We've occasionally been asked whether parrots
are good pets for children. A better question might
be: "Are children good pets for birds?"
After all, they are messy, need a LOT of care and attention,
sometimes bite, are much more fragile
than an adult dog or cat.... and so are the parrots. :)
Personally, I do not feel that a large parrot
is a good choice for a young child, or for an older
but timid child. One of the wonderful
things about birds is their amazing ability to sense our emotions--
including fear. Some take great delight
in scaring kids and adults who reach out a tentative finger
then pull it away in fear. A better
choice for a bird for a child might be a parakeet or cockatiel. They
are also a good choice for an adult looking
for a "starter" parrot. Large birds, like large dogs,
require a firm personality!
That being said, here are some pictures of
our human kids relating with our bird kids.....
