Talking Parrots

“What is a good Senegal parrot diet ?”, you may asked.  Well, there are many parrot species out there but before you look for parrot supplies from parrot food stores, knowing a little bit about parrot diet helps. Every parrot needs a different kind of parrot food.  Making sure that they get the right one for their species will help them live longer and healthier.

A diet composed mostly of seeds is not what a parrot needs to survive. Instead, it needs all kinds of fruits and vegetables, as well as other foods, in order to keep it healthy and happy.

Parrots sometimes seem to do well on a seed based diet. This isn’t because this is the appropriate diet for them, but because parrots are relatively hardy birds. Seeds don’t provide enough calcium and vitamin A and are too high in fat. This can result in a bird that is overweight and suffering from vitamin deficiencies.

Large parrots should have only about ten percent of their diet made up of seeds, while cockatiels and budgies, which naturally eat more seeds, can tolerate up to a quarter of the diet in nuts and seeds.

Pellet foods are a better choice than seed mixes for owners who want a convenient, balanced diet for their birds. These are nutritious and easy to offer. They’re made up of all the important components of the wild parrot diet, combined according to species.

However, they can get boring – after all, parrots crave stimulus. That’s why it’s a good idea to supplement a pellet diet for your parrot with other foods, too. Consider making the pellet diet about half to two thirds of the parrot’s total diet, and filling in the rest with other food.

Offer fresh fruits and vegetables, either chopped or in large chunks. You can even hang them on the side of the cage to encourage problem solving. Good parrot vegetables include squash like cucumber and zucchini, carrots, sweet potato, eggplant, corn right on the cob, green beans, cauliflower and sweet peppers.

Choice fruits include melon, pineapple, kiwi, mango, papaya, cherries, apples, grapes, bananas, oranges, pomegranates and peaches. Remove all seeds to prevent poisoning.

Never feed your parrot avocado, chocolate or chocolate products, caffeine or alcohol, or any fungi. These can be toxic to your bird.

Offer only foods that have natural colorings and no preservatives, and avoid food with too much salt, sugar or fat.

Whole grain breads, cereals and pasta are a good idea for many birds, as well. Remember – many behavioral problems with your parrot are actually because it’s malnourished and feeling ill.

A responsible parrot owner will learn to take care of their bird properly, so it’ll live a long and healthy life.

By Roderick Fraser

It’s funny how we refer to the yellow headed Amazon parrot as yellow parrots when in fact they are mostly green. The yellow part of the parrots we refer to is in fact the crest on its head and around the face. When we talk about yellow parrots there are many sizes and species, in this case we are talking about the star of yellow parrots. The yellow headed Amazon parrot.

They are a marvelous talker to be only outdone by the African Grey. Obviously the ability to talk comes down to the individual bird.

The yellow headed Amazon parrot is known to come in about 27 subspecies. In the wild they are considered to be an endangered species and are known to be in the wild throughout most parts of South America, the Caribbean, and parts of North America. Unfortunately they become an endangered species because of the popularity as a pet. Therefore, smugglers tend to target these wonderful birds in the wild and it is believed that as many as 90% of the birds perish before they reach pet shops.

Whereas the largest of all parrots is the Hyacinth macaw of South America, the star has to be the yellow headed Amazon. This wonderful parrot became known to the world from the time of Christopher Columbus. They apparently most commonly see in movies and on TV because of their wonderful abilities as a talker and brilliant mimic as well as their gorgeous colours. They are like the star of the parrot world.

Parrots are quite demanding as a pet any time, the yellow headed Amazon is more demanding than most. They are as intelligent as a three-year-old child and like any child if they don’t get what they want they are certainly known to throw a tantrum. And only demand attention and love this particular parrot requires plenty of room to move about and play.

The best type setup for the parrot of this size and temperament is to have a large aviary or even better a large cage in a room large enough that they can step out to fly and play. They certainly need to be exercised every day.

Like all stars yellow parrots can have a tendency to over indulge. They love food and have a tendency to become well … overweight. If they get bored and don’t have enough toys and activities to keep them entertained they will eat out of boredom. It is strongly recommended you provide your Amazon with a balanced diet of fresh natural foods including things like a good mix of vegetables and fruits and mixed parrot seed.

Amazon parrots make wonderful pets but they are certainly not for the inexperienced. They require the attention and handling of someone who has been around parrots were some time. They can be temperamental and are known to be quite destructive. On the other hand with training and lots of activity they can be an absolute joy. They love lots of variety in their toys, food and environment. To put lots of things in their cages such as branches, leaves, wooden toys, freshwater, and fresh colourful food.

It’s that time of year again and Christmas will be here before you know it. How time flies! Here is your friendly reminder to help keep your parrots safe as we enter another holiday season. Don’t forget to share this with your friends!

A little planning, some supervision, and a few things to watch out for can go a long way toward both you and your bird having a happy holiday. If I have forgotten anything, please let me know and I will build on this article for next year!

Stress

We all know Christmas can be a stressful time for us humans. Our parrots must think we have lost our minds. New people around, strange decorations, etc. Stick to your bird’s regular schedule as much as possible, don’t forget the lovin’ and playtime. Oh, and make sure there is plenty of time for a good night’s sleep for both you and your bird.

Decorations

Be careful of Angel Hair, it’s spun glass and that just can’t be good for anyone that eats it. Tinsel and garland are another big concern, it can cause intestinal obstructions if ingested. I don’t know what kinds of decorations you have at your house, but just be aware that they are unfamiliar to your bird and they may or may not panic at the sight of some of them. Many decorations are made of toxic or potentially toxic materials like different plastics, scented pinecones, hidden wires made of who knows what, stuff that is sprayed on so decorations look “fresh” longer. And don’t forget the common everyday things lying around that could cause problems such as rubber bands, string, ribbon, tape, tacks, little nails, glue, etc.

Candles and Smelly Stuff aka Fragrances

Candles with lead wicks can be toxic, usually you will find them in cheap imported candles. Burning candles with fragrances is very irritating to your bird’s sensitive respiratory system. Those candles with “essential oils” in them that smell great to you are HIGHLY TOXIC WHEN BURNED. Try 100% beeswax candles instead. They are more expensive, but burn five to seven times longer, are not scented and burn cleaner. One other word of caution – burns and wax spills have been known to happen when a wayward bird collides with a candle so ALWAYS watch your candles and your bird, don’t leave either one of them without supervision. I have a rule, IF I light a candle it’s 100% beeswax and the parrot gang has to be in their cages.

Potpourri, air fresheners, and a host of other smelly spraying things irritate the daylights out of your bird in so many ways. (They also irritate me, so it is not a problem for my birds because I don’t use them in my home.) Try and go for something more natural if you feel the need to “scent” your house. Heat up some water in a pan on the stove and throw in a few organic cinnamon sticks, that smells yummy. Oh yes, can’t forget this one NO SMOKING AROUND THE BIRDS – PERIOD!

Lights and Electrical Cords

Make sure these are concealed as well as possible so little birdie brains don’t get any smart ideas and want to play with them. They could get shocked (as in probably killed) or burned by chewing on them. If they are loose, they could get tangled in them.

Plants

I think most people with parrots know by now that Poinsettias and Holly are dangerous if eaten, but did you know that Philodendron, Ivy and Mistletoe are also. In case you didn’t there’s is no excuse now. These plants have the potential to cause life threatening problems for your parrot if eaten!

Dressing up Birdie

Not that you would do it, but watch those little ones. They seem to think it’s a good idea to stick bows on (ouch) or drape ribbon over and around birds. Talk about a strangulation hazard. Ribbon or string may cause intestinal obstructions if they eat it.

Food and Drink

Alcoholic drinks, hot chocolate, coffee, and the ever-present eggnog are popular drinks at Christmas time. If your place is anything like mine, there are yummy fattening human goodies everywhere like cookies, candy, cakes and deserts. Watch that your birdie doesn’t get into the holiday spirit this way! I like to put some water in a dark coffee mug (a duplicate of mine) and give the fids sips out of that. I don’t know what they think it is, but it’s in a coffee mug like mine and they are happy to drink it. Keep some nice fresh treats on hand for your birdies to munch on. I like pea pods, birdie bread, almonds and a little fruit. That way they won’t feel left out and I have to keep Zeke (African Grey) from saying “Mmmm, want some?” all night long.

Non-Stick Coated Surfaces

Be extra careful not to overheat any non-stick cookware or anything with a non-stick surface! Those toxic fumes can kill birds in no time flat. I know this warning has been around for a long time, but with extra cooking going on, I thought I would remind you all again.

People

Having guests over? I know you would never feed your bird anything it’s not supposed to have or subject it to extra stress, but watch your guests. Make sure they don’t give your bird anything to eat or drink that could cause a problem. Of course, for us bird lovers, it almost goes without saying to make sure they are not causing the bird any undue stress like poking their fingers in the cage or just generally annoying your bird. Show them where the acceptable bird treats and give them a rule run down about being nice to parrots.

Fire

Want a nice warm fire in the fireplace? Is your fireplace in good shape or is this the first time you will be using it this year? What type of wood are you burning? Is the damper open? Check those “instant fire logs” and make sure they do not contain lead or arsenic. DO NOT BURN WRAPPING PAPER OR PRESSURE TREATED WOOD EVER! It’s fine to have a fire as long as your fireplace is working like a should, has some type of guard across the front, and is being vented properly.

Wrapping Paper

Wrapping “paper” is a stretch. Lots of these innocent looking colorful papers contain toxic substances. Do not allow your bird to eat it and DO NOT burn it in your fireplace. If you are going to wrap a present for your bird, please use plain paper. If worst comes to worst, use a sheet of a black and white section of a newspaper.

Trees

May scare the daylights of your feathered friend. Take it slow and never place the tree where your parrot can chew on it.

Artificial Snow or Flocking

I couldn’t find anywhere that said these were definitely a hazard, but they are not meant to be ingested and I am pretty darn sure they are not good for your bird if they inhale the fumes of that stuff either. When if doubt, just skip it. It’s just not worth it.

Open Doors / Windows

With all the extra commotion going on around the holidays a little extra precaution about open doors seems to be in order. People going in and out, packages and food being carried in and out, point is that your door will probably get a workout. Not only that, but new things like trees or big boxes, might startle your bird and they may panic and fly. Just make sure you little feathered friend is out of harm’s way and not in the direct path of the chilly air.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season

Please, I don’t want to hear about any accidents this holiday season. You all know what to do. And a message to your bird: (It’s not you. The humans really ARE out of their minds for a couple of weeks a year.) Remember, a little precaution and supervision go a long way in keeping everyone safe and happy!

By Paul A Bradley

If you’ve looked into African Grey training you’ll know just how trainable these wonderful little birds are – there are tons of videos online of peoples parrots doing the most amazing things. Performing tricks, solving puzzles, imitating a myriad of different noises and sounds and talking so clearly that you could almost mistake it for a person! I know I often think I’m hearing things when my own parrots start chattering away!

African Greys are such intelligent birds, it’s difficult to find a trick or skill that they can’t learn, I keep expecting to see a video on the net of one playing the guitar next!!! If you’re not yet aware of the work of Irene Pepperberg, a professor of psychology and lecturer at Harvard, who has done a great deal of research in animal cognition, you really should check it out.

One particular subject of hers, a parrot called Alex who she obtained from a pet shop for a study and ended up working with for over 20 years learned more than 100 different words which he would use to refer to things or answer questions, for example answering correctly when asked how many objects were on a tray (he could count up to 6) or when asked to count the number of wooden objects, or to say which object was both made of wool and red for example.

Such mastery takes much work and training of course and Dr Pepperberg and her team spend hours a day interacting with Alex and teaching him for many years – with parrots being such intelligent animals it’s only fair to devote time and energy like this to making life fun and entertaining for them, with lots of new things to explore and new games to play.

I know from personal experience though how even spending the time you have available with your parrots every day and ensuring that they spend lots of time out of their cage enjoying life pays big dividends in terms of your African Grey’s enjoyment of learning new things and willingness to play along with games and activities that teach them tricks.

Once you’ve got the right relationship with your feathered friends half the battle is won and with all the great African Grey training materials that are out there you’ll soon have your birds chattering away, rolling over, playing dead and more. It really does come down to it being a team effort and knowing that your bird will readily co-operate with you when you make things fun and enjoyable for both of you.

Training with simple reinforcement can be very effective and just making sure that pretty much whenever you’re around your parrot you’ve got a pocketful of nuts, dried fruit or another one of his or her favourites will go a long way to getting the relationship you need to take your parrots training to the next level.

Talking to your parrot a lot is a must too of course, how do you expect your bird to want to talk to you if you’re not regularly chattering away to him or her? You definitely don’t want your parrot getting the idea that talking is something that’s limited to certain times like “training time” because that can create a negative association in the birds mind that makes talking work.

Everything is so much easier when you make it fun so make sure you always sound upbeat and excited when you’re around your bird, and that you don’t make talking conditional on the bird replying, putting too much pressure on the situation – just relax and chatter away to your bird and soon enough you’ll have a talkative new friend around.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea – keep it fun and fresh and I’m sure your African Grey training sessions will be a pleasure for both of you for many years to come.

Allan McConnell is the author of The Ultimate Guide To Parrots – compulsory reading for any parrot owner. This website contains valuable information on the secrets to adopting and raising a healthy and happy parrot.

Scarlet Macaws are one of the larger parrots species. They can reach 36 inches in length, although half of that is it’s slender tail.

Getting one of these parrots is not a short term commitment. Some have lived to be 75 years old, and the average life span is between 35 and 50 years.

They are mostly scarlet colored with blue on the wings and tail with a yellow band on the upper wings below a scarlet shoulder. The Scarlet Macaw’s upper beak is white and the lower beak is black. They have a white, featherless ring around their eyes. They tend to be more high strung than the other macaws, and have a tendency to pinch when young which can lead to biting if not discouraged early on.

You shouldn’t try to discourage a young macaw from pinching by being aggressive and slapping it. If you make it afraid of you it will naturally want to bite when you get too close. Their high strung nature makes them nervous when there is a lot of noise and activity. Something to consider if you have children.

That’s not to say that they can’t be taught to get along and even play with children, but it takes the proper training for both the parrot and the children.

If it gets bored and starts screaming the noise it can make is enough to drive you out of the room.

A common reaction to a screaming macaw is to yell at it to shut up, or to give in and give it a treat or toy to play with.

You don’t want to reward your macaw for screaming or it will figure out that the more noise it makes the more attention it gets. When your parrot is screaming you need to ignore it, and then when it finally quiets down give it some attention.

It will eventually learn that screaming isn’t going to get it what it wants.

Scarlet Macaws are quick to learn, and when handled by someone with experience they become very loving, playful pet parrots.

There are 4 types of bird toys your parrot must have in their bird cage. These types of toys will make for a well adjusted bird who is not wanting for your attention by screaming or plucking his feathers.

Chewable Bird Toys

Chewable bird toys are the toys that once you put it in your bird’s cage, he immediately tears them up. Believe it or not, this is great fun for your bird and not only is it great fun it also makes them feel accomplished. Have you ever accomplished a task at work or at home that once you were done you felt great. You might even have stared at what you accomplished just to enjoy the feeling a little longer. This is the feeling that a parrot has when he chews and tears a toy up and can see the fruits of his labor below. This is also a great activity for his beak and keeps him active and in a playful mode. I also often think that my birds love to watch me come clean up after they have destroyed one of their toys. It is as if they like the attention of me coming over and cleaning.

Some examples of chewable toys are toys made out of wood, such as pine and other soft woods and also hardwoods, leather, soft plastics, paper and supreme cotton rope.

Foraging Bird Toys

Foraging toys are the latest rave in Parrot toys. These toys are great and allow your bird to forage for food as he would in the wild. It forces your bird to instinctively search for food and also allows them to work their mind in finding this food. Our Quaker parrot Phantom, loves to forage for his food and finds it difficult playing with regular toys. A lot of foraging toys are made out of indestructible plastic materials which makes these toys what I call Last Forever toys. Some foraging toys are meant to be destroyed so your bird can rip and tear at it while he searches for the hidden surprise. Sometimes your bird can get too smart and is able to figure out the trick to finding the hidden treats too quickly and it is up to you the bird owner to think of ways of making it more difficult for him to find his treats in the Foraging Toys.

In the case of our Quaker Phantom, I stuff newspaper and recyclable paper into his foraging toy to make it more difficult for him to find his food. At first he thought it was a little too much work to pull out the paper and get the food inside but he then realized no pain no glory and started tearing out the newspaper with a vengeance in order to get the food inside.

Last Forever Parrot Toys

Another classification of bird toys is what I call Last Forever Toys. In most cases these toys should last forever because they are so durable. These toys can be made out of PVC, acrylic, hard plastic or metal. These toys are great for the bigger birds because their beaks are so big and they will have a more difficult time destroying these types of toys. Some of the best toys in this category are made out of acrylic and PVC. Your larger birds such as Macaws and Cockatoos with those big beaks will love the different components they can twist and turn in these types of toys.

Physical Activity Bird Toys

An example of a physical activity bird toy would be a swing. The reason that a swing is a physical activity toy is that your bird has to use a lot of his muscles to stay on the swing and balance. Our Severe Macaw Buddy loves to play on his swing. He will actually swing his body back and forth to make his swing move and you can just see the workout he is getting. He also loves to sleep on his swing as does our Cockatoo Marshmellow. Swings also help promote coordination for your bird as well is preventing feet atrophy. There are many different types of swings to choose from. Some swings come with chewable parts on the sides and chewable parts hanging below the swing to allow your bird to have the best of both worlds, a swing to get exercise and a toy to play with.