Owls are wild species. It is a bad choice to keep them as pets. They are unsuitable for human contact. They don’t like cuddling with their owner. They have the natural instinct of disliking humans for contact. They have very short talons that are used for hunting, but when an owl is captivated it causes scratches on their perch or on the owners shoulder.
If you keep an owl as a pet bird, then it causes serious challenges to you. Owls are predators, not an ideal choice to keep as pet birds.
As a pet caretaker, here, I will tell you the 11 most common reasons that show why owls make bad pets.
11 Reasons Why Owls Make Bad Pets?
As an owl owner, here, I will tell you some great reasons that make an owl a bad choice to keep as a pet bird.
Owls Are Carnivores
Owls are carnivores. They like to eat meat on a daily basis. If you serve meat to owl, then it is risky for you. Most owners serve frozen meat to the pet owl. Owls don’t like to eat steak or hamburgers daily. They like eating fresh raw meat of various animals like rats, pigs etc. Storing meat of rats and pigs for owls is very difficult for owners. This is the reason that makes an owl a bad pet bird.
Owls Require a Permit
As you know that owls are wild animals, you must get trained before keeping an owl as a pet bird. It is necessary for you to get a license, if you want to keep it. After getting training and license you are legally able to keep it as a pet bird. According to U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, you are not allowed to convert your own into a domestic pet.
Owls Are Nocturnal
Owls are nocturnal. It means that they hunt and do various daily activities during night time. Unlike birds, they make noise during night and especially during mating time. But, pet owls don’t make noise during night, they make a little bit of noise during day times.
They have the ability that they cannot disturb the neighbors. This shows that due to their nature of making noise, they are not preferred to keep as a pet bird.
Owls Are Very Destructive
Owls have a very destructive nature. It is one of the reasons that makes an owl bad to keep as a pet bird. They have the nature to shred various things that become a serious issue for household things that includes pillows, toys, blankets, clothes and many more things.
They have very sharp talons. The damaged furniture by scratching them. It shows their messy and destructive abilities. It is preferred to train your owl in a way that makes it suitable to keep an owl as a pet bird.
Mating Issues
Owls are active during night time. When mating season starts, they make noise at night which is a problem for the owner, as well as for the neighbors. During meeting time, they start making noise and hooting. If a strong bond is created between owner and the owl, then it is a problem that owls expect regular hooting from the owner. Sometimes owls think human as it’s friend because of their imprintations on humans.
Owls Don’t Cuddle
Owls want independence; they don’t like to be captivated. Pet owls also show their natural behavior. Pet owls don’t like to cuddle. Like other pet birds or animals, owls do not like to touch their body.
Owls Require High Maintenance
Owls require high maintenance for their survival. They need high quality food, timely cleaning, proper attention and a human imprinted house. The owl that has the ability to fly, wants to fly a few times on a daily basis. They require a time outside cage with multiple choice to keep them entertained. Exercise is also a major demand of owls. All the things made the owl a bad choice to keep as a pet bird.
Owls Are Long-Lived
Owls have a long life span. Captive Great horned owl has a lifespan of more than 30 years. Different species of owls have different lifespans. Generally small species have a life span of 10 years, depending on the conditions in which they are living.
Owl’s Beaks Are Sharp
If your owl doesn’t like what you are doing, then it wants to tell you. While telling you, it might hurt you through its beak. Owls have a sharp beak. It hurts you through beak and is a challenge in keeping owl as a pet bird.
Through sharp beaks and talons, they can scratch your skin. I will give you a small example, suppose if your owl sits on your hand and slips to your forearm. Its talons will scratch your arm and you will get hurt. So, it is important to know how to handle owls.
Owls Need Specialized Care
Many vets find it uncomfortable to handle owls. It requires proper training. As an owl owner, you should know about owls’ behavior, health that includes normal poop, health issues, healthy diet, perching surface, cage size, prevention from talons and beak etc. These all things are very difficult and made owls a bad choice for owners to keep them as pet birds.
Molting
Molting is the natural process that occurs in owls. Molting process occurs many times a year. Shedding of feathers of owls causes a mess for human beings. Owls produce a special poop.
This poop has many characteristics like; it is consistent like chocolate pudding. It has a very strong bad smell. It cause stains to the surfaces. It shows a warning to the owner, that if an owl is your pet bird, then you have to clean the surface the whole day, because the owl is messy in nature.
Conclusion
Owls are raptors that require your interest. It is difficult to keep an owl as a pet bird because of a lot of reasons, I have mentioned above. As the safety of you and your family is very important. Owls are very expensive birds and it requires a huge expense. Moreover, keeping an owl as a pet requires a lot of training and expertise, then you will be able to take proper care of it. If you cannot handle owl properly, then it is better to give owl to an expert.
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Thanks for reading!
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I’m Amna, and I absolutely adore birds, especially parrots. I’ve been immersed in the world of these colorful feathered friends for over 10 years. While I’m not a bird doctor, I’ve gathered a wealth of knowledge on how to care for and understand them.
My experiences extend to various bird species like parrots, macaws, cockatoos, canaries, and finches. In addition to my personal adventures with birds, I’ve dedicated time to volunteering at a local bird rehabilitation center.
My true passion lies in sharing what I know about parrots and birds with you. Through my articles, I aim to share the information you need to provide the very best care for your avian companions. So, let’s embark on this journey together and make your feathered friends’ lives as joyful and healthy as possible!