May 12
10
Small Parrot Species
When most people think of parrot species, they think of the brightly colored Macaw or the talkative African Grey. These bigger birds require a lot of time and care, so they’re not for everyone. If you’re looking for a parrot that’s small enough to fit into your busy lifestyle, you can find one in one of these small species of parrots.
Cockatiels
Cockatiels typically live between 12 and 15 years, but can easily live up to 20 years if well-cared for. Although color mutations have resulted in a few different colors, most cockatiels are primarily grey and have yellow and red on their head. Once fully mature, males will have a bright yellow face and is darker grey, whereas the females have only a little pale yellow on their faces and their bodies are lighter grey with hints of brown in them.
In the wild, cockatiels feed mainly on seeds which contain a lot of fat. In captivity, these birds are not as active and therefore require less fat, so it’s important to limit the amount of sunflower seeds that your cockatiel’s food contains. You can also feed a good variety of fruits and vegetables, but be sure that what you’re feeding your cockatiel is safe and not causing intestinal problems. Having fresh water as well as vitamins and minerals is also important for these little birds.
Lovebirds
Lovebirds come in a wide variety of colors as there are nine different types of lovebirds to choose from. The most common are the peach-faced lovebird and the black-masked lovebird. They can live from 10 to 15 years and are very social birds that need a lot of attention. You can tell the difference between males and females in some of the subspecies, but not in others.
Like the cockatiels, the lovebird typically eats seeds in the wild, and so must be kept on a careful diet to prevent obesity. These are the smallest of parrots, and among the most social. If you don’t have time to spend every day with one lovebird, it’s best to get at least two so that they can keep each other company. A lovebird that does not receive enough attention will become depressed and could turn to destructive habits like feather picking.
Cockatiels can sometimes learn a few words if they’re started young, and lovebirds will repeat many sounds, but have a harder time learning actual words. However, these small parrot species still make excellent pets for someone who wants a parrot without the huge time commitment of some of the larger birds.
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Apr 12
6
Toys To Occupy Your Parrot
Wild parrots spend a large portion of their day foraging for food. Domesticated birds do not have those needs, but they are still subject to the instincts of their nature. Toys provide a great release to the boredom of captivity. They stimulate the parrot both physically and mentally. Think of your parrot as being the emotional equivalent of a toddler.
Puzzle toys challenge the parrot to use his intelligence to solve the puzzle to earn a hidden food treat.
Chewing toys are designed for the necessary task of keeping the beak trimmed. Without this function, you may have to prepare yourself for regular trips to the vet to file down beak growth, a procedure your parrot may find stressful.
Exercise toys are items like ladders, rings and swings that encourage the parrot to flex its muscles in physical activities.
Grasping toys allow the parrot to develop the working of its claws. Parrots often astonish their owners with the dexterity of their feet.
Preening toys, finally, offer the parrot the opportunity to let rip with its beak, in a motion similar to preening.
When you shop around for toys to amuse your parrot, size will definitely be a consideration in the choice of certain toys, such as swings. What makes a good toy for parrots? Parrots have excellent eyesight and appreciate bright colors. They love shiny items and items that make sounds.
Introducing a new toy may require a little forethought. If you place it just outside the cage to start with, your naturally curious parrot will be keen to investigate. Once it is familiar with the object, you could transfer it to the inside of the cage. A rescued parrot that had been neglected may show fear towards the new object and take several weeks to get used to its presence. Parrots learn by taking their cues from their human companions. Rotate different toys to avoid boredom.
You may want to invest in a parrot play-gym. This is a type of perch, which has been enhanced with various features to stimulate the parrot’s curiosity and to provide it with the opportunity to exercise.
Since parrots can be fairly destructive to certain types of toys, you may want to consider saving a little money and using your own creativity. For example, take an old shirt or a piece of cloth and sew some buttons, beads and bits of string or cord to it. Build a maze from playing blocks and hide some tasty treats inside to make the experience rewarding for your parrot.
The oldest parrot like fossil, a 70 million year old fragment of a lower bill, was found in Niobrara County, Wyoming, but this is generally taken to be the remains of a non-avian dinosaur that had a bird like beak. The earliest true parrot fossils were found in Europe. They date back 50 million years, when that continent had a tropical climate and share some of the characteristics of today’s parrots. Modern parrots appeared on the scene between 20 and 23 million years ago. These are however merely the bones from distant times. Art and historical record provide the next clues to the parrot’s long relationship with humankind.
Colorful, intelligent and talkative, parrots have been domesticated as pets for thousands of years. Egyptian hieroglyphs attest to their presence at the courts of the Pharaohs. Greeks and Romans of the upper classes kept them in luxurious cages, sometimes made of gold or ivory. Alexander the Great introduced parrots to Europe and for this reason, the Alexandrine parakeet of India was named after him.
Marie Antoinette and Queen Victoria both owned an African Grey, as did Henry VIII. The latter’s parrot allegedly called to the boatmen across the Thames, who then had to be reimbursed for their wasted efforts. Several American presidents were also parrot people. Andrew Jackson taught his to curse in English and Spanish, while Theodore Roosevelt kept two macaws, one hyacinth and the other blue and gold. Polly, the presidential parrot of the Washington household, belonged to Martha and showed a distinct dislike towards George. Rutherford Hayes, Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge all kept canaries and it is remembered that “Bluebell” and Marybelle” were the parakeets of John F Kennedy.
A persistent urban legend revolves around a blue and gold macaw called Charlie, all of 104 years old and allegedly the former property of Sir Winston Churchill. Its vocabulary includes expletives about Hitler. Parrots have been known to live that long, but Churchill’s daughter, Lady Soames denies any connection to Charlie.
Current parrot-owning celebrities include Angelina Jolie with a parrot called Ping-Pong, Hilary Swank with an African Grey called Seuss and Paris Hilton with an African Grey called Hank, while a macaw called Chip is a celebrity in his own right, after a talking role in three Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Fictional parrots include Iago of Disney’s Aladdin, Polynesia of Dr Doolittle and Lory, who appears in Alice in Wonderland.
AFRICAN GREY
The African Grey is a popular choice as pet as it is thought to be one of the more intelligent parrot species. Many owners claim that they do not only use human words, but also possess the ability to associate the correct meaning with them. You can liken your African Grey to an average five year old. Its coloring is a mixture of light and dark grey, with highlights of white. There are two subspecies. The Congo African Grey is the larger of the two, measuring about 12 inches (30cm) long, with distinctive bright red tail feathers. The Timneh African Grey is slightly smaller, and its tail feathers are a darker maroon. Its body is grey that is almost charcoal. The African Grey demands lots of attention from its owner. Be ready to engage them with stimulating toys and games.
One of the attractions of the Senegal parrot is that it is not as noisy as many other types of pet birds, making it the ideal choice for a small apartment. One of the complications of this type of parrot is that they can easily bond too closely with one person of the household and act with jealousy and aggression towards anyone else. Ideally, they should be socialized to a variety of people from a young age. While they breed easily in captivity, birds captured from the wild are difficult to domesticate.
BUDGIES
Also known as parakeets, these Australian birds make a great choice for the first time bird owner. They come in an unusually wide range of colors and can be taught to speak, although their voices tend to be high and squeaky. Energetic and easy to care for, they range in price from $10 to $100.
LOVEBIRDS
Like budgies, lovebirds are relatively inexpensive and easy to care for. With their beautiful colors and gentle playful natures, these natives of Africa are undemanding in their needs. Unfortunately, they are not the parrot world’s most likely talkers. Pairs of lovebirds bond very closely with each other.
AMAZON PARROTS
Amazon parrots are usually green, but come with a wide variety in additional markings, which include Yellow-Naped, White-Fronted, Blue-Fronted, Red-Lored and Yellow-Crowned. Although highly intelligent and quick learning, this type of parrot can be strong-willed and unpredictable. An owner willing to dedicated time and patience to their training will probably reap rich rewards. They can bond strongly with one individual. Ranging from 10 to 18 inches (25.4 to 45.7cm), they occur naturally in the forests of Central and South America. Amazons are known to get quite vocal at sunrise and sunset, both in the wild and in captivity.
PARROTLETS
Affectionate, playful and intelligent, the parrotlet is only a fraction of size of Macaws, Amazons and African Greys. There are different subspecies. They can be taught to talk and also to perform tricks. Unlike some other types of parrots, the parrotlet is best kept as a single pet, as two parrotlets together tend to grow jealous of each other.
MACAWS
Beautiful and intelligent, macaws make excellent choices as companion birds, but do not underestimate the vicious potential of their sharp beaks. With a dedicated training program, a macaw as pet can be extremely rewarding. They occur in a variety of color combinations. They can be a noisy parrot species though.
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Mar 12
10
A Parrots Cage Is Its Castle
The size of your parrot’s cage is very important, as it will be spending a considerable amount of time within it and for this reason will obviously depend of the size of your bird. A cramped environment may lead to boredom, frustration, aggression or even health problems.
For a budgie or a pair of lovebirds a cage of 18 by 18 (45.7cm by 45.7cm) may be sufficient. Amazons and African Greys will need more space, therefore you should plan to purchase a cage of about 32 by 23 (81.3cm by 58.4cm) or larger. For a Macaw, you will be looking at about 36 by 24 (91.4cm by 61cm) or more.
One of the most popular finishes for a birdcage is stainless steel as this resists corrosion and shows little signs of wear and tear.
If paint is used on a cage, this is usually powder coated. Be wary of obtaining second hand cages from garage sales or thrift stores. These may have been mended or treated with materials toxic to the bird or they may still carry remnants of contagion, if the previous bird occupant had died of an infectious disease.
The ‘furniture’ inside your parrot’s cage should include food dishes, a water dish or bottle, some perches and toys for amusement. Ideally, one perch would be mounted near the food dishes to provide a resting spot before and after meals. Make sure the lock functions properly. Parrots can be gifted escape artists.
The bottom of the cage should be lined with old newspapers or cage liners. These should be changed regularly.
Clean the cage frequently as good hygiene will benefit the health of your parrot. Remove old food and clean water and food dishes on a regular basis. A handy feature for the cleaning regimen would be a detachable bottom. You should, of course, take the bird out before giving its home a thorough cleaning.
The placement of the cage should reinforce your parrot’s sense of security. The most ideal arrangement would be a spot where one side is sheltered by a solid wall.
In the wild, parrots shelter in trees to avoid threats to their environment. If the cage is too close to a window or right in the center of the room, your parrot will feel unsafe. If you cannot manage a location near the wall, cover one side of the cage to make it feel more secure.
Be careful of leaving the cage in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. Although tropical birds, parrots are vulnerable to heat stroke and water deprivation.
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Mar 12
1
The Benefits Of Parrots As Pets
Keeping parrots as pets has been increasingly popular over the years. Recently, we have learned more about parrots, both in behavior and physically, which has allowed us to keep them even healthier and happier than before. Parrots are not for everyone, however, so you need to make sure that you learn all you can about what having a parrot really means before you bring one into your home.
Parrots are extremely intelligent and social creatures that live in flocks containing thousands of birds in the wild. If you get a parrot when he is young, he will usually bond with you quickly, and consider you a part of his flock. This bond is close, unique, and will last a lifetime. Many times, a parrot will bond with every member of the family, including your pets. However, some types of parrots may only bond with one or two people, and can sometimes become aggressive towards other people.
The longevity of parrots can be either a benefit or a downfall, depending on your point of view. Some can even live for over 70 years. It’s this long life span which makes the bond between you and your parrot even greater, as it will most likely span decades. This is also good for the person who is tired of losing beloved pets after only a few short years. The bigger parrots are the ones that will live for 40 or more years with proper care, and even some of the smaller ones can live for up to 20 years.
Parrots are well known for their talking abilities, which are unlike any other animal. Not every type of parrot can learn many words, and sometimes even the types that are known for talking won’t always learn to talk. However, even parrots that don’t learn to talk will often begin to pick up sounds from their environment and repeat them. Even some of the smaller types of parrots that are not big talkers can pick up simple tunes and various sounds from their environment. This makes them a lot of fun and entertaining, though training them does take a lot of time and patience.
The last benefit is that they are low-maintenance. Once you provide proper housing, food, water, and toys, your parrot will practically care for itself. They preen their own feathers, which means there are very little grooming requirements, save for the occasional bath and nail trim. Most parrot cages come with an easy-access tray that catches stray food, feather, and excrement, which makes keeping parrots as pets pretty easy when it comes to clean-up.
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Feb 12
8
A Few Popular Parrot Species
Many people enjoy keeping pet parrots, and there are many parrot species to choose from if you are considering bringing one into your home. It is important to have an idea as to what species will fit you best before you buy one.
The biggest parrot is the macaw. Macaws require a huge amount of commitment as they can easily live for 50 years, and sometimes even live up to 80. They have a lot of needs just because of their size, such as being let out of their cage for exercise every day. In the wild, these birds will fly for up to 500 miles (800 km) in one day in search for food, which means the macaw in captivity has a lot of energy to spend. If you do get a macaw, they will need constant stimulation from toys, time outside of their cage, and plenty of human interaction. There are 16 different types of macaw, and can be found in any color.
On the opposite end is the lovebird. They are only about 6 inches (15 cm) long, and can live for about 15 years. They are extremely social birds, so if you are not able to give them plenty of attention every day, you can get them a companion. However, this will mean that they will probably bond well with each other, and may not be as close to you. Even though they are small, they can get very territorial, which means you need to handle them daily and work with them often to keep them tame. They come in a wide variety of colors.
Another small type of parrot is the parakeet. The parakeet is considered a medium-sized parrot and they are from 7 to 18 inches (18 to 46 cm) long. They are one of the most popular choices for people who are getting a parrot for the first time, as they are fairly easy to keep, intelligent, social, and energetic. They also come in a wide variety of colors. Although not all of them will learn to speak, some of them are able to learn to speak.
All parrots require a lot of attention and time from their human owners. They can make wonderful pets for someone who is willing and able to put in a lot of time, and there are so many different parrot species available that it’s possible to find one that will fit with your personality and lifestyle.
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When looking into buying parrot stands, there are several things that you must know and decide before going to buy one. Because parrots come in so many different sizes and each person has different preferences and needs, there are many different types of parrot stands available.
First, you must consider how much you will be moving your parrot around, both in the house, and for travel. Parrot stands for smaller birds have the option for being tabletop stands, which makes them very mobile and easy to move. But if you have a bigger parrot, you will need a floor stand, and that could be difficult to move if you don’t get the right type. Some stands have wheels on them for ease of movement, and some are designed to be collapsible or easily dismantled. These are both options if you move your parrot around the house often, or if you occasionally travel with your bird.
Second, you need to decide what type of material you want your stand to be made of. Many people prefer using wood, as it is more natural, and can help keep your parrot occupied if you get it with the bark on. Manzanita wood is a very hard wood that is usually preferred as it has naturally curvy branches that are visually pleasing to the owner. If you want something that can come in a number of different colors and therefore easily match your house, you can also get stands that are metal.
Once you have decided on the mobility and material type that you would like to get for your stand, you have to find the proper diameter for your parrot. This is the most important part of your decision, as allowing your parrot to perch on a stand that is the wrong size can be very uncomfortable for the parrot and can actually lead to some problems. There are three main size groupings, and you should carefully check to see which category your specific type of parrot fits into.
Small parrots – 3/8” (1 cm)
Medium parrots – 5/8” – 1” (1.5 – 2.5 cm)
Large parrots – 1” – 1 ½” (2.5 – 3.8 cm)
These are the three things that will go into your decision when buying a parrot stand. Be sure that you go into this decision with a solid idea of what you want, as parrot stands are usually fairly expensive, and will be a huge part of your parrot’s life.
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There are many different parrot species in the world today, and most of them make great pets. If you are thinking about bringing a parrot into your life, you will need to know exactly what type is going to be best for you. Here is some information on four of the more popular species of parrots that are kept as pets.
The most intelligent species of parrot is the African Grey. They are a medium-sized bird, and are grey with a red tail or sometimes wings. Because of how intelligent the African Grey is, they will mimic your speech whether you want them or not. For this reason, it is important to be sure that you give them plenty of attention to teach them to say the things that you want them to say. They can also be very loud, so it is important to keep that in mind when considering this type of parrot.
On the other end of the scale are cockatiels. They do not require very much time, which means they make great first pets for people. They have a life span between 15 to 20 years, and are considered to be very hardy birds. If you can find one who has been hand fed and you are able to get him when he is very young, you will have a very friendly bird that may be able to learn to say a few words. In the wild, they are almost always grey, but you can find them as pets in a wide variety of colors.
Another type of parrot that looks similar to Cockatiels is the Cockatoo. However, they are much larger than Cockatiels and can also be much less friendly. Because they tend to be more aggressive and may even bite people, they do not make good first-time pets. They are intelligent, but loud. They can learn to say many different words, and it is possible to find one that is gentle. They come in a few different varieties, and are most known for having crests that they will flare up when they get excited.
One of the most playful types of parrots is the Conure. They are a smaller species of parrot and are highly intelligent. They come in many different vivid colors and have long, beautiful tails. Because of their intelligent and playful nature, they need an extensive amount of daily social interactions, or else they will pick up destructive habits. Although they can learn to speak and do tricks, an experienced owner is needed to be sure that they get the attention that this species of parrot needs.
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It may not seem like there is that much to know about parrot stands, but in truth, there are many things that you must know before purchasing one before bringing one home for your parrot. Parrots come in a number of different sizes which means they will need different sizes of stands, and you also have to consider your own needs.
For the big parrots, such as the macaws, they will need a stand that offers grips 1” – 1 ½” (2.5 – 3.8 cm) in diameter. For the medium-sized parrots like the senegals, cocketiels, and African Grey Timenhs, you will need to find a parrot stand that is 5/8” – 1” (1.5 – 2.5 cm). The smaller parrots such as lovebirds or budgies will only need a stand that is 3/8” (1 cm). It is extremely important to get a stand that is the right diameter for your parrot, because perching is the only way they can support their body weight. An improper perch size can cause foot and leg problems for your parrot.
There are usually three different types of material that you can chose for your parrot stand. Metal ones are nice because they are easy to clean and can be painted to go with your décor. However, many people prefer a more natural look, so they go with one of two types of wood. Java wood or Manzanita are both options. Manzanita wood is usually preferred because of the beautiful way its branches curve and vary in diameter, giving your parrot a chance to change his or her grip. If you want something for your parrot to chew on, you can get wood stands with bark on them.
Once you’ve decided what your parrot will need, you need to figure out what you need in a parrot stand. Parrot stands today have many options that will fit any lifestyle. Some have wheels which will allow you to move your parrot from room to room, which will keep him or her from getting too bored. Other models can easily be taken apart, which is great if you plan on travelling with your parrot, or if you have a multi-leveled home that makes simply rolling the stand to move your parrot to another room impossible.
Parrot stands are an important part of the life of your parrot, and will be a significant financial investment for you, which is why it is important to know exactly what your parrot needs and what you want before you even go out looking for one.
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