Lifestyle Considerations

Owning a parrot is a lifestyle change. You must change your way of life to accommodate the bird...not the other way around!

• Parrots DO NOT make easy companions or apartment pets. They are LOUD, DESTRUCTIVE, and under certain circumstances they will BITE.

• Biting is a human caused problem 99.9% of the time and in direct response to a parrot giving plenty of signals to stay clear that the human did not pick up on.

• They are wild animals, and not domesticated like dogs and cats. Their behavior is instinctive as intended by nature; these behaviors can include:

  • aggression
  • biting
  • screaming
  • territorial behavior (especially around cages)
  • nesting or mating behavior
  • aggression towards everyone but the favorite person.

• In some parrots these instinctive behaviors will be more pronounced on a seasonal basis.

• If your acceptance of a parrot be conditional upon it being a cuddly pet, or that it talks, then a parrot is NOT for you.

• Parrots live a LONG time - Cockatiels can live into the 20-25 year range. Amazons and Cockatoos can live into the 60-80 year range, and Macaws can live into the 80+ range.

• Before you consider adoption please be honest in your ability and commitment to care for a wild animal over the long term. One of the top reasons for relinquishing a parrot has been the owner aging or dying.

• You need to plan for your birds care beyond your own life AND take into consideration how YOU will adapt to changes in your life so it will not negatively impact your bird (i.e. moving, divorce, children).

Home Requirements

Owning a cat or dog does not preclude you from adopting from us. However, we will be observing your other pets’ behavior during your home visit to determine if they are trained to obey commands.

We will NOT adopt our birds to homes with ferrets.

Ferrets are a natural predator to parrots, and have been known to escape their cages far too often and get into mischief. Unfortunately, if a ferret resides in your home your application will be denied.

If you have other parrots in the home, we require that they have been vetted in the last year for more than just nail trims. Most avian vets recommend an exam once a year, and this often includes blood work.

If you rent, we will be reaching out to your landlord to confirm the pet policy of your residence. We DO NOT adopt large parrots to renters! Parrots are often loud and their vocalizations can be heard long distances therefore they are not suitable for apartment style living.