Parrot Care For Beginners
Most people can clearly state which animal is their favourite pet.
Some people love cats, others love dogs and yet others love parrots. If you have gone ahead and bought yourself a parrot there are a number of things that you will have to keep in mind in order that your pet stays clean, happy and healthy.
The first thing you will need to have is the right cage.
Birds are naturally free and as such, you might not enjoy having them around if they are always flying around the house.
Further, they are susceptible to injuries due to the many barriers present within the house.
One other important reason for having a cage is that you might have more than one pet in the house and as such, a cage will be able to protect the parrot from other pets in the house.
The cage you choose must be wide enough to allow the parrot to move from one position to the other. No living thing likes to be or feel confined.
The cage must also be strong enough to withstand the weather changes or the frequent falls that may arise.
The bars to the cage must not be too wide that the bird can escape through or too wide that other predators can get through.
Again, birds love to perch on items and for that reason, the parrot must have at least one perch in the cage.
Further, the cage must make it easy for the parrot to get access to its food and drink.
A parrot’s diet must always be given due consideration. Like most birds, it is accustomed to and is well able to fend for itself in the wild.
Further, the kind of food it is able to get from the wild is highly nutritious.
Due to this, it is important that you provide the parrot with the necessary quality and quantity of food.
Feed it on nuts, seeds or other organic foods available in the market.
However, parrots can eat almost everything that we humans eat and so if you love your parrot but are not able to get it any of those sophisticated foods, feel free to share your meals.
Also, make sure that it has enough water in its cage and change the food daily.
Since the parrot is not in its natural habitat where it can clean itself regularly, it is important that you give it a bath every now and then.
To do this all you will require is a shallow bowl filled with water. Warm water is most preferable because parrots get cold too.
For larger parrots, you can opt to squeeze them into your bath every evening since most of them love taking baths with their owners.
If your parrot hates the water and is small enough to fit in your hand, use a spray bottle to splash water on them. Let them dry off at a warm and dry place.
Every living thing loves to play and parrots are no exception.
To make their life colourful, place some toys in its cage and let it have fun on its own.
Once in a while, make a point of initiating some physical contact between the two of you by cuddling and touching the parrot. It makes them feel loved and appreciated.
How To Teach Your Parrot Simple Commands
The Signs to Look For If Your Parrot is Sick
If you have adopted a parrot, whether it is a juvenile that you have adopted from a breeder or it is an older bird, you will find that it is your responsibility to take care it.
Ideally, before anything goes wrong, you will have found an exotic veterinarian in your area who takes care of parrots.
Most veterinarians only deal with dogs and cats, so take some time, and make sure that you know of a vet who has experience on parrots.
If your parrot looks ill or listless, it is important to make sure that you know what vet can take care of him.
One thing that often surprises new bird owners is how fast their parrots can take a turn for the worse.
The truth of the matter is that parrots, like many other birds, need to look as healthy and as strong as they can for as long as they are able in the wild.
This helps them fend off predators who might think of them as easy prey.
Make sure that you keep an eye on your parrot and if he or she suddenly seems to act strange or look sick, you need to take action as quickly as you can.
If you have a sick parrot, and if you have already been to the vet, you will find that convalescence is something that is fairly easy for your parrot.
The most important thing that you can do is to keep your parrot warm.
Your parrot will be most comfortable in an environment that is between 78 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and constructing a hospital cage might be the best way to do this.
All you need to do is to create a box from plywood with a clear acrylic front and a false bottom.
After you punch in some air holes, you can add two or three light bulbs for heating purposes.
If the light bulbs are not doing the trick, a heating pad laid against the side of the cage can help.
Some parrots seem more prone to respiratory illnesses and you will find that one thing that you can do to make your parrot’s breathing easier is to keep a vaporizer in the room.
A humidifier can be the best way to keep the air more pleasant in your parrots room, but if you want to ease your parrot’s breathing immediately and you do not have access to a humidifier, bringing your parrot into the bathroom and running hot water can produce the steam that you need.
If your parrot is dehydrated, you might need to feed him from a syringe or a spoon for some time.
Even a healthy parrot can starve to death within two to three days.
Ideally, your parrot will be able to feed himself, so keep food and water close on hand. If your parrot is feeling poorly, make sure that you remove the perches from his cage so that he does not fall and hurt himself.
Keep the room dark and remove any toys; this will encourage the inactivity that your parrot needs to heal himself.
Taking good care of your parrot while he is ill is not difficult, but you do need to know what to do, so these are just some of the things to keep in mind.
