There is nothing like sharing your life with a parrot. These delightful creatures are full of love, intelligence and a great sense of humor and play. When you own a pet parrot, your life will be enhanced in ways you never thought possible. Owning a bird is a responsibility that will be with you for many years to come if you take proper care of your bird. The decision to purchase a bird should not be taken lightly and extensive research should be done on the subject before you go out and pick a bird.
Many times people see a beautiful bird in the pet shop. They become completely enamored and if the bird is a talker, the appeal of bringing that bird home is great. That would be a mistake. Your companion bird should never be chosen strictly for looks or speaking ability. Many birds who don’t talk make up for this in so many other delightful ways.
Your first step is to research the breeds and the housing requirements each one needs. Research their temperaments to find a bird that will fit in with your household routine. Read up on all the care and maintenance each breed will require and of the negative aspects of personality a bird may present.
It is best to be educated on all aspects of bird behavior to ensure that you are raising a happy and healthy bird that won’t display negative behaviors like screaming, biting and fierce protection of their territory.
The macaws and cockatoos are stunning birds, but they can be intimidating for first time parrot owners. The size alone of many species of macaws can cause owners to allow them to become brats and with their large beaks, many owners may relegate their acquisition to a cage because they don’t know what else to do with them.
The cockatoos insist on much affection and attention from their owners to ensure that they don’t begin any self destructive behaviors such as feather plucking. These birds can be quite demanding if they are not raised right.
The various species of amazons are majestic and well known for their talking ability. For first time owners the challenge of raising a well adjusted amazon may be beyond their skills. They become quite nippy when not handled correctly and their beaks are capable of breaking ones finger.
If you insist on a bird that talks but don’t want to go as far a dedicating your life to a full-blown parrot, you need look no further than the feisty little green Quaker parrot. They are priced reasonably at about £70-£100 and are just a bit larger than a cockatiel. They are great talkers and talented comedians. They don’t cost much to maintain and in the spectrum of smaller birds, they don’t make too much of a mess.
With proper socialization, these little green monsters that are known for their stubborn personalities can be taught what is expected of them in public places and can help reduce over dependence on one member of the family. As long as all family members participate in spending time and playing with a Quaker parrot, he/she will like genders equally as well as get used to being handled by more than one person.
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If you own just one bird, chances are you have minimum cleaning and waste problems. It is easy to buy treats and toys because you are not spending so much on things like grooming.
So do the materials that toys are made from matter? Pick toys that are made of sturdy and easily cleaned materials. You can find toys made with hardwood, plastic, leather, and other durable materials. Some toys come with replacement parts, and bird owners always have the option of creating unique toys from the materials their birds prefer. You can find many things to help you build and design your own bird toys. In the end you may actually find that it is not only cheaper, but you enjoy creating them! In a future article we will discuss the materials you can use for making your own parrot toys!
Are you worried your cockatiel or any other bird for that matter may be suffering from boredom? You can take some simple steps to ensure your cockatiel takes more enjoyment from his environment and keep his mind agile.
Your cockatiel may enjoy play fighting with his toys. You may notice that he takes great pleasure in bringing any and all toys down. If you notice that your bird enjoys this, get him some sturdy and colorful toys he can destroy happily.
When you own birds, you know that accidents may happen. Depending upon the size of your bird, which accidents are more common will differ. When you have small bird breeds such as cockatiels, parrotlets, budgies and certain species of conures, there are special considerations you will need to keep in mind. Nothing is more devastating than losing your companion to a senseless accident that may have been avoided.