Why Parrots SUCK!
You see all the cute videos of budgies and/or parakeets on the internet and think oh they are so cute I want one, they are super cheap at chain pet stores why not?
I have owned 4 budgies in my lifetime and these are some of the reasons why I think they suck! Don’t get me wrong I love budgies/parakeets, I think they are one of the most underrated parrots out there but there are some things about them that I suck for people who don’t know what they are getting into!
Loud
Birds constantly make some form of noise whether it is chattering or screaming for your attention birds are rarely quiet. Budgies/Parakeets in specific are more likely to chatter all day than to scream like a macaw, but they can still get loud!
Mixed signals
Birds have different ways of communicating with us humans. One bird may put their head by their feet to ask for head scratches while another bird puts their head to their feet to lure you in to bite you. One bird may talk as a sign of happiness and being content while another one is a sign that they are in an aggressive mood. You can read all the bird behaviour books you want but at the end of the day you just need to pay attention to your bird and see what all their little quirks mean
Messy
Birds rip and tear and chew toys into nothing, all those pieces end up on the ground. Small birds poop every 10 – 15 minutes. Some birds produce dander. You will constantly be cleaning up after your bird. Cleaning 3 times a day sometimes still doesn’t feel like you’ve done enough.
Long living
Birds will live a very long time. They are more of a long-term commitment than a dog or cat. Lifespans range from 20 – 40years (small parrots). It is very important to consider your future, will you be wanting a dog or cat in the future, if so what happens if they don’t get along with your bird. Are you planning on travelling for an extended period within the next however long the bird has? You need to think very hard about what your future will look like and if it will be conducive to a bird if it won’t, please don’t get a bird consider fostering or volunteering at a parrot rescue or sanctuary.
Time commitment
Small parrots require at least 3 hours of attention a day. If you don’t have 3 hours within your day to spend with a bird I would think twice about getting a bird. that being said if you are dead set on getting a bird and will make anything work think of how much time do you spend scrolling on your phone, watching tv, going out with friends, if you are willing to give that up and spend that time with a bird then awesome!
Vet Care
For larger birds, everyone’s biggest issue with vet care is how expensive it is, and yes it is still very expensive for small birds. With birds smaller than a conure you generally don’t want to be doing bloodwork every year, its very risky for the bird and the amount of results you can get regarding illnesses in your bird is so minimal its questionable how worth it, it is. If a small parrot needs a surgery it is a much more serious decision or really any procedure when they are put under anesthetic’s, generally vets try to avoid putting birds under who are smaller than and Indian Ringneck but if you have a young bird you might consider taking that risk more than someone with an older bird.
To some, this may not be that big a deal for them, in which case a small parrot might make an excellent companion for you (I encourage you to keep browsing the site because there is SOOOO much to learn about parrots before you bring one into your home).