Parrots were first kept as pet by the Romans, so when you notice in them a curious air of royalty, do not be befuddled. They know what they want and when they want it. And this is why you must endeavor in keeping your green pets satisfied. Remember that unlike dogs, parrots come in hundreds of species. Thus, while can get away with making blanket generalizations about the physical, nutritional and emotional needs of dogs, we cannot do the same with a parrot.
However, we can make some fundamental generalizations at the grass root level while tending for a pet parrot. Although their needs vary from species to species, they tend to have the same basic needs- food, shelter and attention. First things first: it is imperative to purchase a spacious cage for your parrot since it is most likely to treat its cage as its territory and will spend a lot of time inside it. You also need to cover the bottom of the cage with old newspapers or magazines that can be changed on a regular basis.
Location of your pet’s cage is nonpareil. Parrots are extremely sensitive creatures, and they should be kept as far away as possible from fumes, LPG, new paint, aerosol sprays and even cigarette smoke. However, it would be unwise to do the exact opposite, that is to place the cage near the window since parrots are also susceptible to sunlight and draught.
It is imperative to regulate your parrot’s food intake. While overeating is an issue, so is underfeeding. Your bird needs to be fed at least twice a day, in small quantities. Parrots have peculiar nutritional needs. Pet shops do sell parrot pellets and such but more often than not, they fail to form a complete diet. Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and grubs are peerless. In addition to that, you might also want to give your polly tit-bits containing cooked meat, fish, or even biscuits.
You also might want your pet to have some entertainment. You can get many toys from the pet shop or you can even make a few on your own. However, there is no alternative to spending time with your pet. Remember, human contact is unmatched.
Now, let us go a little back in time. Say you have not yet bought a pet bird for yourself and you want to check the shelves for a couple of tips. Well, I can say you have come to the right place.
So, let us get started. The first and foremost thing that you should keep in mind is that your pet-to-be should look healthy. Look closely if the feathers are held tight against the body, and if it is bright- eyed and chirpy. A healthy bird, imported or not, is nonpareil. Do not go for a lazy or a sloppy bird who spends most of its time sulking or asleep. You can now find dealers offering birds that had been tested for any kind of avian disease.
Another very common dilemma that arises when you are choosing a parrot as pet would be what we can call parrot-fads. I am sure you have been warned against getting your own polly. The most popular of these would de that they bite, scream, and are extremely messy. I, myself, have come across parrots in restaurants screaming like the world is let loose on them! When seen ostensibly, it might be a good enough reason to not bring home a parrot. However, when we stop to consider that it is only parrots in cages who are set in front of many unknown people that they create such a cacophony. Have you ever come across a wild parrot biting and screaming? Of course not! So, I think we surely can conclude that these behaviour traits are more often than not acquired. To sum it up, if you are a happy person, your pet will be happy too.
Parrots are also very clever learners. Unlike the wild where they can easily communicate with each other, caged parrots need to scream in order to get heard for they notice in very little time that only when they do so do they get our attention. Another thing to keep in mind is that parrots don’t normally scream; we teach them to scream. The bird tries to imitate our own actions. So, trust me, if we have a quiet and peaceful household, our parrot will be an angel.
I would also advise you to consider the fact that your parrot needs to explore its beaks and feet. They will not be messy if you provide them with toys and such to feast on their needs. A larger cage would always be wonderful because your pet needs to spread its wings too. And if you happen to have a baby parrot, it would always be better if you could let it fly around in the room. Remember that you need to give it some freedom for it to be attached to you. For that, I think you should consider training your pal. In fact, researchers have come up with an interesting proposition that parrot training is not a possibility but is a necessity. In fact, if you try to train your parrot in a Reward-based scheme, where your polly, if it behaves like you want it to, will be rewarded with some special treats and your attention, I think you will arrive at some really fascinating results. Remember that parrots are astute creatures, and it will not take them long to realize and follow what is expected of them. Training is in fact the only way by which you can have a proper conversation with your parrot. However, I would advise you not to look at this as strictly work for I am sure you will love to see your pet pal interacting with the rest of the household with such ease. The second and perhaps a tad more difficult part of this relationship would be friendship. You need to remember that parrots are by nature wild birds and they will never like being caged. Thus, for it to be attached to you, you need to be around it and tend to its need as much as possible. Remember that if you treat it as a friend, your parrot will eventually do the same with you.