Amen, brother. I LOVE parrots. I WANT to have them as screaming, demanding, insanely destructive friends, but it feels cruel to force them to live with humans. They care about their mates and their flock and humans are bad, inattentive partners for parrots.
If a human insists on avian friends, I’d suggest a small set of chickens outside in the yard. They are very domesticated, not endangered, and can rely on one another for most their socializing needs. You can even put them in diapers for visits in the house. Before considering, beware that all kinds of predators want to eat your pet chickens.
I’ve done ducks. They are a lot of work. They’re very messy, but have big personalities. They are adorable as ducklings but once they are grown you are – at best – just another duck to them. They don’t want human affection if they have a flock. Geese, on the other hand will love you as MOM forever if you raise them from goslings. The lady here with domestic turkeys has some very affectionate examples, too, but I remember a book where the author raised wild turkeys and was attacked by one of the Toms once it was breeding age.
Amen, brother. I LOVE parrots. I WANT to have them as screaming, demanding, insanely destructive friends, but it feels cruel to force them to live with humans. They care about their mates and their flock and humans are bad, inattentive partners for parrots.
If a human insists on avian friends, I’d suggest a small set of chickens outside in the yard. They are very domesticated, not endangered, and can rely on one another for most their socializing needs. You can even put them in diapers for visits in the house. Before considering, beware that all kinds of predators want to eat your pet chickens.
Ducks and geese are probably fine but require a pond outdoors. And, you know, outdoors.
Some people nearby have a turkey, I guess that’s an option too.
I’ve done ducks. They are a lot of work. They’re very messy, but have big personalities. They are adorable as ducklings but once they are grown you are – at best – just another duck to them. They don’t want human affection if they have a flock. Geese, on the other hand will love you as MOM forever if you raise them from goslings. The lady here with domestic turkeys has some very affectionate examples, too, but I remember a book where the author raised wild turkeys and was attacked by one of the Toms once it was breeding age.