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.

A lot of people are aware that parrots have what is roughly the intelligence of a two year old human.

However the chances are good that you have known both wonderful two year olds and two year olds who you don’t want to be around!

The truth of the matter is that if you want a parrot that is well behaved and sweet, you are going to need to put some work into it and choose the perfect parrot.

Take some time and look into what parrot breed is right for you and make sure that you find the one that suits your lifestyle.

The more you know about the different breeds out there, the better a choice you can make.

When you are looking for the perfect parrot, you may want to look into the African Gray.

The African Gray parrot is talkative and quite intelligent and you will find that it can bond quite closely with the family.

It is also important to remember that there is a chance that your African Gray will bond closely with only one person in the family; this can make it indifferent or even hostile to the rest of the family!

This bird will learn to talk fairly easily, so be ready for a real chatterbox to develop.

The Blue and Gold Macaw on the other hand, is more brightly colored than the African Gray and it can be quite playful and active.

This is one of the larger parrot breeds and they do need their space; they are quite affectionate and will be playful their entire lives.

If you are looking for a parrot that is less active than the Blue and Gold Macaw, make sure that you look into the Greenwing Macaws.

The Greenwing Macaw is also talkative, and though they are larger, they are less active than the Blue and gold Macaw.

If you have children in the home, it might be best to look into the smaller parrots that are available.

Cockatoos are parrots as well and they tend to be not so demanding and a bit quieter than the larger parrots out there.

The Lesser Sulphur Crested Cocaktoo is a great pet and you can recognize them by their yellow crests and cheeks.

They are a fairly easy going species and they are quite active, though their smaller size means that their caging needs are easier.

If you are trying to find the perfect parrot for your household, remember that the breed is going to be important.

Look at your current household and consider what your options are going to be when you are thinking about bringing a parrot home.

The more you know about the different breeds out there, the better a choice you are going to be able to make!

Parrots are classified as a type of bird, belonging to the family known as psittacines.

There are somewhere between 350 to 400 species of parrots, which can generally be divided into three main categories:

• The Psittacidae (‘true’ parrots)

• The Cacatuidae (cockatoos)

• The Nestoridae (New Zealand parrots)

The most commonly known parrots are:

• budgies,

• cockatoos,

• rosellas,

• loris,

• conures,

• African grays,

• lovebirds,

• senegals,

• jardines,

• ringnecks,

• amazons, and

• macaws.

You may also have heard them referred to as ‘hook-bills’, due to the hook-like shape of their bills.

Generally, parrots can be found in most regions where there is a warm or tropical climate, in particular South America and Australasia.

The parrot possesses the widest array of colors within all bird species.

The color you are most likely to think of is green, and you are right in that it is the most common, but some, for example the Amazon parrot, have complementary colors of red, blue or yellow which intensify their physical beauty.

The Cockatoo on the other hand come in shades of white, black, or a light pink.

In terms of size, they can range from a length of 8cm, namely the Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot, to the Hyacinth Macaw, which can reach lengths of 1 meter.

They are familiarized by their strong, hook-shaped beaks, which are vital to the birds when they climb, feed, or build nests for their young.

The tongue is also very powerful and is used to position nuts and seeds so that the right pressure can be given when using the beak.

They tend to have a large head with the eyes placed on the side, which gives them a great advantage in peripheral vision.

Like other birds, a parrot has four toes, the difference being that unlike other birds, the parrot has two facing forward and two backward as opposed to three forward and one backward.

This is thought to give them a better hold on things.

Cockatoos have what is called a crest of feathers on the top of their heads that may resemble a Mohican, only it can be raised and retracted at will.

A parrot’s diet is mostly made up of nuts, seeds, fruits, nectar and some will occasionally eat on small insects.

Their intelligence is shown in their ability to understand their human companions.

Imitating human voices, singing, and performing various tricks are quite usual of a parrot’s capability and is perhaps the reason why they are a popular choice of pet.

In the wild, they group together in what is known as a ‘flock’, in which they are very vocal amongst the rest of the flock, giving justice to their interactions with humans in captivity.

All in all, a parrot will enjoy bonding with their owners, if through talking, entertaining or even cuddling!

This handsome bird is grey in color with a tail in a red accenting color.

This bird hails from Africa, hence giving him his name.

This amazing creature is extremely smart.

This Parrot can be one of two types of this species.

There is the Timneh African Grey parrot, which has a dark grey coloring and maroon colored tail feathers or a Congo African Grey parrot, which is a lighter colored grey and red tail feathers.

The male African Grey parrot is generally 12 to 14 inches long; the female is approximately 10 to 12 inches in length.

The female species of this parrot will generally appear to have a slimmer neck area. The male species can be detected by a wider head.

This parrot generally does well with a committed owner who will provide love and attention to him on a continuing basis.

This parrot generally lives a very long time and may be with his owner for up to 60 years making this a life-long companion.

This parrot will become frustrated if his needs are not being met and tends to exhibit behavioral problems if this occurs.

This parrot is best suited for an adult, as opposed to children, because of this.

Signs of a frustrated African Grey parrot will become evident in the form of biting other people, incessant talking and noise making and/or plucking their feathers out.

Ultrasensitive to changes, the African Grey parrot is a great learner and will have either good behavioral habits or bad behavioral habits.

Time must be spent with this parrot to reinforce the good behaviors and eliminate the bad ones.

These parrots can become bored rather easily and stimulation is necessary in his surroundings.

However, too many changes will overwhelm him and may cause undesirable behavior issues.

A routine for your African Grey parrot will bring out the best in him.

The African Grey parrot does have some strangely unique quirks and can become quite opinionated in his ways.

This will be apparent in a rather shocking attitude problem.

This can be remedied, however, with time and attention.

His nature should improve with all of these actions implemented as part of his daily life and routine.

A highly affectionate creature, the African Grey parrot will respond to his owner with his attention and dedication to you, his owner.

Reciprocating affection should be given by the owner, but needs to be done cautiously as this parrot does not relish an overabundance of outpouring affection and if overwhelmed by affection he may react negatively.

A wonderful pet that will give you many years of enjoyment and love, this parrot is a delight to raise.

You need to think about the amount of time, energy, space, and love you have for another living thing, before you can even contemplate buying a pet from the pet store.

This is especially true for parrots.

You may need to make some changes before you bring those adorable birds into your home.

The first and most important thing you need to consider is the amount of space you can give up in your house.

A confined environment can hinder air circulation and as such can prove fatal to your health and that of your parrot.

Further, placing a parrot in a confined environment can be very stressful for them.

The parrot should be able to spread its wings and move around whenever it feels like.

For that reason, it is important for you to have a sizable cage.

If you already own a cage that is not space friendly, go for a smaller parrot.

If you are living with other members of the family, it will also be important to look into how well the parrot will be able to blend in with them.

You will need to find out whether there are any members of the family who are allergic to birds or who dislike the noise the parrot makes.

Always consult the members of your family before you head to the pet store.

The next question you need to ask yourself is how much noise can you tolerate?

Parrots are generally noisy and are equally entertained by loud noises.

Again, larger birds make louder sounds.

If you are a peace lover, then a parrot is not the pet for you.

Your time will also come in handy because you will need to look into the health, feeding, and general well-being of your pet parrot.

You will need to be in a good emotional and financial position to take care of the parrot. Most of them, and especially the larger birds, require a considerable amount of love and looking after.

Most individuals choose parrots because they would love to have someone to talk to.

Decide on whether you want a talking parrot or not.

If yes, then the best species will be the African Grey Parrot. This bird is known for its ability to understand what it is asked of it.

If you do not wish to interact so often with your bird, then go for the smaller birds as they talk and interact less with people.

Once you have decided on the best bird, it is time to look for that particular parrot that suits your expectations.

Do some research over the internet or in libraries to find out the different kinds of birds that are available for domestication.

Go into the nearest pet store and check out which parrots can be bought. This will give you the chance to select the kind of parrot you are happy to have in your house.