"Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."

– Antoine de Saint-Exubery

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Ripley is a female Moluccan Cockatoo who is now 15 years old, I've had her since she was 6 months old.  If you are considering getting a parrot, please do your research and recognize that parrot ownership is a major undertaking.

This is an ever growing list of issues involved in sharing you life with a parrot:

Parrots are incredibly LOUD.  They make "happy" screaming noises when they are playing.  You can not prevent their "happy" screaming nor should you as I compare it to when young children play and you hear them shrieking with laughter.  Parrots also make "annoying" and "unhappy" screaming noises, which you can attempt to curb through training.  Ripley, like many parrots, is the loudest in the evening when the sun is going down.  She screams "happy" screams for a good 15 minutes straight.  Nothing to be done about it except close the windows so the neighbors don't complain and put in ear plugs.

Parrots can live 40 to 80 years.

Parrots have the mentality of a human 2 year old.  Imagine taking care of a 2 year old for the rest of your life.

They need a rotating assortment of diverse types of toys: destructible, preening, puzzle solving, foraging, noise makers and indestructible.

Parrots are smart and curious.

Their cage needs to be large enough for them to move around comfortably, spread and flap their wings and should contain at least 3 different perches.

Ripley is only in her cage at night and when I leave the house, otherwise she "hangs" out with me on various hanging perches I have throughout the house.

Parrots belong in a flock.  In captivity you are their flock and they need to spend quality time with you and your family. 

Throwing food is very common.  When I give Ripley a bowl of fruit and veggies, she immediately picks through it, throws most on the floor (thought inevitably the red beets always end up hitting the carpet or wall) takes a bite or two from one piece before throwing it, only to pick up a different piece and takes a couple of bites and throws it, etc...  This is how parrots eat.

Parrots love to make "soup" by placing their food in their water bowl.  The result is a very unappealing mess that must be dealt with often as clean water is clearly very important.

They poop countless times a day.

I clean Ripley's cage daily by picking up the soiled paper and replacing it with fresh.  Once a week her cage gets an extreme cleaning.

Daily vacuuming is a must as parrots feathers produce a fine powder that is important for their feather health but gets everywhere!

Parrots require regular showers.  In the wild rain provides a daily "shower" in our home you must provide one, if not daily then weekly.  I place a shower curtain tension rod in my shower as a perch for Ripley.  She has the option to get directly under the cool spray or avoid it, either way the humidity is excellent for her overall health. 

They turn their wooden toys into saw dust, which must be cleaned up.

Your home turns into a mock jungle with play gyms in ever room.

If a parrot is ever left unattended they can do much harm to your home.  Making holes in wallboard, biting through electrical wires, turning your millwork to tooth picks, ripping a hole in your couch, etc.  Lucky for me Ripley has never escaped her cage or off one of her play gyms to wreak havoc on my house but I know of many who have had these occurrences.

A parrots beak is incredibly strong.  Ripley can crack the shell on a brazil nut, walnut, or almond like it is nothing.  Parrots can and do bite. 

When parrots reach sexual maturity there are added issues such as your parrot wanting to mate with you.  Also common is your parrot attacking your spouse or others who come near you.  I know two different couples who gave up their birds due to this issue.

Many parrots are prone to feather picking and self mutilation. 

In these next few photos she is swinging back and forward on the rope, screaming and "laughing".

Still thinking about getting a parrot?  Please consider adopting from one of countless rescue centers such as The Gabriel Foundation.

I don't believe parrots belong in captivity, if I had to do it over again I would not own a parrot.  She should be living in the wild with her flock, not in a cage in my home.  That said, I take my responsibility of her seriously and commit myself to giving her the best life I possibly can.