Ask Lafeber

Talking Birds

What small birds can possibly talk?

Hi,

All parrots have the ability to talk, but many choose not to. You should never get a pet bird because you want one that talks. There is no guarantee that it will, and the novelty of a talking bird gets old much sooner than you think. It is more important to choose a bird with the type personality that you are looking for, and one that you can handle before you take it home. Many pet birds end up in shelters because the owner didn’t do their research, and didn’t understand that birds are a very challenging pet. The videos you see on social media of birds talking are very cute, but what the owners don’t show you are the times the bird screams, or is destructive or bites someone. A pet bird is a lifetime commitment, and requires a lot of dedication as well as an understanding of bird behavior. They change as they get older, and if you aren’t prepared, you can end up with a bird you can no longer handle, and then another bird ends up at a shelter.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda