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Keeping Parrot As A Pet
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Author: Silvanus Koh
Topic: Pets
Viewed: 42 time(s)
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Parrots are becoming more popular as pets with each passing day.
This is evidenced by the proliferation of Internet discussion
lists which provide access to information regarding parrot care
and behavior. This upsurge in the number of parrots in homes and
the amount of information newly available does not alert the
companion parrot owner to a very important and pertinent fact -
that parrot keeping is a relatively new phenomenon. The parrot
will live in a cage, so you will need to buy one that is large
enough so that the parrot can spread his wings fully. It should
be made of wire preferably since the parrot would eat through a
wooden one. Make sure the door is large enough so that the
parrot can fit through it, and also ensure that the door can?t
be opened from the inside. Parrots are very smart so you will
need to use a complex door closing mechanism. Remember the
bigger the cage is, the happier the parrot will be, so buy the
largest one you can afford. The parrot will want some toys in
the cage, such as a swinging perch or a squeaking toy. Make sure
that the toy isn?t harmful to the parrot if it is gnawed on. The
bottom of the cage needs to be lined either with shredder paper,
sawdust, straw or sand. The sand will serve as a double purpose
since the parrot can gain some minerals from it, and can also
use it to shape his beak better. The beak will keep growing like
our fingernails and the sand will help filing it to the correct
size. Clean the cage very thoroughly at least once a month. All
the metal bars and the bottom tray should be washed out
thoroughly with a mild detergent and disinfected as well. Make
sure that you clean out the feces of the parrot and leftover
food is cleaned up periodically at least two the three times a
week. The parrot will not like to live in a dirty area and his
life cycle will decrease if he feels stressed all the time. The
parrot likes to be fed in many small meals instead of having one
large meal a day. Pre-packaged parrot food is good for the
parrot too since it will contain the correct mixes of minerals
and vitamins. Make sure that you give the parrot fresh food at
least twice a day and keep it clean and bacteria free. Seeds and
nuts should be fed to the parrot sparingly since these foods are
fatty and contain few nutrients. The parrot will also need a
water bowl with fresh water supplied twice a day. You need to
clean the water and the food bowl each time you refill it to
keep your parrot healthy and happy. The parrot will eat fruits,
nuts, vegetables and grains. Make sure you give him a balanced
diet and give him healthy snacks only. If you want to teach your
parrot to talk, start when he is young since he will then pick
up the language much faster. Keep trying the same word or phrase
on the parrot at the same time of each day, such as ?hello!? or
"how are you?". Make sure the bird is looking at you and paying
attention. Try repeating the words and phrases you want the
parrot to learn and try to say the words when you do a certain
activity so he can learn to associate an activity with a word.
If your parrot already knows some phrases, encourage him to use
them so he doesn?t forget them. Whistling is also a great thing
to teach a parrot, since he will know how to whistle entire
tunes. Even playing records can help your parrot learn words but
do not play the same word all day or the parrot will be very
bored. The parrot will also need to be groomed at least once a
week. You can do this by misting him carefully with a spray
bottle, or even bathing him in a lined sink. Use water that is
lukewarm and use a shampoo that is especially designed for
birds. Parrots love to be in the water, so do not startle him by
splashing water into his face, or he will not want to bathe
anymore. If he does seem to be afraid of water, be gentle and
persist, and soon he will love water as much as you do. Use a
towel to lightly dab your bird dry a little bit but do not rub
him and do not blow dry your bird. Just let him sit in a sunny
corner of your house to dry naturally and make sure he is warm
so he doesn?t catch a cold. The wings should be clipped to
prevent flight, and the nails need to be groomed as well. Do
small amounts of clipping frequently to avoid injury and to keep
the bird well groomed all the time. Make sure you observe the
vet or groom the first few times and have him teach you the
proper techniques before you attempt this, since improper
cutting could hurt the parrot. Let your parrot move around your
apartment at least half an hour every day. As he becomes more
tame and potty trained, you can even leave him out all day, and
put him back into the cage only to sleep and feed. Enjoy your
beautiful, intelligent pet for many years to come as some
parrots can live up to 70 years and above! More information can
be obtain at www.petsfanatics.com
About the author:
Parrots are becoming more popular as pets with each passing day.
This is evidenced by the proliferation of Internet discussion
lists which provide access to information regarding parrot care
and behavior.
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