Psittacines, a group of birds that generally includes all parrots, parakeets, macaws, lovebirds, etc., are one of the pets that are displacing dogs and cats from homes, mainly because they require less time of attention from their owners and their low maintenance costs.
There are some minimum requirements that the owner of these pets must know. The best way to take care of them is to imitate their habitat in nature. 90% of the diseases they present are due to the poor care of their owners, especially in terms of their diet and the psychological conditions to which they are subjected in the cage.
In summary, the following points should be taken into account:
Feeding
In addition to the classic seeds of corn, wheat, sunflower seeds, etc, you should provide fruits and vegetables daily, such as raw carrot (to get used to it, try adding grated carrot for the first few days) and apple or pear. Sinusitis and other diseases derived from eating only seeds are very frequent, because these are deficient in vitamins, especially in vitamin A.
It is advisable to place the seeds in such a way that it costs something to get them (thus imitating their behaviour in nature), placing them inside some mesh or metal or rope net.
The seed mix is best purchased in a closed container because the seeds exposed in bulk stores are frequently handled by the public and can be a vehicle for infectious agents.
Dried fruits should be offered once a week, and monthly prizes, such as honey bars or fruit, may be offered.
You must control being overweight, especially if you feed him too many treats or too many fatty seeds such as sunflower seeds or peanuts. It is common to find obese parrots. Avocado and onion should not be given since they are toxic.
From time to time you should offer fruit juice (not citrus) with a spoon or syringe, as it is an extra source of vitamins and it will also be taken as a game. They should not be given cheese, macaroni, pizza, hamburger and numerous human foods: they will shorten his life. For example, a little chocolate can kill our parrot in a matter of minutes. There are kibble-shaped foods (similar to those of dogs and cats) that contain everything that our parrot needs, but even so, it is necessary to supply them with fruits daily.
Contrary to what it may seem, parrots are very clean animals and they do not like to eat from dirty bowls. Just as we maintain the hygiene of the cage, the feeder must always be clean, free of stale food and faeces.
If you leave the same food for more than a day, it will no longer be attractive to the parrot. Also, it may be rusty and taste bad.
Parrots often leave the shells of the seeds in the bowl, which can appear to us that it is full. It is important to remove the shells from food and change the seed bowl daily.
Drinking water
It should be changed daily, always keeping it clean. Do not medicate the water with vitamins or antibiotics if it is not strictly necessary. You must prevent the drinker from getting dirty with manure, placing it away from the perch.
Habitat
Undoubtedly the first element that every bird owner thinks about when acquiring it is which cage he is going to buy for the new member of the family. And this is because a birdcage is an essential item not only for your comfort but for your physical and emotional well-being.
The cage should be large enough so that it does not rub when you stretch the wings. Specifically, The diameter and height of the cage should never be less than its size with the wings spread (wingspan) multiplied by 1.5
It should not be placed in an excessively sunny place, or in drafts. You should avoid heating and air conditioning. Never place it in the kitchen or where toxic fumes are emitted. They are quite sensitive to tobacco smoke. They are happy to have the cage adorned with branches or even leaves, since this way they are almost in their natural environment. It is advisable to let them out of the cage several times a day, since this way we stimulate their natural instincts and avoid behavioural problems, such as depression or pecking. Do not allow it to pick or “suck” metallic ornaments: lead, zinc and other heavy metal poisonings are very common. It is very good that they sunbathe a few minutes a day, not through a glass, but directly.
Feather hygiene
Once a day a bathtub with water will be placed (even in winter) to bathe, removing it after 20 minutes. The secondary feathers of a wing can be trimmed in order not to allow flight, a very common practice for parrots that spend most of the time outside the cage, although it is not recommended since one of the beauties of these animals is watching them fly.
A parrot requires care and affection. Among the care is the fact that he has a meal according to his needs. In addition, it needs water, constant cleaning and adequate space.