Do Vultures Make Good Pets? (Quick Answer)

Do vultures make good pets?

The simple answer is NO, despite what you may have seen in movies, they don’t.

Even though they may seem like cool birds to have around, vultures are pretty gross creatures that are best left in the wild.

In this post, I will tell you why.

Do Vultures Make Good Pets?

Again it’s a big no, vultures do not make good pets.

They are scavengers by nature and have a very powerful sense of smell which means that they can often be found near carcasses.

This, combined with their reputation for being ugly, makes them unpopular as pets.

However, if you’re looking for a different kind of pet, you might want to give one a try.

Just be sure to keep your distance when they’re eating.

If you’re thinking about getting a vulture as a pet, think again.

Things To Consider

Here are just a few of the many reasons why these birds make terrible pets:

Vultures are incredibly smelly creatures

Their diet consists of rotting flesh, and they often defecate on themselves while eating.

This combination of smells is incredibly foul and is not something you want in your home.

Vultures are very dirty birds

They often live in their filth, and their feathers are often covered in blood and other gross substances.

This can make them a health hazard to have around, as they can easily spread diseases.

Vultures have terrible eating habits

Not only are they incredibly messy eaters, but they also make a lot of noise while eating.

Their diet consists mostly of carrion, which is the rotting flesh of dead animals.

This can be pretty off-putting for many people.

Vultures are not very intelligent birds

They are not known for being the brightest creatures, and they can be difficult to train.

If you’re looking for a bird that can be easily trained, a vulture is not the right pet for you.

Vultures can be quite aggressive birds

They are known to attack other animals and humans, and they can be quite dangerous.

If you have small children in your home, a vulture is not the right pet for you.

Related: Do Jackdaws Make Good Pets?

Can A Turkey Vulture Be Tamed?

No.

A baby turkey vulture, however, can be taught to eat from your hand and follow you around like a puppy.

A turkey vulture, also known as a buzzard or carrion bird, is a large scavenger that feeds primarily on dead animals.

These birds are not suited to be pets due to their diet and natural behavior, but a young turkey vulture can be tamed to some extent.

If you find an abandoned turkey vulture chick, you can try to raise it yourself.

It is important to note that caring for a wild animal is illegal in some states, so check your local laws before proceeding.

You will need to feed the chick raw meat several times a day and keep it warm.

As the chick grows, it will become more aggressive and start to feed on live animals.

At this point, you should release the bird into the wild.

Even if you can tame a turkey vulture, it is not a good idea to keep one as a pet.

Can Bearded Vultures Be Pets?

Bearded vultures are known to have been pretty decent companions to some humans in history.

They were often used in ancient times to help with scavenging and were even known to help with hunting.

however, their popularity as pets has dwindled in recent years.

this is likely due, in part, to their large size and potential for aggression.

That being said, there are still people out there who would love to have a bearded vulture as a pet.

if you’re one of those people, you’ll need to be prepared for a big commitment.

these birds can live for up to 50 years in captivity and require a lot of space to roam.

they also need a diet that consists mostly of meat – which can get expensive.

Do Vultures Digest Bones?

Yes, but not in the way you’re thinking.

Vultures are one of nature’s most efficient scavengers, and their digestive system is a big part of why.

These birds can digest just about anything, including bones.

But how do they do it?

It all starts in the vulture’s crop, a pouch located at the base of the bird’s throat.

The crop is where the vulture stores its food before it begins to digest it.

Once the food is in the crop, it starts to break down thanks to a combination of enzymes and bacteria.

This process continues as the food moves into the vulture’s gizzard, a muscular organ that grinds up food with the help of small stones called gastroliths.

The gastroliths help to break down the food even further, and by the time it reaches the vulture’s intestine, there’s not much left that can’t be digested.

So, to answer the question, yes, vultures can digest bones.

But they don’t do it in the same way that we do.

Our stomach acid breaks down food so that our digestive system can absorb nutrients from it.

Vultures’ stomach acid is much weaker, so they rely on bacteria and grinding to get their meals ready for digestion.

Will Vultures Prey On My Pets?

The answer to that question is still not certain, but there are a few things we can speculate about.

First of all, it’s important to remember that vultures are opportunistic scavengers.

This means that they will eat anything they can find, including dead animals.

However, this doesn’t mean that they will necessarily prey on live animals.

There is some evidence that suggests that vultures are more likely to attack sick or injured animals than healthy ones.

So, while it’s possible that your pet could become a victim of a vulture, it’s also possible that they will be left alone.

Conclusion

Vultures may seem like cool birds to have around, but they are pretty gross creatures that are best left in the wild.

If you’re thinking about getting a vulture as a pet, think again.

There are plenty of better options out there for pet birds.