Even if you never teach Polly to talk, she'll definitely let you know when she wants a cracker. Many parrots, especially those who have spent most of their lives with people, develop very human characteristics. Because parrots have such distinct personalities, there are no hard and fast rules as to how your parrot will behave. Some are noisy. Others are quiet. One will be aggressive, while another parrot will just want to cuddle and be loved. There are a few generalizations that apply. All parrots need a lot of room. These are big birds. The cage should be substantially larger than their wingspan. All parrots need attention. You want the bird to form a bond with you, and that takes more than just feeding it and cleaning the cage. Play gently with your parrot. Stroke it frequently and talk to it, and you'll have yourself a friend for life. That's right, for life. Parrots live a very long time and, depending on the species, may be around longer than you.
