How to Take Care Of A Parrot?

Last Updated on October 21, 2023 by Ali Shahid

Parrots are smart and friendly birds that can be wonderful companions when properly cared for. These birds have specific needs different from animals like dogs and cats. Taking care of a parrot demands a substantial investment of time, energy, and money.

Understanding their Needs

A crucial aspect of parrot care is recognizing that parrots are not domesticated in the same way as dogs and cats. In their natural habitat, birds spend a lot of time flying, searching for food, and interacting with fellow birds. Parrot owners should ensure their pets can engage in these natural behaviors while living indoors.

1. Parrot Diet

A well-balanced diet is crucial for your parrot’s well-being. In the wild, parrots consume a variety of fresh foods like seeds, grasses, insects, flowers, and fruits. However, feeding your parrot only seeds is not ideal, as it lacks essential vitamins and minerals necessary for their health. 

It’s best to introduce a diverse diet to your parrot while it’s young and still forming its food preferences. There are specific dietary requirements for lorikeets and honeyeaters as compared to other parrot species, which will be discussed in their respective sections.

Here are some guidelines for feeding your parrot:

1. Pellets: Make sure 60% to 70% of your parrot’s diet consists of pellets. These pellets are nutritionally balanced and provide all the vital nutrients your parrot needs.
2. 2. Fresh fruits and vegetables: Allocate 20% to 30% of your parrot’s diet to fresh fruits and vegetables. Parrots particularly enjoy apples, bananas, berries, grapes, papaya, and melon.
3. Seeds or nuts: Limit seeds or nuts to no more than 10% of your bird’s diet.
4. Avoid harmful foods: Steer clear of feeding your parrot chocolate, avocado, alcohol, caffeine, and foods high in salt, fat, or sugar. As a result, these food items may adversely affect the health of the individual. 
5. Housing

Ensuring your parrot’s happiness and health starts with a secure and roomy cage. Your feathered friend needs ample space to move and spread its wings comfortably. Here are some valuable tips for setting up your parrot’s habitat:

1. Cage Size

When it comes to choosing the right cage, size matters. Different parrot species have different needs. A small budgerigar, for example, requires a much smaller cage than a majestic Hyacinth Macaw. 

To ensure your bird’s well-being, pick a cage where it can fully extend its wings without touching the sides or having its tail scrape the bottom. As a general guideline, the cage should be at least twice the width of your parrot’s wingspan.

2. Cage Material

The cage should be constructed from safe materials, such as stainless steel or powder-coated metal. It’s crucial to avoid toxic materials that could harm your parrot.

3. Cage Location

Select a suitable location for your parrot’s cage, ideally in the living room or kitchen, with some exceptions. When you place your parrot’s cage, be mindful of where you put it. Avoid putting it where cold air can come in from doors or windows, and keep it away from direct sunlight. 

Parrots enjoy being around others, so don’t tuck them away in a corner all by themselves. Imagine parrots in their natural rainforest home, sitting on branches that sway gently in the shade with bits of sunlight filtering through.

Even though parrots can handle slightly cooler room temperatures, breezes can be harmful to their well-being. Since parrots have evolved to live in groups, it’s not kind to keep them in a spot where they can’t see much during the day.

4. Cage Accessories 

Make sure your parrot’s cage includes perches of various sizes and textures to promote healthy feet. Providing toys will keep your parrot engaged and entertained, contributing to its overall well-being.

5. Environmental Condition

Parrots naturally come from warm and humid areas, where the temperatures usually fall between 70-95 °F, with humidity levels around 77-88%. In the wild, parrots can adjust their body temperature by moving to shaded areas or sunny spots. 

However, when parrots are kept as pets, they depend on their human caretakers to maintain the right environment. Typically, indoor temperatures in our homes remain relatively constant year-round, usually between 65-72 °F.

The best temperature range for pet birds, as suggested by Dr. Sophie Bell, is approximately 64.4 to 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which is about 18 to 22 degrees Celsius. Parrots thrive when the humidity levels in their living space are around 40-60%.

In their natural habitat, humidity is essential for maintaining healthy skin and feathers. Insufficient humidity can lead to dry, flaky, and itchy skin, which may result in feather plucking. Low humidity can also dry out a parrot’s sinus cavity, causing symptoms like sneezing, frequent nostril scratching, and head shaking.

To increase humidity for your pet parrot, you can use a clean humidifier, mist your bird daily, or place your parrot in a bathroom with a running hot shower. Parrots are most comfortable with gradual temperature changes, around 10-20 ºF (2-5 ºC), but sick birds require a consistently warm environment. Having slightly too much humidity is generally better than an excessively dry living space for your feathered friend.

3. Hygiene

Ensuring your parrot stays healthy involves keeping its living space and itself clean. Here are some helpful tips:

1. Cleaning the Cage

It’s important to clean your parrot’s cage every two days. The best choice for this task is to use paper. It’s affordable, easy to find, and simple to clean. You can use materials like newspapers, paper bags, paper towels, or shredded paper. 

Make sure the cage has a grate over the bedding to prevent direct contact between your parrot and its litter, as it can accumulate harmful bacteria and mold.

2. Bathing

Give your bird the chance to bathe regularly. In the wild, parrots often bathe in rain or water. Different pet parrots may have varying preferences for bathing, so provide suitable options. Your parrot might enjoy wading in a shallow birdbath, getting a gentle mist spray, or sharing a shower with you using a secure perch. 

Some smaller birds also like to roll around in wet lettuce leaves or leafy greens placed at the bottom of their cage. This helps them stay clean and enjoy a nutritious snack.

3. Nail Trimming

Parrots’ nails keep growing, so it’s crucial to trim them regularly to prevent them from becoming too long and causing injuries.

4. Beak Trimming

Certain parrot species may need beak trimming to prevent overgrowth and potential harm.

4. Physical, Mental, and Social Stimulation

Parrots need regular physical, mental, and social stimulation to prevent boredom. To keep them engaged, try to provide them with supervised time outside their cage. You can spend quality time playing with them, introducing them to toys, teaching tricks, or simply involving them in your daily activities like watching TV or reading.

Setting up a play area in another room is a smart way to give your parrot a change of scenery and a break from their cage. You can find various play stands designed for different bird sizes in pet supply stores and online, so choose one that suits your bird’s size.

Here are some exercise tips for your parrot:

• Free Flight: Ideally, allow your parrot to have daily free flight time outside the cage, but always keep a watchful eye on them.
• Playtime: Dedicate a special daily time when your bird can play with you, even if it’s just for 10-15 minutes.
• Toys: Supply your parrot with toys to keep them active and entertained.

5. Health Care

Ensuring your parrot stays healthy is crucial. Here are some valuable tips:

• New Bird Check: Whenever you bring a new bird home, it’s wise to schedule a “New Bird Check” with your local bird vet. This helps the vet spot any hidden health issues.
• Vaccinations: Certain parrot types might need vaccinations to shield them from specific illnesses.
• Disease Prevention: Parrots can catch diseases like Chlamydiosis (also known as Psittacosis). To protect your parrot, maintain a clean environment, keep harmful substances away, and uphold their hygiene.

In addition, you may be wondering if taking care of a parrot is straightforward. In reality, it’s quite the opposite. Parrot care demands considerable time, effort, and dedication. 

These sociable birds require regular interaction, a balanced diet, and proper veterinary attention. Before bringing one into your life, make sure to research and fully understand the responsibilities of parrot ownership.

Frequently Ask Questions

Is taking care of a parrot easy?

Taking care of a parrot is not easy and requires a lot of time, effort, and dedication. Parrots are social creatures that need regular interaction with their owners, a nutritious diet, and proper veterinary care. It’s important to research and understand the responsibilities of owning a parrot before adopting one.

How to Know If My Parrot Is Happy?

When your parrot follows you around, preens you, flaps its tail, makes soft calls when you enter, plays, dances, and sings, then he is very happy.

How do I know if my parrot is unhappy?

Parrots who bite, move away from you, scream, have fluffed feathers, and lack appetite are unhappy.

Conclusion

Overall, the responsibility of caring for a parrot is rewarding and demanding at the same time. Understanding their needs, including a diverse diet, spacious cage, and the right environment, is vital.

Regular cleaning and hygiene, along with physical and mental stimulation, ensure their well-being. Health care, such as vet check-ups and disease prevention, is essential. Parrot ownership isn’t easy; it requires time, effort, and dedication due to their social nature. 

Before bringing a parrot into your life, research and fully grasp the responsibilities involved. Your parrot’s happiness depends on your care, attention, and love.