 Keeping
Parrots As Pets
Parrots: Parrots are friendly, intelligent birds
that love human contact. They originate from Africa
and some species can live up to 70 years - so a
Parrot can become a lifetime companion. Parrots do
not necessarily need the company of their own
species so can be kept alone. However, they do like
lots of attention so be sure you are able to give
them plenty of your time – they don’t like being
left on their own for too long. If kept indoors they
will need regular daily exercise outside their cage
and are at their most active during the daytime,
sleeping once it gets dark.
Housing
Parrots can be housed indoors in a large wire
cage with a plastic base or outdoors in a
purpose-built aviary. Once trained, they can use an
open perched stand during the day and only be put in
their cage at night. The cage should be positioned
away from draughts and direct sunlight and your
Parrot should be able to stretch out and flap his
wings for exercise, without them touching the sides
of the cage. If kept outdoors, your Parrot should
have enough room to fly around properly. Parrots
kept indoors will need to be let out of their cage
daily to exercise under supervision – make sure you
keep all doors and windows closed when you do this.
Covering the cage with a cloth at night will
encourage your Parrot to settle down for sleep.
Parrots need to bathe – it’s an essential part of
their preening ritual. Some Parrots will prefer a
shallow dish of water or bird bath, others prefer to
have water sprinkled on them gently while some may
even prefer the kitchen sink or shower ! Experiment
to see which method your Parrot likes best.
Types of Parrot
The African Grey Parrot is the best known
species, famous for its talking abilities. There are
around 30 different species of Amazon Parrots which
come in a variety of colours and markings. Some of
these will also learn to talk if trained.
Feeding
Parrots in the wild eat a wide range of seeds,
grains, and vegetation. A quality Parrot food mix
makes a good basic diet although supplements may
also be required. Small pieces of fresh fruit and
vegetables can be given as treats and fresh drinking
water should always be available. Apples, grapes,
and carrots are the usual favourites. Certain foods
can be harmful to your Parrot - avoid giving your
pet lettuce, avocado, chocolate, or any sweets or
drinks designed for human consumption. Parrots will
also need a suitable grit/mineral supplement to help
digest their food, and cuttlefish bone makes an
excellent source of calcium.
Looking after your Parrots
Exercise & Entertainment:
Parrots are curious, highly active birds that enjoy
climbing. Attaching some horizontal climbing bars to
the outside of their cage makes a good exercise
area. Toys are essential to stimulate your Parrot
mentally and physically and they also enjoy playing
with coconut shells, sea shells, or raw vegetables –
anything they can chew on. Parrots can be incredibly
loud, emitting a truly ear-piercing scream when they
want your attention!
Handling:
Successfully taming your Parrot requires time and
patience and works best if done from an early age
and by one person only. First let the Parrot settle
in their new environment, talk to them gently, and
gradually get them used to accepting small treats
through the cage bars before moving on to stick
training methods. Start by placing the cage on the
floor, opening the door, and seeing if your Parrot
will venture out. Placing a training stick just in
front of the bird’s feet should encourage it to jump
on. Some Parrots will do this straight away, where
others require more patience. As your Parrot gains
confidence, advance to hand taming methods, using
sunflower seeds or peanuts as rewards. Repetition of
basic behaviour is the best way to tame your Parrot.
Most Parrots are too heavy to perch on your finger.
Instead, hold your fingers together and offer your
whole hand placed horizontal to the bird’s feet.
Remember Parrots are not domestic animals and never
lose their wild characteristics. Taming them is
therefore a gradual process and may take several
months of patient work.
Breeding:
As with all pets, breeding Parrots requires much
commitment of time and effort. It is recommended
that you therefore seek expert advice and do
appropriate research before considering keeping a
breeding pair.
Tips for a happy healthy Parrot
Community:
Parrots are not solitary birds by nature, but are
happy kept on their own provided they receive plenty
of attention. If you plan to keep several Parrots,
they are best kept in pairs (hens with cocks). For
larger aviaries it’s usually best to keep more hens
than cocks – otherwise the cock birds may fight over
the hens.
Health:
Weigh your Parrot regularly as weight loss is
usually the first sign of illness – Parrots are
masters at hiding symptoms, often until it’s too
late. As with all birds, if you are worried about
any aspect of your Parrot’s health, seek advice from
an Avian veterinarian. For a healthy life, your
Parrot needs the following:
- Plenty of attention
- A good balanced diet
- Plenty of toys to keep them amused
- Water bottle and feed bowls cleaned daily
- A regular bath – essential for their
preening activities
- Daily exercise outside their cage
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