Pet Parrots and You

Pet Parrots are the most lovely birds to have as a pet. Parrots are generally gracious pets that will provide you with companionship for many, many years to come.

Our site will teach you all about Pet Parrots and how to care for your large parrot. Generally people buy pet parrots that are large talking parrots or birds but did you know that a small budgie is still part of the parrot family?

Yes it’s true! Male Budgies can also learn to talk just like their larger pet parrot relations. Their cages and toys are obviously much smaller and handling a small pet parrot is easier than handling a large parrot but intrinsically they are very similar.

Pet parrots have been around for many centuries. Often when we think of pet parrots we think of Long John Silver with his pet parrot sitting on his shoulder. Talking Parrots are such fun to have around and there is definitely never a dull moment when you decide to buy a parrot as a pet.

My favorite pet parrots are the African Gray Parrots. I used to own a lovely one named “Groucho” but unfortunately I had to give him up due to personal problems. My African Gray Parrot became a part of my life and I miss him greatly. We will be talking more about african gray parrots later in other blog posts.

My sister used to breed pet parrots at home and so I have been around them for many years. Sadly my sister passed away and there was no way I could house the pet parrots in my small apartment so we had to put them up for adoption. They did end up going to very nice people but I felt a great loss after losing my sister and then having to part with the lovely birds.

I hope that you enjoy your time on my pet parrots site as we will talk about many things pertaining to pet parrots and especially talking parrots and birds.

Keep coming back and feel free to send your comments. I love to write about our pet parrots and by writing about them it helps to keep them, and my sisters and my love for them, with me in spirit.

Sharron

Pet Parrot Training

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Pet Parrots: Can Parrots Swim?

Many people are curious and want to know if pet parrots can swim. I suppose this should be classified under Pet Parrots Care because it definitely is something that you should be aware of when caring for your pet parrots.

There are many species of birds that can swim, for example we see ducks swimming. In fact, there is an old saying, “He took to it like a duck takes to swimming”. In Germany as well as many other places you can see beautiful white swans swimming in the lake. Penguins can swim. So it seems only natural that people would think that birds can swim.

If you own a pet parrot you will undoubtedly realize how much your bird loves water. Many pet parrot owners will bring their large parrots as well as small parrots into the shower with them and the birds seem to love this. There are actually special perches that can be purchased which will stick to the shower wall in order for your pet parrots to shower with you. I would advise buying these as it is much safer than having a pet parrot such as an african gray parrot or blue and gold macaw sitting on your shoulder. We never advise that any parrot be allowed to sit on your shoulder for reasons dealing with dominance issues. It can be extremely serious if your beloved pet parrot becomes frightened or angry and decides to rip out your eye or take a chunk out of your cheek. Never let a pet parrot rest above your eye level.

It is true that birds do love water and bathing is essential for them to keep themselves clean and healthy. Pet Parrot care is not complete without making sure that your pet can easily bathe him/herself.

Pet Parrots should not be allowed in water which is above their belly. The more shallow, the better. They can do quite a good job of cleaning themselves without too much water.

Pet parrots cannot swim. Their feet are designed differently from ducks and swans. They are not webbed so they cannot paddle themselves through water like their cousins can, therefore please do not allow your pet birds near water deeper than their underbelly and watch them closely. Good grooming is necessary for pet parrot care, so water is necessary, but just be careful and follow the advice above.

Below is a video I found that you will probably find useful regarding bathing your pet parrots:

 

 

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Pet Parrots: Protecting Your Parrot at Christmas

Although Christmas is a wonderful time of year with its many customs and decorations it can be a very dangerous time for those of you who own pet parrots. Whether you own small pet parrots or large parrotsChristmas season that can be perilous to your feathered friends. If you allow your pet parrots freedom to roam the house outside of the cage then you will need to spend even extra attention to them at this festive time of year. there are many dangers lurking in the house during the

The first thing you will need to pay attention to is your Christmas tree. Whether you purchase a real tree or use an artificial Christmas tree there are dangers with both. Pine Needles and Berries are poisonous to pet parrots. Although there are other alternatives, always remember that most Christmas trees have been sprayed with pesticides which bring their own problems if your pet parrot should nibble on it. Trying to keep your pet parrots away from the Christmas tree can be a never ending job.

Another thing to take into consideration is your Christmas decorations. Things such as tinsel and angel hair can easily get caught in your pet parrots’ throat and cause severe GI damage. Also watch out for breakable Christmas balls that go on the tree. Although many Christmas decorations are made of plastic in this day and age, there are many of us who have well worn vintage Christmas decorations that have been passed down from generation to generation as family heirlooms. These glass decorations break so easily and a good nip from a birds beak can break it into smithereens in no time flat.

With all of the Christmas lights, wires and extension cords there are many dangers for your pet parrot to get into trouble with. Be sure to hide these well away from the birds reach so as not to electrocute your pet parrot inadvertently.

Last but not least don’t forget about any holiday plants you may bring into the house. The famous Holly and the Ivy are poisonous to your pet parrots as well as Pointsettias. Keep these well away from your pet parrots.

As you can see, there are many dangers lurking for your precious pet parrots at this time of year. Be sure to make your Christmas safe, not only for yourself, but for your fine feathered friends as well.

Above all else, have yourself a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.



 

 

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Pet Parrots: Small Talking Parrots

Pet Parrots are such a joy to own. Who hasn’t passed by the sign “Pet Parrots for Sale” and not start toying with the idea of actually owning a pet parrot of your own. They are so lovable and entertaining. If you can find a pet parrot that talks it is even more fun.

Choosing which type of pet parrot to buy is always a dilemma for many people. The large parrots are so exotic looking and so many people are drawn immediately to these large parrots. Small parrots are not as exotic looking and so many people will pass them by without giving them much thought at all.

Some small parrots make perfect pets and some of them even talk!

Which are the best small talking parrots?

I would suggest that you purchase a small male budgie if you want a small talking parrot for you and your family. Budgies are often overlooked but they are really great little talkers if you take the time to spend teaching them. Of course, there is never any guarantee that any pet parrot will talk, male budgies do have a good chance. The younger you can get the bird, the better chance you have of getting your small parrot to talk, generally speaking.

Besides their talking ability, choosing budgies as a small pet parrot is easier in the sense that they are easier to take care of than their larger pet parrot counterparts. They are also much quieter than the large parrots. If you live in an apartment then it would be one of the best choices you could make.

I can speak from personal experience. Every male budgie that I have owned which I bought while they were very young, have always turned out to be a good talker. Maybe this is why I always recom

mend the budgie when people ask me for the best small talking parrots.

These days, there is so much choice in color also. No longer do we have to stick with a plain green budgie, although they are really cute too. There are so many lovely budgies on the market in this day and age that I am sure you will find one that you can truly fall in love with.

Therefore, In my humble opinion, the best small talking parrots are definitely male budgies.



 

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Pet Parrots: Large Parrots & Small Parrots

pet ParrotsLarge Parrots and small parrots, we love them all! Pet Parrots are just so adorable and loving, if you know how to take care of them properly. Parrot Care is an important issue and we will deal with this a lot here.

Pet parrots definitely come in a variety of sizes to meet every fancy. I don’t know about you, but many people are curious to know the size of particular parrots and their age expectancy before deciding on which pet parrots to think about.

Some pet parrots are very large but if you live in an apartment and want a smaller parrot then it is best to find out which pet parrots are better for apartment dwellers.

I have made up a list that will help you if you are deciding on which pet parrots to look into based on size and life expectancy.

Pet Parrots Based on Size: Largest to Smallest

(The Canary is not part of the parrot family but I have added it so you can get an idea of the size of the Pacific Parrotlet)

Parrot Species

Size in Metric

Size in Inches

Life Expectancy

Hyacinth Macaw

88 cm

34.64 inches

55 Years +

Hahns Macaw

87 cm

34.25 inches

60 Years +

Blue and Gold Macaw

86 cm

34 inches

50 Years +

Umbrella Cockatoo

45 cm

18 inches

60-65 Years

Moluccan Cockatoo

40-50cm

17-20 inches

60-65 Years

Blue Crown Conure

37 cm

14.5 inches

25 Years

Amazon Parrot

36 cm

14 inches

50-90 Years

Eclectus Parrot

35 cm

13.5 inches

50-75 Years

Green Parrot

35 cm

13.5 inches

50-75 Years

African Gray Parrot

33 cm

13 inches

40-60 Years

Goffin Cockatoo

32 cm

12.5 inches

65 Years

Green Cheek Conure

30 cm

12 inches

25 Years

Nanday Conure

30 cm

12 inches

25 Years

Sun Conure

30 cm

12 inches

25 Years

Cockatiels

30-33 cm

12-13 inches

12-15 Years

Quaker Parrot

27.9-33 cm

11-13 inches

20-25 Years

Senegal Parrot

23 cm

9 inches

20-25 Years

Budgies/Budgerigar

18 cm

7 inches

10-15 Years

Love Birds

16 cm

6 inches

15-30 Years

Pacific Parrotlet

10-14 cm

4-5 ½ inches

12-20 Years

Canary

12.5 cm

4.9 inches

10 Years

If you plan on buying a pet parrot then I strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with proper pet parrot care. The Parrot Training Videos below will help you to learn to handle all types of parrot behavior. Please consider purchasing these DVD’s as part of your pet parrot care.

pet parrots care

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Pet Parrots – How Much Is That Birdie in the Window?

pet parrots amazon If you are like most animal lovers, it is hard to pass a pet store without going inside and seeing all of the cute little pets that are being offered for sale. Pet Parrots are especially fun to watch as they climb up their cage rungs and do their flips and slides around their bird cages. Catching the acrobatics of these lovely pet parrots is quite amusing. It generally doesn’t take long before those old familiar questions come rising up inside asking “I wonder how much he costs?”

Pet Parrots vary in size and the larger the parrot, the larger the chunk from your pocketbook. Smaller species of the parrot family, such as budgies will cost your anywhere from $20.00 – $100.00 dollars, depending on whether they are hand-fed or not. Large Parrots, such as African Gray Parrots, Cockatoos and Macaws can cost about $2-3,000 dollars at the time of this writing. (August 2009).

When considering the purchase of pet parrots the cost of the actual bird is only a part of the equation. There are some basic things that are necessary no matter which type of pet parrots you plan on buying.

Parrot Cages: This is the next most expensive item necessary for your pet parrots and one that you should research very carefully. You will want to have a bird cage which is the right size for your potential playmate. Since you are planning (hopefully) on keeping your new little friend for a long time, you will want something that is not only large enough but also sturdy and easy to keep clean. A parrot cage that has a sliding tray at the bottom are the most convenient. This way you can just slide out the tray daily and clean the debris.

You will also want to look for a parrot cage that has water and feed dishes which are accessible from the outside of the cage. Especially when you bring your pet parrots home, they will require a certain amount of time alone to get used to their new environment. You will want to be able to change their food and water dishes daily without disturbing your pet parrots or making them too anxious.

I always suggest that you purchase the very best and largest cage you can afford for your pet parrots, because they can live a very long time. Some African Gray Parrots have been known to live to 75 years old. This is not the place to skimp on your pet parrots new home.

Parrot Toys of course are also necessary to keep your pet parrots busy and entertained. Again, don’t hold back on buying good parrot toys for your pet parrots. The little plastic ladders from the dollar store can become very dangerous if your bird were to break it and ingest the pieces. Always buy quality materials and you will save yourself money in the long run.Remember, Parrots like to chew everything so be safe with what you buy for parrots toys.

One last thing I would like to mention before ending is that you need to allow extra money for visits to an avian veterinarian. This should be one of the first priorities when buying your pet parrots. You need to be sure that they are in good health, and many people also want to have their pet parrots DNS tested to find out if they are male or female. Male parrots are generally the best talkers if you are looking for a talking parrot. Even little male budgies can be taught to talk also, so don’t give them up when considering pet parrots. If your budget is limited these little parrots can add many years of love and companionship just like their large parrot relatives.

I highly recommend that people purchase the course here below. It will save you a lot of problems when purchasing your pet parrots. Parrot care is a lot more involved than just providing toys for your parrot. You really do need to be informed on how to properly train your parrots, whether they are large or small and this DVD below is an excellent source to help you. Consider it one of the many expenses necessary for proper pet parrot care.

Pet Parrot Training

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