Because they are wild animals, owls are quite difficult to manage in a conventional residential environment. Cuddling and constant human contact go against their developed nature; hence, they do not tolerate them. The purpose of these incredibly sharp talons is to pierce and cut, not to sit on your shoulder. Evolution has built this bird to seek and devour little prey, not to amuse its human owners indoors.
1: Owls require room.
Owls require a lot of room. It just won't do to have a parrot cage in the living room corner. An extensive aviary setup is required, and it must be constructed from strong wire because the owl's razor-sharp talons can quickly reduce a wooden cage to the consistency of toothpicks. If you can manage to tame an owl enough to let it soar around your house, keep in mind that your furniture is not going to stand a chance.
Because of the dust and filth that build up on their feathers, owls require frequent bathing. This instinct gives the bird a hunting edge since dirty wings make feathers whistle when the bird moves through the air, alerting potential victims to its location. The owl's natural instinct to bathe maintains its feathers tidy and noiseless. Owls in captivity require a huge bath pan that needs to be cleaned and replenished on a regular basis. In the wild, owls encounter several difficulties as they bathe throughout the day. Raptors that hunt during the day, like goshawks, are swiffers. (The largest threat to owls is goshawks, since they frequently become their prey while taking a bath.)
The ideal environment for owls housed in homes is an outdoor aviary. This negates the whole point of owning a pet bird, as it is difficult to form a link with the bird that is housed in a vast outside aviary where you can only hope to see it just twice a day. Even so, owls are used to seeing people and will grow anxious if they are neglected. However, the majority of your interactions with your owl will be limited to feeding and cleaning duties. This is not a cuddly pet; rather, it is a demanding one that doesn't give anything in return.
2: Owls Are Untidy
You're going to be really happy. Owls excrete. They defecate frequently. They litter the entire area with their garbage. Additionally, owl excrement smells and contains the waste from digested meat, in contrast to parrots, which eat largely vegetables. Furthermore, pellets made of the partially digested bones or feathers of recently consumed animal corpses are regurgitated by owls.
While all birds can be dirty, owls are the messiest of them all. Having an owl requires you to constantly clean up droppings, pellets that have regurgitated, feathers, and any other debris that ends up on the floor in the enormous aviary. Having a huge parrot seems carefree in comparison to keeping an owl.
3: Owls require constant attention.
All pets require their owners' attention, but when you need to leave or want a vacation without your pet, it's usually not too difficult to locate a boarding facility and pet sitter. But an owl is not a pet that should be kept by just any old person. Finding a caretaker who is ready to feed frozen rodents to a deadly owl, thaw them out, and finally clean up the bloody mess is no easy task.
Having an owl will significantly reduce your travel possibilities. If you are determined to own one, be prepared to remain at home.
4: Owls live at night.
Owls are nocturnal creatures because they hunt during the dark of the night. Owls, in contrast to other birds, are nocturnal noisemakers, especially in the breeding season. Although they can be extremely noisy during the day, domestic parrots usually go silent at night and don't bother nearby residents. However, owls are noisy when they socialise and mate, and they are naturally noisier in the evening when they can most easily disturb their neighbors. You won't gain favour with your neighbours if you have an excellent-horned owl in your outside aviary that hoots all night each evening for the whole month of October.
Related Post: