed time.
Be Creative
One of the most fun things about owning a parrot is exposing them to new and different things to see their reaction. To keep them engaged, good parrot owners have to constantly invent new toys or find new experiences for their companions.
As you get closer to your parrot, start to bring them out. Tango is huge fan of bike rides and hiking, when we make a stop he coos in his backpack. If you can’t bring them outside, start to invent toys! We’ve found that Tango is a notorious disposable chopstick shredder, he also loves to listen and dance to different types of music. Rap music makes him go crazy loud 🙉.
Left: Tango watching the Boston MBTA trains go by as we sit on our balcony
Stay Consistent
Parrots are creatures of habit. As you live together, they will start to pick up on your routine AND establish their routine. A consistent schedule for feeding, sleep, socialization, and play makes all the difference. Consistency helps them feel secure and balanced, which can reduce stress and help prevent behavioral issues.
That said, something I highly recommend is to also consistently test them. A parrot that is too routine can get easily stressed by change so make change or new things part of the rhythm.
Willingness to Learn, Try & Adapt
No one starts out as a parrot expert, I know I didn’t. Good parrot owners stay curious. They read, ask questions, watch videos, and learn from other bird lovers. You being here is a great first step, keep reading and reach out if you have any questions!
On top of learning from others, it’s important that owners are not afraid to try new things or adapt. There is give and take between a parrot parent and their feather baby. Don’t hesitate to adapt to some of their habits or try new approaches as you learn more about your bird’s needs.
Good Parrot Owners are Responsible
If you are reading this blog, you are doing great and putting in the due diligence in being a responsible parrot parent. Good parrot owners know what they are signing up for and stick with it through highs and lows.
Be attentive to the needs of the parrots today, and plan accordingly for the long haul. Good owners understand the seriousness of the responsibility they’ve taken on and will do everything they can to give their parrots the best life they can.
Final Thoughts
Owning a parrot is one of the most rewarding experiences for an animal lover. If you embark on this journey, the most important thing to remember is that anyone is capable of being a good parrot owner. It is a matter of making the time and putting in the effort. Take time to practice these skills sets, consult and ask for help from others in the community and I am sure you will do just fine 🥰
Keep the Conversation Going!
