- The System
Forumites' guide to parrots as pets
Research
Before choosing a parrot as a pet, read this website. Particularly read the Online Article Library.
However, if you decide to go ahead and get a fid (or feathered kid) it is best to be really well informed and educated. Most parrot problems are easily preventable by a bit of forethought and knowledge. Below are links to a slice of the information available.
Reading and researching and looking at all the scenarios is the best way to go.
Forums
Parrot Behaviour (back up later this year - is very good)
If you lose your bird try the Bird Hotline
Avian Vets
Please phone an AVIAN vet - some listed here Vetafarm
Tips
- Try minding a cockatoo for someone whilst they are on holidays.
- Go to a parrot pre-school and listen to the amount of noise 1). See Parrot Behaviour Workshops for an idea of what’s involved in workshops.
- Check whether you are allergic or not to the powder produced by these creatures. Can you live with the mess? noise? demands for attention? Imagine living with a 3-5 year old child for the next 40-60-80 years.
Sourcing your bird
Wherever you get a parrot, make sure you get a well-bird exam from an experienced Avian Vet. (I am taking for granted no one would EVER get one from a pet shop given the potential for disease, bad habits, trauma to bed being in such an environment).
Ask yourself, if you don’t work from home, who is going to keep your parrot company? Are you prepared to hire a bird sitter to come in and keep it company? Or get another bird? - it doesn’t have to be the same kind but it is best if you get them both at the same time.
Depending on where you live you could consider getting a pre-loved parrot from one of the parrot rescue centres such as http://www.parrotrescuecentre.com/Parrot Rescue Centre or the RSPCA as they get a lot of cockatoos as people generally don’t understand how much time and effort they take. Also because they don’t have a program to stimulate and educate and interact with their cockatoos. These parrots often start to bite, screech or chew on things as a way to get some attention and to interact as part of the flock.
Housing your bird
The Cockatoo’s (or larger parrot’s) cage must be large enough to allow for a lot of wing flapping without striking the cage bars. Cockatoos must have a lot of room and toys to chew on and play with. This is especially so if the family is a working one and he must be left alone for most of the day. In addition, if they are not supplied with wood to chew, they are more than happy to help themselves to what is available in your home.
IMHO a parrot the size of a cockatoo needs a roosting cage, an indoor cage, an outdoor cage, a parrot carrier (for vets visits) and some play gyms around the house and outside the house such as this.
Please never put a cockatoo in an actual cocky cage as it is way too small - it doesn’t have enough flight room for budgies.
Feeding your bird
There are a few exellent books on nutrition for birds.
One is Feeding Your Pet Bird by Petra M. Burgmann, Michele Earle-Bridges and another is A Guide to A Naturally Healthy Bird by Alicia Watters. A lot of local/TAFE libraries have them.
There are dozens of sites on the web with treats, breads, muffins etc that you can cook for your bird such as:
and general notes...
Some interesting books
The Guide to A Well Behaved Parrot by Sue Mattie Athan.
The Second Hand Parrot by Sue Mattie Athan.
Parrot Training: A Guide to Taming and Gentling Your Avian Companion by Bonnie Munroe Doe
Feeding Your Pet Bird (Barrons publisher) with Toucan on front of it.
Parrot for Dummies by Nikki Moustaki
Also check your local city library it is surprising what they hold these days - generally around the 636.6865 area.
Websites
General
Avian Avenue - this one is delightful because it shows such a high standard of care for the parrot.
The Alex Foundation - supports research that will expand the base of knowledge establishing the cognitive and communicative abilities of parrots as intelligent beings. These findings will be used to encourage the responsible ownership of parrots, conservation and preservation of parrots in the wild, and veterinary research into the psychological diseases and care of these birds.
Nutrition
Birds N Ways: Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine/Ezine
The Cockatiel Chef - Recipes For Your Bird
Housing
Socialising, Training and Stimulating your Parrot
Birds N Ways - this has ideas to make your own toys
Online Parrot Books, etc
The Pet Bird Parrot Book Store
Bird Keeper Magazine (highly reccommended)
