Polly Want a Cracker?

Companion (or hand-raised) parrots are popular pets for a number of reasons. Their colourful plumage, unique ability to mimic human speech, superior intelligence and friendly, inquisitive nature make them highly desirable additions to the family. While these characteristics may appeal to you as a potential parrot owner, there are several things you should consider carefully before you commit to parrot ownership.

Parrots are social animals and live in flocks in the wild. For this reason companion parrots are not suitable for workaholics. Lonely, bored parrots are prone to developing behavioural problems such as loud screeching and feather plucking.

Providing a large cage is very important, especially if your parrot is confined to its cage for the majority of the day. Due to their high intelligence parrots must be provided with mental stimulation in the form of interactive toys, a varied diet and training sessions to prevent boredom.

Last but not least, if you are considering purchasing a companion parrot be sure to do your research. Talking to breeders and searching the internet is a good start. There are many different species of companion parrots available whose needs differ considerably.