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.

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.

When you are in a place where you are thinking about adopting a parrot, there are many things that might be on your mind.

You need to be able to find a healthy and well socialized bird and you need to look into how you can prepare your home for the new arrival.

When you are considering your home, you need to look into the kind of parrot cage that is going to be best for your bird, and as you do this, there are going to be a few things that you need to keep in mind.

The first thing that you need to remember when you are looking for a parrot cage is that bigger is always better.

The larger a cage you can get for your parrot, they happier they are going to be.

Parrots that are too cramped are going to be unhealthy and extremely stressed and this can lead to both behavioral and physical problems down the line.

Some people do not purchase a cage at all and end up converting a full room for their parrot’s use.

When you are looking at a parrot cage, there are a few things that can help you make the right decision.

When you are looking at a metal cage, make sure that you examine it to make sure that it is free of sharp edges and that the coating on the metal, if there is any, is non-toxic.

Your cage needs to have sturdy bars because parrots do love to climb.

Look for bar spacing on the cage that is at least 1 1/4 inches wide.

Beware of using cages that have small spacing between the bars as your parrot can get his claws trapped between the bars and injure themselves.

A parrot cage should be comfortable for your parrot, so make sure that there are perches made of soft wood, as these are going to be the best for your parrot’s claws.

Also, the doors on the cage should be large enough that you can comfortably reach in.

You should be able to easily take hold of your parrot and you should have plenty of access that will allow you to clean the cage and to refill the food and the water cups.

To reach the bottom of the cage more easily, where most of the debris and droppings will fall, a removable drawer or tray will be ideal.

When you go to buy a parrot cage, you need something that will last a lifetime.

Parrots have very powerful beaks, and they can go through a cage designed for a smaller bird in no time at all.

Remember that your cage should be placed away from high traffic areas in your home, and that direct sunshine and drafts can affect your bird’s health.

A corner is a great place to stick a large parrot cage, so look around, and consider where a large one can be placed.

Take some time and make sure that you purchase a parrot cage that will make your parrot a healthy and happy bird!

Parrots can make great companions for all types of people. They are interactive and live a long life devoted to their owner.

However although they are fun, they also require much time and attention.

To give your parrot a high quality life, it is important to educate yourself on the desires and needs of a parrot.

No matter which type of feathered friend you own, it is essential that you learn about its proper feeding habits.

This includes everything from the type of healthy foods that it is needs to grow, to how it likes to feed, to the best times to feed the parrot.

Feeding a parrot is a bit more complicated than driving to the pet store and buying a bag of bird feed.

While there are a variety of bagged parrot feeds at the pet shop that provide nutrients parrots need to stay healthy, this should not be the bird’s only source of diet.

Like people, parrots enjoy variety in their diet.

They want different flavors and textures of food. When a parrot becomes bored with his feeding, he often becomes noisy and try to demand something different. This can be a stressful time for both the pet and the owner.

In order to keep your parrot both happy and healthy, it is a wise idea to give him a combination of pellet foods and fresh foods.

Parrots enjoy fresh foods such as fruits, vegetables, cooked grains, seeds, and nuts.

These foods are the same foods that many people enjoy.

Make it a habit to prepare a portion of these foods for your parrot while you are preparing foods for yourself and family.

The fresh foods purchased for your parrot can be the same foods that you buy in a produce section at a grocery store.

Look for special fruits and vegetables when they are in season.

Choose combinations that your family enjoys for a snack. Some great suggestions that are safe for parrot feeding are:

• sweet potatoes,

• carrots,

• bell peppers,

• corn,

• bananas,

• grapes,

• kiwi,

• melons, and

• oranges.

However before throwing in all types of table foods to your bird, be certain that you have researched to ensure that they are safe for your pet.

Fruit seeds, avocado, mushrooms, and any foods containing caffeine, cocoa, alcohol or chocolate should never be fed to parrots.

Some pet bird owners find that their pet develops a particular taste and avoids some foods while devouring others.

Feeding your parrot a variety of foods may take some trial and error to discover exactly what it is that he likes or dislikes.

The most important issue in feeding your feathered friend is healthy and safe foods.

Once you have a good understanding of the foods that are and are not appropriate for parrot feeding, the next step is to create variety in your bird’s diet.

Keep in mind that a good meal to people and to birds is very much alike.

Include different colors, textures, and taste when serving up your parrot’s dinner.

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!