Parrots are highly intelligent, long-lived, and socially complex animals whose needs are dramatically mismatched with typical companion animal housing, making them one of the most welfare-compromised groups in the pet trade.
Parrot welfare in captivity is systemically poor in most companion animal contexts — the gap between what these animals need and what average owners provide is among the widest of any common pet. High-quality parrot welfare requires flock or bonded-pair housing, large flight aviaries, daily foraging enrichment, out-of-cage time, and a 50+ year care commitment. Parrot rescue and sanctuary organisations are overwhelmed with surrendered animals from owners who underestimated the commitment involved.