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Essentials For Your Parrot

25 16:31:25

If you're looking at buying one of our feathered friends, an excellent choice is the parrot. You can teach them how to talk and you will be surprised how quickly they can pick words up. (Just be careful when the Vicar comes around for tea). They are great companions and will always be a talking point when friends pop round.

Obviously, your parrot will need a cage, so you will need to buy one that is big enough so that the parrot can spread his wings fully. Always buy the largest cage you can afford, remember the bigger the cage is, the happier the parrot will be One of the best well known cages is the Montana cage. Made from high quality materials, lead and zinc free Avilon powder coated finish, both horizontal and vertical bars to facilitate climbing and a swing out door with stainless steel cups, Montana provides quality your bird deserves. Under no circumstances use a wooden cage as your parrot would very soon eat his way out to freedom.

Your parrot is going to want some toys in the cage, such as a mirror, a swinging perch, and a squeaking toy etc. Make sure that the toy isn't harmful to the parrot if it is gnawed on.

 

The paper and bottom of the cage needs to be tended to every two to three days (if the parrot is typically messy). Remove any liners and replace them, and discard any shells, seeds, gravel, toys that are destroyed, etc. Clean any toys that will stay in the cage. Ideally it is best to spot clean (clean up any mess that doesn't require too much time - droppings on perches etc) once a day.

Many parrots can live 50, 70 or 100 years. If you aren't ready for this sort of long-term commitment, don't get a parrot. Many bond very closely with their owners, and if you need to give him up later, he will have a very hard time adjusting. Think of your parrot as a 4 or 5 year old child - his responses to many emotional situations will be very similar to a young child's.

If you want to teach your parrot to talk, start when he is still young since he will then pick up the language much faster. Keep trying the same phrase on the parrot at the same time of each day, such as "hello!" every time you walk in the door. 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. 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.

So, there you go, the beginning of a long and rewarding relationship. Good luck.