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Parrots are famous creatures all over the world. They are known mainly because of their ability to talk. The world of parrots is exceptionally diverse in terms of sizes, colours, and even characteristics. There are things to know before adopting a parrot since these are delicate creatures that require special attention.
If you provide the required care to your pet, it will be your companion when you are lonely. Our primary focus today will be how to care for these birds and things you need to care for your pet parrot. Without any further ado, let’s get sailing and know more about these creatures.
Breeds
These creatures aren’t different from the rest. They also have breeds and different characteristics. In this segment, you will be acquainted with various kinds and their characteristics.
American Parakeet
They are ranked as one of the smallest parrot breeds. The American Parakeet is the one easily recognized birds in the parakeet group. Birds in the parakeet group come in diverse sizes and colours.
Parakeet birds are trainable since they are quick to understand new tactics and instructions. They comprehend training faster when they are rewarded with some millet for their positive behaviours. The birds can quickly adapt to a new environment.
The Parakeet tends to chatter throughout the day, and this adds to the noise level. The American Parakeet has the talking ability. On the other hand, the American Parakeet is easily frightened mostly during the night, and this can send them thrashing around their cages at night.
African Greys
The African greys are ranked among the most intelligent species. The African greys approximately measure 12 to 14 inches. They are light grey in colour, and they have a scarlet tail. African grey pets are regarded as one of the best talkers. Unlike other species, the greys screech less.
These birds are a little bit shy, and some of them have a nervous temperament. In terms of trainability, you need a lot of patience, consistency, and persistence, and with time the bird will have learnt a wide range of vocabulary.
The greys are intelligent in that they can comprehend anything you wish to train them. These birds are unique in that they require to socialize a lot in order to be comfortable in various situations. The African greys are wonderful more so to those people who live in quiet and calm homes.
Conures
The conures have lovely colours, and this makes them attractive to their owners. They generally measure between 10 to 20 inches long. Well, conures love human companionship.
This particular species of birds are very energetic, and they love to climb their cages and not forgetting playing with their toys. It is generally entertaining watching your conure-pet. Most conure birds have a tendency of sleeping on their backs, so don’t freak out when you see your parrot sleeping on its back.
Conures are easy to train if you handle them in the right way. This type of birds have robust growth and accumulate weight very fast. Most conures often screech during the day, and they are very loud, and for this reason, they are not ideal to live in an apartment.
Amazon Breed
This particular breed is composed of beautiful birds. These specific birds range between 12 to 15 inches. Some popular species of the Amazon breed include; Yellow Napeds, Double Yellow Heads, and the Blue Fronts.
The Amazon breed comprises of birds that are decent talkers though this skill varies depending on the species of the bird. Training amazon birds is usually quite tricky. If you want your bird to grasp the training, use positive rewards, and be consistent, and by the end of it all, you will be successful.
Cages
Just like human beings, these birds need cages, whereby they will be spending most of their time. Remember, the cage will act as their habitat; thus, one of the things you need to know before adopting a parrot is how to construct their coop. In this segment, you will understand some aspects you need to consider while getting a cage for your bird.
Cage size
The size of the cage will also depend on the bird species you have. It is highly recommended that the cage should be big enough to give room to the bird to spread its wings and also exercise. Remember, the cage will act as the home of the bird. The best parrot cages should be comfortable enough to accommodate the bird.
The recommended dimensions of the cage are 36” x 24” x 48”. The dimensions of the cage take into consideration the width, depth, and height of most birds. It should also be notable that constructing a cage that is too small may damage the tail of your bird.
The bird’s physical characteristics should also be considered when constructing a cage. For instance, a species like a cockatoo requires a lot of space to fly. This means that the length of the cage must be greater than the height.
You should also consider the security of your bird too. Most commercially made cages have bars surrounding the cage to prevent the bird from flying away. The leg length and beak size of a particular bird will determine the gaps that will be left between bars. The cage shouldn’t be made from toxic materials. The recommended cage colours are grey, white, or pastel colours.
What should be included in the cage?
After cage construction, you will need to make the cage mimic some elements in their natural habitat. You will also be required to add some essential elements so that the bird can continue with its survival. The most important thing you need to include in the cage is the water supply that will provide adequate water to the bird. A feeder is also crucial since that will be your bird’s feeding point.
The magnitude of the bird will determine the type of feeder you will use. Tube feeders are used to feed the birds. The tube feeders keep the seeds and grains behind the mesh. Some birds, however, will have large beaks that can get through the mesh.
There is a wide variety of feeders, such as the stainless dish and the platform feeders. Some of the birds may be liable for picking the dishes with their beaks, and this may result in the food pouring out of the bowl. The dish should get affixed to the cage to prevent birds from knocking out the food.
Water and food should be kept separately in the cage. This is because when the water spills over to some grains, the grains may not be a proper diet for your bird. It is highly recommended that a water bottle with a ball at the end of the nozzle should be used. When the bird is drinking fresh water from the bottle, it will also be engaging in some activities that will stimulate its mind.
Your bird’s diet should contain fruits and vegetables. They are useful in supplementing the diet. You should add a feeder for the supplements. You should not fill the bowls to the brim since the birds will tend to throw the food away.
A nesting box should also be provided for your bird’s well-being. This usually is a solid structure that enhances the safety of the bird. If you happen to construct a deep nesting box, you will need to have a ladder which the bird will use to get in and out of the nest. The box should also be made from non-toxic material.
Toys should also be added to the cage. Basically, toys are meant to keep the bird simulated more so if the bird spends a lot of time in the cage. Toys are mostly made from natural materials. The toys should be colourful since it will appeal to the natural instincts of the bird. Some of the toys include climbing walls, gnawing blocks to enhance beak strength, and even foraging boxes.
Decorating the Cage
Decorating your bird’s cage will play a vital role in enhancing environmental enrichment. Cage decoration is one of the things to know before adopting a parrot. When the cage is well decorated, the bird is not likely to get stressed. You can decorate the cage by using nesting boxes, toys, cuttlebones, swings, or even natural sticks. This will help the bird to be engaged most of the time.
The accessories vary in terms of the species of the bird. Cuttle bones not only keeps the bird engaged but also provides calcium to the bird. Your bird may prefer some objects over others. You may use the trial and error method to know the best accessories that suit your bird.
Cleaning the cage
Birds need to live in a clean environment. One of the ways of how to care for your pet parrot is by cleaning its cage. By cleaning the cage, you will be preventing some diseases that may harm your bird. Zoonotic diseases originate from a dirty cage, and such diseases may also be transmitted to human beings. If your birds spend some time outside the cage, you can take that advantage and clean the cage.
Feeders and water bottles should be cleaned daily to avoid the growth of bacteria and other fungi. The floor of the cage should be cleaned thoroughly with soap and water. You may use a brush in areas where dirt accumulates.
Placement of the cage
You consider your bird a pet to you while it is considered prey by some animals, thus placing them near windows and doors will make them feel insecure. It is advisable you place the cage in a relatively high place in order to make them feel secure. Placing the cages on the ground will make the bird to be stressed.
The cages should be placed in areas with cool temperatures. Placing the cage near a window will affect the bird negatively since some days may be too cold, and the bird will be at risk of contracting diseases. Placing the cage underneath air conditions is not also recommended.
Many birds will require around twelve hours of sunlight and twelve hours of darkness to promote sleep. It is advocated to place the cage in a strategic position that will provide enough sunlight to the bird. By covering the cage, you will have enhanced darkness in the cage, which will enhance sleep for the bird.
Diet
Feeding your bird with a healthy diet is essential for proper growth. There is a wide variety of feeds a psittacine can consume. Some of the feeds include parrot pellets, vegetables, grains, sprouted legumes, nuts, seeds, but just to mention a few.
Diet preparation
One of the things to know before adopting a parrot is diet preparation. It may be tiresome to cook food for your birds on a daily basis. It is advisable you use the chop method. This is preparing the bird’s diet in large quantities and storing it in a container. You will only be required to serve your bird the necessary amount of food depending on its consumption, the chopping method is cost-effective, and the food will last longer.
Foods to avoid giving to your bird
It is highly recommended that you should never feed your bird with toxic foods. Such food includes avocado, alcohol, meat, cassava, peanuts, chocolate, and fruit seeds. You should also avoid feeding your bird with foods that have high levels of salt, sugars, and fats. Feeds that contain preservatives or dyes are also considered toxic and should not be given to the bird.
Having highlighted some of the things you need to care for your pet parrot, it will now be easy to take good care of the bird. The birds are very friendly and offer great companionship when taken care of in the right way. Always strive to know the likes and dislikes of your bird. This will play a requisite role in making sure your bird enjoys every moment of its life span.
Getting an ideal cage is very important since it will act as the bird’s habitat. If your cage doesn’t suit your bird, you will notice the bird will have stress, and this may even lead to the death of your bird. Get accessories and toys to ensure your bird is engaged mostly when they are in the cage.
