Parrot Aviary Set Up
- Image via Wikipedia
Are you considering an aviary for your parrot or parrots? Many parrot owners like to have their parrots nearby and will have cages for them set up in the house or on balconies but in some circumstances the parrot parents prefer to set up an aviary.
Reasons for an aviary.
• It could be that the owner wishes the bird to have more room to fly around when in its cage
• The owner may wish to breed the parrots and therefore require a larger cage
• The aim might be to have a number of parrots, either large or small and a larger cage is required so that they can have their own space within an aviary
Whatever the reason, an aviary needs to be set up correctly. Not only are we talking about valuable birds here but we are talking about the health of these lovely creatures.
Here is a list of things to consider before setting up an aviary:
• Situate the aviary away from the prevailing winds
• Have a door through which you can access the aviary – if you are worried about birds flying out as you go in you can hang thick plastic curtain strips on the inside which will deter the birds from flying out. Care would need to be taken that the plastic is not eaten and swallowed by the birds.
• Depending on the size of the aviary it would be good to have a tray on the bottom under a grill base to the aviary which could be pulled out for cleaning.
• Feeding bowls and water bottles which need regular cleaning so that the birds do not get bacteria growing in them and affecting the health of the bird. Some owners prefer to use water bowls rather than water bottles.
• Bathing bowls if the birds are not going to get a misted spray from the owner.
• Some sort of base on the aviary – straw is good, so is sand and fine bark.
• Perches need to be the right thickness for the parrot that is going to be housed
• Breeding boxes if breeding is going to be carried out
These are the essentials but parrots also love to have some green leaved branches, some toys and mirrors to play with.
If the parrot is going to be a family pet then a perch can be set up in the house for when the parrot visits. It is quite common though that a parrot that is going to be allowed out and about around the house is not going to like going away from the house to an aviary so that is something to be considered. Once the parrot considers himself to be one of the family that is where he will want to be, with the family.
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Parrot feeding – Grow fresh sprouts and other food
- Image by gyazickr via Flickr
If you have acquired a parrot then you will want to keep it happy and healthy. There is much talk about parrot feeding and it is so easy to run into the shop and grab a bag of seed, but that is not the answer to keeping a parrot healthy. Parrots do need a certain amount of seed in their diet, but growing some fresh food for the parrot is the ideal answer to supplying some of the fresh, healthy parrot food that it needs.
Growing alfalfa sprouts.
Have you ever grown sprouts before? They are just so easy to grow in large numbers and if your parrot likes them then I would suggest that you do it, because sprouts have a wide range of nutrients that are excellent for the parrot’s health. It is a way to feed your bird fresh organic food.
Alfalfa sprouts and many other healthy seeds, can be grown easily and cheaply at home. There are several methods depending on how many you want to grow at one time. They can either be grown in a jar with a strainer lid, on a flat sieve or in an open container with gauze or paper towel at the bottom. My suggestion would be to visit a health food store and talk to the shop attendant and discuss just what options would best suit your needs.
Seeds take between 2 – 6 days to be ready for eating, depending on which you choose, with mung beans being the quickest. Any of these shoots would be excellent for your parrot: Mung Beans, Buckweek, Alfalfa, Broccoli, Red Clover, Chia. Broccoli has the widest range of nutrients and it would be great if the parrot would develop a taste for these. Even a mix of the sprouts can be grown and this too would be good for the parrot.
When growing sprouts for the bird you might want to throw some in for yourself as well so that you can put them in your sandwiches or your salads.
Other food to grow.
Parrots just absolutely love berries and it would most certainly be great if they could be cultivated in the organic fashion in the garden. A range of berries like blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries would most certainly be appreciated by the parrot.
Apart from berries, parrots also love tropical fruits so a pawpaw tree would be a delicious source of food for the parrot. Bananas, plums, oranges, mandarins and other fruit are also eaten. Before rushing out and buying trees, feed the parrot the item that you are considering growing and see that it eats it.
If you have wild parrots in your area you may need to protect these berries with a bird net to stop them or in fact other birds, visiting the bushes and having a good old feed while you are not looking.
Growing your own parrot food can be fun and certainly will reduce the cost of feeding your pet. As we all know, you cannot beat fresh, organic food at any stage. It is healthier and it also tastes so much better.
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Has Your Parrot Ever Had Sour Crop?
- Image by law_keven via Flickr
Sour crop is the term given to the illness a parrot has when the food in its crop has gone bad. This is a very serious situation for a parrot and attention needs to be given to it immediately.
What is the ‘crop’?
It is a small bag of skin surrounded by muscles and situated approximately half way down the esophagus on the way to the gizzard (stomach). The crop allows the parrot to store extra food that it has found. When the stomach is empty the muscles surrounding the crop move the food up to the opening of the crop which is about 3/4 of the up, and then the food goes down into the stomach.
The purpose of the crop in parrots is because they cannot always find food available when they are hungry so when they do find food they can gorge themselves and eat the food from the crop at a later stage.
Food in the crop.
The crop needs to be emptied at least once a day so that food does not remain there and go rancid. If the food is not emptied each day there is the risk of food spoilage and this then causes ‘sour crop’ which is a very dangerous health risk for a parrot. This is why it is a good idea to feed a parrot with two meals a day and with only a few nibbles in between.
The crop can be felt behind the breast feathers of the parrot and it should never feel tight. When all is well the crop will more than likely feel like a soft balloon.
Hand-Feeding Baby Parrots.
Hand-feeding of baby parrots needs extra care because their crop will extend so much that it becomes hard and the skin stretches which will cause major problems at a later date as the muscles will have become weakened by this process. The process of hand-feeding a baby parrot is quite complicated and if you plan on doing this by raising baby parrots then take the time to research the proper feeding methods to ensure the safety of the parrot.
Bacterial Infection in the Crop.
As in humans, the parrot does have bacteria in its digestive track at all times and occasionally the parrot may get sour crop from bacteria in the crop getting out of control.
Another reason for sour crop is that the parrot has eaten something that is off. This means that it has ingested food which will cause it to be ill.
As a parrot owner never take the feeding of your parrot for granted. It needs to be monitored at all times.
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The Best Sun Conure Diet
- Image via Wikipedia
Sun Conures are affectionate and easy to train little birds which are about 12 inches in length and comprise of a bright yellow overall with an orange face and under parts. Green accents on the feather can also be seen along with a mixture of green and blue bringing in a vibrancy and brilliant plumage making it one of the most desired pets around the world. Preparing a Sun Conure diet is what this article reflects upon.
Their lifespan can be an average of 25 to 30 years and they are a very fun-loving bird. During the initial stages they develop into a muted olive green color which is a defense mechanism in the wild, but when they mature at one year old they turn into this brilliant rainbow color of red, yellow, orange, green and blue. These birds are said to be one of the most beautiful of all Conure.
The Best Sun Conure Diet
Preparing the best Sun Conure diet does involve a lot of good nutrition which contributions to its happiness, health and quality of life. Poor nutrition is a major cause of health concern in these companion birds. Preparing the best Sun Conure diet comprises of a lot of vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts. These birds become bored with the same food every day so you need to make sure that you give them special treats which will make them excited and active.
Seeds:
Birds are very picky when it comes to eating their favorite seeds and no matter what type of combination of seeds you give them, they will eat only the one they find enjoyable leaving the others to rot in the dish, which leads to malnutrition. Occasional seeds make a good exciting treat though, as birds enjoy cracking them open and exploring each layer of the seed and exploring their various textures.
Pellets:
Pellets are an excellent source of a well-rounded nutrient diet which is easy to maintain and is best for birds. Every pellet has the same number of nutrients so you do not have to worry if your bird is a bit choosy with them.
Fresh fruits and vegetables:
Fresh vegetables are a must for birds and should be provided to them daily. In addition you could also include fruits that they like. These birds will love this diet because it is more than just nutritional, but a sight of vibrant colors and exciting taste. Giving a variety of food to your bird will build up their interest in trying out new items and becoming alert every day.
Water:
While preparing the best Sun Conure diet, fresh water should be replaced and given several times a day. These birds are messy eaters and will drop their food in water all the time, making the water get contaminated.
While preparing the best Sun Conure diet, it is always important to bring in change and include various foods. This will keep the bird’s brain alert and exercised in knowing different tastes and different color combination. Sun conure parrots are quite intelligent and an easy pet to keep and what endears this bird to many people are their different temperaments and active lifestyle.
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The Secret To A Happy Healthy Parrot
When most people hear the world ‘health’ they tend to think of the physical well being of a person or animal. But the mental health of a parrot can be as important as the physical health. In other words you could be doing all the right things for the physical side of keeping a parrot happy and healthy, but if its mental state of mind is not right it will still be an unhappy bird and eventually suffer physically.
You know, parrots do not ask a lot of us, well, unless they become very demanding for company, but that can often be overcome with other birds or toys to keep them company.
What you will find your parrot does need is a lot of love and they will return a lot of affection to you as well if they are treated right. “What?!” you might say if you have a parrot that tends to bite a lot or even worse, won’t let you near it. But if you make the effort to get friendly with your biting parrot you will form a good strong bond.
If a biting parrot is older when you get it, then I must admit you may have a problem here because like us humans, bad habits start young and will often stay during our life. But if you have a young parrot you can most likely change its attitude with some training.
Most parrots are ‘flock birds’ and they do like company and if you have a pet parrot then you are the ‘flock’ so it will want and need your company. There are some breeds that are quite happy to be on their own, such as the cockatoo and some of the larger parrots but most like to at least have a partner, such as the lorrikeet and the pink galah.
If your parrot is not happy it may start plucking at its feathers and this can be a real problem because if you are not there to stop it, the bird may get really ill.
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7 Tips For Choosing The Right Parrot Cage
- Image by Ivan Walsh via Flickr
Are you selecting a cage for your parrot? When selecting a cage for a pet parrot there are many issues to take into consideration. By that I don’t mean the decor of the house! Parrots have a very long lifespan so it is imperative that their living conditions are the best that can be afforded by the owner. There are certain requirements that are essential for the good health of the bird, both physically and psychologically.
The main requirement for a parrot cage is that it is big enough for the bird to flap its wings without touching any part of the cage and even then that is an absolute minimum.
When a parrot is being kept as a pet it is humane to give the parrot as much room as possible for him to move around and not in any way be hindered. After all these birds are meant to fly around in trees, not be couped up in a small cage.
With this in mind here is a list of considerations when making the decision as to what cage to buy and how to set it up:
1. The size of the bird: the cage should not be too small as to hinder movement, but by the same token too big a cage can frighten the bird as they like to feel cosy and secure in their cage. A parrot being introduced to the house may even be better in a smaller cage for the first few weeks.
2. Perches: if there is room several perches are ideal as the parrot will like to move around but they need to be placed high enough so that he can walk around the bottom of the cage. Tree branches of the soft wood variety and of the right thickness make great perches because the parrot can chew on them too which they love doing. The perch should be a size that the parrot can get a good grip on with his feet, but not so small that his toes cross over around the perch.
3. Mirror: parrots love to have a mirror in their cage.
4. Lining the cage: shredded newspaper has been used for lining the cage, but the newsprint can be harmful to the parrot so other good options are sawdust, straw or sand. Sand is good because the parrots sometimes eat it and acquire minerals but they also use it to shape their beaks.
5. Food and water: food trays are a good idea, one for grain and the other for wet food and it is best if they are put in the cage and removed later in the morning. A water bottle is better that using a water dish because the water in dishes gets dirty and contaminated.
6. Cages with deep removable trays: a deep tray with a grate is good because it helps keep the mess inside the cage. Parrots love to forage on the bottom of the cage and with a grate the droppings go through so the bird is not walking on them or foraging in them.
7. Toys: keep the parrot entertained with a range of toys being rotated in his cage. Parrots love to play and enjoy their own tricks so toys will encourage them to be active. Make sure any toy you put in the cage will not pull apart, break off or catch either their beak or feet in any part of it.
I am sure if you consider all these tips for setting up the parrot cage you will have a very happy parrot in no time at all. Parrots are wonderful pets and a well behaved parrot is a really enjoyable companion. Having the right ‘home’ for your bird will go a long way to keeping him happy. Obviously if an owner is considering breeding parrots then they would most likely look at having an aviary for their parrots. So check out this article about aviaries.
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