Obviously, you know what a bird is. If you don’t, then welcome to the world!
Birds come in all shapes and sizes, from alert, predator eagles at 102 cm long to unaware, fluffy pigeons at 35 cm long. But if you’re thinking of getting a feathered friend, I’m here to tell you everything you need to know about them, and why you should or shouldn’t.
To start, most parrots aren’t cheap. Well, buying them might be, as I’ve seen some pet shops sell birds for less than 1 KD, but parrots are needy creatures. Parakeets are a very popular choice for new bird owners. They’re very vibrant creatures – in personality and colour! Those birds eat around a teaspoon and a half per day, and if you don’t feed them, they’ll screech!
Birds are like mini children. They like playing with other birds (and you, if you play your cards right) and, once again, screech when things don’t go their way. On the topic of playing with birds, birds are very social creatures. They want constant attention and love. When I had birds, they were either always arguing with each other, preening each other’s feathers, or escaping their cages and making us chase after them.
Untrained birds also have no sense of hygiene. They will chew on anything that they see as food (including your fingers) and will defecate everywhere. Moreover, when they aren’t doing that, they’ll be eating their seeds like it’s the last meal of their lives and leaving a mess that you then will need to clean up. It takes a lot of time and effort to train birds to defecate in their cages, and if you aren’t prepared to take their needs seriously, then maybe reconsider getting a pet bird.
But it’s not all gloom and doom with birds! Birds are fun companions to have around you when you’re living your life. They don’t take up too much space and are intelligent creatures… well, as smart as their brains allow them to be. Birds are also good pets to keep around if you’re really insistent on getting a pet, and yet you don’t have the patience to take care of a cat, nor have the capability to go on walks with a dog.
Parrots, much like humans, can be taught language and song. Their brains are wired in a way that they can learn sounds they hear and use their unique vocal organ – the syrinx – to create those ‘human’ sounds you hear. It isn’t speaking – it’s memorising. Parrots are also highly affectionate and, when given the opportunity to, will brighten up your days with colours and music… and chaos.
Of course, your friendship with your parrot all depends on how much time and effort you’re willing to put into taking care of them and learning about what they like and what they need.
A bird can be your best companion – or your worst enemy!
