Adopting a baby parrot can be very rewarding.  And it gives you the chance to train this little guy from the very beginning.  Not only that, but he’ll have ample opportunity to bond with the entire family.  But, make no mistake about it, a baby parrot costs more than an older one.

If you decide to adopt a baby parrot, you’ll soon discover that you can choose from either one who has been raised by his biological parent or one who has been hand raised.

A parent-raised baby parrot normally has been bred in an aviary in which purposeful adult  breeding is conducted.   The eggs are laid, then incubated and the chicks are fed in a closed nest box.  The result very often is a young bird who retains many of the behavior characteristics of his wild cousins.

This chick may never be actually handled by a human as they are weaned from their parent.  In fact, very often the only interaction this chick may have had with people is not a favorable one.  Usually, a parent-raised chick has no concept of people until he’s caught in a net or being held down with a thick glove or a towel.

Is it any surprise that when he finally gets to the your house that he squawks, claws or maybe even bites in an aggressive manner?  This little guy not only needs plenty of love, but he needs a knowledgeable, experienced handler to help him through this very frightening period.

Very often this type of bird isn’t even destined to be a pet, though.  More than likely this young chick finds itself as part of the next generation of captive breeding pairs.  Not only is he ensuring the demands of the pet trade are met in a humane way, but he’s actually playing a large role in making sure his species doesn’t suffer from extinction.

Indeed, according to recent research, the brain of your average parrot is larger than that of any other species of birds. It’s more developed.

Start his education when he’s a baby and you’ll discover that you’ll have a parrot that really never stops learning new words, phrases and even sentences, regardless of his age. Some owners report that those birds who have started young enough never really stop learning.

Sagacity. It’s just another word for judgment. Who would even think that parrots possess some sort of sense of judgment? But they do. If you decide that the parrot is the right pet for you, you’ll discover just what scientists mean by that.

The same sense of judgment, which they use as pets, the experts say, they also exhibit in their natural habitat. They use this trait, as a part of a large flock, in keeping predators away.

And then there those glorious feathers! If the bird has brilliant colors, hues of reds, yellows, blues, greens, chances are it’s a parrot. Of course, there are exceptions to this as well but these are few and far between.

And then there is the size factor. If all parrots were the same size perhaps it would be easier to distinguish a parrot. But this family of birds comes in a wide variety of sizes including the tiniest of Australian Paroquets, or lovebirds, which can’t be housed in a normal barred cage. These birds are so small they would slip right between the rungs.

The parrot also comes in the extra large size – as in your classic Macaw.

Thanks for dropping by.  I’ve decided to put this web site together in order to share the knowledge and skills I’ve acquired about parrots and parrot keeping.  When I first became interested in parrots I really had no idea how much information was out there on countless websites and hundreds of books… real information overload.  What I’m hoping is that this site will act as a great starting block for anyone new to the parrot scene, and for more experienced keepers alike.  I’ll be sharing the care and husbandry information I’ve discovered, techniques to make living with parrots easier and even more enjoyable, and top tips for getting the most from this hobby.  Parrots have certainly enriched my life, I hope they can do the same for you!

Enjoy the site, and contact me with any feedback!

Dave Barry