Parrots can make great pets, but owners have responsibilities towards them and the rest of the family. A parrot lives a long time (some macaws can live up to 80 years), so you need to be able to provide a good home for the life of your parrot, and includes planning for who should look after your parrot if anything should happen to you.
Living with a parrot is like having a perpetual two-year-old child in the house – it a lot of attention, and will resort to behavior that will try your patience if it doesn’t get the attention it’s looking for. The first responsibility is to give it the right size housing – so that it is comfortable, without feeling confined. Most good books about parrots will give you the minimum size cage for your species of bird. A reputable parrot store will also be able to assist you with this. The biggest factor to consider when looking at a cage for your bird is to make sure that the width between the bars is appropriate – so that your bird does not get its head stuck between the bars.
Parrots also need different materials to perch on. There are a variety of different perches you can purchase for your bird. I suggest having a minimum of two different perching surfaces for your parrot, including one with a rough surface to assist with keeping your birds nails trimmed.
Parrots need a healthy diet. There are many debates over what exactly is the best diet for parrots – seeds or pellets. Personally, I believe in providing as much variety as possible, with a mixture of produce, pellets, some seeds and a few nuts. Weighing your bird will help you keep a record of your bird’s health and keep it at a healthy weight. You also need to be aware that there are some foods that are dangerous to parrots – again, your handbook will tell you what is safe to feed your parrots.
Responsible parrot owners need to provide your bird with sources of enrichment. This is very important to keeping a happy, well-adjusted parrot, and will minimize destructive behaviors. Enrichment comes in the following forms: social, dietary, auditory, visual, olfactory, and tactile. Now you are probably thinking, “How can I do all this” or “I am on a limited budget.” Well, enrichment can range from very simple to very complicated.
Here are some simple easy things you can do that meet many of the different forms of enrichment: First, provide toys that vary in color, texture, and even potential noise. Remember to make sure that your toys are safe for your parrot – they can be very dexterous and get caught up in long ropes and cords.
Second, when you leave for the day, leave the radio or TV on. The radio provides auditory enrichment and the TV provides both audio and visual enrichment. I find Nogin TV to be great – I never have to worry about the content since the station is geared towards preschoolers.
Another very simple thing you can do for your bird is provide different types of produce, rather than the same thing all the time. Take advantage of seasonal produce. Move the food dishes around, put some food on the floor of the cage, feed whole fruit or veggies, put a piece of paper over the bowl, etc. Enrichment is a simple thing to do to provide variety in your bird’s life, but always remember: BE SAFE!
Lastly, be aware that the odors and fumes of different household cleaners and cooking surfaces can suffocate your parrots – so make sure that it is kept in a well-ventilated area when cooking and cleaning. Refer to your parrot handbook to find out what poses a threat to your bird.
Finally, if you have questions or concerns about your bird speak with your bird’s veterinarian. Veterinarians should be able to assist with diet and overall health questions.
Submitted by Cathy Spahn – Field Studies Coordinator, parrot owner and bird trainer.
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