Parrot Gazette: Ageless!

How Long Can You Really Expect?

Jun 28, 2024

In this issue:

Kalyn’s note - How long do Parrots Really Live?
Three Ways to Take Great Care of a Parrot & Expand Their Lifespan
Movie Time #1 MUST Know: Keep Your Parrot Healthy!
Reader Resources

Thanks for being a regular! We love your feathers! 🌞📚🦜

Kalyn’s note:
I was talking with my avian vet recently and she mentioned that online information about parrots, including their lifespan, is often incorrect. For instance, she said African Grey parrots don't live as long as most people think, and Green-cheek Conures, which are believed to live up to 30 years, typically only reach about 20 years, at best.

Like people, parrots don't necessarily reach their full life expectancy. They can often live longer than they would in the wild. However, parrots, like humans, face threats such as disease, accidents, stress, loneliness, and depression, which can make their lives shorter.

Generally speaking, parrots, like people, can live very long lives. However, most don’t. Humans can live to 100; there are some that go well abover this age, but most don’t.

As of recent estimates, the average global life expectancy for humans is approximately 72.6 years, 78.8 in the US. In order to convey the commitment of owning a parrot, people tend to exaggerate a parrot’s life span. I find this beneficial and detrimental. It’s great to have people take parrot ownership very seriously, but it can also discourage people when their parrot doesn’t live as long or when they are intimidated by the projected life span.

Most small parrots live 20 to 30 years. Medium-sized parrots live up 20 to 40 years. Large parrots can live to 50. The three longest lived parrots are Macaws, 40 to 60 years and Amazons and Cockatoos who can expect to live 50 to 70 years. Of course, in captivity they all have the potential to exceed these ages.

2.
Three Ways to Take Great Care of a Parrot & Expand Their Lifespan

by Kalyn

When people get a parrot, one of two things seem to inevitably happen. Either they get bitten by the parrot, or the parrot screams, leading the person to no longer want to engage with the bird— or they fall madly in love.

When you know enough about parrots to handle them properly, ensuring they aren’t scared or threatened, they are less likely to scream, and they can bond with you. When this happens, a profound connection can form, providing you with a loyal best friend and companion. This bond can be incredibly fulfilling, bringing joy and companionship that enriches your life in countless ways. Parrots, with their unique personalities and affectionate nature, can become cherished members of your family, offering a relationship that is both rewarding and deeply meaningful.

If you fall in love, you’ll want to do anything and everything to extend their life. Here are 3 ways to work on providing the best health and wellbeing possible:

by Eclipse, a White-bellied Caique

Provide a Balanced and Nutritious Diet

Hello, I’m Eclipse, your friendly White-bellied Caique! To keep us parrots healthy and happy, it’s super important to give us a balanced diet. We love a mix of high-quality pellets, fresh fruits, and veggies. Avoid giving us foods with fat, sugar or salt – those can make us sick! Offering a variety of tasty treats keeps our bellies full and our minds sharp. Yum!

Don’t forget! Our food bowls need to be fresh too! We do better with either bottled water or water that has been boiled and then cooled to room temperature. We also like for our water to be poured into a clean, dry bowl to avoid any unwanted bacteria. Our food dishes too!

Ensure Mental and Physical Stimulation

We parrots are smart and love to play! To keep us fit and entertained, give us lots of toys, puzzles, fun activities and parrot playmates! We need time out of our cages every day to stretch our wings and socialize. Training sessions and playing with us strengthen our bond with you, making us less stressed and much happier. Plus, we love showing off our tricks!

Regular Veterinary Check-Ups

Visiting the vet might not be our favorite thing, but it’s super important! Regular check-ups help catch any health issues early. An avian vet knows exactly what we need to stay healthy. Early detection and treatment of illnesses can make a big difference in our quality of life and how long we get to share our chirps and cuddles with you. Keep an eye on our behavior and health at home, too, so you can get help quickly if something seems off.

May you and your parrot live long, happy, and healthy lives!

Just for fun, Emerald, our (late) Hahn’s Macaw -

3. Movie Time!

🍿🦜 #1 MUST Know: Keep Your Parrot Healthy!

The number 1 way to keep your parrot healthy, as per my avian veterinarian:

3. Reader Resources:

Looking For A Bird?
Rescue, Baby Or Rehome

Looking to rescue? Try Bird Gardens of Naples

Looking for a baby? Visit Parrot Bliss
We have baby parrotlets, White-bellied Caiques, Blue-headed Macaw, Indian Ringneck, Green-cheek Conures and a Hahn’s!