PARROT Perils - 5 Dangers to Help Your Pet PARROT Avoid

Timneh African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus timneh) – subspecies of the (Psittacus erithacus). Pet parrot sanding on a cage. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Parrots are beautiful birds. Regardless of whether you have a pet Quaker, Macaw, African Grey, Lorikeet, Cockatoo, or a Red Throated Conure (there wasn’t space for me to name them all); they are wonderful, loving, and colorful additions to our world.

In order to keep them healthy, owners must be ever vigilant about perils that could, in the blink of an eye, take them from us. Here are 5 of the most common perils that face pet parrots and suggestions for how to avoid them.

1. Food Toxicity-When deciding on the best diet for your parrot, you have certainly seen warnings about various people foods that can have devastating consequences if ingested by your bird. These include but are not limited to avocados, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and peanuts. There are several other things to be careful about.

When putting fresh food out (and you should do this daily if possible), make sure you allow the food to stay in the cage for only an hour or so. As you become more aware of your pet’s eating habits, even 30 minutes may be long enough. But the important thing to remember is to remove fresh food before your bird has any chance of ingesting food that is moldy. This can have grave consequences. Change water as often as it takes to keep it fresh.

Feeding your parrot small portions will round out his nutritional requirements by allowing you to feed it a little bit of all the types of food he needs rather than too large a portion of any one food.

2. Injury Outside the Cage-One of the most frequent demises of parrots happens when they are outside the cage. Be sure to go over rooms that you intend to let your bird explore before you release it from the cage. Hide wires, and protect those that are visible from being chewed by encasing them in heavy-duty plastic hoses. Turn off ceiling fans, cover mirrors, and close draperies to prevent your parrot from flying into them.

Put covers on pots on the stove, and put the top down on the toilet. Limit access to other pets while your parrot is on the loose, particularly if there is any chance that there might be aggression for any reason. Avoid opening doors to the outside especially if your bird is a strong flier. Always supervise your parrot closely when it is out of the cage.

3. Injury Inside the Cage-Often injury inside the cage results because the cage is too small or the bars on the cage are big enough for a head or some other extremity to get caught in. Double check the cage you select to make sure it does not have harmful metals or paints that are toxic. Parrots have incredibly strong beaks, so be certain the cage is strong enough to stand up to those powerful jaws. Stainless steel cages take the worry out of this problem because of strength, longevity, and lack of toxins.

4. Dangerous Toys-Because parrots are such strong chewers, a toy that was safe one day may become chewed until it is not. Monitor toys closely and rotate unsafe toys out immediately replacing them with new or other toys that are still safe.

5. Disease and Infection-Birds are programmed to hide illness because in the wild illness would make them subject to attack. So, unfortunately, disease and infections in parrots are often irreversible by the time they exhibit any symptoms. However, cleanliness plays a large part in keeping your bird healthy. Clear away droppings daily or more often if necessary. This keeps minuscule pieces of dried feces from becoming an airborne and spreading disease. Wash food and water dishes daily. Keep floors and walls in the bird’s room clean, and completely sanitize the cage monthly.

You should also keep the air clear of dander, dust, feather and other airborne pollutants that are present in your home’s air even without a parrot. Normal household pollutants such as dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, pollen, other pet dander can all combine to clog your bird’s air passages which makes your parrot more susceptible to illnesses.

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Owning a Blue and Gold MACAW Takes Your Time and Devotion

Photo  by Rodrigo Soldon 2 

More and more people consider owning a Blue And Gold Macaw The truth is only a very few should actually do it.

Simply pay attention to the numbers of Macaws being sold by private owners. Far too often people simply bite off far more than they can chew or don't understand the amount of time, dedication, work, the commitment involved with owning a Macaw parrot.

It is likely the beauty, the out of this world colors, the affectionate/playful natures and overall intelligence of Macaw parrots that make these birds nearly irresistible for animal lovers.

To many people, unfortunately, buy on impulse when they buy one of these magnificent birds. Buying a Macaw is too often based on a delightful casual introduction and not any appreciable amount of before purchase research.

Properly trained, loving and intelligent Macaws are not something that just happens. That bird is the product of love, care, devotion, understanding, and work. For those who own and love the Macaws, it may be the most gratifying work but it works none the less.

The work begins with reputable dedicated breeders hand feeding and socializing the chicks. After purchase that socialization must be a continuing process. Breeder commitment and dedication is the reason that hand-fed babies make the best companions.

By hand-feeding the babies, the breeders instill humans as essential to the babies' existence and as a natural and normal part of his flock. This makes humans a recognizable part of the bird's family.

It takes a real expert to tame a Macaw Blue And Gold or other that is not a hand-fed chick. Most of those will just never become as loving, gentle and happy to be a part of the family as will the hand-fed a bird. The first step in socializing any large companion bird is hand feeding the chicks.

Personal attention by the breeders goes a very long way, helping to ensure anyone willing to continue the process will likely continue to have a good-natured, trainable and loving bird.

Unfortunately most or too many prospective owners do not fully grasp the importance of continuing the socialization process initiated by the breeder. So having a great deal of time and even more, desire to continue the process is mandatory before anyone should buy a Macaw.

With large birds like the Blue And Gold Macaw, the socialization process must be ongoing for life. Left alone to fend on their own Macaws can easily revert. They may become far wilder than a loving, gentle companion.

Left alone too long and or too often the Macaw can easily lose any interest in being that lovable bird and companion you first purchased. He can become that feather plucking, aggressive, extraordinarily loud and destructive bird he is quite capable of becoming.

Done correctly owning a Macaw parrot is every bit as gratifying as owning any other pet, for me it is more. I can think of no other pet that will bond closer or for as long as the Macaw or other large parrots.

For me and maybe because Macaws are not domesticated animals bonding is of a more personal nature. Perhaps it is the sole fact that the Macaws are not domesticated that makes bonding so very remarkable and heartfelt.

The Blue And Gold Macaw is not for the casual pet owner. If lacking the time, dedication and commitment to supplying his needs the Macaw is not a good choice. The Blue And Gold Macaw almost demand you spend your time and that you provide him not just physical care but emotional support also. He can be almost maniacal in his need of your attention but can be just as maniacal when it comes to showing and giving his affection to those within his flock.

Primarily due to his loving and friendly nature. It's seldom that a Blue And Gold Macaw will prefer to be left alone. A well-socialized Macaw will want to be included in everything you do. Most of the time A Blue And Gold Macaw simply wants to be with you helping to do whatever you're doing. He can't help it. It's his nature.

Without a doubt, it is your time, your caring, your devotion and understanding that allow a Macaw to become such an amazing companion. He easily becomes just another beautiful bird without your commitment.

Because owning a Macaw means giving so much of yourself. It is unlikely to ever duplicate the experience with any other type of animal. Life with a Macaw becomes intensely personal and gratifying. The bonus is. The experience can last your lifetime.

By Ryleigh Cantrell - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Discover the YELLOW PARROT of the Amazon

Yellow-naped Parrot or Yellow-naped Amazon (Amazona auropalliata) at Gatorland.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The yellow parrot in the Amazon really has many different appearances; the most noted is the Yellow-headed Amazon which stands anywhere from 15 to 17 inches tall, with a short tall, yellow head and a sturdy body. A sad fact about this yellow parrot is that they are on the endangered list in Mexico and in Central America. The attractiveness of Yellow-headed Amazons continues to increase poaching which is why they have been nearly driven to extinction in the wild. The reason for this is they are so appealing because they make a great pet and are excellent talkers. Their speaking abilities are considered to be outdone only by the African Grey Parrot and matched by the Yellow-naped Parrot.

The Yellow-naped Parrot or Yellow-naped Amazon is considered to be a sub-species of Yellow-crowned Amazon. It is notable by its green forehead and crown and a yellow band across the lower nape of their neck. The reason this parrot is well-liked as a pet is because they mimic sounds, and when in captivity this includes humans and anything else that they hear plus they have a mischievous personality. During the breeding season, males are known to bite because they feel that they are defending their nest.

The Yellow-crowned Parrot averages about the same size as the Yellowhead Amazon parrot their tail is more squares and have mostly all green feathers and dark blue tips which are difficult to see when they are on a perch. The amount of yellow on the parrot varies which is restricted to the crown-region, hence the name. They are usually found in pairs or small flocks and as with most parrots, their foods consist of fruits, nuts, and seeds and berries. They like to nest in hollow trees and they lay anywhere from 2 -3 eggs and the incubation time is only about 26 days about sixty days after hatching they leave the nest.

Amazon parrots such as the Yellow-headed Amazon, Yellow-naped Amazon, and Yellowface parrot (which is declining or has already disappeared in large areas of its former range in Brazil, are all generally kept as pets because of their extraordinary speaking abilities, mischievousness, and agility with their feet. They can live up to fifty years old and make very devoted pets. Nevertheless, even well-taught parrots can become hostile dunning mating season.

These Amazon yellow parrots require more attention than our domesticated cats or dogs. Which involve making sure these birds have plenty of chewing toys and branches. They enjoy chewing wood and should be provided with chunks of pine or fir wood. They also love branches with leaves which they benefit from the nutrients obtained from chewing leaves and green bark. Good types of branches to offer to include willow, honeysuckle, eucalyptus, palms, bottle brush, and fruitwoods. These parrots can be destructive that is why they need non-destroyable safe toys as well. They don't seem to have the nervous plucking of their feathers as some species.

They are very active birds they prosper in an area that allows them to fly and move around, an aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds and would be recommended because unlike cages, aviaries permit the bird to have a larger living space where they can fly. They need a proper diet which would consist of fresh vegetables and fruits, sprouted seeds and grains, and other whole foods that will keep your parrot healthy.

How yellow parrots or any parrot for that matter has been raised will drastically affect its personality. Parrots vary in their temperament, noise level, talking capability, attraction to people and care that they need. They can be a joy to have in your life.

Among the Amazon parrots beside the Yellow-headed, Yellow-naped, Yellow-crowned you will also find the Orange-winged Amazon, and Blue-fronted Amazon, which is as well frequently kept as pets. All of these birds along with Macaws and the African Greys are known for their outstanding vocal abilities.

By Alice Gines - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Regent PARROT - Polytelis anthopeplus

Regent Parrot - Polytelis anthopeplus

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The KEA PARROT - The Clown of the Mountains of New Zealand

Photo by SidPix

The Kea parrot is also known as the "Nestor parrots" and some call them the "mountain parrots". Keas' lives in the South Island of New Zealand, in the high-altitudes, meadows, and mountain range, they nest in burrows under rocks and among tree roots.

The Kea has a life span of 14 to 20 years of age, stands 16-19 inches tall, and weighs between 31 to 35 ounces.  The males and the females have basically the same coloring; which is a dull olive green, their feathers are edged with a dark brown giving them a scalloped look. Their breast is greenish-bronze, the underside of their tail is green and blue with orange and yellow tips, their crown is a yellowish-green and their bill is a solid brown.

One reason they might be called mountain parrots is that their feathers are so thick they can tolerate the cold, snow, and windy conditions in the mountains. Their long slim bill is used to find food between the rocks, they also dig for food using their talons which are long and sharp.

The Kea's diet in the wild consist of seeds, fruits and berries, roots, leaves, flowers and being omnivorous they eat insects, worms and they also other dead decaying animals.

They are very intelligent and very nosy (like they say inquiring minds want to know), if one bird sees something of interest they all will be interested also. They seem to have no fear of humans at all. They will peck the rubber tires on vehicles and sometimes even cause damage; they will carry away anything they can get in their beak, from food to toys and even clothing.

Kea parrots are very social birds and live in groups of 10 to 14 birds They will even help each other to find food and once found will share it with others. This also is a learning experience for the younger Kea parrots.

If a person is thinking about owning one of these parrots they better be able to interact with them because they demand a lot of attention and can be very destructive. Their cage should be at least a sixteen-foot square.  Individuals do poorly in captivity so if you are really brave I would suggest at least having two, to keep each other company when you are not there, if that isn't an option try hanging some mirrors so he doesn't feel so alone. 

Toys are a necessity to provide the activities that these curious and intelligent birds must have to stay physically and emotionally healthy. Give toys that require them to solve a problem; like taking something apart to find food such as dried fruit or nuts or something else to chew on or just taking what he found apart, anything that will stimulate and keep them busy.

Remember also the Kea parrot loves to dig and play in dirt put a box of dirt in the corner of his cage and hide pine cones, nuts, pieces of wood, rattles, and if you can stand it why not some worms.

By Alice Gines - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Training Your Pet PARROT

Photo  by Aidan Jones 

PARROTS are excellent pets. You might quickly find that these particular birds are unquestionably very intelligent and also their ability to be trained to make them fun to train. Remember that any animal which often exhibits signs of high intelligence could very well become bored, which means that your role really should be to train your pet parrot and in addition spend the time it's going to take to help with making the bird into a magnificent pet. It will need a little to train a bird, however, with the proper training program, your parrot will provide you with numerous years of friendship.

It is possible to train your parrot once you stick to a couple of simple steps. Anytime "school is usually in" to the parrot, it's always best to take your bird from his or her parrot cage and work in a small low-noise space. Your parrot might be more likely to be receptive and remember instruction when it is inside a new surrounding. The other challenge you ought to try, do away with pretty much all disturbances in your house. When your parrot has become diverted during the training, it won't be taught well. This indicates that you need to power down radio stations, television, and possibly even the handset. Also, realize that parrots are much just like children. They've got very short attention spans, for this reason, small exercise sessions are usually beneficial.

Additionally, begin to set up your parrot's training program time near to their life schedule, not yours. Following a treat is actually, the perfect time with regard to training since your parrot would be content and definitely will be aware. Your parrot will take delight in plenty of compliments. Even though you may find that you have not been successful, don't allow your bird to realize your levels of stress get higher. This will make it a distressing experience relating to your bird and you'll have a harder time helping your bird involved in learning later on in life.

If you find yourself willing to teach your parrot a fresh, new trick, your pet parrot will obey well to sweets and as well as rewards. Remember the fact that almost all creatures react much better to compliment as compared to punishment. Attempt to avoid hitting your parrot, even if they are behaving mischievously. Ignoring this behavior will be your very best wager whenever training your pet parrot. Birds do not understand punishment or unfavorable reinforcement. In reality, if you actually react to your parrot's inappropriate behavior, your pet might actually notice this as praiseworthy attention. Remember the fact that while your parrot will enjoy food treats as rewards, try to accentuate the favorable and boost effective conduct with lots of rewards and playtime. Otherwise, your parrot may only execute the tricks you desire them to be able to when some kind of food reward can be acquired.

Repetition is actually the key to successfully training your pet parrot. Repeating these types of basic steps repeatedly till your pet "gets" the technique is a good method to train your parrot to perform. This will work nicely with regard to basic instructions and superior tricks. If you have just gotten your pet parrot, begin out with very easy tricks, for instance teaching your parrot to sit on your hand on demand. Choose a word for each trick and employ it whenever you train. Above all, never ever force your parrot to train. If you realise your parrot is usually exhausted or maybe uninterested, then halt and try out again yet another time.

When your parrot learns way more instructions together with tricks, you can start shifting your training program closer and closer to the bird's cage. As they start to get better at their new skill, they may feel safe executing in his or her cage and additionally in the hustle and bustle within your home. Birds quickly learn more likely than not, and often by merely tuning in when they are not in training, that might result in humiliation to you if he or she learns something inappropriate.

Teaching a parrot will take a good deal of time and determination. You will need to really enjoy your parrot and furthermore need a great deal of your time and commitment. if you want to make this particular loving relationship worthwhile. Thanks to patient exercise along with love, you have a really good and well-behaved pet that is along with you for a very long time into the future

Jerry Kum - ArticleSource: GoArticles

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QUAKER PARROT: Just What You Need To Know

Monk Parakeet or Quaker Parrot (Myiopsitta monachus). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you want a bird who can talk, a Quaker parrot is the one you're looking for because parrot Quaker training is easy. It is a fast-learner, develops a bond with the owner, and loves to be around people.

Results would be better if just one member of the family would teach a parrot how to talk. Even so, you can hear the bird imitating the other members of the family as well.

Have you seen a Quaker parrot up close? It is a mid-sized engaging parrot, growing to around 1 foot in length. A Quaker parrots' top is bright green, its chest and face are colored white to grey, although as years have gone by and breeding has taken place, the colors have changed a little

The family's pet parrot

Two things can describe this parrot: affectionate to its owners and very gentle. This makes it perfect for little family members. Larger parrots on the other hand might not be since they become aggressive when mad.

Color

Originally, these Quaker parrots were green and white but since the species evolved during the years, and due to breeding in captivity, there are a variety of color combinations and different shades, too.

Toys

An active parrot likes to play around with toys, especially if he is home alone or when there is no family member available to play with him. A climbing gym, the ones with bells is a good example and will surely keep him amused for a very, very long time.

Would you consider keeping a Quaker parrot as a pet?

This kind of parrot would be a very good pet not just because it is affectionate and gentle but it adapts well to different environments. This is a very big advantage when keeping a pet bird but we all know that if there is a positive side, there must be a negative side.

Some states do not allow keeping the Quaker parrot as a pet. Because it can adapt well, these parrots that have often flown away have caused problems in the agri-industry and that's why they have been considered illegal. Sadly, if these are found anywhere in the states, they will be killed. Check laws first before considering buying a Quaker parrot, especially if you live in the southern areas of the United States.

If you do decide to keep a pet bird then you will find parrot Quaker training easy because of its intelligence.

By Kaye Dennan - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Hey Parrots Train Your Parents To Start Training You

Photo: Pixabay

Happy parrots enjoy training every day. Parrot potty training is one of the easiest things that we can learn.

If you want to be a happy bird like me you have to train your parents to spend time and invest in training you.  Let's face it we don’t like to be stuck in a cage or on our stands all day screaming our heads off.  We are going to live a long time so we might as well be happy.   Read on to learn how I was parrot potty trained.

If you’re not a happy bird like a lot of us are or were at one time, tell your parents to just start spending time with you.  One of my favorite things to do is to sing with my parents.  They’re not that talented so I enjoy training them how to sing.

For you parrots out there who like to come out once and while but you get put right back because of you poop on the floor or the furniture, tell your parents to start parrot potty training you.  It’s very easy to learn.  Here is how my Papa taught me.  He waits for me to poop in my cage while saying to me "sit" because sit sounds nicer than go poop.  Then when I do he takes me out and plays and cuddles with me for a short time.  Then he puts me back in my cage and tells me to "sit again" and when I do (so to speak) he takes me out and plays and cuddles with me again.  After a short time the only place that I want to "sit" is in my cage or on my play stand.  Tell your parents potty training parrots is much easier than potty training dogs, cats or even children.

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SENEGAL PARROTS: Five Things They Love Doing and Some Other Behavioural Traits

Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus) at Philadelphia Zoo. Photograph shows the front upper body. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is a pleasure for me to write in detail about five things which our Senegal parrot loves to do after many years of close observation of his antics. Some things, I hope, may still surprise other owners and I hope that I can, at the most, encourage people to own a Senegal and, at the least, add to the overall collective knowledge in praise of these little rays of Senegalese sunshine.

Firstly, if I may, a quick background note as to how we came to own our green and yellow feathery-beak of fun, aka Choi, for 15 years. He was the type of case wherein he was passed from owner to owner until my partner brought him home one day as the result of a rescue mission. No cruelty involved, fear not, but he had seen him (and we call him 'him' because to this day we still don't know what sex he is) at his friend's flat, whistling and walking upside down in his cage. He knew there and then that he would be the one to give him his final home as he had been passed 'from pillar to post' more often than any parrot should be and, fortunately, his friend gave his consent as he was really too busy to care for him properly. As it happened, I could not believe this was the same parrot I had seen in a cage hanging up in a fruit shop in the high street (in yet another previous ownership), whose legs were constantly shaking (now I realise with cold or fright, for they never shook once he was ours) and earned him the 'then' name of 'Shaky'. Little could I have imagined at the time that we would end up owning the very same little parrot. So, in short, our ownership of him was quite serendipitous.

Here are Choi's five fun things that he loves doing:

1. Getting Up Early On Sunny Mornings He instinctively knows it is a bright sunny morning despite being covered up in a dark room overnight. Just in the same way, he knows when it is a cold, dull morning and his enthusiasm to come out is as damp as the day. He absolutely loves sunny mornings, no doubt because he is from Senegal, so get out of bed, let him out fast and let him whistle, screech, fly around like a helicopter for all he is worth! He will dive-bomb you incessantly with his exuberance of greeting the bright day, so watch out, but it is all great fun and he will raise your spirits too. Garden birds at the window are at their liveliest in the morning too, so there is quite some 'party' going on what with all the noise from him and 'his' birds.

We decided early on that he was going to have a lot of freedom out of the cage during the day so we never have a problem with him flying around the room. Actually, we have found that he does not excrete all over the place as you might expect, but has his 'favourite' few perches where he lands with old newspaper placed on the floor at the ready, of course. It is worth giving him the freedom of the room to fly around and, actually, I would be concerned if someone owned a parrot that was confined to a cage all the time.

2. Chewing Cardboard He adores chewing through small boxes of cardboard - his favourite is an egg box. It must be that particular chewy consistency. We make a tent on top of his cage, like a sort of 'house extension', by putting his feeder pole in the middle to form a peak and then hanging his night blanket over it. He often walks in there like a Tyrannosaurus Rex (and those of you who have a Senegal will be familiar with that particular gait!) and lurks in the shadows, hiding behind residual bits of other cardboard. If you so much as tentatively touch a bit of cardboard box with the end of a pencil he will 'crash out' at you like a T Rex as well - yes, you know he can be very scary! One particular time, we noticed he was 'on a roll' with his cardboard chewing and kept bringing him in an ever-so-slightly bigger box to chew than the last time we came in, which he continually made an enthusiastic grab for.

They started to get beyond the bounds of what you would expect he could cope with chewing. It actually got to the point where we came in with quite a substantial size of a cardboard box and we knew when he eyed it up in readiness that this had gone too far! He was actually prepared and waiting to take this huge thing on board and start dismantling it! Suffice to say we diverted him with a monkey nut as you will appreciate when we discuss that much-loved item further down the list below. He also loves these heavy-duty whiskey bottle cardboard containers. If you dislodge the end bits it gives him the toughest chew ever and, even better, a tunnel to run through back and forth. It adds a particular challenge for him if you put your face at the other end of the tunnel and gives him extra impetus to 'charge'! This leads nicely onto his next fun thing to do...

3. Looking into Dark Tunnels I would never have believed how hypnotised he becomes with the sight of a dark tunnel. In this instance, I mean a certain 'shaping into a dark hole' of the neck or sleeve of a jumper you can achieve while it is innocuously lying on the back of a settee. If you open up the neck of an idle black sock into a shape of a tunnel or manage to shape a dark entrance to a hat when not in use, he will fly down and approach them with stealth, rattling into an entrance of said dark holes and tunnels and stand guard by them ferociously. We can't get near these items when this obsession has overtaken him! He has absolutely no fear of dark tunnels. There could be all sorts of beasts lurking inside for all he knows but it makes no difference. We have only discovered this peculiarly fun trait in him in the last couple of years and it is something we would never have dreamt would turn out to be so absorbing for him. Now we enjoy propping up hats, jumpers and socks in tunnel-shaped formats for his amusement (so long as it amuses us enough at the time too!)

4. Eating Monkey Nuts If we were to put three parrot-type tantalising foodstuffs in a row, let's say, a slice of tangerine, a monkey nut and any other kind of nut or fruit - there is no question that he would pick the monkey nut - the monkey nut wins hands down every time! It would not matter what the choices were, it is the monkey nut or nothing! I have tried to offer him all sorts of luxury nuts from Christmas packs but nothing else will do. He is very fond of cashews but, you guessed it, monkey nuts rule supreme.

5. Looking at Mirrors He has an extraordinary obsession with mirrors and he will roost beside his reflection contentedly for hours on end, after an introductory fight or flight session with his reflection of course. He has his own mirror noises. If we were blindfolded we would know by the noises that he makes that he had landed on a mirror in the room somewhere. Word of warning here though - don't let him land on a big vanity mirror on your wall for long or he will start chewing the frame. The same warning goes for pictures as he is attracted to the reflection of the glass within the frame, so beware. One of these fun activities that have to be supervised, I'm afraid.

It has to be mentioned at this point that if it had not been for his love of the last two items we would grievously not got him back down out of the trees when he flew up one branch too many one fateful days. It was actually Midsummer's Day - the shortest night of the year thankfully - when we took him down the country lane on a picnic with us. Stupidly, we were delusional about how well-behaved he would be with regard to staying close to his cage in our company. Of course, he was only used to the closeness of a room in the house and didn't know that he could really - really - stretch his wings out here. He had been sitting on top of his cage for a short while, not knowing any better than to do such, but when we leveraged a branch-type stick at him to climb on, it 'spooked' him a little as it was unfamiliar material and he flew up onto a nearby branch above us. Of course, he flew on up to another, then another until he positively revelled in the fact that we couldn't even see him through the thick greenery of the high-summer tree foliage.

It was the longest remainder of the day - a nightmare situation. There were endless periods of him ignoring our entreaties to come down when we did catch sight of him, then horror-filled moments of crows chasing him and I could not believe the number of birds of prey that were nesting about the trees at that time. We actually had to leave him overnight, believing him to have crossed over the river and never believing that he would cross back again. However, I heard him screech very early in the morning, after a blessedly short night, from far down in the field again and we hurried there with his cage. Suffice to say, after relentless flashing upon flashing with mirrors and long held-out monkey nuts he circled precariously downward towards us from the very tree I had last seen him in. God knows how he crossed back over the river to it and, seriously, God does know because I do consider it a miracle when I think about the horror of seeing some crows chasing him.

The point of this cautionary but thankfully uplifting tale is that, again, if it had not been for his love of mirrors and monkey nuts it would have been doubtful if he could have trusted his perspective to fly from the tree down to the cage again. Luckily he was extremely hungry. With one foot in the cage and the other holding onto the door, he had the cheek to act as if we were the Monkey Nut Men and he would just fly on upwards again after he had eaten his fill. A swift, smooth, firm, forward pressure manoeuvred him into the cage, however, and a similarly swift, smooth, firm closure of the cage door followed forthwith - as you can well imagine! He spent a full night and day asleep up on the curtain rail to recover. We remain humbled and chastened by the event to this day as to how we could have endangered him so by our stupidity. May I also add what an extremely brave little bird he proved to be by outflying his pursuers and surviving this episode, finding himself so suddenly out of his comfort zone? Such incredible courage. How on earth did he find his way back over that river? It made me believe in miracles.

Two final endearing factors... I don't know of a better 'Sir Jimmy Savile OBE' impersonation given by bird or mammal. You know the gorilla-thumping-chest type 'uh-ah-uh-ah-uh-ah' noise he used to make on 'Top of the Pops' (UK residents only perhaps!)? We still intend to shoot a video of it if we can ever get him to do it on cue.

Also, he never ever gives up trying to land on my partner's head or back, while flapping his wings furiously (very funny to watch!) when he sees a good 'strike' opportunity. It's taken in good spirit because actually, he is a one-man parrot and my partner is the only one who can stroke him behind the ears, under his chin and is generally the hand that feeds him and 'feathery' knows it. However, I love the way you can actually see him plotting and thinking, 'I'm going to get him today..yes, today...'

Suffice to say, I could never go back to a 'budgie' (budgerigar) after a Senegal parrot. We have no idea how old he is but we feel blessed to have him in our lives for however long we all shall live!

By Gillian Naismith - Article Source: EzineArticles

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PARROTS Of The World

Congo African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus).
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many parrots of the world have become popular as house pets. To some new owners, their particular parrot is the most beautiful. To other new owners, all the parrots of the world are gorgeous, with flashing colors of red, blue, green, and yellow.

Most of the parrots of the world come from warm climates such as West Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Australasia, South and Central America.

Parrot Families

All parrots of the world belong to the order Psittaciformes. In that order, there are two different families: Cacatuidas and Psittacidae. Cockatoos belong in the first family, while the second includes all the true parrots of the world.

Each family of parrots has subfamilies within it, and subspecies within that. Macaws, for example, belong to the Psittacidae family. Macaws are a subfamily group. Among macaws, there are at least 17 members:

* Hyacinth
* Glaucous Macaw
* Lear's Macaw
* Spix's Macaw
* Blue and Yellow Macaw, or Blue and Gold Macaw
* Caninde Macaw
* Military Macaw
* Buffon's Macaw
* Scarlet Macaw
* Green-winged Macaw
* Red-fronted Macaw
* Yellow-collared Macaw
* Chestnut-fronted Macaw, or Severe Macaw
* Red-bellied Macaw
* Illiger's Macaw
* Blue-headed Macaw
* Red-shouldered Macaw

Most Popular

People differ in their opinions of which parrots are more well-liked. Some look at the trendy parrots. Others consider the most prevalent in the pet stores. Some speak of which is more popular in this country or that, but of all the parrots of the world, the 5 most often dubbed popular are these.

1. Parakeets: The common Parakeet, Budgerigar to be more precise, is from Australia, and is often chosen as a pet for children or those who are beginners at bird care, partly due to its low price.

Colorful little "Budgies" are hardy, require little space, and are much lower maintenance than larger birds. They are very intelligent, and although content to whistle or sing quietly, some do learn a few words. The name "Budgerigar" comes from the Australian Aboriginal name for the parrot. It means "good eating" but most "Budgie" owners would be horrified to hear you say so. Among the many parrots of the world, this is probably the least expensive in both initial and upkeep costs.

2. Cockatiels: Other Australian species, these medium sized parrots are known for sophisticated whistling and singing. While they can be taught to speak, many people find that the birds would rather whistle, and mimic random sounds, such as a ringing cell phone. A disadvantage to the cockatiel is that it uses a powdery substance to keep its wings water-proof, so owners often find their fingers dusty after handling the bird.

3. Sun Conures: Among the parrots of the world, Sun Conures are one of the brightest. Their plumage is red, orange, yellow, blue, and green. Sun Conures have been known to talk well, but beware! These parrots often screech and scream rather than talk. Their 12-inch length means they will require a smaller cage than larger parrots, but you and your family may require earplugs. If you train your Sunnie to lower its voice, you will enjoy its antics, as these parrots tend to be playful.

4. Parrotlets: Parrotlets, especially Pacific Parrotlets, are one of the smallest known parrots of the world - about 4 inches in length! They are also one of the most pernicious and spunky of all the parrots of the world. These tiny parrots learn to talk in a voice that sounds like that of a robot. This tiny voice, their size, and the fact that they do not scream, make them ideal for those who need a quiet companion.

5. African Greys: African Grey Parrots are probably the most intelligent of the parrots of the world, and indeed, of all birds. These parrots are not as colorful as some. They are mainly grey, as the name implies. They do have a bright red or maroon tail, though, depending on the subspecies. African Greys excel at mimicry, sometimes learning as many as 1-2000 words. They learn other sounds, too, and may quickly learn to imitate a jet engine if you walk through an airport with them. Among the many parrots of the world, these may be the most demanding. Just like your toddler, these birds get bored and want their owners to provide entertainment. If you are looking for an intellectual, loyal, and affectionate parrot, the African Grey is probably a good choice.

How Many Different Parrots Are There?

All told, parrots of the world number more than 350 different species and subspecies! Due to loss of habitat, climate changes, hunting, and the trade in live birds as pets, some parrots have become extinct. Others are listed as threatened or are on the "endangered species" list.

Life Expectancy

People who purchase a parrot, purchase a commitment that is likely to continue throughout their lives and beyond. Most parrot owners are already 20 years old or more, and parrots themselves often have a life expectancy of more than 50 years. Some live to be nearly 100 years old. Added to that long life expectancy, many parrots of the world tend to bond with a single person. If that person breaks the bond in some way, the parrot may die.

Before you ask a parrot to be your companion, think it through carefully. The bird may outlive you.

By Anna Hart - (c)2007 - Article Source: EzineArticles

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SENEGAL PARROT - 5 Personality Traits That Make the Senegal a Great Pet Parrot

A juvenile Senegal Parrot. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The African Senegal Parrot has worked its way up on the list of top picks for pet birds. Here are 5 of its best personality traits that help make it a great choice for a pet Parrot.

Quieter Than Many Parrots-Sometimes the Senegal is listed as a quiet bird which is absolutely true, except when it's not. Even though they are not prone to making screaming and screeching sounds as frequently as some parrots, when they want to be heard they have no problem making it happen. In their defense, they are not usually noisy except when excited or wanting attention. And as always, a lot will depend on your individual bird.

Can Entertain Themselves-These are pretty independent birds that do well without another bird sharing the cage with them. With a variety of toys that are rotated in and out of the cage frequently, they are happy spending their days exploring, swinging, climbing and chewing their toys for stimulation. They still will need to spend several hours out of the cage each day for proper exercise. They will also need several hours of human interaction daily to remain tame and to continue to foster trust and affection between caregiver and bird.

Talkers-Many learns to speak well, while others tend to sound mechanical when speaking. There are still others who never learn to speak at all but enjoy whistling, and imitating household sounds such as doorbells, alarm clocks, or microwaves. There are a number of videos and books written about the best way to get your bird to talk, but ultimately they are no guarantee that the bird you've chosen will do so. The best way to ensure that your bird will talk is to hear it talk before you buy it.

Highly Trainable-Senegals enjoy short, but regular training sessions for tricks with the outcome being great tricks and a stronger bond between you and your bird. Remember to go slowly, be consistent, and reward with a treat when they have done a good job for you. Never, ever, scold or punish your bird if it does not meet your expectations. This will only injure your relationship with your bird and lessen the chances of getting your Parrot to learn the trick.

Fun and Entertaining-With proper toys, perches, ropes, and a swing or two they are energetic birds that are highly entertaining. Watching them can be a lovely way to unwind any time you have a minute to watch the show.

By Debbie Davis - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Different Types of MACAWS, Some History and What to Look for From the Breeder

Photo: Pixabay

These Macaw parrots are beautiful and have very bright colors. They are part of the parrot family and there are several types. They originally come from Central and South America rain forest. In their natural habitat, they flock from anywhere 10 to 40 other birds. Macaws are very loud squawkers and screamers in their natural habitat echoes through the forest. There are plenty of nuts and fruit to blend in with and eat. There are 17 species of Macaws they are extremely intelligent and very social birds. 

They have long tail feathers. They will sleep in the trees at night for protection and in the morning they are out looking for snails, bugs, fruit and nuts. The male Macaw takes care of his family. They actually mate for life; he feeds the female and the young. They are a very playful bird and will make good pets if you put time and effort into training and socializing with him or her. That means training and learning all about the needs of these beautiful colored birds. Make life good for them and they will make life grand for you. You will have a great relationship together. There are several varieties that are extremely close to being endangered and they are the Hyac, Red -Fronted and also the Blue-Throated Macaws. There are two types sadly already extinct they are the Glaucus, and the Spix Macaw is gone from the wild. If you are interested in one of the Macaw do your homework. 

Because remember if you take good care of your Macaw they will live as long as you or longer. This is a lifelong commitment. You can talk with Macaw owner through forums and other internet sites for their experience and to learn more about the bird. The internet is a massive place to learn more about Macaws.

How to pick out your first bird:

Assuming you did all the necessary research. I feel the best bet would be a breeder because they have more birds to pick from of the same kind and has the most knowledge of the birds. This is very important to know as much about the Macaw as possible where ever you buy. Find out whatever information you can, this will help you with the discussion of the Macaw you want to pick. You could also buy from a reputable pet shop but most likely they will not know too much about the bird. Also, the most pet shop isn't going to have a good selection like the breeder.

You might also think about having your new bird checked by an avian veterinarian before you take it home. The breeder will sometimes have the bird checked out by his avian veterinarian he will have the result and the price of the bird will most likely be higher. They will check for the CBC and culture of the throat and vent and also a Chlamydia screen. One other thing you should know if buying from a breeder find out if the parrot is weaned or not. It is better if it is because this is a very stressful time for the Macaw. If you have other birds at home you might want to quarantine them for about 30-45 days. Just to be on the safe side. The health of your Macaw is very important.

Here are some Macaws you may want to look into.

The Blue and Gold Macaw:

A very popular, playful, and fun a loving parrot. This parrot usually adapts easily to its surroundings and has a very good personality.

The Hyacinth Macaw:

By far the largest Macaw it is nearly 4 foot in height with a very large wing span probably not a starter parrot. This Macaw would do better with his own room.

The Red Fronted Macaw:

This Macaw is about 2 foot high and has a very nice sounding voice.

Here are a few more you could look into.

The Scarlet Macaw:

The Military Macaw:

The Green-Wing Macaw:

In conclusion: These parrots need lots of room and a commitment to give them a considerate amount of attention. Some of their downfalls would be that they are very noisy and apartment live is probably not going to work. They are a lot messier than the small parrot. But if you have the room and the commitment these parrots are wonderful.

By Glenn Byers I started internet marketing for extra income and found out I really liked building these small niche sites and doing the research on all the different subjects. I have some health problems which slows me down on my small farm so this helps me out. I get to meet people on the internet and sometimes help them with their problems with pet care and how to handle their animals. Just wanted to say thanks for reading my article and I hoped it helped someone out there. So if you get a chance, I have more articles on different parrots here, take a look at my website at http://www.amazingparrottips.com/ Article Source: EzineArticles

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BREEDING PARROTTS - It's Not As Simple As You Think

A female Australian King Parrot (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Breeding parrots is not a simple task for the true parrot lover. I recently read an article written by a devoted parrot parent who described some of the trials and tribulations involved with breeding. Some of the difficulties mentioned were as follows:

° The death of one mating partner and the grief held by the surviving bird can often result in that birds death also.

° Abandonment of a nest of eggs or chicks.

° Death caused by illnesses such as egg yolk peritonitis.

° When weaning the chicks it takes a constant effort to feed and clean up after them. Your life and schedule is determined by the needs of the chicks.

° Breeding pairs are noisier than normal birds creating an undue amount of clamour.

° Sometimes the mating pair just don't get along and will not mate, and you now have two birds to try and find mates for.

° Selling the chicks once weaned, and having to deal with people who are untrained and have no idea how to raise and care for your chicks.

° Having to haggle over the price for your hand raised chicks.

These are just a few of the items discussed in this article. Nevertheless, the author continues to breed parrots because of those owners who do adopt, love and care for their hand raised birds.

This article illustrates that one should always spend some time researching matters like breeding before taking on the task. There's a great deal of information available for those contemplating breeding parrots that a person should read and study. It is not as simple as just letting a couple of birds mate, raising the chicks and then selling them off.

How knowing about breeding can help in parrot adoptions

When looking at the breeding process from the standpoint of a breeder, it helps the shopper for a pet parrot in evaluating their choice. If you're looking to adopt a parrot you should look for a breeder that shows the devotion, love and caring for their flock as the writer of the earlier discussed article.

The most important factors in setting the stage for a bird's future life are established during the weaning process. If a parrot breeder has shown, the skill, the love and caring while weaning a parrot chick, the person who adopts such a bird will have a happy and joyous addition to their household.

When adopting a parrot from a parrot breeder, a prospective parent needs to learn about what it takes to be a good breeder and then once armed with this information they will be better suited to evaluate how their chick was weaned.

A good breeder will be willing to spend the time with a perspective buyer to explain how the chick was weaned, what foods that particular species needs and likes, and other details needed for a happy life. In actuality, a buyer should feel that he or she is being evaluated to determine if they will make a good parent. If a parrots breeder shows this kind of concern, then the prospective parent may have just found the right breeder to adopt from.

By T Charles - Article Source: EzineArticles

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