Birds For Sale: How To Choose A Pet Bird
If you are in the market for a pet bird, then you are probably searching the internet, Craigslist and local pet stores for birds for sale. If you a first time bird owner, then you’ll want to arm yourself with some information that will allow you to choose a healthy pet bird that will be a perfect match for your family.
Here’s some tips on what to look for when evaluating birds for sale:
1. Know your breed.
Before you even start looking at birds, you should have an idea of a few different bird types that you think will work for you. In order to do that you need to be familiar with the care requirements for the different types. For example, an Amazon Parrot will require a lot more time and expense than a parakeet.
One of the biggest things to consider is the size that you are looking for, once you decide on that you can narrow your choices down to a few types.
2. Bird Health
When looking at birds for sale it is critical that you be able to evauluate the health of the bird. One thing about birds though is that when they are sick they don’t really exhibit any symptoms until they are very ill so you have to look at the bird with a critical eye – are his eyes clear, features in good condition, does he stand on both feet? These are some of the things to look for when evaluating parrot health.
Another thing to look at is the cleanliness of the facility itself and the other birds as this can often give you an indication of the type of care the bird was getting.
3. Temperament
Finally, you want to evaluate the temperament of the bird.
Does he screech and try to bite you? If so then maybe you want to pass this one up!
If you want a bird that sits on your shoulder and is friendly, then you best bet is to buy one that already does this. Hand raised babies are a good option if you want to eliminate having to tame your bird yourself.
These are 3 key things to think about when looking for birds for sale! If you are a first time bird owner, then please sign up for my free email course on the right so that you can know what is involved in proper bird care before you adopt your first bird!
How To Choose The Perfect Parrot
If you have been in search for a unique animal to have as a pet, you may want to consider a parrot. Parrots are very intelligent birds and can offer you great company when you spend time with them. If this sounds like an option you might be interested in, here are some tips to help you find the perfect parrot.
Before you decide to buy a parrot, you should really consider if they are the right animal for you. Take the time to do some reading about them and learn about their general behavior. Because parrots are so different from other types of birds and animals, this can be an important decision. This will help you to know about what you can expect from your parrot if you do decide to get one.
You should also take the time to learn about the many different types of parrots that are available. You can learn about the differences between parrots and which parrots are best suited for being kept at home. This will help you to pick the perfect parrot that will be right for you and will also teach you about some of the traits that you want to search for in your own parrot.
When you pick your parrot out at the store, it is important to consider various factors. You should consider the age of the parrot. If you want to keep the parrot for a long time, then this can be important. It can also be important if you are interested in teaching the parrot any tricks. For some people, the age of a parrot does not matter as much as the companionship might.
Try to choose the parrot that is the most interactive with you at the store. This will be a good signal of if the parrot will interact with you well at your home also. Parrots that are more quiet will be harder to interact with. In addition to this, you will also likely have some problems getting these parrots to speak or sometimes even training the parrot itself.
It is important to realize that even the perfect parrot can be a large responsibility. Many people choose to have a parrot as a pet and then cannot manage taking care of the parrot after they own it. This is why it is very important to make sure that you know exactly what to expect before you choose to take a parrot as your pet.
These points should help you to be able to choose the perfect parrot. If you choose a parrot that you interact well with at the store, then the bird will likely always interact well with you when you take it home. Parrots have very unique personalities and each one is different. You will have a great time having the companionship of a parrot in your home.
Refining Your Parrots Skills With Parrot Tricks
If you are the owner of a parrot, you likely already know about what intelligent and unique creatures they can be. These are a great pet and animal companion for anyone who is looking for something different. If you’re interested in finding out about all of the skills your parrot is capable of, you may be interested in parrot tricks.
Your parrot is capable of many different tricks that you may not have been aware of. Teaching your parrot some tricks will not only alert you to some of their many qualities, but it will allow your parrot to learn new skills or refine other skills and talents that they already had.
It is important to understand that there is a certain level of trust that must be maintained with your parrot if you want to teach it tricks. If you cannot hold your parrot or be close to it without scaring it, or without being bitten, then your parrot is not ready to learn tricks. A parrot will only learn tricks when it is completely comfortable with the individual that is training it.
It is also important to understand that mastering these parrot tricks is not going to be instantaneous. You will likely have train your parrot on a few tricks for a while before it will be able to fully master the trick itself. In addition to this, when you first start out, you should only attempt to teach your parrot one trick at a time.
You should consider very basic tricks when you first begin. You can discover a variety of tricks from books, the internet, and various other types of media. If your parrot doesn’t learn the trick immediately, remember to be patient. Becoming frustrated with the parrot can make it harder for the parrot to learn the trick because it will be uncomfortable.
Remember to praise or reward your parrot when the trick has been completed successfully. Usually the parrot is rewarded with a treat of some sort. If the parrot is not able to complete the trick properly, it is still important to give it praise for its efforts. This will be noticed as encouragement and will help the parrot to keep trying. Praise and rewards re-enforce success to the parrot when the trick is done correctly.
You will be amazed when you realize everything that your parrot is capable of doing. A few good parrot tricks can really showcase the intelligence and skill of the parrot itself. Take time training your parrot and remember to be patient. This will ensure that you have the best results from your animal companion.
A Healthy Parrot Diet
Parrots require a balance of various nutritional foods to maintain good health. Formulated feed pellets contain most of what a parrot needs in terms of nutrition, however, parrots can get bored if they don’t have enough variety. The parrot diet should contain fresh and cooked vegetables, cooked or sprouted grains and seeds, fruit, beans, seeds and other legumes, as well as treats like nuts and even peanut butter.
Formulated parrot foods contain a combination of seeds, fruit, vegetables and supplementary minerals and vitamins mixed into a pellet form. Pellets can be considered a base element to a parrot’s diet. To have a sufficiently nutritious and interesting diet other foods should be added to the daily meals.
Vegetables like broccoli and its greens, kale, turnip and beet tops, carrot tops, and green beans, carrots, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato, cauliflower and different colored sweet peppers, should be the major part of a parrot diet. Be willing to experiment with how you prepare vegetables. Whole or chopped, raw, cooked or warm mixes of vegetables will prevent pet parrots from picking out favorite foods or becoming bored with a repetitive meals.
Beans, seeds and legumes should are also an integral part of a parrot’s daily diet. Apart from giving your parrot legumes and seeds cooked, you can also try sprouting them for added nutritional benefits. The only beans which should not be given a raw sprout to parrots are lima, fava and navy beans, which should be cooked through.
It is recommended that parrots be given whole grains, either cooked or sprouted, whole wheat bread or sugar free whole wheat cereals at least 5 times a week. Grains to add to the parrot diet should include whole oats, brown rice, millet, and quinoa. Pastas can also supplement the parrot’s meals as a once a week treat.
Sprouted seeds and grains are not only tempting to fussy parrots, but are also packed full of enzymes, antioxidants and vitamins and minerals. Unhulled grains such as oats, spelt and millet are all suitable for sprouting. Good sprouting seeds include radish, unhulled sunflower, flax, mustard, adzuki beans, alfalfa, lentils, mung as well as kale and cabbage. Sprouted seeds should be used fresh and removed from the parrot’s cage after a few hours to prevent possible bacterial or fungal growths toxic to birds.
Als, fruit should be a big part of a parrot diet. Parrots should eat fruit two or three times a week. Tropical fruits may be a good choice as they are similar to what may be found in your parrot’s natural habitat. Berries, cranberries, mango, pineapple, peaches, banana, oranges, pears and apples, grapes and cherries are all good for parrots. Care should be taken not to have apple or other seeds, as they may be toxic to birds.
Nuts, preferably human grade, can be fed to birds on odd occasion during the week. Although parrots can’t tolerate much dairy, a little natural yogurt every now and then will provide calcium as well as the right intestinal flora to keep birds digesting well. Dry crackers spread with salt free or low salt peanut butter make good special parrot treats once in a while.
The parrot diet needs to be varied and balanced. Packaged pellet foods are a beginning point for a feeding parrots, but other foods should be included. It may take a little more work and some thought to prepare tempting and balanced meals, but the health of your parrot will be the benefit.
Tips On Choosing A Healthy Parrot From A Parrot Breeder
Parrots make engaging pets and the decision to visit a parrot breeder to choose a pet that will be with you for decades to come is a big one. Your first initial decision is to decide which breed of parrot you would like to own. Each parrot species has very different attributes and you should take some time to research which parrot species you would like to own.
Remember that parrots, in their natural habitat, usually live in flocks that can number in the hundreds. They are accustomed to a varied diet of fruits, vegetables and nuts and require a spacious area and plenty of interaction with their owners. Remember that many parrot species will choose to bond with one particular person, generally ignoring other family members.
This can be very upsetting if you have chosen your dream pet only to find that he or she decides to bond with another family member! Parrots are equivalent in intelligence to a four year old human child and require plenty of play time and interaction with their adoptive human family.
When you are visiting your local parrot breeder, be sure to check the condition of the parents. Are they active, are they bright eyed and is their plumage smooth and in good condition? Check that their nasal openings are clean and clear. Are the cages clean and are they being fed a variety of fruits and vegetables.
A popular misconception is that parrots should be fed on a diet of sunflower seeds. If you give it a moments thought you will quickly realize that in their natural habitat, regular access to sunflower seeds is highly unlikely.
In fact, they should never be fed sunflower seeds as the oils coat the liver and can cause health problems for them. Your young parrot should have clear, bright eyes, a plump appearance and a smooth, oiled appearance to the beak. If the upper part of the beak ends in a long narrow point it may point to poor nutrition.
The feet should also have healthy, even skin and the nails should not be overly long. If they are this may be a sign of poor nutrition. It is a better option to choose a young parrot that has not learned any bad habits from other owners, but some people do choose to take on a fully grown parrot as a pet. The same rule applies in that your parrot should appear lively, curious and should have an overall glossy plumage when you see him at the parrot breeder.
Parrot Care Tips
Providing the proper kind of parrot care means that you will be taking on a lot of daily responsibilities. If you do not have the time to devote to these kinds of things every day, then you should consider choosing another kind of pet.
The biggest part of caring for a parrot is providing the right kind of environment. The cage needs to be large enough that the bird can stretch out his wings full span without touching the bars of the cage, this will be a very large cage and you can even find some that you walk into yourself and be able to stand straight up.
Placing newspaper in the bottom of the cage is appropriate and needs to be changed every day. If you do not change it every day, then you risk your parrot getting sick from the urine and feces that can quickly accumulate in the bottom of the cage. Proper parrot care dictatest that you make sure to provide him with a clean set of papers every day.
The right kind of diet for a parrot is imperative as well. You should make sure to provide him with plenty of variety in his diet that includes fruits, meats, vegetables, and some specialty treats that you can find at the pet store. He should always have a supple of fresh water as well. Check with your local pet store about the kinds of parrot feed you should give your parrot. It is actually a myth that parrots eat only seeds – they need a large variety in order to get all their nutritional requirements.
Socialization is one of the most important parts of parrot care that you will be responsible for. You will need to make sure that he does not remain in his cage for extended periods of time without being able to come out. Parrots are amazingly clever creatures. Keeping them caged will cause feelings of resentment towards you and could cause him to sink his beak into you when you do decide to have social contact in letting him out. You parrot needs to interact with you and your family every day – you are now part of his “flock”
Giving your parrot a light bath each week is important to keep down mites and other skin afflictions. In the wild, you can find parrots bathing in shallow water so they can have the protection they need for their skin. Place a big tub of water in an area that you can put blankets or towels down on and let him in the water. You will be surprised at how much he will enjoy this. Do not use soap or anything else in the water. Pure water will do just fine.
Owning a parrot can be one of the most rewarding pet experiences ever. However, keep in mind that they are a lot of work and the screeching they can do can reach high in the decibel levels. Many people cannot tolerate this screeching because it is so ear piercing and loud but if you probide proper parrot care, the screeching will be kept to a minimum. Having said that, you need to realize that it is normal for your parrot to make noises – they are very vocal creatures!
The bottom line is that you need to consider all the aspects of parrot care and what it means to own a parrot before you adopt one. If you are willing to do what it takes to bring a parrot into your flock, you will be justly rewarded.
