I have many tasks to perform each day. Important things, parrot things. I have to eat, watch TV, preen, take naps, and make a great deal of silly noises! I am also very fond of playing parrot games. One of my favorite games is peek-a-boo. Another game I like is bite the visitor or the unsuspecting TV repairman. I never know when this will be required of me, so I must sharpen my beak often. Our beaks are very sharp and our bites can hurt a lot. If you live with a parrot you will sooner or later get bitten ......deal with it or get a pet that is domesticated. We are cute and cuddly, but we are still very much wild animals.
I'm not sure how many parrots like to snuggle, but I enjoy being covered with a blanket close to the chest of my favorite humans. I need quality time to interact with my human flock and playtime out of my cage. You would not like to be in a cage all day and neither do parrots. It is important that I am scratched on a regular basis. My human has provided me with an in-cage platform. This is a very good idea, for in the wild we sometimes perch in large tree trunks and on wide branches. Parrots were not intended to always hang on to a little perch. It's a good idea to have perches of different sizes or a natural branch so we can relax our feet.
Because I am on the intelligence level of a pre-school child. I require stimulation so I don't get bored. Parrots should never be left alone for long periods of time with nothing to do. We need to interact with other parrots, or with our human friends. We need toys that we can chew up and shread and ones that challenge our fine minds. We should have plenty of room to play with our toys and exercise in. The bigger we are, the more room we need. I have my own 42" Plasma flat screen TV to watch when the humans are away (I do share it with my human friends) Basil, Xena and I have our very own DVD called "Polly Vision" that shows flocks of parrots in the wild. Most parrots like a TV or radio on Or a window to look out of so they don't get bored.
If you plan to add a parrot to your family and don't have time for a child, perhaps you should get a fish instead. Keep in mind that we live a long time (I am around forty years old) so unless you are very young or we are older than you, there is a good chance we will outlive you. We bond with our humans and it's hard for us to re-adjust to a new family. Many parrots end up in shelters for doing what parrots naturaly do. We are lots of fun, and great company, but we have feelings....... remember, a parrot is forever.
