Hey OP, I know these responses all generally say not to get one, and for good reason, so that might bum you out. But I just wanted to applaud you for doing your due diligence before getting an exotic pet that you are unfamiliar with. So many people out there get animals that they are unprepared for and don’t do any research before hand, and ultimately it’s the animals themselves that suffer the most. That’s how you end up with pythons in the Everglades. So it’s refreshing seeing someone with forethought and who is genuinely willing to listen to the experience of others. I hope you find a pet that you like, avian or otherwise.
this post was submitted on 14 Jun 2025
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Ya some people are jerks lol. Obviously I know it's a dumb idea if I'm here asking about it
Also want to say the advice you can get on lemmy for even a really niche topic is amazing. Look at reddit threads about this and there's a lot of people downplaying parrot ownership and saying hell yeah get the bird
Dude just get a cat. I know exactly what you’re going through and you will regret the parrot. A cat is what you need.
Everyone here is recommending a cat. I have almost zero experience with them, but have experience with dogs instead. I live alone tho so I don't think a dog would be conducive to my lifestyle. I've been playing around with the idea of getting a cat and stumbling across this thread isn't helping me not think about it lol!!
I'm debating googling around right now to see if there's a place like a shelter or something where I can view some cats lol.
Cats aren’t as big a commitment as a dog but, depending on the cat, they will wreck your shit if they’re not simulated enough. I would highly recommend going to a shelter and adopting a cat that’s a few years old. Kittens need a lot. But a 2-3 year old cat you can get a sense for their personality (although keep in mind they act differently in the shelter.)
Cats are a different vibe than dogs though. Dogs are more like having a child but cats are like having a roommate.
Cat pro tip - if your TV’s aren’t mounted on the wall, find a way to secure them.
I know nothing about parrots, but you want a cat. A bird that sits in the corner and squawks occasionally is not affectionate or interesting, and intelligent is debatable. But a cat who will come curl up in your lap or who is amenable to snuggles pretty much at will is going to be much more comforting.
Going to chime in. Parrots are very hard work. This is a perpetual child that will never grow up. And you never know when and if, it will go from a really great pet, to the loudest, multi-hour, daily, screaming pain in the fucking ass. And good luck finding out what it wants. Many, not all parrots, like to chew the shit out of things. They can destroy your house and everything in it. And you have to clean up after them daily because they love to fling food everywhere, and shit whenever they feel like it. Even if you train them to poop, they don't always follow that. This is not a cat that sleeps all day. Or a dog that you can go for a run, feed it treats and expect it to nap. Parrots are tiny little aliens and they do as they please. You can never know how much work they are until you have had one for a year minimum, and at that point, you have lost your damn mind.
My personal opinion, based on real world experience is, birds should not be pets. It's really selfish and immoral to keep a bird in a house. They need to fly in their natural habitat.
If you've never kept birds maybe get a couple of pigeons first. They're more affectionate, less work, less delicate when it comes to diet, shelter and toxins, less destructive and generally more easy going than most parrots. They don't speak but there's no guarantee your parrot would do so either.
Whatever you do don't rush the decision. Parrots can reach a very high age and they require a lot of emotional work in addition to their physical needs, much more than a cat honestly. They're an awesome choice for the right person but they're less common than cats and dogs for a reason.
Parrots are the type of animals that if you have to ask if you should get one, you shouldn't.
They are like buying a permanent toddler with a pair of vice grips for a face that can develop trauma from innocuous things and well develop bad behaviors that have to be addressed appropriately or they will get worse. They can develop mental issues that can lead to self mutilation.
There is no guarantee that an eclectus will be anything like the bird you met. They all have different personalities and they are only vaguely similar. You can have one that is totally chill and loves to cuddle, or you can have one that has anxiety and will viciously attack water bottles and you have no idea what bird you have until it has gone through "puberty".
If you want a bird, get a cockatiel, not a parrot.
Source: 25+ years of experience living with parrots and 4 years working in a pet store that sold parrots as the "bird guy". My bird that has anxiety and viciously attacks water bottles is currently yelling from his cage because that is what he likes to do before bed for 10-15 minutes.
Oh man I forgot. My mom had a yellow naped Amazon that hated he (for very good reasons sadly, I was a shithead child).
I still have scars all over from when that monster attacked me.
I remember it just chasing me while running on the floor lol.
She was an ornery old lady :)
Aren't cockatiels parrots?
Technically yes, but it is a far more tolerant species to inexperienced owners and can be a great starting point vs a budgie or finch.
OP wanted a parrot and I gave him a better option than an eclectus for his situation and experience.
What do you think about budgies?
Easy to care for, not a great companion, usually not destructive for the sake of destruction and entertainment, almost no personality, can't really mimmick sounds all that well, should have but doesn't need a big cage, should have but doesn't need as much time outside the cage as possible, shorter lifespan, bites are pretty weak but can still draw blood, doesn't make a lot of loud noises, can't play tricks on you and mimmick a laugh at your expense, more skiddish, low risk of psychological issues, harder to catch if they escape the cage or need to be put back quickly, cheap to buy and get setup for, hard to train.
They are good starter birds but don't offer much of a parrot experience vs a cockatiel and far from an eclectus or bigger bird. Having a vet clipping their wings is wise so they are easier to catch without injury, but I favor full flight birds and I can catch a bird on the run with minimal difficulty.
Yeah you're probably looking at. 60 year commitment.
The reported lifespan of Eclectus sp. varies widely, from ~20 years to more than 60 years. This range is largely due to their relatively recent popularity in aviculture, with many individuals in captivity having not yet reached their natural lifespan. Many owners of eclectus parrots have reported ages upwards of 45 years, noting their birds show no obvious signs of age-related health decline.
I love birds and want to get one again (had cockatiels) but they are a big commitment.
Things to think about:
- is there an avian vet close? Is it an emergency vet?
- what kind and how large of a cage do you need?
- what kinds of things in my house kill birds (I think hot Teflon pans)
- what am I going to do with them when I leave town?
- what am I going to do with them in an emergency
- how do they do in captivity alone? You may need to get them a companion
I do travel a bit. There is a bird hotel near me with very good reviews. Would a parrot develop trust issues if you ultilzed that a lot?
Also something else I can't find info on is it possible to go camping with a parrot? Can they learn to ride in a truck without freaking out or is it just the wrong pet for that
I just want to chime in and say that you can take them camping, but I wouldn't suggest it as a first time bird owner or without knowing your bird for several years first. My parents have two parrots and they take them camping several times a summer and they really enjoy the outdoors. They've had about a dozen different birds over 50 years and know their birds well. They are very careful in these ways:
- Both birds have special mobile cages that go traveling with them, and perches too. The birds are trained to travel comfortably in these cages. You NEED cages to put them in at night and also when you can't supervise them closely.
- Tempurature is a big deal for birds and cold and heat can easily kill them. My parents only take them camping because they have a camper with heat and air on that the birds can retreat to when needed. I would never do it if you are tent camping where you can't control the temp.
- The birds are trained and very attached to my parents. They are comfortable they arent going to take off. My parents live in a rural area and had already spent years outside on the front porch with their parrots to get comfortable with that first.
- The birds wings are clipped so they can't fly.
- They NEVER leave the birds sides unless they are in their cages inside the camper. Wild animals could be a problem.
Once you have a bird for a few years and are besties, you might think about the possibilities of going camping together. But it would take a lot of work before hand
How a bird reacts to being abandoned in a strange location for a period of time depends on the bird and your relationship with the bird.
No, you can't take a flying wild animal camping. The temperature alone would be a risk.
Yes, they can be fine riding in a vehicle if they are in a travel cage that is secure and possibly covered to minimize stress if the bird is overwhelmed. People lose their birds all the time for thinking a loose bird in a car is a smart idea.
Could you just use a pop up mosquito tent? It's Mediterranean climate in my location but still slightly colder than where parrots come from and that's a good point lol
I assume you mean for camping, you could, but the bird would probably love to chew through it and you are just inviting problems that shouldn't exist. A cage would be smarter, but the while idea of taking a bird camping is just a dumb idea.
Parrots are incredibly smart, social and LOUD animals. They will require constant attention, care and enrichment. If not provided, they are very prone to depression, which comes with bunch of related health issues. They are fragile and require veterinarians that know how to deal with birds / exotic animals. They love destroying stuff and will destroy your house. For a bird that isnt just screaming all the time, you will have to feed them a balanced diet with fresh veggies, and ideally 12 hours sleep in a dark area.
I love parrots, and I took care of one for a time before, but I wouldn't do that again until I am retired and settled down and know that I can dedicate myself to having one. You need to think about all the downsides and how to overcome them.
Have you thought about an easier animal with a shorter lifetime such as a mice or an hamster? They are also extremely sociable and smart animals and also can like to be handled. This would give you a "trial" run of sorts where you can think about how it would like to be have a harder to care animal.
Also, check out Clint's Reptiles on youtube. He has a series of videos about various different animals and how easy / hard it is to care for them along with explaining their general personalities.
I think waiting till retirement is probably the most sensible advice in this thread
Yeah I'm 30 and single with zero ambitions now but obviously things change and I've always been naive af in this regard
They live so long, though. If you get one in retirement it might outlive you.
Parrots are the most surrendered animals in US and probably other countries. There are always more senior birds available at shelters.
A long time ago I did some volunteer work for a companion bird sanctuary, and the number of people who got a bird as a pet and were totally unprepared for the care required was astounding. Almost all the birds at that sanctuary had some sort of serious behavioral issue because the people who got them just could not keep them cared for. You should probably talk to someone with experience keeping birds before making a decision because experience can be terrible for the bird if you are not ready.
Yup most of the birds I saw this day had issues. The eclectus I was handling was a senior with a bad heart condition but I would have taken him haha
Parrots can be uhh. Hard to get back when they get out.
Some neighbor had a parrot get out a few weeks ago. Parrots name was Rascal. So Rascal set up shop in the Mango tree next to my house. Which was. Then his owner, an older lady, she finally found him, and stood outside of my house all day for like, 3 fucking days yelling "RASCAL!! You get down from there Rascal!!". Like 8AM to 6PM practically, the lady just yelling "RASCAL!! RASCAL YOU GET DOWN FROM THERE!!"
And Rascal just stayed up there, kinda chuckling to themselves.
Eventually they were able to coax Rascal home I suppose. But man. That owner was super annoying.
Well it sounds like she had a very strong bond with her parrot lol
I've had cats all my life and I ain't standing at the base of a tree for it from 8am to 6pm
Think about how crazy attached that lady seemed for screaming for her bird from dawn to dusk. Now imagine that she is a parrot attached to you and multiply the crazy by 10. Now you want to travel and leave this emotional wreck with strangers in a strange place for a bit.
From what you've said in the rest of this thread, most parrots would not be a good fit for your lifestyle or level of experience. I guarantee that it will be traumatic for you and the bird. If you're still serious about pursuing this, then it is absolutely critical that your first step be to volunteer at a rescue or care facility of some kind for birds specifically. Get dirty, get bitten, get some training, get some experience, and get some contacts for help when things inevitably go sideways. You'll hear first hand all the stories about: someone's loved pet that turned into depressed wreck on their owner's death; or the parrot that was caged alone and never received any attention and went mad; or the malnourished parrot that was fed only seed; or the parrot that was bought as a gift and abandoned; or the family pet that permanently maimed and disfigured a child because of improper training and supervision.
I've known a few bird people and their unifying characteristic is a very high tolerance for noise, mess, chaos, bird shit, and emotional codependence. It takes a very special kind of person with a lot of extra time and space to care for parrots full time in a healthy way for either party.
Parrots do not make good pets. They can be kept in captivity, but they require specialized care by experienced and trained caregivers. They are a LIFETIME commitment that may very well outlive you, so don't forget to include them in your will.
I once had a great bond with an eclectus. It took a lot of work, but when I finally earned her trust, we were great friends.
One day, I trimmed her nails, and it destroyed our friendship 😔 If you get one, have someone else trim its nails so it doesn't hate you. Parrots can really hold a grudge.
What if it doesn’t shut up?
Same thing as a dog, you teach it that that sort of behaviour doesn't result in treats or praise
Tell us you have no experience with parrots without telling us you have no experience with parrots.
I am not a birdologist, but everything I’ve ever heard about parrots tells me that is 1000% incorrect. They are as smart as an older child and like 25 times more recalcitrant.
recalcitrant
adjective
-- Stubbornly resistant to or defiant of authority or guidance. synonym: obstinate.
Yep. Had a roommate with a very chill parrot and the owner was clear on how to act around it because she didn’t want to be annoyed by it. It definitely knew when you were talking about it and would perk up into the conversation. Very cute, but lots of mental effort required to keep them well behaved.
In short, pets are loved ones, not playmates.
My understanding is that you just don't even address the bad behaviour at all and it should just fade away if they don't get the reaction they want from you. Like a child as you said
Nope, still not a dog. They just get louder and louder. Either they get your attention or go full volume nonstop the whole day. Also their lifespan is waaay longer than an average dog life.
I understand why you might think that, but that really doesn't apply to a parrot and their noise.
Btw, an eclectus can (and probably will, regularly) emit sounds loud enough to make your ears ring. They're meant to be heard over long distances outside in the open. Inside the walls of a home, it's crazy loud.
Edit to add: They also make the noises when you're not even home. It has nothing to do with treats.