About Parrots as Pets

Selecting a parrot is something that pet owners should not do lightly. Parrots are very special pets, and they require a lot of care, including several hours of interaction each day. Parrots are very smart! They will grow bored if not cared for properly. Think about your lifestyle carefully before deciding if there is room for a parrot.

It is a big step to add a bird to your home, just like any pet. Parrots are not low maintenance pets. Your entire family needs to be prepared for the responsibility of owning a bird. It is also important to be aware of the fact that many birds have long life spans. Unlike many pets, it is likely that your bird will outlive you. If you’re thinking about buying a parrot, here’s what you need to know:

Parrot Cages

Parrots must be kept in a large cage or aviary. Generally, tame parrots should be allowed out regularly. Many parrot owners allow their parrot around their home during the day, only returning their parrot to its cage for sleeping or eating.

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Parrot Supplies

Besides the cage and food, you’ll also need feeders and food dishes, perches, a nesting box for smaller parrot species, a medical care kit, and toys. Your bird’s cage should have several perches at different heights made of different materials, such as concrete, wood, or heavy rope.

The water and food dishes must be durable; your parrot is likely to chew on them. Hanging mirrors provide hours of entertainment for your parrot. Investing in these pet care accessories is necessary for the health of your parrot.

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Parrot Toys

Parrots love toys. It may seem like overkill, but you should keep a dozen toys in the cage at once. Toys provide mental and physical stimulation and keep your parrot's beak trimmed.

You may be surprised to learn that some bird toys on the market today are actually dangerous for your parrot. Be sure to choose safe toys to avoid injuring your pet. A parrot toy should fit the size of your parrot; the toys appropriate for small birds would be easily broken by large parrots. Avoid toys with small pieces that could be broken off and ingested. Remember that parrots have very strong beaks.

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Parrot Breeding

Breeding programs reduce the need to capture wild parrots. Taking birds from the wild is illegal in many countries, and has already led to the extinction of many species in their natural habitats.

When buying a bird, always make sure that it was born in captivity. Most bird breeders do it for love of a particular species, not necessarily for the profit, as raising birds can be quite difficult, not to mention expensive.

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Parrot Care

Parrots are amazing pets, and can live for decades, often outliving their owner. Without the proper care, a parrot’s lifespan can shorten dramatically. If you want a long lasting relationship with a healthy and fun pet, you must care for your parrot properly.

This care can take quite a bit more effort than caring for other pets, though there are certainly some similarities. Here’s the kind of care your parrot will require...

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Parrot Behavior

Parrots are popular as pets because they are sociable, affectionate, and intelligent. Many parrots species make excellent companions. However, they can also be quite noisy, especially if you allow this behavior to develop over time. No two breeds are quite alike. Each parrot species has very different personalities and needs. Before getting a parrot, learn about the species’ personality to make sure that it is a good for your household.

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Parrot Training and Taming

Parrots are very intelligent and have an aptitude for learning new things. They find the learning process very stimulating, and training your parrot can prevent boredom, a major cause of parrots’ behavioral problems.

If your parrot exhibits bad behavior, like biting or attacking anyone who approaches the cage, work to correct these behaviors through training and taming. Even the wildest-acting parrots can be tamed with patience. Even older birds respond well to training. A well-trained parrot is much more able to interact with its owner, the family, and other pets.

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Parrot Health and Diseases

Most birds have very sensitive immune systems, and can easily catch a cold from a sudden draft. In addition, most household products are toxic to parrots. Bird-proofing your home is a must if you plan to allow your parrot out of his cage.

If you have a single pet parrot then the health issues you face will be very different than those encountered by those with a collection of birds in an aviary. This is particularly true of viral infections which can spread quickly between birds. The types of illnesses faced by a single pet parrot are usually treatable with medication if caught early enough.

If you have purchased a young parrot, you may want to have the vet screen its droppings for parasites as this will help you catch any illnesses in the early stages. This is an expensive precaution, but it could save you money in the long run, and will maximize your pet's chances of a long and healthy life.

Treating your parrot can be costly since avian medicine is a very specialized field. Many birds will hide signs of illness until it is in an advanced stage, required emergency help rather than a routine vet visit. It is important that you know your parrot well and keep an eye on it to catch potential problems early. It is highly recommended that you consult a vet right away if you notice any unusual patterns of behavior in you bird, such as loss of appetite or deterioration in the quality of plumage.

Even if you keep a single bird, you can infect your bird from visiting other parrots and then returning home without first washing your hands thoroughly. Some avian illnesses are so contagious they could spread from your feet just from walking in an infected area. There is also a risk in using a second-hand cage that has not been thoroughly cleaned.

Parrot Species

Did you know that there are more than 350 different types of parrots? There are technically three families of parrots: true parrots, or Psittacidea, cockatoos (Cacatuidae) and the Nestoridae family, which only includes a few species. Only some of these are kept as pets, of course.

All parrots share a similar physical appearance, with a curved beak and bright multicolored plumage. They also have similar diets. Many have the ability to mimic sounds or words. Despite this, parrots are very diverse, ranging from under 3 inches long to nearly 3 feet in length. True parrots are generally a bit larger in size than those falling in the cockatoo family. They all have different abilities, needs and wants that need to be considered before choosing a parrot.

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