FAQs about purchasing a parrot
 

  1. What should I consider before buying a parrot?

  2. What are the things I should watch when purchasing the parrot?

  3. What should I keep in mind when purchasing a cage, toys, etc?

  4. What should I feed my feathered friend?

  5. What does the care-taking of a parrot mean?

What should I consider before I buy a parrot?
 

  • Parrots are very intelligent and social. If you keep the bird allone in his cage it'll get bored and develop behaverial problems. (Most of the time they will develop behaverial problems anyway as people know too little about them)

  • Thin about the amount of time, money and effort there is needed for keeping a parrot. They can get sick unexpectedly. The vet-costs can be very high!

  • A parrot requires as much (or even more) attention than a dog!

  • Parrots can become very old. If you don't want a (almost) lifetime commitment, don't get a parrot!

  • Parrots can do a lot of damage with their beaks. My table have been ruined as well as my couch.

  • What they can do to your table etc. they can do as well with your finger. All parrots do bite occasionally. This is also a natural thing with the parrot's 'growing up'.

  • Parrots can scream very hard! Especially macaws, amazones and cockatoos can be pretty loud. I don't have any trouble with that, but can that be said of the neighbours?

  • Think about poisoning! What is unharmful for humans can be fatal to parrots. Think about teflon-pans, certain kinds of plants etc. I have one teflon-pan at home but when I use this one I keep the kitchendoor shut and the door open so that all the poisonous fumes can escape.

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    What things should I watch when purchasing the parrot?


    A healthy parrot...

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    What should I keep in mind when purchasing a cage, toys, etc?

     

  • Buy the largest cage you can place in your house/ can affort. A cage is never too big, always too small!

  • When you purchase the cage you must keep in mind that a parrot can get very old. There for purchase a decent cage that is easy to clean. It may not be a problem that this isn't the case at the time now but in time it can become a real 'pain in the ass'. I have figured that out myself.. Cages from Montana are usually easy to clean. They have a grate, coating (which is a relief!) etc.. See also the cages-page.

  • Watch out with 'regular' parrotcages! They usually contain poisonous materials. (like zinc) You may not notice this now, but sometimes a parrot dies because of zinc-poisoning only after some years. Cages that are made of stainless steal are the best. Unfortunately, they are very expensive and it is not easy to find a place where they sell these cages.

  • The same goes for toys with metal chains. It's better to avoid them if it's not stainless steel. Acrylic toys are a very good alternative, even as wooden toys and toys that have been made out of rope.

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    What should I feed my feathered friend?

    I can be very short about this issue: In my experience pellets are the best solution as we can never offer our parrots the same nutrition as they get in their natural habitat.
    Yes, I can provide them a well-balanced diet with seeds, veggies, fruits etc. but who says they will eat it all? Parrots are picky eaters and they know exactly how to get a new bowl with food: By throwing all the food out of the bowl on the floor, for example!
    I think that pellets shouldn't contain any colouring. I  give my birds Harrison's bird foods, which is (at least in The Netherlands) the only pellet available at the vet. All those hardly could be wrong, can't they? I have to note that this pellet doesn't contain any colouring and that this product has been made out of unsprayed products. Besides their pellet-diet my feathered friends get fruits and veggies in limited amount as the pellets contain all the nutritions.

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    What does the care-taking of a parrot mean?
     

  • Clipping a parrot. I strongly recommand this as the parrot cannot go and sit higher than you are. In the wild, parrots that sit on the highest branch are dominant parrots: When a parrot lands on your head he'd be in a dominant position. Your bird is not capable of protecting you, which results for the bird in being uncertain. (And with that, not happy) There for I would recommand everyone to clip their pet-parrots. (Especially large parrots that are kept indoors)
    Above all a parrot that hasn't been clipped can fly away through an open window or open door or land on the stove or in a pan. Don't forget to mention that your bird can fall into the washing-up water. If he'd not drown, he can swallow some of the water with washing-up liquid. I don't think this is very healthy.. Also see the clipping page.

  • Nails clipping. I recommand polishing as the nail vein is not visible with most parrot's as the nails are usually dark or very thick. Polishing is less 'drastic'.

  • A daily shower. Most some parrots make a big scene when you spray them. Just like mine in the beginning. You shouldn't decide to never give them a shower again! You can let your parrot taste of the plant-sprayer while it is sitting on your hand. After that you spray the parrot. Practice a couple of times a day with this.. See also the shower = fun? page.

  • Attention! A parrot is very intelligent and should be kept 'busy' several hours a day.

  • A good night-rest. A cloth that you can lay over the cage, or if your cage is too large for a cloth get a small cage instead and put the cloth over that one. (That is what I do, I have smaller cages where my birds sleep in. It is better for your night-rest as well as birds usually start to make noise when it gets light!)

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