Before You Buy, Purchasing Supplies for Small Hookbills
© Mary Wilson
Browsing through your local pet store or bird fair, you find the cutest, most adorable little bird you've ever seen. It doesn't matter if it is a parakeet, parrotlet, or lovebird. You love this little creature and you have to take it home. But wait, you don't even know how to begin caring for it.
Fear not, all birds have some basic needs that need to be met. With a few supplies on hand, you can adequately take care of the new arrival. First of all, your bird needs a home. The most basic rule is to buy the biggest cage you can afford. Shopping at bird fairs, or bird marts, may give you the best prices, as will checking out cage manufacturers' web sites. Parakeets need a cage at least 18 to 20 inches square, but I recommend a cage larger than this. After all, your bird will spend the majority of its time in the cage. If you decide on a parrotlet, I suggest a cage at least 24 inches square. It is said that a parrotlet is an Amazon parrot packed into a tiny body. You'll soon find that your new friend has far more energy and a smaller cage can lead to a host of behavioral problems. Make sure the bars on the cage are no less than 1/2" apart.
The cage should be decorated with perches and toys. Birds this size need at least six inches of perch space to themselves so provide plenty of perches in a variety of diameters and surfaces. Several companies make concrete perches, which help trim your bird's nails.
Buy as many bird toys as you can afford. Playing with toys makes up a large portion of your bird's day. If your bird becomes bored, then it may think of other amusing ways to spend its time, ways not quite so amusing to the bird owner. With the toys, make sure at least one is easy to destroy and another offers plenty of outlets for your bird's chewing needs. Although not the "living buzzsaws" that larger birds can be, small hookbills still enjoy chewing and destroying their tows. Along the bottom of the cage, use newspaper
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