TheTameParrot.com - Say “BYE” To Your Parrot Problems

If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Many new bird owners are confused about how to properly care for their birds. One example is hygiene….how do you bath your bird and keep it clean?

For starters, birds do not smell. In some cases, especially in the wild, some birds omit a natural odor from their oil glands that protects it from predators in the wild. This is not the case for pet birds.

If you do smell odors from a bird, in most cases it is coming from the cage. This is the result of bird dropping decomposing, stale water, or old food. Proper cage cleaning will always eliminate this smell.

But birds do need their bath!

SHOULD YOU FORCE YOUR BIRD TO TAKE A BATH?

Never force a bird to bath. Dropping the bird into a sink of water, or improperly spraying it with a mister only terrorizes them. You need to experiment a little and find out what the bird likes. It will vary widely from bird to bird. Some birds can barely tolerate a light misting with a bottle of warm water. Others love to sit on a shower perch and have water spray all over them until they are a dripping mess! That is how my wife’s Military Macaw wants his bath!

Experiment a bit to learn what your bird likes. Start by getting a spray bottle and lightly mist the bird. If he’s interested, he will stand on his perch, spread his wings out and beg for more. If not, he runs away from the bottle and looks for a place to hide. Obviously this is not his “preferred method”.

Offer a bowl of water. The bird will sit on the edge and splash water on himself (and everything else in the area).

Another method is to place the bird in a sink and run a thin stream of water into it. The bird will run in and out of the water to bath. Or try buying a “shower perch” and install it on the wall of the shower. Run the shower (but not on the bird directly) and let him move in and out of the spray.

BIRD SHAMPOO? NO WAY!!!

There are a number of products on the market designed as a shampoo or bathing aid for your bird. NEVER use these products. If the bird is properly cared for there is never a need for them. To make matters worse, they can make a bird sick.

The only time I can ever recommend such a product is if the bird got extremely dirty.

That goes double for “mite and lice” sprays. Very rarely do birds get these pests, and if the cage and environment are kept clean it will never occur. Never use this sort of product without the close supervision of an avian veterinarian.

This advice also goes for those bird perfumes or anything that you would spray on a bird. Your bird already has the natural instincts to care for itself, preen it’s feathers, and keep clean. So save your money, or use it to buy a nice birdy toy.

OK, now that you have made up your mind and are convinced an African Grey Parrot is right for you, let’s look at some of the aspects of these birds.

SUBSPECIES- There are actually two common subspecies of Grey’s. Congo and Timneh.

Congo’s are slightly larger. They are a light grey in color, but are very distinctive by their cherry red tail and black beak. They are also a bit more noisy. Timneh’s are a bit darker in color, and have a maroon tail, with horn colored mandible.

Both species are excellent talkers. But the Congo does exhibit more intelligence. Timneh’s are known to be less neurotic of the two, and less prone to feather plucking. The reason for this is not readily known. Timneh’s have not been widely bred over the past few years, and we are just now learning a lot about their personalities. They are more even tempered then Congo’s and are becoming more sought after.

INTELLIGENCE- Beyond a doubt, African Grey’s are an extremely intelligent bird. University studies have proven that Grey can talk in a cognitive manner, and can understand what they are saying. They do not just mimic sounds, but can actually communicate. Their ability to recognize shapes, colors, and even food items is documented. This makes them a highly sought after pet.

KNOWN PLUCKERS-Congo African Grey’s are known feather pluckers. This neurotic condition is not as common in the Timnah species.

This is due to boredom and lack of human interaction. If ignored, this self mutilation behavior can result in permanent damage to the skin, making it impossible for the bird to re-grow feathers.

It is first necessary to rule out possible medical conditions that could be causing the plucking. Liver disease, mites, or other health issues could be a factor. This can only be determined by making a visit to a qualified avian veterinarian. Once it’s determined that the problem is mental, you need to determine the cause and work on correcting it.

THEIR PERSONAL FEARS- This is a complex issue with Greys. Wild Grey’s do not exhibit irrational fears, so what causes it with domesticated Greys?

Research is showing that it’s a combination of both instinctive and associative behavior. For example, instinct tells the Grey that danger comes from overhead. If you take your Grey outside and an airplane flies overhead, the Grey becomes terrified. This does not happen with wild Grey’s because they have associated, through parent training, that only a few dangers come from above, such as hawks. Domesticated Greys have not been taught this, so they tend to have lots of irrational fears.

Even toys can terrify a pet Grey. It’s not unusual for a Grey to cower in the corner of their cage to get away from a new toy introduced by their owners. Even new foods can scare them.

For this reason, the pet owner needs to be very aware of the birds surroundings. Sure, you know that thump in the night is just the furnace kicking on…but to the Grey it’s a lurking predator. Your bird needs to be trained to understand that instinctive fears must be controlled. He must trust you. And this will only be resolved over time.

Remember, captive pets are totally dependant on you, the owner. If the do not accept this and give you their complete trust, they will always fall back on their phobias. This will always result in an unfriendly pet.

One of the most sought after pet birds in the world is the African Grey. This bird, native to Africa, is considered one of the most intelligent of birds. It’s amazing ability to speak and mimic sounds make it an entertaining companion.

African Greys are a medium sized parrot, predominantly grey, with accents of white. The two most common subspecies are Congo, noted as having a cherry red tail and black beaks, and the Timneh, which is smaller in size, darker gray, with a maroon colored tail and light colored mandible. The Congo is considered the better talker, but both are very capable of talking and equally intelligent.

African Greys have a long and rich history being kept as a pet. Egyption hieroglyphics dating back 4,000 years depict pet parrots. Throughout the Greek, and Roman histories Greys were highly valued for the ability to talk, and kept in very ornate cages. King Henry VIII had one, and Portuguese sailors kept them as companions on long voyages. This probably led to the images of pirates with parrots on their shoulders.

In 2007 the Grey Parrot was uplifted to Near Threatened status by some environmental groups. The international community is prohibiting the capture and import/export of wild caught Greys. In America, it is illegal to import these birds. Therefore, all Greys currently sold have been raised domestically. They are readily available, but can be quite costly

THE COST- When you begin your search for your Grey, you are going to be amazed at the wide price range. A bird breeder in Florida will sell a young Congo for as little as $600. Drive a few hundred miles north and the price jumps to $1000. Walk in to a New York pet shop and you will be lucky to find one for $1500. So why the price variations?

The costs start with the bird breeders. A properly raised handfed Grey require constant attention. Babies must be fed every 2 hours, 24 hours a day. This requires a tremendous amount of labor. Once the baby has been weaned, little is needed except to give the bird constant attention. As the bird gets older, this time must be compensated, so the cost goes up. A 1-year-old Grey now costs as much as $950-$1200. Some breeders who do this for a hobby are not as interested in recovering labor costs, as they do it for the joy of it.

Another factor is location. Birds bred in warm climates require little environmental control, and birds can be raised in outdoor flight cages. In northern climates, they can’t handle the cold weather (remember, these birds are native to Africa) so the cost of housing adds up. Therefore, expect to pay a bit more for birds raised in these areas.

Pet stores very rarely breed their own birds, and depend on “jobbers”, breeders or even wholesale dealers to supply them with birds to sell. They may get a price advantage from buying large quantities of birds, but they also must make a profit for themselves. This explains why pet stores sell Greys for as much as $2000.

Therefore, when you begin your search for your new pet, the key to getting a good price is research and negotiation. Whether you buy from a breeder or pet store is up to you. There are good and bad in both groups. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Call around and find the price range that Greys are being sold for, and make an offer.

HOW MUCH ATTENTION THEY REQUIRE?

African Greys are a highly intelligent bird. They will require a lot of interaction from the owner.

If you want your bird to talk, don’t expect it to happen with those DVD’s, tape recordings or other easy methods. It takes human interaction. Sorry, shortcuts won’t work. You must teach your Grey to talk by starting with short, simple phrases. Be consistent, and reward your pet whenever possible. Greys should begin talking at about 1 year old. But be aware that your bird must want to talk, and many times they never will. In our experience they may not say a word for many years, then suddenly will begin repeating everything they have learned. Just be patient. Move your bird to another room, away from his cage, and work with him for 10 minutes per session. Interact as much as possible. Your Grey will devote itself to you and clamor for your attention.

The Grey does not like to be left alone without attention. They have a tendency for feather plucking and self mutilation. This is a clear sign of stress, insecurity or boredom. Move your bird to an area where the family is at. Place it in front of a window. Be sure your bird has lots of toys. But none of these replaces your interaction with the bird. You need to set aside a part of each day to give your bird attention.

CAGES- There is no such thing as a cage too big. But every bird owner will have their restrictions, and in many cases they look for the smallest cage possible.

African Greys require a medium sized parrot cage. It must be able to spread it’s wings, move freely about, and have room to hang toys and food/water dishes. The minimum preferred size is at least 28 inches. Preferably a cage 36 inches tall to allow for lots of exercise room. Bar spacing should be no wider then 1 inch, as the bird can get it’s head stuck between the bars. The material should be of strong gauge wire, because Africans can easily destroy a cage designed to hold parakeets or cockatiels.

When you buy the cage, keep in mind that you need to clean it frequently. Fancy ornate cages can be very time consuming. Metal cages will rust if not dried thoroughly. Stainless steel cages are preferred, but very expensive.

Examine the cage for dangers such as doors that don’t fit properly. Greys have been known to get their feet caught in entry and feed doors, so look them over. Look for bad welds that may have sharp edges. These are all common with inexpensive cages.

Make sure perches are big enough for your bird. Your Grey will spend much of his time standing on them, and improper perches will result in feet problems. A variety of different sized perches is a great start.

Find bird cages that have replacement food/water cups, and by extra sets. This way, while one set is in the case you can be soaking and cleaning the others. Contaminated water dishes is a major cause for disease, but such a simple problem to fix!

DIET- You can talk to ten different breeders and get ten different answers on this topic…all can be correct. My standard answer? African Greys have the same exact nutritional requirements that humans do. What would happen if you ate seeds and nuts all day long? Why would you expect anything different from your Grey?

Grey’s require a higher protein diet then other birds, and a lot more calcium. By feeding your bird a good quality commercial bird pellet diet, and supplementing it with lots of fruits and vegetables, you will never have a problem. There are commercial diets available formulated specifically for African Greys.

I also disagree with many assertions that Greys should not eat meat. Keep in mind the Grey’s ancestral history of coming from Africa. While they do eat lots of seeds and vegetation, they are also part scavengers. Meat is loaded with protein and high in vitamin B’s, which is missing from a seed and vegetable diet. Pelleted foods add these vitamins and addition protein to correct this, but you can do the same by sharing your meals with your bird. Not only does this improve the birds diet, but it increases the interaction you are having with your bird. But just like humans, don’t overdue it.

Another major source of argument between breeders is whether to give birds milk and dairy products. Here is the scoop…..

Milk and dairy products contain lactose. In order to properly digest it, your body produces an enzyme called lactase. Birds do not produce this enzyme, and it’s actually toxic to the bird! Too much milk results in diarrhea, which in turn causes severe medical problems for birds. So the uneducated breeder just removes dairy products from the diet.

But milk also contains a huge amount of calcium and other minerals that are sorely lacking from the birds diet. While this can be replaced with supplements such as cuttlebones or other sources of ground up calcium, it’s still depriving the bird of other vital items it needs in the diet.

African Greys can easily handle small amounts of dairy products. Cheese and yogurt, rich in calcium but low in lactose, is an excellent treat. Be creative… Give your birds an occasional slice of pizza, or a splash of milk over their favorite cereal in the morning. Just don’t overdue it!

LIFE SPAN-African Grey’s, like other larger parrots, have a long lifespan. This fact must be taken into consideration by the new bird owner. What do you do with the bird when you die and the bird outlasts you?

Greys reach the age of maturity from 3-5 years old. A properly raised Grey will live from 35-50 years. It is not unheard of for Greys to live up to 80 years old!

So if you choose an African Grey as a pet, you can expect a very long lasting relationship with him.

The title of this post sounds simple, but it’s far more complicated to answer. There are simply so many aspects in owning a bird, as it can take days of research to figure out exactly what type of birds best fits you.

COST- Lets face it…breeding and selling birds is a business. And like any business there are factors involved in price. Supply and demand, cost of breeding, delivery, and other hidden expenses

For example, birds sold in warmer climates like Florida and California are much cheaper to buy then Michigan, New York, or Iowa. It costs money to control the climate in cold weather states, which adds to the cost. Warm states save money by having outdoor flight cages. This difference can save 50% to the cost of birds.

Parent fed, hand fed, or wild caught? Obviously wild caught birds are cheap, and you will get what you pay for in the form of unfriendly or unhealthy birds. Parent fed birds do not require labor costs to feed the babies and give continuous attention. Hand feeding requires 24 hour attention, and this adds to the labor cost. Generally, birds purchased from an experience bird breeder are more healthy and friendly then pet stores. But due to the overhead of pet stores, the same birds can cost more.

The age of the bird is also a factor. Every day a pet store or breeder keeps a bird, the cost for food and care continues to rise. Shipping birds around the country also adds a tremendous amount to the cost. It’s to their advantage to sell the birds as soon as possible.

So just on these factors, a bird such as an African Grey can be purchased in Florida at 3 months old for around $600. Go to Michigan, buy it from a pet store, and the same bird now costs $1500.

Because of these factors, it’s rather difficult to place a price of a specific bird. Cockatiels can range from $50 from a breeder to $120 from a pet store.

Therefore, it’s up to the customer to do their research, shop around, ask lots of questions, and BARGAIN! In many cases you can negotiate a much lower price. Never buy a bird unless you can be certain it’s healthy. This can only be done by taking it to a trained avian veterinarian for a checkup. Be sure your bird comes with a warrantee.

THE TYPE OF BIRD FOR BEGINNERS

We have had many clients come to us looking for a rather large, expensive bird. Many times it’s because they just like the type of bird, saw one on TV or had a friend with one. We have also talked customers out of the purchase. Why? Because we felt it was “too much bird” for them. In a few months they will quickly be overwhelmed with the demands of this bird and end up selling it or giving it away.

We always recommend that new bird owners start with small, inexpensive birds. Once they get the hang of handling, feeding and caring for the bird, they will be much better prepared to take on the challenge of a Macaw or Amazon.

For this reason, we like to recommend cockatiels and lovebirds. They are friendly and easy to handle, and fairly hardy. Finches and parakeets are fine, but they tend to not care to be handled. . If you simply want a caged bird, these are for you. All of these birds are inexpensive and readily available Another great starter bird is the Quaker. These comical birds are friendly, great talkers, and fairly inexpensive. If you want a little more of a challenge, consider some of the smaller conure species like the Sun or Nanday. But while these birds are friendly, they are also a little noisy.

Before you buy the bird, be sure you have research everything you can about it. Know what type of food it eats, what cage is required, and how to treat medical issues.

DIETS- I could talk for hours on this topic. But I have a very simple answer also. Birds have the exact same nutritional requirements as humans do. If you fed your kids nothing but nuts and seeds, how long do you think they will survive? It’s the same situation with birds.

They need their vitamins and minerals. They need fruits and vegetables. They need their protein. You do not get any of these in an all seed diet. Therefore, seed should only be considered as a treat, and not the main source of food. This is also a great way to check the knowledge the person who is selling you a bird. If they tell you all the bird need is seed, run away! Find a more knowledgeable pet store or breeder.

We strongly recommend pelleted or extruded diets. Supplement this with fresh fruits and vegetables. Offer your bird some of your own meal! Yes they eat meat! And bread, pasta, cereal, and pizza!

We do not recommend daily vitamin additives in food or water. If your bird is on the correct diet it’s not necessary. But because of improper food, calcium and Vitamin A are common problems. By simply offering your bird foods rich in these items, you avoid the need for medications.

LIFESPAN- From our experience, there is one area that is rarely paid attention to when buying a bird. A properly cared for bird has a long lifespan. In general, the larger the bird, the longer the lifespan.

Therefore, birds such as Cockatoos, Macaws, Amazons, and African Grey will easily live to the age of 50, and if properly cared for even 70. Without taking this into consideration, what do you plan to do if the bird outlives you?

Here is a brief list of birds and their expected lifespan.

Small birds like Finches, Parakeets, Canaries life from 5-12 years. Medium size birds like Doves, Cockatiels and Conures live from 10-20 years. Small parrots like the Pionus, Senegal, Quakers, and Mini Macaws live from 20-30 years. Large parrots like Macaws, Amazons, Eclectus and African Greys live 30-50+ years.

Therefore, you must take this fact into account when buying your first bird. This is not a short term commitment you are making! You are committing a huge portion of your life to the care of this pet.

ATTENTION REQUIRED- Birds are intelligent. Birds will demand attention. They need their play time and their quiet time. They need to interact with their owners. Deal with it! You are not buying a pet, you are getting involved in a long term commitment.

Some species of birds are more then happy just playing in their cage. Finches, Canaries and even doves are great if all you want is some ambiance in your home. Cockatiels and conures require a bit more attention. If you intend to take these birds out of their cage and be handle, you can expect even more time be spent in interacting.

Cockatoos are extremely demanding! If they don’t get it, they will scream until they do! And too much attention will spoil them! Not enough attention can create psychological problems, which can develop into self mutilating habits like feather plucking.

So you must take this factor into consideration when you choose your bird. If you are not prepared to take the time to interact, then a large parrot may not be a wise choice.

Hey guys,

This is the beginning of an amazing community…

If you’re visiting this blog for the first time, I highly recommend that you bookmark this blog or subscribe to the RSS feed. I have many amazing articles, audios and videos to share with you on how to tame and train your bird!

I better make this short if you want to see the content soon.

So, take care and stay tuned!

~Danny