Parrot Information
Below are some guidelines we feel are important for every parrot owner to know.
Food
Birds need a well rounded diet. Most parrot's eat a variety of food in the wild. While many Australian parrots rely heavily on seeds, they also eat leafy greens, grains, sprouts, veggies, and even a bug or two! Birds that eat only a seed diet typically have a shorter lifespan and may develop many health issues such as fatty live disease and vitamin deficiencies.
There are many options when buying food for your birds and it may be pretty confusing. You will typically see two kinds on the shelves, seeds and pellets. Seed diets usually consist of oats, millet, sunflower, corn, peanuts, etc, most of which is high in fat. Pelleted diets are usually formulated to contain many of the nutrients that your bird needs. However, neither will provide your bird a balanced diet alone. I feed my birds about 1/3 seed, 1/3 pellets, and 1/3 fresh foods such as broccoli, carrots, sprouts, cooked beans, steamed whole grain rice/pasta, boiled eggs, cooked chicken/turkey, and a special "bird bread".
About the only things a bird can't eat are avocados, chocolate, onions, mushrooms, apple seeds, and the pits of most fruits, i.e. cherry, peach, etc. A good rule of thumb is, if it is bad for you, it is bad for your bird. Salt, sugar, caffeine and alcohol included.
Always provide fresh water. If you wouldn't drink it, they shouldn't either!
Housing
You may think that buying a cage for a bird is a no brainer. However, different types of parrots have different needs when it comes to housing. One cannot place a small bird such as a parakeet in a cage made for a macaw! Many people say that you should buy the biggest cage that you can afford. While generally this is true, if your bird is rarely in its cage you may have no need for a huge cage that takes up lots of room. A lot of people have more than one cage. A small cage to transport to the vet or on trips, and a larger cage for sleeping in.
The best cages make it easy on you to clean and take care of them. Most are designed with pull out grates, trays, and feed doors. Stainless steel is the easiest to clean and sanitize but the more affordable option, powder coating, works just as well. I would avoid cages made in China because many of them contain high levels of zinc, lead, etc. Most parrots like to chew and climb so if they ingest paint flakes they could get sick. You also need to make sure that the bar spacing is not so large that your bird can stick its head through the bars. If it can, it could escape or even break its neck.
Enrichment
Parrots are very intelligent creatures. Toys that stimulate them are essential to their well being. Most parrots also enjoy playing games and being taught tricks. Variety is the spice in a parrots life. Different types of perches, swings, and toys keep your parrots mind and body healthy. Provide your parrot with a variety of toys and things to keep him busy while you are at work.
Hazards
There are many things in the human home that can threaten and endanger a companion parrot. One of the worst is air toxins. Cigarette smoke, fumes from teflon pans, candles, air freshners, and perfumes are a few. Air purifiers are really helpful in keeping your home allergy and toxin free.
Another danger is ceiling fans, mirrors and windows. A bird that is not properly clipped can run into windows and mirrors, or get caught in the ceiling fan, resulting in serious injury and/or death. While not all birds need to have their wings clipped, a partial clip is always a good idea to keep them safe and unable to fly away from you, possibly out the door!