Post by suzannewright on Jun 15, 2015 20:31:38 GMT -5
There's a lot of bad information floating around out there on the subject of pet parrots. If you're thinking about owning a pet parrot, you should take the time to educate yourself on how to raise these amazing animals as pets. Only then can you provide your feathered friend with a happy, healthy environment. This week, we're going to talk about some of the common myths and misconceptions about owning a pet parrot.
All Parrots Are Loud
This is arguably one of the most common misconceptions people have about pet parrots. You might walk into an exotic pet store only and notice a large Macaw or Amazon screaming "HELLO" right on your face. Yes, there are plenty of parrots which are highly vocal and enjoy mimicking sounds in their environment, but there are also some quieter species.
Some of the quieter parrot species include the following:
African Greys
Senegals
Green Cheeks
Pionus
Budgerigars
Parrots Are Messy
Some people believe that all pet parrots are messy and difficult to keep clean, but this really isn't true. Parrots are actually incredibly clean animals and spend a large portion of the day grooming themselves. Like all pets, though, you'll need to clean their environment on a regular basis.
If you're concerned about the cleaning requirements of a pet parrot, choose a cage with a convenient slide-out tray. Rather than than trying to awkwardly clean their cage by sticking your hands inside, you can simply pull the tray out. Trust me, this otherwise simple feature will make cleaning your parrot's cage ten times easier. Cleaning their cage every couple of days will prevent the growth of bacteria, which in turn reduces the chance of your parrot becoming ill.
Parrots Only Eat Seeds
Parrots will certainly eat a cup of seeds if you place it inside their cage; however, they also enjoy fruits, nuts, vegetables, crackers and other 'goodies.' Don't assume that a seed-only diet meets the nutritional needs of your pet parrot. Most experts will agree that it does not cover all of their base nutrition, and it could even result in a vitamin A deficiency.
A good rule of thumb is to limit your parrot's diet to a maximum of 20% seeds. The rest should come from pellets, fruit, vegetables, etc. This offers a more balanced level of nutrition that encourages healthy growth and development.
All Parrots Are Loud
This is arguably one of the most common misconceptions people have about pet parrots. You might walk into an exotic pet store only and notice a large Macaw or Amazon screaming "HELLO" right on your face. Yes, there are plenty of parrots which are highly vocal and enjoy mimicking sounds in their environment, but there are also some quieter species.
Some of the quieter parrot species include the following:
African Greys
Senegals
Green Cheeks
Pionus
Budgerigars
Parrots Are Messy
Some people believe that all pet parrots are messy and difficult to keep clean, but this really isn't true. Parrots are actually incredibly clean animals and spend a large portion of the day grooming themselves. Like all pets, though, you'll need to clean their environment on a regular basis.
If you're concerned about the cleaning requirements of a pet parrot, choose a cage with a convenient slide-out tray. Rather than than trying to awkwardly clean their cage by sticking your hands inside, you can simply pull the tray out. Trust me, this otherwise simple feature will make cleaning your parrot's cage ten times easier. Cleaning their cage every couple of days will prevent the growth of bacteria, which in turn reduces the chance of your parrot becoming ill.
Parrots Only Eat Seeds
Parrots will certainly eat a cup of seeds if you place it inside their cage; however, they also enjoy fruits, nuts, vegetables, crackers and other 'goodies.' Don't assume that a seed-only diet meets the nutritional needs of your pet parrot. Most experts will agree that it does not cover all of their base nutrition, and it could even result in a vitamin A deficiency.
A good rule of thumb is to limit your parrot's diet to a maximum of 20% seeds. The rest should come from pellets, fruit, vegetables, etc. This offers a more balanced level of nutrition that encourages healthy growth and development.