Choosing Your First Pet Bird
Parrots are beautiful, funny, smart and playful. Most parrots have the intelligence of an average 2-year-old child. Certain Parrots even have the intelligence of a 3-year-old! This fact alone should give you pause before you adopt one into your home. That is, if the sticker price didn't get you first!
Parrots demand a great deal of attention, they also scream loudly, make huge messes, and are very destructive. However, for me, they are worth the inconvenience. I personally own nine of them (most of them rescued).
Now, let's talk about parrots in general, and what to expect from them. Most people begin their adventure with birds with a parakeet. According to Encarta, a parakeet is, A small tropical parrot that has a long tail and is usually very brightly colored.
Parrots come in all sizes. The smallest is called a Parotlet. The largest is called a Hyacinth Macaw. All parrots differ in personality as well as size, talking ability, cage size needs, and nutritional needs. Some need more fat in their diets; while others need different vitamins and minerals; yet all require daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Parrots can be very fussy eaters, and it's up to you to figure out what your particular parrot likes to eat. Their nutritional requirements tend to be more complicated than that of a dog or cat.
The basics of parrot care (or any other bird) must include cages, toys, heavy crocks for feeding, water bottles for drinking, spray bottles for bathing and cleaning equipment. Cages should be large enough for a bird to stretch both wings at the same time. Birds are very susceptible to disease, so their cages must be kept very clean. Toys are not only necessary for parrots, but also have to be rotated to prevent boredom. Parrots also need to play with their human on a daily basis. They also require special grooming techniques. Their wings must be clipped to prevent escape; and their talons (claws) and beaks need attention and clipping, if necessary. Parrots also create huge messes when they eat and when they groom (called "preening") themselves.
Not only do parrots cost a lot of money, but also live to be 15-100 years old, depending on the species. This is especially true with the larger parrots. Even the tiny Parotlet has an average life span of 15-25 years!
So many parrots, so little time. (MVA)
The parrots in this article only represent the most
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