If you want to keep a parrot as a pet, there are a few things to consider, both legally and in terms of animal ethics. Here you can find out what requirements the birds have and what you should look out for when buying one. And you do not have to worry that they will interrupt your game at the best canadian online casino.
Parrots are generally permitted as pets in Germany. However, keeping them in a species- appropriate manner is not easy and requires a lot of attention and time. Prospective owners should therefore be aware that acquiring parrots comes with a lot of responsibility, not least because the birds usually have a life expectancy of several decades. Some parrot species can even live up to a hundred years. The average age of parrots kept as pets is between 50 and 70 years.
If you want to bring a parrot into your home, you should first find out what requirements you need to fulfill. In this article, we summarize the most important facts about the legal situation and keeping conditions, and give you tips for buying a parrot.
Parrots as pets: what the law says
Because of their social nature, you must not keep parrots as individual pets. The general conditions for keeping pets are regulated in the German Animal Welfare Act. In particular, Section 2 stipulates that pet owners must ensure species-appropriate nutrition, care and accommodation and must not restrict the freedom of movement of their animals in such a way that they suffer pain or damage as a result.
An expert opinion from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) clarifies what species-appropriate husbandry means for parrots in particular. However, this report itself does not explicitly have the function of a law. Rather, it serves as an aid for owners to correctly implement the species-appropriate husbandry prescribed in the Animal Welfare Act, especially for parrots. However, official veterinarians also use this report during inspections to check whether the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act are being adequately met.
Because of their social nature, you must not keep parrots as individual pets. The general conditions for keeping pets are regulated in the German Animal Welfare Act. In particular, Section 2 stipulates that pet owners must ensure species-appropriate nutrition, care and accommodation and must not restrict the freedom of movement of their animals in such a way that they suffer pain or damage as a result.
An expert opinion from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) clarifies what species-appropriate husbandry means for parrots in particular. However, this report itself does not explicitly have the function of a law. Rather, it serves as an aid for owners to correctly implement the species-appropriate husbandry prescribed in the Animal Welfare Act, especially for parrots. However, official veterinarians also use this report during inspections to check whether the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act are being adequately met.
According to the BMEL report, it is particularly important that parrots should not be kept individually as pets. Pet shops must at least sell them in pairs, as these birds are very social animals. The only exceptions are for sick or injured parrots or those that do not get along with other parrots of the same species and are strongly influenced by humans. If it can be assumed that they will get along with each other, you can also keep parrots of different species together.
Species-appropriate parrot keeping: diet, housing and care
The requirements for parrots as pets vary in detail from species to species. What species- appropriate keeping means in detail depends heavily on the particular parrot species. The special section of the BMEL report divides the approximately 340 known parrot species into four large groups in this respect:
● Parakeets
● Short-tailed parrots
● Macaws
● Loris and other nectar-drinking species
● You can find out more about the needs of individual species from specialist pet shops, for example.
However, the BMEL report also provides helpful information. The following general recommendations apply to all species:
Diet
According to the BMEL, most parrots feed on seeds, fruit or nectar. In addition to dry seeds, they must also be given sprouted food (special soft food for young birds), fruit and vegetables and green food, depending on the species. It is best to provide the food in a bowl.
The birds also need animal protein while they are rearing their young. Parrots also need a bowl of fresh drinking water in their accommodation. The food and water should be changed daily and the bowls cleaned.
Housing
Parrots can be housed as pets in aviaries, cages or bird rooms. As a general rule, the BMEL report stipulates “varied furnishings” in the accommodation, for example with fresh branches, toys and other objects.
You must not chain parrots or keep them on a hanger! The appropriate size of aviaries and cages varies from species to species and also depends on the number of birds. The same applies to the room temperature. The special section of the BMEL report contains precise recommendations for the four large groups. The floor of the accommodation should be covered with natural materials such as sand, sawdust from unprocessed wood, mulch or similar. You should clean it at least once a week and always ensure good hygiene.
