Green parrots are beautiful, intelligent birds that can make great pets for the right owners. They are active and noisy, require lots of attention and proper care, and live a very long time. Before deciding to get a green parrot, it’s important to consider whether you can commit to properly caring for one of these high-maintenance birds for potentially decades.
What are green parrots?
Green parrots are a group of parrots with predominantly green plumage. There are numerous species of green parrot, including:
- Green-cheeked Amazon
- Green-thighed parrot
- Green-rumped parrotlet
- Green conure
- Monk parakeet
- Slaty-headed parakeet
- Pacific parrotlet
Some of the most popular green pet parrot species are:
Green-cheeked Amazon
The green-cheeked Amazon is a small, stocky parrot native to Mexico and northern South America. These parrots are very affectionate and bond strongly with their owners. They can learn to talk but are not the best talkers among parrots. Green-cheeked Amazons are active and playful and require lots of toys and interaction.
Green conure
The green conure is a small, long-tailed parrot native to South America. They are extremely social and form very strong bonds with their human families. Green conures have energetic, fun-loving personalities and are very loud. They love to play, chew, and spend time interacting with their owners. These parrots can learn words and phrases when trained patiently and consistently.
Monk parakeet
The monk parakeet is medium-sized, bright green parrot with a grey breast native to South America. Monk parakeets are intelligent, playful, and very social. They form close bonds and enjoy being in the center of household activity. Monk parakeets are excellent talkers, known for mimicking speech and sounds. They are also prolific chewers and nest builders.
Do green parrots make good pets?
Green parrots can make excellent pets for owners who are prepared to properly care for them. Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Pros of green parrots as pets
- Intelligent and social
- Able to mimic speech
- Friendly and affectionate
- Playful and entertaining
- Brightly colored
- Can be trained to do tricks
- Bond strongly with owners
Green parrots form close bonds with their owners and thrive on social interaction. Their intelligence allows them to learn words, sounds, and behaviors that facilitate communication and relationship-building with people. They are vibrantly colored, active, and expressive.
Cons of green parrots as pets
- Require lots of attention
- Prone to feather plucking if stressed or lonely
- Can be very loud
- Require large cages
- Messy eaters
- Need enrichment through toys and activities
- Can bite hard
- Live up to 60 years
Green parrots are high-maintenance pets. They need significant time and attention from their owners and plenty of mental stimulation and enrichment to thrive. Without proper care, they can develop behavioral problems like screaming, aggression, or self-harming feather plucking. They also make a mess while eating and require large cages. Green parrots have very long lifespans, so owning one is a long-term commitment.
Are green parrots a good fit for your lifestyle?
Before getting a green parrot, take some time to seriously consider if your lifestyle is a good match. Here are some key questions to ask yourself:
- Can you commit to caring for a parrot for potentially 60 years or more?
- Do you have enough time in your schedule to dedicate 1-2 hours per day interacting with and enriching a parrot?
- Are you prepared to provide a large enough cage, a varied diet, and plenty of toys and perches?
- Can you afford the costs of food, housing, veterinary care, and other expenses for decades?
- Do you have a regular schedule that will allow you to spend time with a parrot every day?
- Can you tolerate some noise and mess?
- Do you have patience for training and handling parrot behaviors?
- Do you have space in your home for a large cage?
- Will a parrot fit with your lifestyle once you have a family, move, travel, etc?
If you cannot confidently answer yes to these questions, then a high-maintenance parrot may not currently be the right pet for you. Make sure you are fully prepared for the responsibility before getting a green parrot.
Choosing the right green parrot
If you decide you are ready to take on a green parrot, put time into choosing the right individual bird. Here are some tips:
- Pick a species suited to your experience level, noise tolerance, and lifestyle
- Adopt from a rescue or reputable breeder, not a pet store
- Make sure the parrot is hand raised and well socialized
- Observe the parrot’s personality and energy level to make sure it is a good match
- Avoid birds that seem fearful, aggressive, or unhealthy
- Be patient and give your new parrot time to warm up to you
Doing research to select the right green parrot species and individual bird will give you the best chance at a rewarding companion parrot. An Amazon parrot may not be the best fit for a first-time owner. Observe multiple birds if possible to choose one with a personality that meshes well with yours.
Caring for a green parrot
Proper care and maintenance are absolutely vital for a parrot’s health and wellbeing. Here is an overview of what green parrots need:
Housing
Green parrots need lots of room to move and exercise their wings. The minimum cage sizes for popular green parrots are:
| Parrot Species | Minimum Cage Size |
|---|---|
| Green-cheeked Amazon | 24″ x 24″ x 36″ |
| Green conure | 24″ x 24″ x 30″ |
| Monk parakeet | 30″ x 18″ x 18″ |
The cage should contain multiple perches, toys, and food/water bowls. Place the cage in a room where the parrot will feel part of the household.
Diet
Green parrots need a balanced diet consisting of:
- High-quality seed mix
- Fresh vegetables and fruits
- Healthy grains like sprouted wheat bread
- Some pellets
- Occasional nuts, eggs, beans
- Clean water
Avoid excess seeds, fatty nuts, and processed human junk foods. Fresh foods are great for providing nutrients and enrichment.
Enrichment
Parrots are intelligent, active animals that need both physical and mental enrichment. Important enrichment includes:
- Out-of-cage time to exercise and play
- Toys to chew, shred, and manipulate
- Puzzles and foraging activities
- Training sessions and tricks
- Social interaction with human family
Rotate new toys into the cage frequently to prevent boredom. Spend time interacting, playing, and training with your parrot each day. Taming and bonding are vital.
Grooming
BASIC grooming maintenance for green parrots includes:
- Trimming overgrown beak and nails as needed
- Providing perches of varying textures and diameters
- Bathing 1-2 times per week
Shower perches or misting with a spray bottle can help with bathing. Check for any signs of injury, infection, or skin issues during grooming.
Veterinary care
Green parrots should have:
- Annual checkups with an avian vet
- Immediate vet visits for any injuries or signs of illness
- Testing and treatment for common parrot infectious diseases
A qualified avian vet can provide exams, diagnostic testing, treatment, and advice to keep your parrot healthy.
Common green parrot health issues
Green parrots are prone to certain illnesses and conditions. Being aware of these can help you catch any problems early:
Feather damaging behavior
Parrots may pull out feathers or chew skin if they are stressed, anxious, lonely, bored, or have underlying medical issues. Providing enrichment and avoiding stress helps prevent this.
Infectious diseases
Parrots can catch diseases like chlamydia, pox, and psittacosis. Have new birds tested and watch for symptoms like discharge, sneezing, or lethargy.
Respiratory infections
Bacterial and fungal respiratory infections can occur, especially when a parrot is stressed or in poor health. Symptoms are difficulty breathing, discharge, and lethargy.
Obesity
Parrots will overeat seeds, nuts, and other foods, leading to dangerous obesity. Limit high-fat foods and provide plenty of exercise.
Skin and feather problems
Parrots can suffer from dry skin, parasites, vitaminy A deficiency, and other conditions causing flaky, damaged, or lost feathers.
Egg binding
Female parrots that don’t have an adequate nest or mate may struggle to pass eggs. This is life-threatening so females should have nests and calcium to prevent it.
Watch for any signs of illness and take new symptoms seriously. Your avian vet can help diagnose and treat health conditions.
Signs of a healthy green parrot
Here are indicators that your green parrot is healthy:
- Active, lively, alert, and sociable
- Bright, clear eyes
- Smooth, well-groomed feathers
- Proper posture and movement on perches
- Healthy skin and beak
- Normal droppings
- Good appetite
- Engages in natural behaviors like playing and foraging
- Makes normal vocalizations
Monitor your parrot’s attitude and behaviors. Any significant changes could mean illness. Weigh your parrot periodically to check for weight loss or gain.
Dealing with green parrot behavior problems
Green parrots are intelligent birds that can develop undesirable behaviors like:
- Excessive vocalization or screaming
- Biting
- Aggression
- Destructive chewing
- Feather plucking
Here are tips for curbing problem behaviors:
- Provide ample enrichment and interaction daily
- Ignore minor unwanted behaviors to prevent reinforcement
- Reward and praise good behaviors
- Give time-outs as needed for aggression
- Examine husbandry and make any needed improvements
- Consult an avian vet to check for underlying illness
- Consider consulting a parrot behavior specialist
- Use positive reinforcement training for teaching and socializing
Patience and persistence are key when modifying a parrot’s problem behaviors. Removing reinforcement, providing alternatives, and building trust through training are effective strategies.
Are green parrots right for you?
Here’s a quick recap of key points to consider:
- Green parrots have long lifespans, often over 60 years
- They require significant time, space, effort, and financial commitment
- Proper diet, housing, enrichment, and socialization are vital
- They need veterinary care and monitoring for health issues
- Green parrots bond strongly and can have behavioral issues if neglected
- Lots of research and preparation is required before getting a green parrot
- Green parrots can make wonderful, rewarding companions for the properly prepared owner
Green parrots aren’t ideal pets for everyone. But if you fully understand proper parrot care and are ready for an intense long-term commitment, a hand-raised, healthy green parrot can be a delightful life-long companion animal. Do your homework and make an informed choice before bringing one of these complex birds into your family.
