Parrots are pretty amazing animals. There just seems to be a natural attraction between humans and these creatures. And why not? They can talk for one thing! And they can speak in your language! And sometimes they have accents (as I discovered when I went to Australia). They are brilliant creatures. They are also very beautiful animals too. So why shouldn’t I get one?

Reason 1: Where did it come from?

Are you buying a bird from a reputable breeder, or from the parrot equivilant of a puppy mill? Be sure to find out where the bird came from and what sort of practices the breeder adheres to. Are you buying an unweaned baby? Or are you buying an old bird?

What if your bird has been poached directly from the wild?

Answer. Buy from a reputable breeder. Ask your pet store where they get their birds from. Ask them if they follow the standards of care from the World Parrot Welfare Alliance.