30 or more years – is a long time. In my late twenties I honestly did not completely understand the true concept of what it meant to have a pet parrot that lives up to 30 or more years. I thought a parrot would make a great pet. I wanted a Nanday Conure.
Do your research. The aviary didn’t have any Nandays. I had only researched Nandays. However, the aviary owner said the Janday Conure parrot is able to learn how to speak like the Nanday. Wrong. I was assured that it is as sociable as the Nanday. Wrong. I was assured it is no louder than the Nanday. Again, wrong.
Most parrots need up to three or four hours of attention every single day.
Diet. My Janday refused to wean off of baby parrot food at three months old. I tried weaning him with what Sun Conures eat since they are a comparable species. Eventually it became two years, ten years, and to present day -18 years- and this bird is still eating baby formula! He does love his millet sprays and he absolutely loves eating my food.
Attack Bird. Jandays think of your home as its nest, they think of you as being a part of its flock, and they are extremely protective over their flock and nest. They should be inside their cage when guests are visiting.
My parrot will protect its flock and nest to the death. Most people think they can grab it and wring its neck. Not true. Parrots are very smart fighters no matter its enemy’s size. He can scurry from one side of your neck to the other side of your neck, then fly off and come back in for another attack before you know what’s happened. The one thing you do know is that the soft tissue behind your ear is wreathing in pain.
Very loud. Jandays are loud and they want to be a part of every conversation. My parrot can get so loud that it is difficult to think. He has given me headaches. Speaking on the phone or having guests over can be challenging with his loud squawking.
Hardships. My extended family loathes my Janday because I am not able to leave him for more than 48 hours at a time. This means no long vacations.
Most parrots are highly attached to their owners. Parrots that have been from one owner to another easily develop depression and/or behavior problems. Remember, 30 or more years is a long time and this should be very carefully considered before adopting a parrot.
Having a parrot that lives for 30 or more years, it is important to make arrangements for its care in case it does outlive you. It is preferable that it goes to live with someone it already knows. I’ve made arrangements for my parrot and three cats if they outlive me.
My 18 year old Janday. He loves to be preened and to preen me back. He likes to sit inside of my shirt. He is playful. He likes for me to share my food with him (the flock mentality), he likes eating just about everything, even chicken. He takes a bath every day in the bathroom sink. He is trained to use the toilet (my mom trained him to do that).