Parrots: How to Care for Them

Parrots can be a pleasurable pet and given the fact that they can live up to 80 years; they also make a great companion. In order to ensure a parrot’s good health and long life span; however, there are some tips that you should be aware of in regards to care.

Before you bring your parrot home you will want to make sure that you have an adequate sized case. Purchase a cage that is large enough for the parrot to be able to move around comfortably. He should have enough room to spread both wings.

When purchasing your parrot’s cage, look for the following, the cage door latch should be drilled into the cage, and not welded. The cage should have a design which allows easy cleaning and not a hassle. The cage bars mustn’t be spread apart too much, because if so the parrot could escape and become injured.

The bottom of the cage should be lined with paper and changed daily. Get into the habit of changing it daily from the beginning. In addition to changing the paper in the cage, you will also need to be vigilant about cleaning any feces that land on the cage, food and water bowls and toys. This should be done daily, using plenty of hot water. While this is one of the least appealing tasks involved in caring for your parrot, it is very important. When feces are not removed daily from the page, your parrot could become ill. Look for signs of illness such as loss of appetite, weight loss and problems breathing. You may wish to wear gloves for this particular chore.

Furthermore, the food and water bowls should be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed not once, but twice, daily. When cleaning the cage, bowls and toys remember that you should try to never use soap or chemicals. If it absolutely cannot be avoided, be sure to give them a thorough rinse. Finally, the entire cage should be thoroughly cleaned at least once every three months.

All parrots need toys to keep themselves entertained during times when you aren’t available! He will also need a perch for roosting and food and water bowls.

One of the biggest problems with parrots and their care is in keeping the area surrounding their cage free of ‘debris.’ To keep your home clean and sanitary, consider placing a sheet of Plexiglass on the wall near the cage. The Plexiglass is much easier to clean than your actual wall. When considering where to place the cage, make sure you place it in an area where the temperature is stable. This is an important point because parrots tend to be very sensitive to fluctuations in temperature.

When it comes to actually caring for your parrot, remember that you will need to wash him at least once a week with water and then dry him with a towel. When his nails become too long, it’s time for a clipping. If you are unsure about the clipping process, you can most likely have your vet take care of it for you.

Your parrot will need a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, meats and grains along with plenty of fresh water daily. While you can generally feed your parrot the same foods you eat, there are some foods that should be avoided. These foods include chocolate, coffee, avocado, lima beans, kidney beans and alcohol. Also keep in mind that while strawberries are safe, their green stems are toxic to parrots. Since several fresh fruits and fresh vegetables have pits and seeds that are poisonous or dangerous because they could cause choking, to be safe REMOVE ALL pits & seeds prior to feeding. Finally, social contact is very important to parrots. Be sure to talk to him!

Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com

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