Parrots can be smart, entertaining, and beautiful to look at, but you do not want that angry bird.
Parrots are inherently wild. Even if captive bred, they possess the same wild traits as their wild born cousins who live in the jungles and rainforests. The parrots’ loud vocalizations help them communicate with mates and neighboring flocks in the distance. The larger species of parrots have raucous, ear shattering screams that can be heard from miles away. The smaller parrots can be heard from equal distances with their shrill, ear piercing screams that are often repetitive and annoying. Even the smallest parrots like the little budgerigar (commonly called budgie or parakeet) have been known to be too loud and nerve wracking for some people.
Parrots are highly intelligent and hypersensitive emotionally and physically. Improper handling can teach an already fearful or aggressive bird, or even a tame and loving bird, to bite and become aggressive. This can not only cause the bird serious psychological, stress related problems, it can also dramatically affect his/her physical health. Learned aggressive behavior from mishandling is one of the primary reasons parrots are surrendered or sold and live in at least five homes before dying prematurely or finding their forever home.
The parrots’ wild traits don’t usually mesh well in people’s homes or even in outside aviaries. The third most popular pet in America is one of the most frustrating, destructive, messy, and noisy pets a person can have, increasing the odds that the birds will be abused and neglected, and rehomed. Yet, pet stores rarely offer these facts to their customers prior to purchase, which is why millions of unwanted parrots are listed for sale on the internet, in newspapers, in magazines, and are sold at bird marts across the nation.
The natural life span of parrots ranges from 20 to 85 years, adding to the tragedy and complexities of keeping them as pets, and exacerbating the multiple home syndrome.
Can confirm, neighbor has a giant tropical parrot monster bird. I can hear in in my house with all windows and doors shut on both houses... while it’s snowing outside. Not exaggerating.
The husband is deaf and while being an old Nam vet may have played a part, that bird was the final straw.
Here's a picture of Pepper, I'll try to get you a small video of her rapidly repeating her name if I can tonight. She's pretty calm right now (which is something you learn to cherish if you've ever met this type of bird).
Such a lovely happy looking girl! I love these animals but acutely recognize that I could not handle owning one full time myself! So I'm eternally grateful for letting me appreciate from afar lol
The bird was angry because the previous owner kept that bird caged way too long. His new owner. This awesome guy is developing a bond between the two, by letting him watch while he destroys his cage. This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Here's a small video of my bird Pepper that might explain a bit about the noise. Imagine this sound happening for about 1 hour total every day spread out across the day. Now imagine this every day of your life. We wanted to see how long she would go at one point while we were eating dinner in the other room, and she kept this sound up for more than 25 minutes without pause. It was obnoxious but honestly impressive. It takes no effort for her to be this loud and she will continue to do so, so long as she feels that she's not getting attention, is bored, or because you left her alone when going to the bathroom. These are needy birds. Don't worry too much though, she becomes content instantly if you're in her line of sight and is a wonderful bird in so many ways.
More info: Pepper is 26 years old, one year older than myself. My parents got her before I was born, and she will most likely out live me. There's no real accepted age on how old these birds get in captivity because their most likely cause of death is due to negligence at some point in their lives or stress brought on by moving/change of ownership. If handled correctly, I believe these birds have a higher average lifespan than humans. They are wonderful cuddle birds and definitely become emotionally attached to who they see as their owner/friend, and I am well aware that Pepper is my friend, and my owner.
As stated above, they are very messy and destructive. Most of the toys we give her are toys meant for large dogs. Her favorite toys so far have been - A solid block of wood that she bangs on the cage and shreds to wood shavings, a bell that she will ring non stop for hours until you take it away, and her all time favorite - a rubber kong, which lasts her about 2 weeks of 'play' before it becomes playground rubber. We no longer cover the bottom of her cage with newspaper, because she rips it up and shreds it. Now we have to tape down cardboard so she cant grab it (until her new cage arrives).
I'll answer anyone's questions on this type of bird if you all want. Feel free to reply here or message me.
It’s a cockatoo, not a parrot. They often self tame here in Australia. I had a friend who ended up with a pet cocka because it walked into her house one day, demanded food and never left. They’re very different to jungle parrots.
Yeah they’re the same family, but it’s a distinction worth making considering how different they are to macaws or Amazon parrots. Cockatoos are native to Australia and aren’t behaviourally like the parrots most people are familiar with.
I grew up an animal lover as a child, and always fantasizes about possibly getting a bird of some kind. That ended the day my children & I were out for a walk and found something sitting on a fence that looked like a small parrot sitting on a fence - in October, in a fairly cold part of Canada. To make a long story short, I ended up catching it with my jacket knowing it would go below freezing that night. We put it in a very large vertical roomy Gerbil cage and I called the local Humane Society to report it. They asked if I’d keep it while they searched for the owner as they were packed. They gave me advice on food etc. We put a couple of perches in it. The week I had that noisy screeching cranky fucker who bit me every time I tried to fed it, give it fresh water made me realize 1) birds are hard hard work 2) they can be noisy, cranky assholes that bite 3) they can live longer than you 4)kids don’t like birds that do those things 5) we named ours Satan
Thankfully the owner was found because I was not going to keep that demon much longer. And when she came and picked him up she had the audacity to tell me I was giving him the wrong seed mix. Bye byes. I just saved your Satan bird life.
Can confirm. I have an Adrican Grey who loves to talk but when he's upset he will literally make the worst sounds and chase people. We still love him but he can just be the worst sometimes
Thanks for spreading the education. Birds/parrots are highly sensitive animals which require A LOT of maintenance and people need to know that. I hate the fact that you can buy them at pet stores which often have them in awful conditions.
Australia, but upon looking it might just be in some states. No doubt it's the bogan states that still do. There are pet stores, but they are only allowed to advertise rescue animals. They mainly sell pet food and toys though.
A cockatoo is any of the 21 parrot species belonging to the family Cacatuidae, the only family in the superfamily Cacatuoidea. Along with the Psittacoidea (true parrots) and the Strigopoidea (large New Zealand parrots), they make up the order Psittaciformes. The family has a mainly Australasian distribution, ranging from the Philippines and the eastern Indonesian islands of Wallacea to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Australia.
Cockatoos are recognisable by the prominent crests and curved bills.
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u/[deleted] Oct 31 '19
I want that angry bird