I talk a lot about the fun part of being owned by parrots. I talk about how cute they are, how cuddly they can be, what an honor it is to be loved by these little guys. But I don’t talk about the other side of the coin, the bad stuff, nearly enough. Because it’s the bad stuff that gets birds left in cages alone in rooms for hours on end and  without anyone to love them. The bad stuff is what gets parrots rehomed multiple times. sanctuaries have popped up to help with birds who are so traumatized by their past that they can no longer be homed and will live in a sanctuary forever–and these are the lucky ones.

Many of them die.

I am lucky. I found a forever bird in Memphis, no matter what he does to me. We’ll find a way. He’s my buddy, my  baby bird. And he doesn’t mean to hurt me. But check out those pictures and it’s clear he does hurt. When I first got him home, he fractured two fingers while we were getting to know each other. He’s drawn blood on multiple occasions.

I would never get rid of him. Ever. Never, ever.

I love him so. And most of the time, he’s nice. Most of the time, he’s sweet. But boy when he isn’t.

But that’s my point. Birds bite. They just do. You can have a bird that has never bitten in his life before and in the right situation, he will bite you. He gets scared or a stranger comes in and he bites him instead. It can happen.

There’s an odd saying: It’s not a matter of IF a bird will bite but rather WHEN he will bite.

Assume he will bite and be pleasantly surprised if he doesn’t. That’s the only way to look at it. And if you can’t handle getting bit or seeing your loved ones–including children–getting bit, then don’t get a parrot.

If you can’t love that bird even through hurt and biting and being attacked, don’t get a parrot. Don’t be another missed opportunity in a bird’s life. Every rehome is traumatic–don’t put a parrot through that if you can’t handle it.

I have scrapes on my arm from talons. I have beak nips on my arm from ‘step ups’ that don’t always go well. My conure tried to tear my painted fingernails off because they did  not look right in red–no red nails mama.

If you can’t commit, don’t get!

On the other hand, if you can get past the potential pain of a parrot, you can get all the amazing love, companionship, and friendship that comes with a parrot. They are worth it for the right person–they just aren’t aren’t for everybody.

That said, eye and all, I love Memphis — and all my birds — so much. The enlighten and enliven my life in so many ways.

Love and stuff,

Michy