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Why do Pirates Like Parrots?
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Salty Dog
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 4:45 pm    Post subject: Why do Pirates Like Parrots? Reply with quote

It’s possible to understand why pirate ships would keep a cat as a pet, to catch any mice or rats on board, but why would a pirate want a parrot?

However, there are many logical reasons for keeping a parrot.

They don’t eat a lot, a very good thing if there is little food left on the boat.

They aren’t very big, so if there isn’t much food on board the crew won’t try to eat them.

They like people, so they won’t attack the crew.

They can be taught tricks, a great way to pass time on those long boring cruises.

They can keep you company, even if what they say is sometimes not the right thing.

They can talk, which makes them seem smarter than your average pet.

They make you look important, after all how many talking parrots are there at sea?

They were worth a lot of money, no wonder every pirate wanted one.
Pirates probably got their parrots from the wild, off of uninhabited islands they visited or they stole them in the same way they stole gold and jewels.

There are over 300 different species of parrots across the world, ranging from 7.5 cms (3 inches) in height to a metre (33 inches). However the favourite parrot species of the pirates was the Macaw. Highly intelligent birds, that love nothing more than being taught tricks and learning to speak, these medium to large parrots are native to Africa and South America and can live for up to 30 years.

All in all an ideal companion for a pirate who spends most of his life at sea.
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Rusty Edge
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think's because they are flashy and expensive, the same way they liked their clothes. But as you suggest, they weren't keen to pay retail!
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Roland
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe they would use parrots the same way we use extra vessels: keep it around until you have sufficiently upgraded it (trained it), then sell it and start fresh with a new one.
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Pirate
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The main reason pirates like parrots is the same reason why every pirate has a peg leg, patch over the eye or a hook for a hand. In other words most didnt have parrots but one would think so if they watched or read a lot of pirate fiction storys.
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Rusty Edge
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 12:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pirate wrote:
The main reason pirates like parrots is the same reason why every pirate has a peg leg, patch over the eye or a hook for a hand. In other words most didnt have parrots but one would think so if they watched or read a lot of pirate fiction storys.


Yeah, same with "15 men on a dead man's chest" , buried treasure and probably the term "Arrh! ".
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sparticus
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 11:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My Grandfather had a parrot that picked food from his teeth - so a living toothbrush perhaps.
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Salty Dog
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe they used them as messenger pigeons carrying messages to their intended victums - "Give up or we will kick your A**"!"
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Mr. Blue
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 5:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

They didn't have audio recording back then, so they taught their parrots things they didn't want to forget.

"Which way to the treasure now?"

"Polly wanna cracker!"

"Fine, but its the last one, you blasted bird!"

"Go left at the big rock, you moron!"

Laughing
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