Parrot Adoption: Advantages and Disadvantages

Parrot adoption is an easy way to get a parrot at little or no initial cost. It can also be a way of getting a parrot that has already been trained to a degree.

Parrot adoption gives you a way to acquire one of these beautiful, intelligent, inquisitive pets from someone who can no longer give it the home it needs. Sometimes, the parrot has outlived its owner, and others cannot take it into their homes. Other parrot adoption situations are a matter of a pet that required more attention than the owner could or would give.

Advantages of Parrot Adoption

Parrot adoption is advantageous for the parrot, since it might otherwise have no home. Many parrots end up each year in a parrot rescue program, or must be euthanized because they have lost their homes. Parrot adoption allows the parrot to go to a new owner who, hopefully, will give it a long-term home in a safe, healthy environment.

Parrot adoption is advantageous for the new owner in several ways.

* Financially, parrot adoption lets you get a bird free, or at a lower cost than you would pay to a breeder or pet store. In addition, you may get a cage, perches, toys, and food with the bird. For a few hundred dollars, parrot adoption may give you a bird that would cost many hundreds elsewhere, complete with his own home.

* Training has usually begun with a bird that is available through parrot adoption. These parrots are usually older, and have a ready vocabulary when they arrive.

* Tricks are sometimes a part of the parrot adoption package as well. Although the bird may be reluctant to perform them at first, once it is accustomed to its new surroundings and its family, it will be ready to show you what it can do.

Disadvantages of Parrot Adoption

There are disadvantages to parrot adoption, though. A potential owner should know these before getting involved in parrot adoption.

* The parrot’s behavior plays an important part in parrot adoption. Some parrots are given up because they have taken to biting family members. These bites are serious and painful. Parrot adoption will not automatically change such behavior. It may require a great deal of patient training.

* Some parrots, as mentioned above, have outlived their owners. This can cause a period of grieving for the parrot. This grief can take many forms, and will be a part of the parrot adoption experience. When a grieving parrot is taken to a new home, it will not always adapt readily. In some cases, the parrot never adjusts to its new surroundings, and the whole experience is a failure.

* No matter what the reason for the parrot being put up for parrot adoption, the move will require work. The parrot will likely be timid in its new home, and will demand hours of one-on-one attention to help it learn that it is safe and welcome.

Parrot adoption programs and individuals offer parrots of all ages. You will want to research carefully before getting involved, but this is a wonderful way to help a bird that needs a home.