Parrot care

Humans have kept parrots as pets for many centuries due to their absolute beauty and ability to talk and mimic sounds. Being a parrot owner can be a very fulfilling experience, but also one that carries a lot of responsibility.

Any potential owner need to realize that parrot care is a long term commitment, as some larger parrots can life for a period of up to sixty years. For this reason, it is important to choose the right type of parrot, as each type has its own strengths, weaknesses and personality type. Owners have a wide variety of choices ranging from the Macaw, a large bird that can appear rather intimidating, African Grey Parrots, highly intelligent birds known for their ability to talk and then there are the smaller and less expensive budgies and parakeets.

A proper diet is extremely important to your parrot’s well being, as malnutrition is one of the main reasons for parrot deaths. A lot of people think that a diet of seeds is sufficient to meet all your parrot’s needs. Nothing could be further from the truth. A seed diet alone will leave your parrot malnutrioned and can lead to behavior problems. Seeds must form part of any parrot diet, but the diet should also include fresh fruit and vegetables, pellets and plenty of fresh water.

Mental stimulation forms part of parrot carrot and will help keep your parrot from getting bored. It is preferable to keep his cage in an area where he can interact with people or hear them talk. Toys are also helpful in this regard.

In nature parrots go to sleep when the sun goes down and you should keep this in mind. Parrots need more sleep than us humans and require a quite area in the house where they can go to sleep without any disturbances from television or lights. A blanket over your parrot’s cage will help keep light out when it is bed time.

Parrots are rather messy animals and it is not uncommon for a parrot to defecate once every fifteen minutes. This together with their rather untidy eating habits forces owners to clean the cage, perches and water dishes at least once a day. It is best to use a mild soap and water for this purpose, as stronger detergents like ammonia can be harmful to your bird. Humans also carry germs and bacteria and need to wash their hands before handling a parrot to reduce the risk of infection. A visit every now and again to the vet for a quick checkup will also ensure that your bird stay in tip top condition.

Check cages frequently to ensure that there are no loose wires or sharp points that can hurt your bird. A parrot’s cage should be big enough for the bird to spread his wings and still leave enough room for toys and dishes.

Parrots can make wonderful pets as long as they receive enough stimulation and the right food. They are not dangerous, but children should know that their beaks can cause serious damage, especially the bigger species like Macaws. It is our duty as parrot owners to ensure we raise a happy and healthy bird, one that would rather stay with us than in the wild. Not an easy task, but one that can be achieved.