Since the time of Alexander the Great, parrots have slowly become a popular pet in the household.
Whether it be a Budgie, an African Grey or a Macaw, we have loved keeping them in our family, with them being the third most popular pet in America.
But, relatively speaking, parrots are not domesticated. Unlike the dog that we have bred and shaped to enjoy human interaction; parrots are still inherently wild.
In some species, all you need to do is look back two generations to find them in the wild. That is why their behaviour can become fearful, aggressive and destructive.
So why do I have parrots?
Well, they didn't choose to be hatched into this situation, and they will not survive in the wild because they simply have not been equipped with the knowledge to do so.
So, no, they really should not be pets
But we can help those who have already been bred into the pet trade, to have a better life by adapting our homes (where we can) and their environment to suit their behavioural and dietary needs; whilst also discouraging wild capture and unregistered breeding.
We are not entitled to them, but we are privileged to have them.
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