from Chapter 1 Parrots as pets Parrot ownership is a much great responsibility than most new parrot owners realize. The level of commitment necessary to prevent a parrot from developing behavioral problems is extremely high. Many potential owners tend to regard a parrot as a beautiful or amusing object, not as an individual that is almost as complex emotionally as a human. It is a highly social creature whose need for a close relationship, either with a human or with a member of its own kind, is central to its existence. When it is happy it can be the most wonderful companion known to humankind, but when denied this relationship its life will be sad and stressful and it could become unwanted and impossible to rehome. The decision to take on a parrot must therefore be thought through with great care. A number of factors should be considered with honesty. Before buying a parrot you should ask yourself these questions: Are you an experienced animal/bird owner? Parrots are the most complicated and difficult birds to look after in the home.

Experience with easier birds or animals is essential before taking on the most difficult. Can you commit yourself to caring for a parrot (or other psittacine bird) for 30 to 60 years? Finding a new home for a parrot is difficult and change of ownership causes stress to the bird. Can you dedicate one hour of one-to-one time with your parrot each day? Spending quality time with your bird is the best way to ensure a strong bird. Will you or other family members be in the house for at least 19 hours daily? A parrot should not be left alone for more than five hours daily during the day. (A young bird will need 11 hours sleep at night and it will doze for two or three hours more during the day. An adult parrot needs at least nine hours sleep at night and it will doze during the afternoon.) Will you research the essential components of your parrot''s diet so that it will not die prematurely of a dietary deficiency? Can you tolerate some damage in the house? Will you be able to stand the noise -- especially when you are watching your favorite television program or attempting to have a telephone conversation? If you answer "no" to any of these questions, think again. If all your answers are "yes," you could be a suitable person to look after a parrot, but you now need to consider more questions.

If you smoke, can you give up smoking or never smoke in the vicinity of your parrot? If not, secondary smoke could kill your parrot after three or four years. Do you have asthma or another respiratory problem? If so, the feather dust that parrots emit could exacerbate the condition and may harm your health. In the home, ventilators (or good ventilation) and ionizers are important aids to a healthy atmosphere. These pieces of equipment will minimize the dust that accumulates in the air from a parrot''s plumage. Manufacturers state that ionizers can even attract virus particles out of the atmosphere. There is no doubt that they remove dust. For this reason, you should frequently wipe the area around an ionizer with a damp cloth. Seek professional advice on the correct size of ionizers and ventilators for the room in question.

This is very important for anyone who suffers from asthma. Nevertheless, the most effective way of eliminating dust is to spray and bathe your parrots frequently (especially Grays and cockatoos). The reason why many people find that a parrot tries their patience beyond endurance is the noise. Also consider that some parrots are clever at mimicry. Could you live with a parrot that emits the sound of a car alarm a dozen times a day, or the cuckoo clock, the birds in the garden, or the microwave timer? It might copy the telephone so realistically that you would not be able to distinguish its mimicry from the real thing. Nevertheless, living with a parrot can be a great source of satisfaction and entertainment. For people who live alone, or at least housebound, a tame and affectionate parrot can give them a reason to get up every morning and face the day with pleasure. Depending on the species, parrots can be playful, humorous, loquacious, mischievous, and affectionate.

They can even prevent troubled people from becoming self-occupied and depressed. This might sound like an exaggeration, but they can even save lives. Just like dogs, parrots have been known to warn their owners of fires at night or of the presence of intruders.