Tips for Apartment living with Parrots

Helpful tips to keep your pet bird in an apartment.

Parrots are awesome pets, but let's face it, they can be pretty noisy! My buddy G.G. the Severe Macaw has been with me since 1988, and he's been through everything with me – college, a divorce, and even a new marriage. Despite his noisy tendencies, we've never been evicted! How did we do it?

Here are some tips:

First of all, we learned the importance of finding the right living quarters. When G.G. and I were in college, we had to find an apartment that would allow him to be loud without disturbing others. We found a corner unit that was as far away from other people as possible, which meant his vocalizations didn't pass through to other apartments. We also discovered that living on the top floor was a good idea since noise tends to travel up rather than out. And finding neighbors with pets was always a plus since they were more tolerant of G.G.'s noise.

Another way to keep the peace was to make sure G.G. was entertained. Leaving the TV or radio on during the day would keep him company and also mask any noise he would make.

Feeding the wild birds outside our apartment was another trick – their calls sounded so similar to G.G.'s that people couldn't even tell the difference!

And keeping bird-safe plants in the room not only muffled his noise but also kept the humidity up.

We also had to learn when to let G.G. be his rowdy self. We exercised and let him make noise at set times of the day when it wouldn't disturb others. We'd turn up the radio and sing with him, and we even did birdie aerobics! Afterward, he'd be quiet for most of the evening. And let's not forget about bath time and new toys – both of these things could keep G.G. occupied and quiet for hours.

But with all the noise G.G. made, we couldn't forget about keeping our living space clean. Using mats under his cage helped protect our carpets, and we invested in a good steam cleaner to clean up after him. And when all else failed, we turned to "Poop Off" cleaning solution to get rid of any bird messes on our carpets.

So, if you're thinking about getting a parrot, don't be scared off by their noisy reputations. With a little bit of planning and some patience, you can live peacefully with your feathered friend – just like G.G. and me!

*I've been surrounded by parrots since I was born. But one in particular, G.G., a Severe Macaw, stole my heart in 1988 and never gave it back. Sadly, he passed away in 2006 due to a brain tumor. However, his legacy lives on as I continue to share his teachings and wisdom with others. He was more than just a companion, he was a wonderful teacher.