General Parrot Care

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Parrot Care

Full of spectacular colors and personality, parrots are highly intelligent

creatures. Caring for them in a home environment can come with many

challenges, but when cared for properly they are amazing pets. Depending

on the species of bird you choose, the type of parrot care will vary. In

general, smaller birds will have a lifespan of 15 to 30 years, and larger

species can live anywhere between 40 to 50 years.

Parrots form strong bonds with their owners. A

"hand-

fed"

bird, which

was separated from it's parents at an

early age and

raised by human

surrogates, makes a

wonderful member of the

family. Making the decision

purchase a bird is a life long

commitment. It cannot be

stressed enough,

"it is having a baby

for a really long

time that never grows up".

Proper nutrition and socialization is vital in maintaining a

high

quality of life

for parrots. For most species, a parrot

diet

consists of a fresh fruits,

vegetables, parrot pellets,

and a high

quality vitamin enriched parrot seed

mix.

Fresh water should be

offered daily, with periodic water

changes as

contamination

leads to harmful bacteria.

There are a number of formulated

pellet mixtures to fit

the needs of any picky parrot.

Our parrots particularly enjoy Zupreme Avian

Maintenance

Natural Diet

Parrot Pellets because of the

similarity in color and

taste of hand

feeding

formula. They

also are crazy about Pretty

Bird Daily Select Parrot

Pellets.

Each bird will have their own

preference with size

and color. Patience and

consistency are

key in switching

your parrot's diet mainly over to pellets.

Check

out the

fresh foods you should be feeding your parrot on our

fresh

food list.

Parrots have short legs and feet with two toes pointing

forward

and two

pointing backward. This arrangement of

the toes is

called zygodactyl

(pronounced zy guh DAK

tuhl). Keep in mind

your birds size of toes and

feet when

choosing the cage bar

style and perches. Parrots like to

climb

around, a cage with too

many vertical bars will not

allow him to do this safe

and

comfortably. Perches that

are too wide in diameter will hinder

there

toes from

perching properly.

A proper cage is vital in your parrot's well-being and

quality of

life. Your

feathered friend should be able to

spread its full wing

span to each side of

the cage. There

should be plenty of space

to hang 2 to 4 safe parrot

toys.

A parrots cage should be

placed in an area where

the family spends the

most time. The

kitchen is not a

good area for housing due to the

dangerous

toxins while

cooking and other safety hazards. We highly

recommend

purchasing an

lic

cage

or your bird to be

housed in.

Parrots are playful, silly, and super smart. In fact, parrots

have

been

tested for their intellectual abilities and are

proven to

have the intelligence

level of a small child.

With this in mind, a

parrot owner has to understand

the

extreme importance of

providing safe, colorful,

stimulating toys for their

companion

parrot on a daily

basis.

In the wild parrots like to chew, shred, and nest various

materials. These

consist mainly of wood, clay, and

grassy

materials in their environment.

This is " fun work"

in birdie life

and keeps their emotional and physical well-

being alive.

Providing them with chewable toys will

greatly fulfill their "wild"

desire and help to keep the beak

trimmed. Just as toddlers get

bored with

playing with

same toy, so does your bird. To ensure

your parrot's

happiness, rotate their toys every two or three

weeks.

A parrot's nails and beak continue to grown on a regular

basis,

so it is

necessary to groom your bird's nails and

wings every 3

to 4 weeks. If you

are unable to properly

groom your bird, it is

advised that they be taken to

your

avian vet or experienced

avian specialist every couple of

months.

Accidents can occur if

you allow the nails to

overgrow. They can easily get

caught up

in perches and

loose rope and toys. Always check the bird toys

for

threads that your parrot could catch themselves on and

get

stuck.

It is natural for parrots to preen their feathers to keep

them in

tip top

shape. They take rain showers in the wild,

so it is

essential to mist your

bird daily with clean, fresh

water. A small

water bottle or pet mister from a

reputable

pet store will work

great. If your parrot is fearful of getting

wet,

start out by talking

to them in a soft and calm voice

while slowly misting

them. If

after repeated bathing your

parrot is still very fearful, consult

your

avian veterinarian

for other helpful techniques. Take the

time to know your

parrot and their likes, bathing is part of who a

bird is.

Parrot care can be practiced correctly everyday even for

busy

families with

the proper organization in preparing

foods and

upkeep of cleaning. For

helpful suggestions

on keeping a daily

clean up routine

ontact us

Quick Find Parrot Species Guide

Macaws
Cockatoos
Amazons
African Greys
Eclectus
Pionus Parrots
Conures
Quakers
Caiques
Lorikeets
Cockatiels
Lovebirds
Parrotlets
Rosella Parakeets
Budgies
Finches

Parrot Education

Fun Feather Fact
The word parrot
means a large group of
colorful birds found in
warm, tropical regions.

Bringing Birdie Home
A new bird owner's
check list

* Spacious, non-toxic
bird cage, large
enough for your bird
to expand it's full
wing span.

* Good, sturdy
perches that are of
proper size for you
bird's feet,
different textures
will keep feet
healthy.

* Three to four
colorful and safe
bird toys that will
challenge your bird's
mind and body.

* A non-toxic bowl
for you to put fresh
fruits and veggies in.
Your cage should
supply you with one
water dish and one
dry food dish.

* A safe, non-toxic
birdie cleaning
solution for cleaning
the cage and
accessories. We
recommend "poop
off".

* An educational,
species specific
parrot book. You will
never know
everything about
your bird, but this
will help you
understand their
behavior better.

* A safe, non-dusty
bedding for the
bottom of the cage
tray. We recommend
yesterdays
newspaper pellets.

* A proper balance
of bird pellets, good
quality parrot seed
mix, and of course
lots and lots of
fresh fruits and
veggies!

* Last but not least,
book an appointment
with an avian
veterinarian for a
parrot check- up.
Establish a
relationship with
your vet, you will
need his/her
guidance when you
have questions about
your bird.

Parrot Education Around The Globe