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Parrots are wonderful as pets – entertaining and lovable. They are highly intelligent, can mime and are sensitive to the outside world. Proper caring for parrots is essential if one wants to keep them healthy and happy. A parrot can be a loving companion in the home. Irrespective of which species of parrots one has the points to focus on are the cage, diet, grooming and love. These are the angles to be given importance while thinking of parrot care.
About the right type of diet meeting the nutritional needs of parrots, it is well to remember that parrots require a wholesome, well balanced and varied diet comprising of fresh fruits, vegetables, soft food, protein pellets and mixtures of seed and nuts. To keep alive the instinctive curious nature of parrots and to provide the winged creature quality life and living this type of enriched food is essential.
The cage of the parrot has to be of a comfortable size. The size of the cage has to be in accordance with the variety of the breed – big enough to allow the bird to stretch its wings and play about. The cage should feel like a home to the bird. Parrots are sensitive and can easily be stressed and hence the cage has to be attended to carefully. The bottom of it should be lined with newspaper – a fresh sheet replacing the old one daily. The cage needs to be wiped so as to clean the droppings gathered on the sides, perches and other toys kept inside for the parrot’s entertainment.
Monthly the cage should be disassembled and the entire surface washed out with water using a mild soap. The cage needs to be placed where the owners spend a lot of their time and are able to interact with the parrots. However the kitchen should not be chosen because of the risk that arises from toxic fumes and similar dangers.
Parrots are known for forming strong bonds with their owners. Generally smaller varieties of the breed live for 15 to 30 years. The larger ones have a longer life span stretching from 40 to even 50 years. Thus owning a parrot is a commitment for life. It is vital to socialize with the birds to enhance the quality of their life style.
Parrot owners generally do not associate the bird with grooming. But all through their lives they require good doses of grooming. Their nails and beaks grow continuously and hence need to be clipped every 3 to 4 weeks. Overgrown nails tend to get hooked to perches and hangings and pose a danger. To prevent flight, sometimes the wings are clipped at regular intervals of a couple of weeks. Parrots living in the wild bathe to keep their feathers sparkling. Owners can bathe them or mist the parrots with clean water by spraying them.
Last but not least is the guideline that parrots expect the owners to give them love and quality time to be happy. The needs of the parrots should be researched and understood. The quality of their lives depend on the quality care that the parrot owners give them. Parrots are man’s friends. Love them. Care for them. Spend time to bond with them. In the end the owner will be rewarded with the reciprocated love of a lifelong friend – the parrot pet.