Getting a Pet Parrot Is Accepting a Challenge.

If you are thinking of getting a parrot as pet, this article may possibly open your eyes just in time. Having a pet parrot is a real challenge, not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally.

The Physical challenge
If you or your spouse are fussy in any way, please DO NOT acquire a parrot as pet. Parrots stay four year old children for 20 to 80 years, depending on the species. And just as four year old children keep messing up, so do parrots.
1. There is the physical challenge of daily cleaning of the cage as well as surroundings. Parrots are messy birds. They don’t stay put at their food plate until they have finished eating. No, they have to carry bits of food to another place to eat a little bit of it there and throw what’s left to the floor.
If it’s sticky food, like berries, grapes, bananas or such, they’ll clean their beaks by flipping the pieces off with a head shake, which then end up against the walls and furniture. And if you do not potty train them, their poop ends up all around the house.

2. There’s the physical confrontation of getting them back from underneath furniture or on top of curtain rails and cupboards or sometimes even out of high trees. First you have to find their hideout, then you have to get them out or back from there. If you don’t stick-train them, this can prove to be strenuous physical exercise.

The Mental Challenge
Like any four year old child, a parrot requires a lot of your attention, love, patience and creative ability.
Attention:
Since parrots are very social creatures, you can’t just keep them in their cage and expect them to be happy with an occasional short conversation. They need to be part of the flock, which in captivity means you and your family. And they need to do what the flock does – whatever that maybe.
Love:
As you would have to cuddle a child once in a while, reassure It when upset or scold it sometimes, so you will have to treat your parrot to show your love.
Patience:
Oh my – the amount of patience needed for a parrot surmounts that needed for a child by far. It has to learn human interaction. It has to know that its beak can hurt you and that certain stuff is out of bounce for kids/fids. It needs to learn the meaning of certain words or specific intonations of voice. It has to learn that unacceptable behavior calls for punishment – time-out in cage.
You, as leader of the flock, become teacher and fact is, teachers need a lot of patience
Creativity:
Kids and fids get bored quickly. So you constantly have to find new interesting activities to keep them busy. If you can’t afford new parrot toys or games every week, you’ll just have to create them yourself or think of new ways to use an old toy.

The Emotional Challenge
Being in full control of emotions like fear, frustration and anger is vital when dealing with kids and fids. Children quickly take advantage when they realize the fact that parents fear their tantrums. Parrots are the same. Once they know you fear their
beaks, they will use them against you. Showing obvious frustration, for instance about screaming, will entice your parrot to scream more. Nothing needs to be added concerning anger control.

Conclusion:
Before you bring home a pet parrot, make sure that you are willing
and able to cope with the physical, mental and emotional challenge
this step will include. Also make sure that your other half not only
knows about the challenge it contains, but agrees with your choice.