Keep Parrots as Pets
2008-08-13

Keep Parrots as Pets Consider keeping a parrot If there were one type of bird that is preferred by many pet lovers, that would be parrots, because they are colorful, beautiful, entertaining, impressive, friendly and intelligent; and also, they love human contact. Owning a companion parrot can be an incredible experience. You'll receive much satisfaction, entertainment and love from a companion parrot, when it is in a situation that meets its needs. Image that, one day morning, your parrot say good morning to you, how happy you will feel. Preparations for keeping a parrot pet Are you considering making a parrot part of your family? The first thing you should know is that parrots are very different from other pets. Keeping parrots as pets means educating yourself about their physical and emotional needs. If you’re planning to buy a pet parrot, you have to purchase some of the basic things before getting a parrot to give your parrot pet a healthy and happy environment: 1. Give your bird the greatest gift by educating yourself ahead of time before bringing him or her home. 2. A decent and lovely home. Parrots pets are known to thrive in attention. Giving the bird a decent and loving home will keep it healthy and closer to its owner. 3. A large and safe cage. Although large pet parrot cages are advisable, it’s not really necessary. What’s important is you provide your pet parrot the proper or medium-sized cage it needs to explore and sleep in. 4. A good range of toys. It is a must that every bird posses a variety of toys to play. At least three sets of toys are recommended to keep your pet parrot interested. Try to choose toys that are non-destructive and are large or small enough to fit into your parrot’s cage. 5. A dependable T-stand. T-stands are actually training tools, thus, they should not be placed where the bird can use it often because they can do tricks you might miss. 6. Share time with the bird. Having a heart full of love is not enough. You may have all the love in the world to give but that will not be enough to foster a healthful and safe relationship with a parrot. Ignorance can lead to serious problems.

Looking after your Parrots Diet Parrots in the wild eat a wide range of seeds, grains, and vegetation. A quality Parrot food mix makes a good basic diet although supplements may also be required. Small pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables can be given as treats and fresh drinking water should always be available. Apples, grapes, and carrots are the usual favorites. Parrots will also need a suitable grit/mineral supplement to help digest their food, and cuttlefish bone makes an excellent source of calcium. Certain foods can be harmful to your Parrot - avoid giving your pet lettuce, avocado, chocolate, or any sweets or drinks designed for human consumption. Exercise & Entertainment Parrots are curious, highly active birds that enjoy climbing. Attaching some horizontal climbing bars to the outside of their cage makes a good exercise area. Toys are essential to stimulate your Parrot mentally and physically and they also enjoy playing with coconut shells, sea shells, or raw vegetables – anything they can chew on. Parrots can be incredibly loud, emitting a truly ear-piercing scream when they want your attention! Handling successfully taming your Parrot requires time and patience and works best if done from an early age and by one person only. First let the Parrot settle in their new environment, talk to them gently, and gradually get them used to accepting small treats through the cage bars before moving on to stick training methods. Start by placing the cage on the floor, opening the door, and seeing if your Parrot will venture out. Placing a training stick just in front of the bird’s feet should encourage it to jump on. Repetition of basic behavior is the best way to tame your Parrot. Community Parrots are not solitary birds by nature, but are happy kept on their own provided they receive plenty of attention. If you plan to keep several Parrots, they are best kept in pairs (hens with cocks). For larger aviaries it’s usually best to keep more hens than cocks – otherwise the cock birds may fight over the hens. Health Weigh your Parrot regularly as weight loss is usually the first sign of illness – Parrots are masters at hiding symptoms, often until it’s too late. As with all birds, if you are worried about any aspect of your Parrot’s health, seek advice from an avian veterinarian. Bath Parrots need to bathe – it’s an essential part of their preening ritual. Some Parrots will prefer a shallow dish of water or bird bath, others prefer to have water sprinkled on them gently while some may even prefer the kitchen sink or shower! Experimenting to see which method your Parrot likes best. Wing, Beak and Nail Care To a parrot, wing, break, nail are all important, so, you can follow these steps to care them for your pet: Step1: Have the flight feathers clipped by your vet to prevent escape, but allow short flights. Don't cut feathers that are still in the sheath. Step2: Wipe the beak with a towel when bathing. Let your vet do any beak trimming or sanding. Step3: Trim long, sharp nails. Use styptic powder if bleeding occurs. BreedingAs with all pets, breeding Parrots requires much commitment of time and effort. It is recommended that you therefore seek expert advice and do appropriate research before considering keeping a breeding pair. Keeping a pet parrot implies a lot of time and understanding of their minds. Having kept parrots as pets is difficult for all new owners of parrots. However, it is such a fulfillment to see them playful, happy and healthy that the pains and the efforts in taking care of them are just a small price to pay. If you think a parrot might be right for you, don’t hesitate any more! Be ready to keep a parrot pet!