In many flick , books , and TV shows , owls are shown to be incredibly friendly , intelligent , and affectionate ducky . Do owls make beneficial pets like they seem to in the movies , and if so , what does it take to properly care for one ? Can you keep one in a regular parrot cage and prey it seeded player and other types ofcommercial wench intellectual nourishment ?
Owls Need Lots of Space
While it ’s true that best-loved owls have been generalize in books and movies ( such as theHarry Potterseries ) , the truth is thatowls are not a unspoiled choice for pets . The hardships because of properly worry for an owl are a big grounds why it is best to leave behind them in the natural state , as beautiful and enamour as these creatures may be .
For fledgeling , bird of night can not be kept inside a standard indoor parrot coop . They must be kept in a large aviary with both indoor and outdoor access , as well as approach to a bathing tub pan that must be kept clean. They bathe on a regular basis so as to keep their feathers meticulously clean . Owls wing silently , but their feathers will make haphazardness if they are not kept clean . This interference is detrimental to their hunting. They also must be capable to fly oftentimes if they are indeed physically able to fly .
What You Need to Know About Owls as Pets
Owls Are Mostly Independent Creatures
These birds are raptors that exist and hunt severally . Unlike other type of heavy birds likemacawsorcockatoos , owls do not exist in flocks in the natural state , making them extremely asocial when it comes to other birds ( except for their mates and their issue ) .
The hatful mentality is what earmark a parrot to successfully integrate itself into a human family . Since owls lack that sort of mindset , they consider everyone except for the one person they choose as their " match " as an enemy or prey , and will likely round others on sight. This can be a huge job if you ever become wan or otherwise unable to care for your bird of Minerva .
Their Diets Are Specialized
Diet is another business organisation that makes it nearly inconceivable to successfully keep hooter as favorite . Since owls are technically a Bronx cheer of fair game , they have specialized nutritional need that can not be meet by feed them seeds , pellets or fresh foods likefruits and veg . As a matter of fact , if you submit any of these treats to an owl , he or she would belike not even recognize them as food for thought . Owls are carnivorous animal and must be prey whole rodents, like mouse , small rabbits , Republic of Guinea slovenly person , quail and diminished chickens that are commercially produced for meet their complex dietetical needs , and must be stack away frozen and then unthaw before feed in or fed live . As one might imagine , this can be a less than pleasant trial by ordeal to witness , much less to have to take part in several times per day . Like all birds , owl can be quite mussy eaters , so make clean up after meals is another chore that most people would detect difficult to stomach .
As meat eaters , owls are equip with a beak and talon that are specifically designed for rend and tearing glob of meat―and they are capable of doing quite a bit of damage to human owners if they become displeased for any ground . They are destructive and can easily rip apart anything you might have in their enclosure .
Owls Are Illegal to Own as Pets
It is illegal to keep bird of Minerva in many expanse of the world . Those who opt to defy the police force and keep an bird of night anyway face a form of additional problems . If the skirt falls ill , there is normally no selection but to take it to a veterinary who specializes in raptors . Your stock vet is not specially trained to treat these awing razzing . Taking an owl to a veterinarian puts an illegal possessor at hazard of being beguile , fine and possibly gaol , as you demand a permission and extensive preparation to become a certified and bonded professional raptor handler .
Other Options
Barn Owl Trust . Barn Owl Conservation Handbook : A Comprehensive Guide for Ecologists , Surveyors , Land Managers and Ornithologists . Pelagic Publishing , 2012
Scott , David E.Raptor Medicine , Surgery and Rehabilitation . CABI , 2016
Desmarchelier , Marion . Behavior , An Issue of Veterinary Clinics of North America : Exotic Animal Practice . Elsevier Health Sciences , 2020
Credit: Shilo Studio/Getty Images
alimentation in Raptors . Merck Veterinary Manual
Credit: Illustration: © The Spruce, 2018
