Is a monk parakeet a good pet to have?

Answer 1

Yes. I've owned one for 5 years or so now and he's probably the best pet I've ever had. You just have to take the time to play with them and make them feel like you care for them. If you have a job that takes up all your hours or you don't want to have to take an hour or more away from your day to care for the bird, then you shouldn't get one. Quakers, just like any other bird, can get Territorial of their cage, get aggressive toward the handler, and have stress issues if they aren't stimulated and played with enough. Don't be fooled by that little beak, it can still do damage! I found that taking my bird outside every day (if the weather permits!) really helped him with the little bit of territorial behavior he had over his cage. Not without his wings clipped, though! Being as light as they are, it takes almost nothing to lift them off the ground. My sister's Quaker flew across the river by our house three days after he had his wings clipped! You have to clip them enough so that they can't get any lift, but can still ease themselves to the ground. You can find tutorials on how to clip a bird's wings and identify blood feathers.