When looking for a pet, just as we are drawn to puppies and kittens, so are we drawn to baby parrots. Sometimes people have had bad experiences with adult birds, thinking that they are more prone to biting, bite harder, or come with bad behaviors. This is not the case for many older birds though, which may need a new home for a variety of reasons: such as moving, a personal illness, or other hardships.
It is important to remember that older birds have undergone a major change in their usual routine and may need a longer time to adjust to new people, new surroundings, and a new routine. It is best to work in short training sessions that end positively.
Usually adult birds have grown into their personality, but parrots are very intelligent and can learn at any age. Even adults can learn “step up”, new words and sounds, transition to healthier diets, and learn new tricks and behaviors. It just takes patience and time. In many cases adult birds have already been handled and know how step up very well! You may also know how they react to children, other birds or animals, and if they have any preferences towards men or women.
Starting out with a bird that is not a baby can be very rewarding, and they may even surprise you with how much they know!