Getting a parrot as pet may seem too be an easy task – pop into a pet shop and pick the one you fancy. Yet with over 300 species to choose from, the choice is going to be real tricky.
Below are some useful tips to help you make the best choice if you have decided to get a pet parrot too.

Parrot Selection Tip (1) – Look for a young parrot

Older parrots need more time and patience to be tamed. Baby parrots need expert attention and care to grow up healthy. Already weaned parrots can be tamed in a shorter time.

The tricky part, however, is how to determine a parrot’s age.

A caring breeder close-rings his birds, with his code and year of birth on the ring. So if the bird is ringed, you can quickly find out it’s age.

Other things to look out for are the scales on its legs and the color of eyes, feathers and the beak. The leg scales are smoother than in older birds. The eye color of young birds normally is a dark grey to black.The beaks of very young birds are smooth and mostly still dark. The full feather color has not yet developed.

The best buy is a parrot that eats by itself already.

Parrot Selection Tip (2) — Choose the right species of parrot

Do you know the characteristics of the parrot you are interested in buying? This is essential for a good parrot/owner relationship.
Some species are
- noisier than others;.
- tend to be more possessive than other species;
- are more destructive than the rest.
Larger parrots need more cage space and stronger cages, which means higher expenses.
Some need special nutritional foods, such as the lorikeets, who feed on nectar.
This also relates to cost.

Parrot Selection Tip (3) — Check the condition of the parrot

Ask for a certified health certificate by the veterinary so that you can be sure of buying a healthy parrot. If that is not available, check out these factors for some telltale signs on the conditions of the bird.
a. Dirty or poorly maintained perches, food and water containers, excess faecal wastes in the cage, all show poor management of the birds, leading to bad health.
b. The eyes should be clear, nose not show any discharge.
The parrot’s feathers should be tidy and clean. Any bald areas could indicate an infection or it may also be due to the parrot being a feather plucker. The vent should be clean and there should be no crusty appearance on or around the beak.
c. The flesh on both sides of the breast bone should be firm and not protruding.
d. Check for protruding leg scales, they could be sources for leg mites.
d. Beware of parrots that fluff up their feathers and dilate their eyes when you move your hand closer to them. These parrots are older birds and could bite you.

Parrot Selection Tip (4) — Buy from reputable, reliable sources

Buying from well-established and reputable pet shops or breeders assures you the best quality and services. Avoid open markets or buying through mail order.

To summarize, having a parrot as pet is fun, if you make your selection wisely. Buying a parrot on impulse could lead to endless frustration or very high veterinary bills.

Before buying a pet parrot it’s vital to consider the following: What can I afford? How much space, time and attention will the bird need? Will it fit into the family? How noisy is the bird? What about the neighbors, will they complain?

First of all we have to consider what we can afford.
Here we have to not only think of the bird itself but also its cage, food buckets, toys and a fair supply of balanced food.

Prices of parrots vary largely depending on the species. You may be able to buy a budgie for less than 10 $. If you want to go larger you may have to fork out a couple of thousand dollars for some species

Cage prices also depend on the size of bird to be housed in them.

Food bucket prices vary considerably too. For budgies, love birds and cockatiels you can use the cheaper types. For all parrots larger than
cockatiels you will need stainless steel utensils in specific sizes, which don’t come cheap.
The same species-related criteria apply to parrot toys.
Regarding food you must remember that pet parrots need a balanced nutrition to retain their health.
So what you can afford is one of the initial questions which you have to answer.
I would strongly recommend you first go to find out about the prices and make a list so you can make a decision that fits your budget.

How much space will the bird need?

Larger birds and even some of the small ones are very active physically and need big cages and space in which to play.

How much time and attention does the parrot need?

Probably this is the most important question. Birds are intelligent, playful and mostly ” social ” creatures. Will you have time to play with your bird? To care properly for it? Will it have the chance to be a part of your family?

Consider the fact that birds live fairly long. Even small parrots can live for 20 years ! Are you prepared for this?

Don’t buy a parrot if you think that you will soon get bored of it.

How noisy is the bird?
Some parrot species constantly make noises, while others don’t. Some of those vocalizations may get on your nerves quickly. Best to find out beforehand about that.

Will the neighbors complain?

Once again, depending on the species, the noise level varies largely. So if you have neighbors all around, above and below you that like listening to screams piercing their eardrums, you could even keep an Indian ring-neck parrot in a flat.

Once you’ve considered these implications and still want a pet parrot, you then need to find out more details about specific bird types before buying the right one for you.
PLEASE NEVER, NEVER BUY A PARROT
IMPULSIVELY!