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Should I get an eclectus parrot? (lemmy.ca)
submitted 1 year ago* by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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I fell in love with an eclectus parrot at a bird sanctuary recently and I had no idea these guys existed. They are so chill and I just want one now lol. I was talking to him and all he said to me after I asked him something was "huh?" and it was such a vibe.

I'm a 30 year old man with not much going on in life, recently divorced with major trust issues now and I have never even thought of the possibility of owning a parrot one day but maybe it is actually a good idea? It lives for like 30 years which is probably about how much longer I will live. All I eat is fruit and veggies so I think taking care of it would actually be pretty easy.

From my research it seems like they generally don't like to be handled much and are just content to chill in the corner of the room while you do your thing. My condo has a room with 18ft ceilings and eclectus are usually super quiet and aren't very destructive supposedly.

I was thinking about getting a cat but honestly a parrot is just way more affectionate, intelligent, and interesting.

Anyone weigh in on this topic?

Also is it possible to teach a parrot to speak like RFK Jr?

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[–] 26 points 1 year ago* (1 child)

Yeah you're probably looking at. 60 year commitment.

The reported lifespan of Eclectus sp. varies widely, from ~20 years to more than 60 years. This range is largely due to their relatively recent popularity in aviculture, with many individuals in captivity having not yet reached their natural lifespan. Many owners of eclectus parrots have reported ages upwards of 45 years, noting their birds show no obvious signs of age-related health decline.

I love birds and want to get one again (had cockatiels) but they are a big commitment.

Things to think about:

  • is there an avian vet close? Is it an emergency vet?
  • what kind and how large of a cage do you need?
  • what kinds of things in my house kill birds (I think hot Teflon pans)
  • what am I going to do with them when I leave town?
  • what am I going to do with them in an emergency
  • how do they do in captivity alone? You may need to get them a companion
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  • [–] [S] 7 points 1 year ago* (2 children)

    I do travel a bit. There is a bird hotel near me with very good reviews. Would a parrot develop trust issues if you ultilzed that a lot?

    Also something else I can't find info on is it possible to go camping with a parrot? Can they learn to ride in a truck without freaking out or is it just the wrong pet for that

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  • [–] 9 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    How a bird reacts to being abandoned in a strange location for a period of time depends on the bird and your relationship with the bird.

    No, you can't take a flying wild animal camping. The temperature alone would be a risk.

    Yes, they can be fine riding in a vehicle if they are in a travel cage that is secure and possibly covered to minimize stress if the bird is overwhelmed. People lose their birds all the time for thinking a loose bird in a car is a smart idea.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 1 year ago* (1 child)

    Could you just use a pop up mosquito tent? It's Mediterranean climate in my location but still slightly colder than where parrots come from and that's a good point lol

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    I assume you mean for camping, you could, but the bird would probably love to chew through it and you are just inviting problems that shouldn't exist. A cage would be smarter, but the while idea of taking a bird camping is just a dumb idea.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago*

    I just want to chime in and say that you can take them camping, but I wouldn't suggest it as a first time bird owner or without knowing your bird for several years first. My parents have two parrots and they take them camping several times a summer and they really enjoy the outdoors. They've had about a dozen different birds over 50 years and know their birds well. They are very careful in these ways:

    1. Both birds have special mobile cages that go traveling with them, and perches too. The birds are trained to travel comfortably in these cages. You NEED cages to put them in at night and also when you can't supervise them closely.
    2. Tempurature is a big deal for birds and cold and heat can easily kill them. My parents only take them camping because they have a camper with heat and air on that the birds can retreat to when needed. I would never do it if you are tent camping where you can't control the temp.
    3. The birds are trained and very attached to my parents. They are comfortable they arent going to take off. My parents live in a rural area and had already spent years outside on the front porch with their parrots to get comfortable with that first.
    4. The birds wings are clipped so they can't fly.
    5. They NEVER leave the birds sides unless they are in their cages inside the camper. Wild animals could be a problem.

    Once you have a bird for a few years and are besties, you might think about the possibilities of going camping together. But it would take a lot of work before hand

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