The Care & Feeding of Your Pet Parrot

Parrots can be very entertaining with the ability to mimic not only humans but other animals and even sounds. They are very intelligent and appear to enjoy interacting with humans and at times other animals. They are sensitive to their environment and sometimes picky about what they are eating. If you are thinking of obtaining one of these animals as pets, it is essential that you are knowledgeable about their care and feeding. It will not matter which of the species you select because all of them will require a well-balanced diet and proper care and grooming to be happy.

Most types of parrots are kept as pets but one of the more popular choices for pets would be the African Grey parrot because of their range of vocabulary and ability to mimic. Be sure you do your research and can commit many years of your life to your new pet parrot as most parrots live a long time with the African Grey reportedly living as long as 80 years. You not only have to be committed for the long-term, but you must be loving, attentive and have a good amount of patience to properly care for this pet.

Your pet parrot's diet

Your parrot will require a healthy and well-balanced diet. When they are in the wild, the majority of them will get by on fresh nuts, vegetables and fruits. This means that you need to plan diets to include these items, along with essential protein pellets and seed mixes. By doing this, you will accomplish the necessary items to make the foundation of their eating regimen. Your pet parrot must have a varied diet as they will get bored if their diet only includes protein pellets. Some foods that parrots might enjoy are cooked beans, pasta, bread, peppers and even popcorn (no microwave). It appears that food that's good for us is possibly also good for your pet parrot. Make sure it won't hurt them before you feed it to them.

Grooming your pet parrot

Grooming is an important part of your pet parrots care especially their claws and beak for both theirs and your safety. A parrot's claws and beak can become extremely sharp, especially when they are not properly cared for. You need to trim them on a regular basis in order to ensure that you or your parrot will not get hurt.

Bathing your pet parrot daily is advised. This can as simple as misting them with a spray bottle. They might even enjoy being sprayed with a garden hose. Some people even take their parrot into the shower with them by providing them with a perch. I know one person whose pet parrot bathes while she is doing her dishes. Make sure the water is not too hot or cold and they can dry off within a reasonable time.

Choosing a cage

When you are selecting a cage for your pet parrot make sure it's the right cage for your type of parrot. It should be professionally made with powder coat paint surfaces or stainless steel. They will chew so painted surfaces are not recommended. Make sure the bars are sturdy and aren't far enough apart to get its head through. Normally a square type is best and the bigger the better as they need enough room to flap their wings. It needs to be large enough for their toys and for them to climb around. Be sure you have a way to secure the door as they will figure out how to open them otherwise. Their cage will be where they feel secure so make sure they feel comfortable in it.

Just remember that the key to becoming a responsible owner of a pet parrot will be to show them love, have patience and be really attentive to their needs. Since they are intelligent, curious and unique creatures once you give them proper care and feeding, your parrot could become a lifelong companion. Because they are so intelligent you should take as much time as you can spare to train them. They will appear to enjoy the interaction as much as you will and will look forward to it.