Parrot Care Tips

So, you’ve finally decided to adopt a parrot. Congratulations! Aside from being the second most popular pet in the United States, parrots are undoubtedly one of the most entertaining and enjoyable pets to own. Their striking range of brilliant colors, playfulness, high intelligence and ability to form strong bonds with their owners, all make parrot ownership such a rewarding experience.

But wait! Before you head to your local pet store in search of that perfect, feathered friend, you must keep in mind that caring for these birds in your home can create a few challenges. Hence, learning proper parrot care techniques in advance is not only very helpful but is also of utmost importance if you want to keep your bird happy and healthy for many years to come.

Parrot care isn’t always a bed of roses. In fact, bird owners are often faced with completely different sorts of issues than do owners of more commonly kept pets at home, such as cats and dogs.

Caring for parrots can be messy as most birds will waste a considerable portion of their food daily. Fortunately, a quick blast from a vacuum or a few broom strokes will do the trick. Products like cage skirts are also available to help keep your bird’s mess to a minimum.

Does Polly wants a cracker? No problem. Just make sure it’s salt-free. Too much salt in a parrot – especially if he’s the smaller breed – can be extremely dangerous. Veterinarians report that many parrots are brought in with sodium toxicity. What does that mean? They’ve consumed far too much salt and usually through eating far too many snack foods intended for humans. Two square meals day consisting of a generous helping of fresh fruits and vegetables will provide optimal nutrition for your parrot and experiencing a broad range of tastes and textures will stimulate your pet’s mind, promoting psychological benefits as well.

You should also set aside a specified portion of your time each day with your bird. Unlike domesticated animals such as dogs and cats, parrots, like most birds are, by their very nature wild and need to have some form of socialization daily to keep them tame. Best results are achieved using a consistent schedule so if your daily routine makes such a structure impossible, then consider adopting another pet instead.

Your bird’s beak grows continuously so it is essential to keep it maintained regularly. Parrots also need to chew in order to exercise their jaw muscles so it’s always good to be prepared to offer them a lot of safe and fun toys to shred and destroy. Otherwise, you might just wake up one morning, wondering what on earth happened to your furniture.

Avoid exposing your parrot to fumes such as car exhaust, tobacco smoke, paints, insecticides, perfumes and other household sprays. Birds are highly sensitive to these inhalants.

Keep your bird away from all types of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Human medications such as pain killers, cold medicines, vitamins and diet pills, even in small amounts can be lethal to your feathered friend.

Finally, make sure to provide your parrot with a good-sized cage located in a comfortable environment within your home.

With sufficient love and care, your parrot will be yours to keep and enjoy for a very long time.