Parrots

What do Scarlet Mascaws eat?

2012-10-15T22:50:00.001+04:00

Scarlet Macaw

Ara Macao

CLASS: AVES
ORDER: PSITTACIFORMES
FAMILY: Psittacidae
GENUS: Ara
SPECIES: A. macao

Common Name(s): Scarlet macaw

The Scarlet macaw is native to humid evergreen forests in the American tropics. Range extends from extreme south - eastern Mexico to Amazonian Peru and Brazil, in lowlands up to 500 m (1,640 ft) (at least formerly) up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft). It has been widely extirpated by habitat destruction and capture for the pet trade. Formerly it ranged north to southern Tamaulipas. It can still be found on the island of Coiba. It is also the Honduran national bird.
DESCRIPTION

Scarlet macaws are large colorful parrots that live in Central and South America. The plumage is mostly scarlet, but the rump and tail-covert feathers are light blue, the greater upperwing coverts are yellow, the upper sides of the flight feathers of the wings are dark blue as are the ends of the tail feathers, and the undersides of the wing and tail flight feathers are dark red with metallic gold iridescence. Some individuals may have green on the wings near the yellow band. Three subspecies present varying widths in their yellow wing band. There is bare white skin around the eye and from there to the bill. Tiny white feathers are contained on the face patch. The upper mandible is mostly pale horn in color and the lower is black. Sexes are alike, although tail feathers of males may be longer than females. Also, bills of males may be slightly larger. The only difference between ages is that young birds have dark eyes, and adults have light yellow eyes.

Some scientists think that the scarlet macaws found in Central America, called Ara macao cyanoptera, are a different subspecies from those found in Brazil, called Ara macao macao. The South American scarlet macaw is a red and yellow bird with white patches on its face and green feathers on its wings. The Central American scarlet macaw is also red and yellow with white patches on its face, but is larger and has blue on its wings instead of green.
SIZE/WINGSPAN

The Scarlet macaw is about 81 to 96cm (32 to 36in) long, of which more than half is the pointed, graduated tail typical of all macaws. The average weight is about 1kg (2-2.5lbs).

HABITAT/RANGE

Scarlet macaws originate in the humid lowland subtropical rain forests, open woodlands, river edges, and savannas of Central and South America. The habitat of the Central American Scarlet macaw runs through the extreme eastern and southern regions of Mexico and Panama, but also through Guatemala and Belize, while the South American population has an extensive range that covers the Amazon basin; extending to Peru east of the Andes, to Bolivia, and Paraguay. While generally infrequent on the mainland, great colonies of Scarlet macaws can still be found on the islands of Coiba.

Scarlet macaws prefer undisturbed rainforest at higher elevations and riparian (riverine) forests. They are known to have very large territories.
BEHAVIOR/ADAPTATIONS

The Scarlet Macaw is arguably the most magnificent bird of the parrot family. With their wide strong wings, macaws can reach speeds of 35 miles per hour. They often fly in pairs or small groups and often call to each other in raucous hoarse voices.

Ara macao individuals gather in flocks to sleep at night, but maintain a monogamous pair bond for life. Macaws are mostly found in pairs either in their nests or flying together. Mates may show affection by licking each other's faces and mutual preening. Once paired with a mate, they are rarely found alone except to feed when one bird must incubate the eggs.

Nests are made in hollowed areas in trees, usually in the upper canopy of rainforests. There, in the protection of the thick foliage, they are camouflaged so predators are less likely to spot them. Typical predators of Ara macao are monkeys, toucans, snakes, and other large mammals. If scarlet macaws are in the nest and frightened by something, they will cautiously inspect the scenario until the danger is gone. If the nest is directly threatened, the macaws will quietly escape to safety one at a time.

Scarlet macaws, and parrots in general, frequently use their left foot in handling food and in grasping other things. The right foot supports their body when they are utilizing the other leg as an appendage to aid the beak. This left handed condition seems to be based on the same principle as the preferential hand that humans utilize. This may be due to the development of the macaw's right side of the brain over that of the left side.

Scarlet macaws communicate with a variety of vocalizations and postures. Mated pairs engage in tactile communication when preening.

Scarlet macaws have excellent vision and hearing.
REPRODUCTION

Scarlet macaws form monogamous pair bonds that last for life. Macaws nest in holes located high in deciduous trees.

Breeding in Ara macao occurs about every one to two years. The clutch size is 2 to 4 white, rounded eggs with an incubation period of 24 to 25 days. Both male and female scarlet macaws care for their young. Females mainly incubate the eggs. After hatching, the young may stay with their parents for one to two years. The male feeds the young by regurgitating and liquefying food. The parents will not raise another set of eggs until the previous young have become independent. Scarlet macaws reach sexual maturity at three or four years of age. They have an extended period of dependence on their parents, with perhaps some significant learning occurring before they become sexually mature and independent. As a result, the number of macaws increases slowly.
DIET

They feed on specific fruits such as polewood, roaming large areas searching for clumps of their favorite foods. Scarlet macaws primarily eat fruit and nuts, and will occasionally supplement their diet with nectar and flowers. Ara macao individuals are known to consume fruits before they are ripe. Premature fruits have a tougher skin and pulp that is difficult to access unless the bird has a beak large enough to tear into it. By accessing these fruits before they are available to other animals, they may gain a competitive advantage. Scarlet macaws are also able to break open the toughest nuts. Parrots have more movement in their beaks than do other birds, which allows for a more powerful bill. This ability creates an important food resource for the parrots because not a lot of other animals are able to access such a large variety of nuts. There are structures on the inside of their beaks that allow scarlet macaws to press the hard seed between their tongue and palate and grind the seed so that it can be digested.

Scarlet macaws occasionally consume clay found on the banks of rivers. This aids in digestion of the harsh chemicals such as tannins that are ingested when eating premature fruit.
LIFESPAN

Although in captivity the Scarlet Macaw can live up to 75 years, a more typical lifespan is 30 to 50 years.
CONSERVATION STATUS

The Scarlet macaw was not endangered as of 2008 but is very vulnerable to the pet trade. Like many rarer parrot species today, they are occasionally smuggled to the United States or Canada where they wind up seized by authorities in Miami, San Juan, Toronto, or New York City (both nations are CITES signatories and thus obligated to take appropriate action). Unfortunately not all perpetrators are caught and some birds are sold illegally. Many smuggled parrots die from stress on their way to points north.

The habitat of scarlet macaws is threatened due to forest destruction in the deep rainforest habitats where they live. Further, the spraying of pesticides by companies cultivating and selling bananas for export played a significant role in decreasing Scarlet Macaw populations. Also, poachers seek out the parrots and will even cut down the tree where the nest is located to access the young or will shoot the adults for food. Cutting down trees to access macaws limits the number of places to nest and this practice will eventually limit the numbers of young raised.

Efforts have been made to slow population declines of scarlet macaws. The World Parrot Trust was formed in 1989 to protect parrots in their natural environment. Also, there is a trend towards breeders providing feathers from the birds that they sell so that other macaws will not be poached solely for feathers.

The combined factors stressed the population of Scarlet macaws in Costa Rica, where they had previously occupied approximately 42,500 km² of the country's total national territory of 51,100 km², leaving viable populations in the early 1990s isolated to only two regions on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica; the Carara Biological Reserve and Peninsula de Osa. By 1993 surveys had shown Scarlet macaws occupied only 20% (9,100 km²) of their historic range in Costa Rica.

The habitat of Scarlet Macaws is considered to be the greatest latitudinal range for any bird in the genus Ara, as the estimated maximum territorial range covers 6,700,000 km². Nevertheless, the Scarlet macaw’s habitat is fragmented, and colonies of the bird are mostly confined to tiny populations scattered throughout Central and South America. The global population size has not been quantified, but it is believed to be large as the species is described as 'common' in at least parts of its range. Global population trends have not been quantified; there is evidence of a population decline, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

The Scarlet macaw is regionally extinct in El Salvador.credits iaate.org

What do Macaws eat?

2012-10-14T21:38:00.002+04:00

Macaw Diet

What do macaws eat in the wild?

Fruit, berries, seeds, nuts & some vegetation... and even sometimes small amounts of meat!

What should I feed my macaw?

A well balanced diet is important so your macaw will enjoy a long & healthy life. Macaws require a lot of fat & oil in their diet. Mixed nuts provide a great source of fat. Recommended nuts include: brazils, almonds, pecans, walnuts, macadamias & filberts.

Pasta, beans (cooked), sweet potato & brown or wild rice are great foods to keep your macaws diet balanced. Other "people food" such as scrambled eggs, french toast, spaghetti, crackers & bagels are ok to feed also. Generally, if the food is nutritious & wholesome for you, it is safe to feed your macaw.

Most big birds love their fruits. There's no need to take the skin off (but do wash it) of the banana or orange.... they will "de-shell" it! Apple, banana, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries (without the pit), coconut, grapefruit, kiwi, melons, mango, oranges, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums, raspberries & strawberries.

And don't forget veggies! Asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, corn cucumber, kale, peas, peppers, potato, pumpkin, spinach, sprouts, squash, tomato & zucchini.

Besides a diet of "people" food, macaws should be fed pellets. I offer about 30% of his diet in the form of pellets. There are many different choices out there for pellets and you may have to try several different kinds before you find one your bird likes.

Macaws waste a lot of their food. They love to do the "beak toss" as they rummage through their bowl. I think Toby just likes to watch me sweep! But "wasting" their food is not an unusual behavior in macaws.

If you've ever encountered one of these amazing and very strong creatures you'd be tempted to say they eat whatever they want to eat. Strong and adequate diet is the ticket to their survival in captivity. They've been known to live 50 or more years. In the wild they eat nuts, fruits, flowers and nectar from flowers. Domestic bird foods have been developed to replicate this natural diet credits parrottimes.com

Interesting quick facts:

* Dried, unsweetened apricots have the highest vitamin A content of ALL fruits!

* Apples have acids which keep the liver and digestive system healthy.

* Of all the melons, Honeydew has the lowest vitamin content.

Cockatiel baby for sale

2012-10-12T16:14:00.001+04:00

Baby cockatrices amongst others for sale!! Kindly place your order.

Thank you.

What do african grey parrots eat?

2012-10-11T08:15:00.001+04:00

When you invite an African Grey parrot to share your home, you are taking on a long-term responsibility to provide a good diet for that parrot for 50 years or more. Many owners fail to do this, even for a few months. Believing that bird seed is enough, they purchase a large bag of mixed seed, and feed their African Grey. Seeds are cheap, so bird food companies push them.

African Grey parrots' food must not be only seed, however. Such an incomplete, imbalanced diet is likely to cause illness. Seeds are high in fat and carbohydrates, and your African Grey will probably pick out its favorite seeds, making the diet even less balanced.

Most parrot experts agree that an African Grey parrots' food needs can only be met with a formula diet supplemented with a variety of other foods.

Organic Pellets

What is a formula diet for an African Grey? Organic pellets. I say "organic" pellets because many of the conventional pellets have unhealthy ingredients. Some have even been noted as containing potentially toxic ingredients.

African Grey parrots' food should never contain menadione. If the pellets you are considering for your African Grey list menadione as an ingredient, read on. The FDA requires a warning on every bag of food that contains it. That warning must read, "Person who handles needs to wear protective outfit, gloves, mask, and glasses."

Menadione may be added to give your African Grey additional vitamin K. A better option is to provide full spectrum light for your parrot. An African Grey will get vitamin K from the light, just as it would if living outdoors.

Organic pellets also let your African Grey avoid the high quantities of sugar in colored pellets. Most African Grey parrot owners care enough about the bird in which they've invested so much money, that they don't want to give it a diet that is high in sugar.

African Grey parrots' food that is based on organic pellets will be free of contaminants that might be found in other pellets. In the U.S., government regulations force companies making organic parrot food not to use pesticides or other contaminants.

In addition to a basic, formulated pellet food, African Greys need many of the same food you eat.

1. Fresh vegetables: Offer your African Grey a wide variety of vegetables, raw or cooked. Think bright, deep colors for the most nutrition. Most vegetables that offer high nutrition to you and your family will be good for your parrot as well. Cooked legumes such as beans and lentils are good. Sprouted seeds are also good. Your African Grey will love them. To avoid contaminants such as pesticides, you may want to use organic vegetables for African Grey parrots' food.

2. Fresh fruits: In the wild, African Greys eat fruit freely. The trick is to keep your parrot from filling up on its favorite food and neglecting pellets and vegetables. As with vegetables, choose bright, rich colors in fruit for the most nutrition. Also, purchase organic if possible.

3. Other supplemental foods: African Grey parrots enjoy cooked eggs and small amounts of yogurt now and then. African Greys are more prone than some parrots to calcium deficiency, so you may leave the egg shell on the hard boiled egg, if you wish. You should not need to give your parrot calcium supplements if you are using a good organic pellet food. You may give a few seeds as a treat, but go easy on them.

No, Thank You

African Grey parrots' food dishes should never contain avocado, chocolate, or rhubarb. They should not contain any human junk foods or processed meats either. It should go without saying, but your African Grey should never be given anything containing caffeine or alcohol.

Water, Please

Remember, when thinking of your African Grey's dietary needs, that it should have fresh, clean water in its cage at all times.

Helpful Tip

For healthy African Greys, be sure you clean the food and water dishes every day. If your parrot decides on an impromptu bath, wait until it is done, wash the water dish, and give it a fresh supply of water.

Parrots Adoption

2012-10-08T17:33:00.002+04:00

The Problem

The displaced captive bird population is increasing at a frightening rate. Like other exotic "pets," parrots are often much more difficult to keep than people anticipate because they are wild animals like tigers, monkeys, and reptiles, not domesticated as human companions for thousands of generations like dogs and cats. High care demands, behavioral challenges, and an extremely long life expectancy leave many parrots unwanted and displaced as they mature. Only a small fraction of birds — especially large parrots — will remain in their first home for their entire lifetime. Unfortunately, public education has not yet caught up to these realities of birdkeeping. The throwaway bird population has recently boomed as people have tired of the now mature, demanding exotic parrots they purchased during the affluent 90s.

Although parrot breeding is expensive and labor-intensive, many people have chosen to breed their birds as a hobby or business. Some do it as a ill-conceived solution for un-petlike wild breeding behaviors. As their parrots reach maturity and start to show aggression, many people find it easier to place them in "breeding situations" to produce more temporarily sweet babies than it is to work to understand and tolerate their birds' natural behaviors or their frustrations with their artificial captive life. Others breed birds because they want to supplement their income, or because they enjoy bringing new life into the world. These are not necessarily bad motives, but as the displaced captive parrot population has exploded, it is now critical for aviculturists to reassess the impact of their business or hobby on the lifetime well-being of the animals they love.

Hand-feeding baby birds is extremely time-consuming. Some breeders attempt to cut corners and increase their profit margins by selling unweaned hand-fed chicks for a buyer to "finish off," claiming that this ensures a strong bird/human bond. While selling unweaned babies is now frowned upon, most breeders still wean their baby parrots far too early — long before a baby would be independent of its parents in the wild and properly socialized for a successful, happy adult life. Many also still clip babies' wings before they learn to fly (fledge) in order to make them easier to manage. Mature flying, adult behavioral modeling, and proper weaning are closely linked behaviors. A wild baby bird must be able to travel to locate food and learn how to be a bird from its parents. Forced weaning, lack of exposure to adult bird role models, and premature wing-clipping can cause long-term physical and emotional health problems that can permanently undermine a parrot's well-being. This results in the majority of baby birds hitting the pet market programmed for long-term failure as pets. The most conscientious breeders make little, if any, money from their time investment.

Large-scale "parrot mill" breeding operations, such as Kaytee Preferred Birds,* which supplies PETsMART, are now producing thousands of chicks each year, with a goal of producing even more! They have a network of breeders that mass-produce both parent-raised and hand-fed birds, which are transferred to hand-feeding facilities and stores at an early age. While it is in the company's best interest to raise these birds in relatively clean, regulated, disease-free facilities, it is next to impossible to properly, personally socialize and educate baby parrots under such assembly line, parent-free production breeding conditions. To make matters worse, when these birds are sold through warehouse pet stores like PETsMART and PETCO, buyers rarely receive quality products or solid care advice from the inexperienced, transient staff often employed at these stores. In addition, the display and marketing of gentle, beautiful, juvenile birds in pet stores leads to many being purchased on impulse, and a parrot purchased on impulse without a foundation of education rarely finds a lifelong home.

Because of all of these factors, thousands and thousands of captive parrots are displaced each year, and bird rescue and adoption shelters and sanctuaries are full to capacity with unreleasable wild animals that are extremely difficult to place in proper new homes.credits birdadoption.org

Rainbow Budgie Breeding

2012-10-07T10:19:00.000+04:00

RAINBOW (composite Opaline Clear wing Yellowface Or Goldenface Blue series)
The standard will be as for the Opaline Clear wing Skyblue, Cobalt, Mauve, Violet or Grey except for the following details:
The expression of yellow coloration will vary dependent upon which of the yellowface mutations is visibly present
in each case, ie Yellowface Mutant 1 will be lemon yellow, Yellowface Mutant 2 double factor will be buttercup yellow
and Goldenface double factor will be deeper yellow. The otherwise white areas of the mask, frontal, crown and the
very faintly discernible undulations at the back of the head will be in the shade of yellow coloration appropriate to
the Yellowface mutant form.
**** The Rainbow is not a proper example of the variety unless it is visibly an Opaline, a Whitewing, a Yellowface or Goldenface. ****

Markings: on cheeks, back of head and neck will have a light flush of the appropriate
shade of yellow visible on the otherwise white areas at the edge of the markings.
Wings:may have a very light flush of the appropriate shade of yellow visible on the
otherwise white areas at the edge of minimal body colour markings.
Primary wing flights: grey/white.
Primary tail feathers: white.
Secondary tail feathers:
blueish/grey at the tip, an overlay of the appropriate shade of yellow on the otherwise white areas is permissible.credits kmbreeding.weebly.com

How long do parrots sleep?

2012-10-06T07:13:00.001+04:00

Parrots Need Sleep
Pet birds need their sleep, but how much sleep do parrots need, and how do you adjust both you and your bird’s schedules to allow for more one-on-one interaction and sleep? Find out in this article.

xcerpt from BIRD TALK Magazine, June 2005 issue, with permission from its publisher, BowTie Magazines, a division of BowTie Inc. To purchase digital back issues of BIRD TALK Magazine, click here.

Q: My wife and I both work (no kids), so we have limited time with our 12-year-old scarlet macaw in the morning, and then he is alone for 10 hours with a TV. He is out of his cage from the time we get home until bedtime (5 p.m. to midnight). We don’t want to spend less time with him but wonder if he needs more sleep than the seven hours he’s getting. More sleep means less interaction with us. Which is best?

A: Enabling a parrot to get sufficient sleep frequently poses problems for those who work long hours outside the home, but there are tricks that can assist with this. Let’s discuss the issue of parrot sleep deprivation first.

Most companion parrot species originated within 15 degrees north or south of the Equator, and day lengths in those locales do not vary as they do in North America. The equator has 12 hours of light and dark year-round, and at 15 degrees north or south, the day length varies only slightly. Does this mean that pet birds need 10 to 11 hours of sleep? Not at all.

Sleep deprivation is a common component in problem behaviors that appear in pet birds.
Statistically, humans need eight hours of sleep every night, but individual requirements vary widely. I need six to seven hours per night, while Albert Einstein evidently only needed four. Children typically need more than eight.

Sleep deprivation is a common component in problem behaviors that appear in pet birds. Excessive screaming, aggression, neurotic fear behaviors (often called phobic behaviors), and feather destruction are commonly associated with bird sleep deprivation. I gather that your scarlet macaw exhibits none of these problems. If so, do you need to change anything in your macaw’s life? Not necessarily.

It might be interesting to see, however, if your macaw’s behavior becomes even better if he receives nine to 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. After all, you have nothing to lose except some interaction time, correct?

Balance Bird Play & Bird Sleep Needs
According to your letter, you have seven hours each night with him, which is a lot of time. How much out-of-cage time do parrots need? I think the answer depends on several variables. Is the cage large enough? Does it contain plenty of toys, rotated frequently to maintain interest?

I view a parrot’s cage not as a prison, but as its own room, which is how my blue-and-gold macaw views hers. She frequently climbs the stairs to put herself away before I am inclined to, so being caged doesn’t cause any deprivation. As she has aged, she puts herself to bed around 5 or 6 p.m., choosing to get 12 hours of sleep every night.

If your macaw were a young child, would you feel your time together was more important than the child getting sufficient sleep? I doubt it. Copious research tells us that sufficient sleep is mandatory for a child’s healthy psychological and physical development, and I think the same applies to companion parrots.

Parrot behavior consultant Mattie Sue Athan commented recently that she believed the No. 1 source of behavior problems in companion parrots was a lack of independence, and I agree.

I also agree with parrot behavior consultant Sally Blanchard’s recommendation that parrots spend time inside their cages when their humans are home. We don’t want to establish patterns that become problematic later.

One woman patterned her Amazon parrot to be with her whenever she was home. This was fine for many years, until she went back to school and found that an Amazon parrot in the midst of her textbooks made studying difficult. She started locking the bird out of her office, infuriating the Amazon parrot, which then screamed outside the door. The woman considered rehoming him, but, instead, we worked to establish new patterns of independent play, and the Amazon parrot kept his home.

But what about workaholics or those who have long commutes, leaving home at 7 a.m. and returning at 8:30 p.m.? Should they only spend 30 minutes with their pet birds? Surely, that can’t be healthy for the birds.

Establish A New Routine
A “sleep cage” provides an alternative if the windows in the bird’s sleep room are covered with blackout shades. Then lights, a radio and/or TV can be set on timers. Humans arise at their usual early hour, uncover the cage if it’s covered, but don’t open the window shades. Their moving around awakens the parrot, but after they leave, the bird – still in darkness – goes back to sleep. After getting the ideal 10-plus hours of deep sleep, the timers start turning on lights, radios and televisions. The day begins later for the bird, so that it can comfortably stay up later at night. However, if the parrot spends daylight hours in its sleep cage, then it must be much larger than a cage that is only used overnight.

Consider rearranging your life a little to offer your macaw more sleep at night, and see if it makes a difference. You can always return to old patterns if it does not work out. It is possible to balance our working lives with our parrots’ needs, so we can enjoy our years together. All it takes is a little forethought, planning and creativity.credits goes to birdchannel.com

How do parrots adapt to the rainforest

2012-10-05T09:15:00.001+04:00

Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm (68-78 inches). The monsoon trough, alternatively known as the inter-tropical convergence zone, plays a significant role in creating the climatic conditions necessary for the Earth's tropical rainforests.

Around 40% to 75% of all biotic species are indigenous to the rainforests.It has been estimated that there may be many millions of species of plants, insects and microorganisms still undiscovered in tropical rainforests. Tropical rainforests have been called the "jewels of the Earth" and the "world's largest pharmacy", because over one quarter of natural medicines have been discovered there. Rainforests are also responsible for 28% of the world's oxygen turnover, sometimes misnamed oxygen production, processing it through photosynthesis from carbon dioxide and consuming it through respiration.

The undergrowth in a rainforest is restricted in many areas by the poor penetration of sunlight to ground level. This makes it easy to walk through undisturbed, mature rainforest. If the leaf canopy is destroyed or thinned, the ground beneath is soon colonized by a dense, tangled growth of vines, shrubs and small trees, called a jungle. There are two types of rainforest, tropical rainforest and temperate rainforest.

They have hooked beaks to eat hard shelled nuts. They also eat clay to detoxify the poisons that are in their body from poisonous nuts. Parrots can see UV light to determine how ripe a fruit is, and to find a mate.

Parrots Illnesses and Symptoms

2012-10-04T09:43:00.001+04:00

Parrots unlike other birds are less susceptible to illness but you need to be aware of the causes, symptoms and treatment and prevention. Parrots unlike other birds are less susceptible to illness but you need to be aware of the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention.

When you take the proper care of your parrot, such as giving him the proper balanced food, keeping his feathers in excellent condition, and keeping him out of drafts, you should have lots of years of good health. Sometimes diseases will reach your parrot through the air and also when you purchase a new parrot he could have been exposed to a disease. The best advice in having a parrot is to have lots of information about the various ailments and illness that he can obtain. You need to care for and observe your parrot carefully and at the first sign of a health problem consult your veterinarian. Some parrots can say lots of words but they cannot convey to you or to the veterinarian that they just don't feel well. This is going to be your task to observe and know the problems that might occur.

By observing your bird you might notice that he is resting on two legs instead of one most of the time: this can be a sign that he isn't feeling well. A parrot will rest with his head tucked back and feathers fluffed and usually on one leg. Be careful to daily watch his droppings as droppings can show signs of illness. Wet feces are a sign that he is not well. Be sure to notice his vent, if it is swollen or stained this is a sign. Notice his eyelids if they are puffed or swollen he is not well. If you notice that he is breathing heavy, and also not eating his daily rations this is also a sign of not being well. Be sure to observe if he is beginning to show lethargy as this will show he is not feeling well.

A parrot will be much more active in the morning than perhaps any other time of the day. He will just be noisy, having fun with his bells or toys, hanging upside down and doing his acrobatics. He will like to enjoy chewing his wooden toys and also his perches as these are signs that he is just feeling wonderful. If you notice that he is not behaving normally then it is time to consult your veterinarian. Another sign is if he isn't aggressive when you have your hand in his cage and want to touch him.

You will need to keep his cage and area very clean as parasites can feed on your parrot during the night. These red mites will come out at night to feed on the blood of a bird and will remain on him. Check with your local pet store about a spray that will rid the bird of these pesky mites, and also you will need to treat all of his cage and nest area, usually a number of times till you are rid of these mites or lice.

Be sure to give your bird multivitamin preparations as your veterinarian suggests as he might get a Vitamin A deficiency which will result in an illness called monilliasis due to a fungus mold growing inside his mouth. Usually when a bird has proper vitamins he will not have this deficiency.

He can also have problems with cuts and bleeding so be sure to watch for this problem. Have toys and perches, etc. that are safe for him, ones that he cannot cut himself on while playing. Make sure there are no loose wires in his area that he might cut himself on while flying or playing. He could have a broken feather or broken claw and you can put on styptic powder on a wet cotton ball. This will sting and he won't like it but it should stop the bleeding. Naturally if the bleeding continues, wrap him in a towel and bring him to the veterinarian. You might also try dipping a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide and apply it to the area as this will not sting him.

He may start vomiting, so be sure to notice the neck area to ascertain if there is any partially digested food around his beak or neck. If you notice he is vomiting withhold his food and give him plenty of fresh water and call your veterinarian.

Sometimes a parrot can get diarrhea, first of all see if he is eating too much or perhaps you have overfed him, and if not call the veterinarian immediately.

Notice if your adult parrot is plucking his feathers, if so he is either very bored or it could be the result of a vitamin deficiency. You might be feeding incorrectly so seek advice from either your veterinarian or perhaps a parrot breeder. If you have a hen she will sometimes pluck the feathers of the young chicks. If she does you will need to remove the chicks from her area.

Broken bones can occur also so be sure to notice if he has one leg drawn up, it could have been injured and you will need to take the bird to the veterinarian to get the bone set. Be sure to notice if he has had an injury that he doesn't go into shock. If he has party closed eyes, is passive, shallow or rapid breathing take him to the veterinarian immediately.

Parrots can have digestive problems that can lead to serious illness. At any sign of a digestive problem consult your veterinarian as some of these illnesses can be spread to humans in the household. Be sure to take a sample of his feces when you take him to get treated.

Watch for respiratory problems if he is sneezing a great deal and if mucus or fluid are present. Notice that his eyes are busy to see if he is feeling well. You might need to have a filter for the air in his area if he is having respiratory problems.

Above all, keep a close watch on your bird, notice his feces, his daily food intake, his water, his playing movements and his general health, keep his cage clean and you should have a very healthy bird for many years.

credit essorment.com

How do parrots fly?

2012-10-03T19:23:00.000+04:00

Parrots, like other birds which can fly, have wings which are of such a shape that air flows faster over the top of the wing than underneath it, and causing greater pressure below the wings than above. This pressure difference enables "lift".

The upper surface of a parrot's wing is raised while the lower surface is hollow. Essentially, this means that air travelling over the top of the wing does so at a faster rate than the bottom. This also gives the effect of "lift".

Then there is the makeup of parrots' wings, which have both primary and secondary feathers. The primary feathers are the ones on the outside, which move back and forth to create thrust. The secondary feathers are the inner feathers, which split the air between outer and inner parts and provide the lift.

How To Get Parrot In Cage

Parrots love attention, especially tame parrots. Often, your parrot may want to continue interacting with you or playing near you and simply not want to go back into the cage. The cage is the parrot’s home and place for eating and sleeping.

Of course, you can wait for your bird to decide it is time to go home for food, but you may need to have better control of your feathered buddy and want to be able to get the bird inside the cage before you leave home, cook dinner, or do something else which the bird can’t be part of, whether for safety or for your own concentration.

One of the times I have found it necessary to get my parrots to get inside their houses is when I need to write an article such as this. I need to concentrate rather than focus on what my parrot is doing and I have learned the hard way how quickly a parrot can chew through a mouse cord!

SunDance also used to climb up my arm and demand attention, making me lose my thoughts and costing me valuable time to get back to where I was and what I wanted to write next. I didn’t want SunDance to get involved in chewing something she shouldn’t, knowing her choice might be unhealthy for her.

When working on the computer and focusing on my work, I simply had to get her to go inside her cage. I used the command “go home” to ask her to go inside and, after a few training sessions, soon only had to place her on her house, ask her to “go home” and know she would quickly go down the cage bars, enter her door, and go inside.

She did this behavior only for praise, but she was far past the point of needing food as a reward. She knew she would get love and attention once she went inside. She also knew when I was finished working, I would return and ask her to “come out” and would give her lots of attention and playtime. I will share with you the easy steps I took to teach her this behavior.

You can easily turn these steps into a training program much like I used with Sundance. These steps work best with a tame parrot, but can be adjusted for a bird that is simply comfortable around you. Here are the steps you should follow:

Step 1. Choose Command

Pick a word or phrase which will be consistently used to mean “time to go inside now” and which you will always use to ask your parrot to enter its cage home. This can be a phrase such as “go home now” or just a word such as “home”, but it must be always the same word which is used to ask for the behavior.

Step 2. Choose a Reward

For a less-than-tame parrot, you will need a reward of food but a tame parrot may be happy with only praise. Refer to the information provided “How to choose your parrot’s favorite treat” about choosing the best food reward for your parrot so that you can begin with food and later move to only praise and love as the rewards for the proper behavior.

Step 3. Step Up

Get your parrot to perch on your hand or on a short stick. It is best to use your hand, but if your parrot is not yet hand-trained, you may need to use a perch. Either way, it is important to get your bird on a perch where it will feel comfortable and one which is not so long that you can’t control the situation.

Step 4. Move to Cage

Calmly and slowly move to your parrot’s cage location. If you move quickly, it is likely your parrot will simply flop down to the floor or scurry up your arm to avoid remaining on your hand or the perch. In fact, you can perform this step before asking the bird to perch after the first few sessions.

Step 5. Place Hand above Head

This step may also need to be done in conjunction with Step 4 until your parrot learns to be comfortable moving along with you to its cage. Ideally, it should not be done until you reach the cage, however. Place your hand in the air, well above the parrot’s head. This will prevent the bird’s desire to fly up and use that as a means to end up flopping down.

Step 6. Position Body Behind Bird

As you prepare to speak the command, move your body so that the cage door covers one escape route, your hand covers the upper escape route, and your body prevents the parrot from going any other direction. Don’t crowd too much, but prevent departure from the cage door area. By now, your hand can be above the cage door, preventing easy escape upwards onto the cage bars, but not so close as to create fear of entering the door.

Step 7. Speak Command

Say the command you have selected while the parrot is near the door and positioned so that escape is inconvenient or impossible. Do this step as you perform Step 8.

Step 8. Move Towards Door

Step forward so that your body encourages the parrot to step inside the cage door or onto the door opening. The bird will naturally want to step away from you since there is no where else to move. It should choose to step into the cage door.

Step 9. Reward

As soon as your parrot steps into the doorway, close the door but also begin offering rewards such as food, loving words, tickles through the bars, or whatever type of reward your parrot loves best.

Step 10. Keep Behavior Pleasant

Especially at first, do not leave the parrot inside the cage for very long. Ideally, begin with 5-10 minutes or so and you can increase the period over time. You don’t want the bird to begin dreading the idea of going into the cage because of the long time it will be left inside.

If you must use this method to get your parrot inside the cage before you go to work for a long day, use this training during times off until your parrot looks forward to going inside the cage.

Once it gets the behavior down pat, it will not feel punished if you do have to leave it for longer periods of time as long as you always return as soon as possible and always spend quality time with it upon your arrival.

Life stages of a parrot

2012-10-03T19:18:00.004+04:00

The life stages of a Parrot

Parrot Life Stages

Parrots go through some very bizarre stages of life. As a parrot owner you need to know what these are so they don’t catch you by surprise.

Every species of parrot is unique but there are many similarities across species that will be discussed generally here. Keep in mind that not everything mentioned in this article will apply to your particular bird.

Baby Parrots

Baby Parrot

Parrots start their lives inside of eggs. Most eggs are laid in the hollow of a tree and are incubated by the parents until they hatch. In captivity, some breeders incubate eggs with artificial heat away from the parents.

The typical parrot hatchling breaks out of its shell completely naked and blind. The chick either depends on its parents to regurgitate food for it to eat, or for a human breeder to inject warm parrot formula into its mouth. This is usually done with a needleless syringe. The content of the formula varies from species to species but is designed to simulate the half digested food that the natural parents would feed the chick.

Imprinting in parrots

As a baby parrot begins to open its eyes, imprinting occurs. Imprinting is a psychological term used to describe the process by which a baby learns who its parents are. Birds typically accept the first moving animal or thing that they see as their parent. Once imprinting has occurred, a strong bond is formed. If the bird is being hand fed by a human, the bird will assume the human to be its parent.

Unlike dogs and other fully domestic animals, birds have a strong instinctual fear of humans. Imprinting is a sort of psychological loophole that can be used to bypass this natural fear. Traditionally, breeders who are raising parrots for the pet trade will imprint the birds to humans and not allow them to have contact with their real parents. This makes the birds more likely to be tame as they are introduced and sold to their new owners.

Some breeders believe that this sort of imprinting causes psychological damage to the animals which can manifest itself in the form of future behavior problems. These breeders prefer to let the natural parents raise the chicks but will see that the chicks have constant positive contact with humans so that they are properly tamed.

Wild caught birds or any birds that were raised by their parents with no human contact are difficult but not impossible to tame. Imprinting can’t be used after a bird has already imprinted to its proper parents so a bird tamer has to use positive reinforcement to tame the bird. This usually takes a lot of time and consistent effort.

Fledgling Parrots

New Pin Feathers

A fledgling is a parrot that is just getting ready to start flying or that has begun flying but is still dependent on its parents for food and protection.

Some people clip bird’s wings before they learn to fly, others clip them after, and I prefer not to clip them at all. As you can imagine, there is a lot of debate about when wings should be clipped, how they should be clipped, and if they should ever even be clipped at all.

Many breeders claim that learning to fly is an important step in a parrot’s psychological development. These people say that if you clip a parrot’s wings before he learns to fly you will cause the bird to develop confidence issues and extreme phobias later on in life.

Though you may be able to debate this argument due to a lack of well documented evidence, there is no doubt that wing clipping before fledging does lead to a fear of flight. Most parrots that never learned to fly as fledglings will never learn to fly as adults even when their clipped feathers grow back in.

Weaning Parrots

Many parrots will begin to stop feeding their young after they are fully fledged. Once the bird can properly fly it is expected to find its own food. In captivity a breeder will start weaning a fledgling by slowly introducing new solid foods to the bird until it no longer needs to eat formula. This process should only be done by a trained breeder because there is a high risk of malnutrition or even starvation during this process.

Juvenile Parrots

Once a parrot has been fledged and fully weaned onto an adult diet, it can usually fend for itself in the wild. In captivity it is now safe to be sold at this age. A young parrot like this is usually very accepting of new people and new situations and is at a good age to be re-homed.

Depending on the species, juvenile parrots may have different colored feathers than adult parrots. Feather colors can only change by molting the old ones and then growing new ones. It may take a young parrot several molts before it gets its full adult colors.

Parrot Puberty

When we talk about parrot puberty we are talking about when the animal becomes sexually mature. The age that this transition takes place varies from species to species and can vary according to the animal’s gender as well.

Most parrots go through a significant personality change as they become sexually mature, some of these changes are temporary and only occur during breeding season (which also varies from species to species). In the wild, parrots who want to breed will have to find and defend their nesting spots. In captivity they may become aggressive and territorial.

Parrots pair up with a mate during breeding season and if your bird doesn’t have another parrot to fall in love with, he just might fall in love with you. Parrots that are never exposed to other parrots during childhood can become sexually imprinted to humans which means that they will think they are supposed to mate with people and can actually reject other parrots as potential mates.

If your bird falls in love you, he (or she) may become extremely aggressive toward other people and may do strange things with you. Love struck parrots regurgitate food and offer it for you to eat, they may also try making love with your hand or pressing their back up against you inviting you to mate.

Be careful not to sexually stimulate your parrot by touching your bird around the vent and lower back, encouraging your bird to regurgitate food for your, or letting your bird rub itself on you. If you stimulate your bird, the bird’s attraction to you will solidify and things can get really strange really quick. Can you say awkward?

If a female is over stimulated she can lay eggs which can be a horrible health risk. The eggs won’t be fertile but they still take a lot of energy to produce and your parrot can suffer and even die from malnutrition.

Sex is confusing for a captive bird and sexual frustration can cause your parrot to display a wide range of behavior problems from screaming to feather plucking. Be patient with your poor little bird. He’s confused and you would be too if you were taken away from your kind at birth without ever truly understanding what type of animal you were.

Sexually related behavior problems can be fixed with careful training or by simply waiting them out. Parrots tend to calm down when breeding season ends. If you keep your bird active and well socialized with a large group of people, he or she can be mentally healthy and fairly friendly even through these difficult times.

Adulthood for Parrots

Adult parrots, those who have been sexually mature for several seasons, tend to calm down as they age. Many people report that their adult birds don’t like to travel or try new things the way they used to when they were young. If they have been properly socialized they can become very docile and loving. Old and well tamed parrots can still be a bit unpredictable but tend make fairly good family pets or visitors to schools and hospices.

In captivity some species of parrot can live to be 80 or 90 years old. In the wild a bird will almost never reach this age, as soon as they become slow they will be picked off by a predator. In captivity that risk is usually not around so make sure you are prepared for a life long pet before you take a parrot into your home. Many birds will outlive their owners so make sure to have a second care taker inline for the day that your body returns to dust of this good earth.

Enjoy your time with your little feathered friend. You and your parrot will have your ups and downs, your frustrations and your laughs, your times of peace and your battle wounds. It’s all a part of parrot keeping. If you hang on tight you’ll eventually learn to love it all!

credits featherme.com

How do parrots sleep?

2012-10-03T19:17:00.000+04:00

How much sleep does your parrot need?

Do you wonder how much sleep your parrot needs? I often wondered and have since read birds do need a certain number of hours of restful sleep. My parrots are known to differ a little on exact hours or when they are put to bed, but sleep is very important to a parrot, even if they are not living in the wild.

Without a good restful sleep at night, a parrot might exhibit grumpiness and with prolong lack of sleep, real behavior problems can occur.

Roger Senegal, puts himself or herself (the only bird here not confirmed as to what sex “he” is) when it gets dark and goes into his bird tent. Even if other birds are up, and about, he puts himself to bed and does not want to be disturbed. When in his tent, he is one that does not appreciate anyone going in to coax him out.

A parrots daytime activity level will contribute to the amount of sleep needed just as much as its home environment. The daytime activity in this household remains the same on a daily basis which also ensures the parrots here keep to the same routine. No one works nights and the other works days making for the parrot not having any continuous quiet time. Since there are very few outside visitors or loud outside noises, the environment remains calm and quiet most of the time for brief naps a parrot will take in the afternoon.

A parrot’s housing and nutrition needs are very important, but one must remember, so is sleep. Avian experts feel 8 to 12 hours is needed for a parrot. Think too, do we not hear that us humans were suppose to have at least 8 hours of sleep for us to function well? Sleep, how so restful and calming and so looked forward to at the end of a full day of wakeful activities…..should not our parrots deserve the rest they need, just as us humans??? After all, do not some of us treat our parrots as if they really are our kids???

good night…sleep tight and do not let the bed bugs bite…smiles: )

credits sasanparrots.com

How do parrots mate?

2012-10-03T19:15:00.002+04:00

Spring is the breeding season for most birds, but how do birds mate? Coming together in sexual copulation is essential to fertilize eggs to raise young birds, but the sex act is only a brief part of birds' courtship.

The Reproductive Anatomy of Birds

Most birds do not have the same reproductive body parts as mammals. Instead, both male and female birds have a cloaca – one opening (also called the vent) that serves as the bodily exit for their digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. This means that the same opening that excretes feces and urine is where eggs are laid. During the breeding season, the cloaca swells and protrudes slightly outside the body, while during the rest of the year it is much less prominent.

When birds are ready to breed, their reproductive organs – the testes and ovaries – swell and produce the sperm and ova. Male birds store sperm in their cloaca until an opportunity to mate arises, and females will receive that sperm into their cloaca before it travels to fertilize their ova.

Bird Courtship

The courtship between a pair of birds can last much longer than the actual act of copulation. Courtship behavior may include several stages, from initially claiming territory to actually wooing a prospective mate with visual and auditory displays – spectacular flights, intricate songs or even elaborate dances. The courtship period is the time when a male bird seeks to show off his health and strength to convince a female that he is her best possible mate and will help her create the strongest, healthiest chicks with the best chance to survive.

How Birds Have Sex

Once a female bird is receptive to a mate – whether it is a new mate every breeding season or simply renewing ties with a life-long partner – the actual mating can take place. The positions and postures birds assume to mate can vary somewhat, but the most common is for the male bird to balance on top of the female. The female may hunch or bow to give the male easier balance. She will then move her tail aside to expose her cloaca to his reach, and he will arch his body so his cloaca can touch hers. The brief rubbing of cloacas may last less than a second, but the sperm is transferred quickly during this "cloacal kiss" and the mating is complete. The balancing may take longer as the birds stay touching one another, and several "kisses" might occur. Birds will remain excited by their hormones for a week or more and will mate several times during that period to increase the chances of successful insemination.

Some bird species, most notably several species of swans, geese and ducks, do not have simple cloacas, but instead male birds have an actual phallus (penis) that is inserted into the female during mating. The penis is formed by an extension of the cloacal wall, and unlike mammals, is erected by lymph rather than blood. Having a penis helps different types of waterfowl mate in the water without the sperm washing away. Several other bird species, including cassowaries, kiwis and ostriches, also have penises rather than cloacas, but the mating act is still only a brief encounter.

After mating, the sperm travels to the ova for fertilization, and eggs may be laid in just a few days or it may be several months before eggs are ready to be laid and the final brooding of the nest begins.

If You See Mating Birds

Many birders are at first thrilled to see unique bird behavior, then quickly become embarrassed when they realize they are watching birds mate. Because the mating act is so brief, being observed does not typically disturb the birds, but it is important to realize that this is still a delicate time period for pairs of birds.

If you see mating birds, it is best to keep your distance – approaching more closely may spook the birds and force them to leave, which can interrupt their courtship or hurt their bond. This may also cause difficulties for raising a brood or completing a successful mating if the pair splits prematurely. If they are severely disturbed, they may leave their carefully chosen territory and be forced to relocate to a less suitable area that may not provide for all their hatchlings' needs.

After the birds have mated, they may remain nearby to nest and raise their brood. This can provide a unique opportunity for birders to observe a growing bird family, but the same caution should be taken to stay away from the nest in order to safeguard young birds. Too much attention can distress parent birds, forcing them to abandon the nest or hatchlings. Drawing attention to the nest can also attract predators, and birders should take great care to not disturb nesting birds in any way.

Seeing mating birds can be exciting, and it's a great reminder of how special spring birding can be. By understanding how birds mate, birders can better realize what unique behaviors they see in the field and can take steps to protect the nesting birds and their young.

credits about.com

How do parrots talk?

2012-10-03T19:14:00.003+04:00

We’ve all seen the video clips of parrots singing, saying the Pledge of Allegiance, seemingly responding to questions, etc. But how do parrots talk? Do they actually talk in the way humans understand the word? Yes and no.

Parrots talk in the same way they make their native sounds of chirping, screaming, cooing and other sounds they use within a flock. However, they cannot exactly imitate human speech because they do not form sounds in the same way humans do. Parrots talk or form sounds by expelling air across their syrinx, a distended portion of the trachea. Parrots are in general, intelligent birds, and are social creatures, so it may seem advantageous from a survival standpoint to learn the language of their new “flock” – the humans in their home.

Parrots talk at different ability levels, depending on the species, individual bird and time the owner spends training the bird. Amazons and African Greys in particular, are well known for their ability to talk, as well as to imitate other common household sounds, such as the doorbell or telephone, or even the computer. Some parrot owners declare their parrots know when they are busy, and time their telephone or doorbell sounds to coincide with that circumstance.

There is debate as to how much parrots actually understand of human speech. Are these just sounds, or do they have actual meaning to the bird? Longtime parrot owners will say they have to wonder if their parrots don’t understand at least a few of the words they say, judging by their behavior when they say these words. Parrots, of course, do not have any sort of “naughty” filter, so a bird kept where profanity or crude talk is used, will invariably say these words, and as with a child, usually at the most inappropriate times. The debate will continue to go on about how much parrots understand what they are saying.

Parrots talk to communicate, and possibly to relieve boredom. If a certain sound produces a certain positive result, such as attention or a treat, they are more likely to repeat the behavior. This then, is the desirable way to train a parrot to talk: repetition, treats and affection. An inappropriate word should be ignored completely, while an appropriate word should bring treats and caresses.

Listening to parrots talk is always entertaining, since there is something fascinating about a creature not of our species imitating our behavior. And, there is always the question of whether the parrot knows the impact of what it is saying. Does “I love you” really mean that? Many parrot owners will answer an enthusiastic “yes.”

credits wisegeek.com

Where are parrots found?

2012-10-03T11:55:00.000+04:00

Parrot information

Parrots are found in most warm and tropical regions around the world. A vast majority of the species lives in tropical and subtropical regions but a few parrots live in temperate parts of the Southern Hemisphere. The greatest diversity of parrots is found in South America and Australasia.

Many different parrots are commonly kept as pets, such as budgerigars (“budgies”), parakeets, lovebirds, African grey parrots (“African greys”), cockatoos, cockatiels, caiques, conures, macaws, and Amazons.

If you wish to keep a parrot, it is important to choose a species that suits you when it comes to temperament, sociability, size, feeding-requirements, and other preferences. It is however important to remember that each parrot is and individual and there are great variations even within a single species. A hand-fed parrot that received a lot of positive attention from humans as a baby will for instance generally be much more sociable and cuddly with future human keepers.

Parrot taxonomy

Parrots belong to the order Psittaciformes which is comprised of three families: the Psittacidae (true parrots), the Cacatuidae (cockatoos) and the Nestoridae. Roughly 370 different species of parrot have been scientifically described and placed in 86 different genera.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Infraclass: Neognathae

Order: Psittaciformes

Families:

Nestoridae

Cacatuidae (cockatoos)

Psittacidae (true parrots)

Parrot care

Important information for prospective parrot owners

Before you decide to get a parrot, it is important to familiarize yourself with national and international trade regulations. Do not rely on old information since a lot of changes have taken place during recent years. International and national regulations are not always synchronized, so it is important to research both. Also keep in mind that parrot legislation not only pertains to international transactions.

All species of Parrots are protected by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). As of 2009, 56 parrot varieties are listed on CITES appendix 1 (endangered species) and all the other ones are listed on CITES appendix 2 (vulnerable species).

Import, export and trade in wild-caught specimens of appendix I species is illegal, but can be permitted with a licenses in exceptional circumstances. Captive bred animals of appendix I species are considered appendix II specimens when it comes to trade, and you must therefore adhere to the appendix II requirements.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognizes 19 species of parrot as extinct since the year 1600 (the date used to denote modern extinctions). This does not include species that haven’t been seen for many years, such as the New Caledonia Lorikeet which was last seen a century ago.

How to care for parrots

The parrot order Psittaciformes includes over 370 species in 86 different genera, so it is hard to provide any guidelines that will be true for all and any parrot. Parrots are also highly individual creatures so you will have to be ready to tailor your care for each specific parrot.

If you keep your parrot in a cage, it is important to keep the cage clean. Parrots also like to have a clean tray filled with water to bath in or be sprayed with lukewarm water once in a while. The instructions below are only general guidelines on cage maintenance; you can make adjustment as you get to know your parrot and its habits and preferences better:

once a day clean water and food dishes, clean bars and perches

twice a week change bottom trays, replace dirty litter

once a week wash all bars, perches and toys

once a month clean the entire cage

once or twice a year disinfect the entire cage

Parrots are clever and highly social birds and they must receive plenty of mental stimulation and social interaction to stay happy and healthy. Together with crows, magpies and jay, parrots are considered some of the most intelligent birds in the world. Parrots kept in a boring monotonous environment can develop harmful behaviours and may for instance start ripping out their own feathers. Spend a lot of time with your parrot and continuously provide it with new toys and things to explore and investigate.

Since it is hard for most human keepers to devote enough time to their parrots, these birds are commonly kept in pairs or groups. A single parrot will only be happy if you spend vast amounts of time with it; you can for instance play with it, teach it tricks and let it stay with you as you go about your ordinary business (doing the dishes, watching movies, hanging out with friends, etc). Some individual parrots are known to have developed strong bonds to other pets, e.g. birds that aren’t parrots.

Regardless if you keep a single parrot or several, the cage, gym or playpen should ideally be placed in a room where you spend a lot of time, e.g. kitchen or family room. Parrots should not be subjected to draft, so avoid such spots. The minimal recommended cage size depends on the size of your bird, how many birds you keep in the same cage and how many hours the bird spend outside the cage each day.

Including rough items in the cage is recommended since parrots need to trim down their claws and keep their beaks in shape (unless you do it for them). You can for instance use natural branches and concrete perches.

Just as with humans, learning in early life is very important for parrots. A lot of the skills displayed by wild parrots are not instincts but learned behaviours. Teaching your young parrot new things and behaviours are therefore important if you want it to develop into a knowledgeable adult. In the wild, a young parrot would learn where and how to forage for food; in captivity we can instead teach our parrots tricks and reward them with food. Learning is a vital part of the social interaction between young parrots and their parents and older siblings and a young parrot will therefore benefit from this type of interaction from its human handler. Young parrots also need to play a lot to develop their motor skills.

Since the parrot is such a clever bird, it will quickly find out how to get what it wants. This means that it is easy to involuntary teach a parrot unwanted behaviours. If you for instance enter to room to say “shush” each time your parrot starts screaming, it will quickly learn that screaming is a great way of getting your attention and some company.

Feeding Parrots

The exact feeding habit varies from species to species, but most true parrots eat a lot of seeds, plus nuts, fruit and buds. If your parrot has a large and powerful bill it is adapted to a diet that contains a lot of hard to open seeds or nuts.

Some parrots, such as lories and lorikeets, can extract nectar from flowers and some like to eat pollen. A few parrot species also catch prey, chiefly insects. The Keas of New Zealand will kill and eat juvenile petrels and they have also learned to feed on the large herds of sheep introduced by the Europeans. Golden-winged parakeets prey on water snails and several species of cockatoos are known to excavate tree branches to find grubs.

Many parrot species in the Americas, Africa, and Papua New Guinea eat clay to get enough minerals in their diet and to absorb toxic compounds that some plant species use to protect themselves. In captivity we must make sure that such parrots get enough minerals through their diets, unless we’re willing to provide them with the right type of clay.

It is important to keep parrots on a varied diet to boost their immune system and make life in captivity less boring, unless you keep a highly specialized feeder. Always research you particular parrot species to learn more about which type of a diet it needs. Most parrots will like a varied seed mix supplemented with nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables. Sprouted seeds and flowers are usually appreciated as well.

If you suspect your parrot might not be getting enough protein, you can give it occasional treats in the form of cottage cheese, cooked chicken or hardboiled egg whites. Do not serve products that are processed or seasoned. If your bird needs more calcium, you can sprinkle pure calcium over it’s fruits or serve the bird cottage cheese.

Stress, e.g. poor health, the loss of a friend or being moved to a new home, can increase the parrot'sneed for vitamins and minerals.

Breeding Parrots

Most parrots are monomorphic or minimally sexually dimorphic which makes them hard to sex.

With a few exceptions, parrots nest in tree holes and will need tree holes or nestboxes to breed in captivity. Most parrot species are monogamous, claim no territory except the nest itself, and produce white eggs from which helpless (altricial) chicks emerge.

Parrots form strong bonds with their mate and in most species the couple will stay together and prune each others feathers even outside the breeding season. They may for instance join the same flock and stay close within the flock.

As mentioned above, there are a few exceptions to these general rules. The Monk Parakeet and five species of lovebird of the genus Agapornis build nests themselves instead of using tree holes, and three Australian and New Zealand ground parrots stay out of the trees altogether and nest on the ground instead. There are also quite a lot of parrot species that dig out their nests in cliffs, banks, or even termite nests.

Incubation varies from 17 to 35 days, chiefly depending on size. In some species both parents incubate the eggs, but for a majority the female is responsible for incubating while the male is responsible for feeding her. The female may also get her own food during short breaks.

Newly hatched parrots have no feathers at all or are sparsely covered in white down. They are helpless and need to stay inside the nest for anything from three weeks to four months, depending on species. In some species the young ones continue to receive parental care even after having left the nest, sometimes for several months.

Parrot Health

It is often difficult to determine the exact cause of illness in a parrot since a lot of different problems have similar symptoms. It can also be hard to pin down the underlying cause, e.g. improper diet, unsuitable environment or mere boredom. Ideally contact a veterinarian specializing in pet birds if you parrot show signs of poor health.

Parrots can for instance suffer from parrot fever (psittacosis), parasites, or intestinal inflammation. Parrot fever can spread to humans so be careful.

Visible signs of poor health in parrots:

the parrot sleeps more than normally

the parrot eats less than normally

changed faeces

unusual screaming

the parrot sneezes

discharge emerging from nostrils

slit eyes instead of round eyes

the plumage become ruffled or listless

bare spots can be seen in the plumage

the parrot plucks its own feathers

Parrot Facts

Parrot fact # 1

Many species of parrot can imitate sounds, including human speech. They have no vocal cords and the sounds are instead produced by expelling air across the mouth of the bifurcated trachea. By changing the depth and shape of the trachea, the parrot can accomplish different sounds.

Parrot fact # 2

Until the early 20th century, temperate North America was home to one species of parrot that had adapted to life in temperature conditions, the Carolina Parakeet. Sadly enough, this species was hunted to extinction in the early 1900s.

Parrot fact # 3

While many species of parrot have become extinct or are endangered in the wild, other species have managed to successfully colonize entirely new regions outside their natural range. You can for instance find thriving parrot populations in Florida, California and Texas in the United States made up by foreign parrots brought to the U.S. by humans. The highly adaptable Monk Parakeet currently breeds in at lest 15 U.S. states.

Parrot facts # 4

Parrots have fascinated man since prehistoric times and been kept as pets as well as worshiped as deities. The Ancient Roman poet Ovid wrote "The Dead Parrot" in Latin, and in the Masnavi, a work by Rumi of Persia from AD 1250, the author talks about an ancient method for training parrots to speak. A Polynesian legend tells us the story about a hero who travels to a far away island to fetch the feathers of a red parrot, and the Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped birds, including parrots, and frequently depicted them in their works of art.

Parrot facts # 5

An African Grey Parrot named Alex could use words to identify objects, describe them, and count them. He could even answer questions such as "How many red squares?" with over 80% accuracy. N'kisi, another famous African Grey Parrot, had a vocabulary of roughly one thousand words and could use words in context as well as in the correct tense.

Parrot lifespan

The expected life span of a parrot varies from species to species. Small parrots, e.g. budgies and lovebirds, normally reach an age of 15-20 years if well cared for. Some large parrots on the other hand have amazingly long life spans with 80 years not being that uncommon and reports existing of parrots living well beyond the age of 100 years. Getting a parrot is therefore a long term commitment. If you get a small parrot for your ten-year-old son, the parrot will stay be there when he’s out of college. Some owners of large parrots make arrangements with other parrot lovers in advance and write these agreements into their wills to make sure that the parrot ends up in suitable hands if anything where to happen to the owner.

credits aquaticcommunity.com

The Best Foods to Feed Your Parrot

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The best diet for parrots consists mostly of pellets, supplemented with "table food." These birds need foods from the bread/cereal, vegetable and protein (meat) groups - just as humans do.Dairy products aren't necessary, although someowners do feed them to their birds in smallamounts. Fruit is mostly sugar and supplies fewessential nutrients to birds.

The Basic Building Block

Commercial pellets made especially for birds should make up 60 percentto 80 percent of most parrots' diets. Packages come in sizes thataccommodate everything from a macaw to a budgie.

You'll want to feed more pellets to your bird than seeds because pellets are far more complete nutritionally. Seedshave too much fat and not enough vitamins, minerals and proteins. Birds fed seed diets have a much shorter life span,so seeds should constitute no more than 12 percent of your bird's diet.

Food from Your Table

The other 20 percent to 40 percent of your bird's diet should be table food.

· Vegetables such as leafy greens, zucchini, tomato, squash, carrots, broccoli, beets, peas, green beans andpeppers (any color, even jalapenos), should make up the largest portion of table food. Thawed frozen vegetables are also convenient and nutritious.

· Bread and cereal groups are important. Your bird can share your breakfast cereal (without the milk) as long as it's oatmeal and not sugary flakes. Pasta, rice, rye and whole-wheat bread also get a thumbs up.

· Give your bird protein in smaller amounts – maybe once or twice a week. Cooked eggs, boiled chicken, even well cooked chicken bones (never give any animal other than a bird a cooked chicken bone) are suitable. But go easy: Some experts believe too much meat is hard on an avian kidney.

· Dairy products are controversial. Many birds love cheese and dairy products, but they don't have the enzyme, lactase, necessary to digest milk sugars. If you do give your bird dairy products, do so only rarely and in very small amounts.

· Feed your bird fruits in small amounts since they consist of mostly sugar and water. If it's the vitamins and minerals in fruit that you are looking for, pellets have more of those nutrients.

· Don't leave table food in the cage very long since it spoils easily. Remember, if you wouldn't eat it, neither should your bird.

Seeds and Nuts

Since birds are much more sedentary in captivity than they are in the wild, they don't need as much fat in their diets. Seeds and nuts are high in fat, so give them to your bird only in moderation.

· Give your bird seeds in small amounts as treats. They should be shiny (not dusty) and free of mold, fungus and insects. The same goes for nuts - give them only as treats.

· Leave nutshells on: Shelling a nut can give your bird a good cerebral workout. However, this is a learned behavior. You may have to introduce a young bird to a nut by cracking it first. Nuts should be fresh and free of mold or fungus.

· Macaws need a higher level of fat than other parrots and may have a few more nuts than the others. Hyacinth macaws need a significantly higher amount of nuts in their diet.

· Budgies, cockatiels and Amazon parrots are prone to obesity, which leads to fatty-liver disease, so fat intake should be monitored carefully.

The Truth About Grit

Parrots don't need grit and it has been known to cause impaction when too much has been consumed. Parrots don't eat hard seed hulls that need to be broken down by the digestive system; they hull their seeds with their beaks before eating them.

The Truth About Water

Your bird should have fresh water every day. Don't add supplements unless your veterinarian tells you to; they can be a medium for bacteria to grow and can cause a bird to turn up his nose at his water bowl, leading to decreased water intake and kidney damage.

Never Feed Your Bird the Following

· Alcohol: As in humans, alcohol causes liver disease and can be toxic to the point of death.

· Avocado, including guacamole, is deadly to some birds.

· Chocolate is toxic to many animals, birds included.

Unique Needs of Some Birds

· Toucans, toucanets and mynahs require low-iron diets.

· Lory and lorikeet diets may vary with species but will include special commercial-nectar diets, insects and an increased amount of fruit and greens.

What Do Parrots Eat?

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What do parrots eat ?

This is the question that new parrot owners ask themselves. Giving your parrots the right kind of diet is important as it will determine their health, vibrancy and energy to respond to you.

What do parrots eat?

Parrots food preference. The food that all parrots live on is the seed-nut-fruit-vegetable-grain diet. This depends also on whether they are in the wild or in captivity. You may think that seeds and nuts are an important part of your parrot’s diet, but in essence they do not meet the nutritional demands that produce a colourful, healthy, and vibrant parrot. A balanced diet for your parrot would include vegetables, seeds, nuts, fruit, grains and supplements. Just like humans, parrots too have individual preferences on the type of food they’ll eat.

Preference by Location

From Macaws to African Greys, parrots have their own unique taste and preference for food, depending on where their species thrive in the world. As parrots are found in the wilderness of Asia, Africa and South America, the food found in abundance in this region form their basic staple. However, the diet of a parrot in captivity may be completely different from parrots in the wild.

Nuts

By instinct, nuts seem to be the natural food that parrots consume, considering their sharp and strong beaks. Nuts and seeds are highly rich in protein, lecithin, fiber, and an abundance of trace minerals such as copper, zinc and potassium. Favorite nuts that parrots munch on include cashews, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, walnuts, macadamia, pistachios, palm nuts, soy nuts, and peanuts. Nuts contain no cholesterol and as a plant product, they are naturally low in saturated fats. Peanuts should be given scarcely as they are fatty and lack essential nutrients. The good thing about nuts is that they are rich in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats which assist in the absorption of Vitamin A, D, E, and K. As an important part of your parrots wholesome diet, nuts should be given moderately and supplemented by other natural food.

Grains and Seeds

By nature, parrots love to peck and poke, and nuts provide the natural tendency for them to do that. It is a good treat to give them a bowl of raw, dried pumpkin seeds, cantaloupe, sunflower, squash, guava, sesame, guava, flax, huckleberry, and poppy seeds. Spray millet is a parrot’s favorite treat. They also enjoy a mixture of rice, hulled oats, corn cob and buckwheat. Seed varieties and grains can come pre-packaged product and ready to be fed at any time.

Vegetables and Fruits

Refrain from giving your parrots “seed only” diet and include a variety of fruits and vegetables as well, as parrots do in their natural habitat. What kind of fruits do parrots eat? They love apples, grapes, melons, bananas, pomegranates, pears, nectarines, blueberries, oranges, mangoes etc. For vegetables, they will readily indulge in sweet potatoes, carrots, corn, peppers, cucumbers, green beans and celery.

credits iloveparrots.com

Parrots

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The parrots are a broad order of more than 350 birds. Macaws, Amazons, lorikeets, lovebirds, cockatoos and many others are all considered parrots.

Though there is great diversity among these birds, there are similarities as well. All parrots have curved beaks and all are zygodactyls, meaning they have four toes on each foot, two pointing forward and two projecting backward. Most parrots eat fruit, flowers, buds, nuts, seeds, and some small creatures such as insects.

Parrots are found in warm climates all over most of the world. The greatest diversities exist in Australasia, Central America, and South America.

Many parrots are kept as pets, especially macaws, Amazon parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, and cockatoos. These birds have been popular companions throughout history because they are intelligent, charismatic, colorful, and musical. Some birds can imitate many nonavian sounds, including human speech. The male African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus) is the most accomplished user of human speech in the animal world; this rain forest-dweller is an uncanny mimic.

Currently the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) bans the sale of any wild-caught species, yet the parrots' popularity continues to drive illegal trade.

Some parrot species are highly endangered. In other cases, once tame birds have reproduced in the wild and established thriving feral populations in foreign ecosystems. The monk (green) parakeet, for example, now lives in several U.S. states.