Healthy Parrot: Breeding birds as pets is a popular pastime. In recent years, more and more people have turned to breed small parrots because they can be excellent companions and are easier to keep in an apartment or house without the need for large cages. In this article, we will explain what are especially the 7 points to totally proscribe for the good health of your new pet.
Think that parrots only eat seeds
Although parrots are primarily seed-eaters, their captive diet should include fewer seeds and more fresh fruits and vegetables, and other healthy foods like humans. In nature, parrots travel great distances in search of fruits, nuts, and seeds. A diet consisting exclusively of seeds is low in calcium and high in fat, which often leads to obesity and, ultimately, liver disease. You can prefer:
- The commonly eaten fruits are all edible for parrots, with the exception of avocado and the seeds of certain fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, and apricots;
- All edible vegetables, although some must be cooked, e.g. broccoli, pumpkin, sweet potato, potato, dry peas/lentils;
- Other foods that are acceptable include boiled eggs, bread, pasta, rice, egg noodles;
Feed them in moderation and in a wide variety. Food spoils and rots quickly, so care should be taken to clean food containers and perches. Discard uneaten food within hours.
I have to shower my parrots so that they are clean
While this is true, never shower a bird that doesn’t look healthy, and make sure it’s always placed in the sun to bask and dry off. It is useless to water them for a very long time and up to the skin. Sometimes it is enough to place a shallow bowl of water on the floor of the cage or use a spray bottle.
Be careful, some birds do not like to shower, and it is a source of stress if they are watered heavily. Always observe the reaction of your birds and adjust according to their desire.
Put my parrot in direct sunlight when it seems to be cold
The body temperature of a bird is 40°C. If you think, or it is confirmed that your parrot is suffering from hypothermia, simply proceed. A heat lamp is more effective at raising the temperature of a hypothermic bird than placing it in direct sunlight. Excessive heat could also be harmful to his health.
To avoid accidentally overheating your bird, place your hand next to your bird – it should be comfortably warm and you should not burn your hand. Adjust the distance between the lamp and your bird to get the ideal temperature. Place the lamp on its side so that your bird can move away from direct light on its own if it gets too hot.
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My parrot seems sick, I have to give him sugar water to restore him
If your parrot looks very sick and weak, it may not be able to swallow properly. If you pour water into his beak, he may drown because the water will then enter his lungs. The first and most important care for sick birds is heat. After raising the ambient temperature to help your sick bird recover, make sure it gets enough food and water. You may need to hand-feed him until he regains a normal appetite. Keep your bird sick or injured calm, warm, and resting.
My Parrot can do without eating for several days without worry
Birds have an extremely high metabolic rate, and a high body surface area relative to their body mass. This means that they burn the intake of their food very quickly in order to stay warm and in order to keep their body in working order. They should be checked by a veterinarian as soon as possible if you notice a sharp decrease in appetite. Never let 2 or 3 days pass, because unfortunately, it will often be too late. They will probably require examination of the eyes, nostrils, beak, plumage, vent, legs, heart, and lungs by auscultation by a specialized veterinarian.
It’s too cruel to leave my parrot in his cage
First tip: only buy parrots bred in captivity and never wild parrots. They adapt very well to a spacious cage. Their cages protect them.
An untrained bird left free or on support can suffer serious accidents such as:
- leg fractures
- poisoning;
- or trauma to the digestive tract when chewing toxic houseplants or electrical cords;
- etc.
There are frequently parrots who have been injured by flying too close to a fan for example.
This type of “domestic” accident outside the cage often causes serious concussions or even the amputation of a wing or leg.
A parrot takes care of itself and plays alone in its cage
The phrase “bird’s brains” used to describe stupid people was obviously coined by someone who doesn’t breed parrots.
Frustration, stress, and anxiety are often felt by parrots, especially those that are very well-behaved by hand and very tame. Self-injurious behaviors and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are well-known psychological illnesses that are very difficult to treat.
Indeed, do not even consider having a parrot if you can not devote several hours a day to it: it will need with you cuddle, playtime, presence, etc …
Since some parrots can live up to 80 years, do not make the decision to adopt one without thinking about all these points. Too many people abandon their birds after a few weeks when they realize the task that awaits them for many years…
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SOURCE: ElleAndTheBirds
