How to Care for Parrots
A well-cared for parrot makes a rewarding and entertaining companion. Parrots lack the domesticated traits of other pets, like dogs. They require special care that mimic--to a degree--the life they would have in the wild. They also have a high level of intelligence and respond negatively when not cared for. Keep your parrot healthy and content by meeting its needs.
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Instructions
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Provide an adequately sized cage with proper bar spacing. The cage should have a greater width than height with room for the bird to extend its wings fully. Look for a large door on the front, center of the cage that latches.
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Feed the bird a balanced diet that includes high-quality pellets formulated for its species. Keep fresh fruits and vegetables available. Ensure the parrot always has access to fresh, clean water. Reserve seeds and nuts for treats and snacks.
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Clean the bottom of the cage and perches daily. Empty the food bowls and refill the water container every day. Disinfect the cage with a bird-safe cleaner and thorough cleaning once a month.
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Give your parrot attention every day. Parrots need social interaction and a stimulating environment to thrive. Schedule time for your bird to spend out of its cage and with you. Talk to and play with your bird.
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Train your companion bird. Parrots need to know the rules and have boundaries. For example, don't allow your bird to bite, even in play. Don't punish the bird, however, even when it behaves poorly. Use rewards to receive the behavior you want and ignore the things you don't, such as squawking.
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Tips & Warnings
Give your bird a hut or tent to hide in and plenty of toys to play with to keep it busy when you cannot be with it.
Provide a warm bowl of water or mist your bird with a sprayer three times a week. Parrots need and enjoy baths.
Parrots escape cages even with a latch. If the door latch does not keep your parrot in, consider buying a special lock for the door.
Food bowls should be accessible from the outside of the cage in case you ever need someone else to feed and give water to your bird.
Use paper in the bottom of the cage so you can see your parrot's droppings--one of the early indicators of a health problem.
Purchase a new cage rather than used. Older cages had coatings that proved harmful for parrots. Opt for a stainless-steel or powder-coated cage.
Keep the bird out of the kitchen. Fumes and cleaners can poison parrots. The coating on certain pans can kill a bird. The activity level may overexcite the birds. A corner in a room that has little night activity makes the best location for a cage.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit parrot image by pearlguy from Fotolia.com
