Parrots are highly intelligent, long-lived animals with complex social, cognitive and physical needs that make them among the most demanding companion animals when kept properly.
Companion parrots are among the most frequently poorly kept animals in the pet trade. Their cognitive sophistication - comparable in some respects to young children - means that inadequate social interaction and environmental complexity cause genuine psychological suffering manifested in feather destruction, screaming, repetitive behaviours and self-mutilation. Seed-only diets cause vitamin A deficiency and other nutritional diseases that cause chronic illness. The lifetime commitment required by long-lived species including African Greys and cockatoos is rarely understood at the point of purchase, leading to repeated rehoming that itself causes psychological harm. The welfare gap between what companion parrots need and what most receive is profound.