Article #1: 10 Pointers for the New Parrot Companion Caregiver

Over the years, being someone who loves to write, I have pen down much of what I have learned either through experience, research or from people into thematic articles.

They have been stored on my hard drive, with some being posted in a parrot forum.

Thought it would be nice to share them all here in my blog since I'm too lazy to update the blog regularly. :P

So here it is...Gabriel's Parrot Articles Series...article #1:

10 Pointers for the New Parrot Companion Caregiver

A young bird is like a blank page waiting to be written. That is why a new parrot caregiver should be prepared and educated on guiding the baby what is appropriate and constructive in making the human-parrot companionship a fulfilling and problem free one.

The first three points are to prepare ourselves as parrot owners while point number 4 and 5 prepares the bird for its arrival. Point number 6 reminds us on how to take care of the bird’s health while the last four points pertain to starting the bird right in its behavioural development.

For the second hand parrot or untamed parrot, there may be baggages and history that the parrot carries with it. Yet, the shift to a new environment with new owners means a period of adjustment. This period of adjustment provides a golden opportunity to reduce or even eradicate past behavioural problems or other challenges. Therefore, the following points can still be applied to these birds with positive effects.

It is hoped that the below will be of help to fellow parrot lovers who wish to keep these nature’s wonders!

1. Do your research

The most important first step towards parrot keeping is to know what you are getting into! Below are some critical reasons why doing self study on parrots and parrots keeping is mandatory:
--Diversity of parrot species from the majestic macaws to the precociously pretty parrotlets
--Different types of parrots have different physical and psychological requirements, characteristics and general personalities
--Second hand birds versus baby birds; untamed birds versus handfed tame birds; weaned versus unweaned babies.
--What we want and wish to have in a parrot companion
--Our budget, both short term and long term costs of keeping the various types of parrots.
--Our lifestyle, current standards of living, family members’ acceptance/involvement etc.
--Therefore, research aids us in making informed and well thought out decisions on the type of parrot that optimally matches our wants, abilities and resources with the needs of the particular parrot specie

The above paves the way towards happiness and contentment of both our companion parrots and us, reducing the chances of regrets and mistakes in our choices of parrot.

2. Unweaned and Untamed Birds

There is much literature on why getting unweaned baby parrots are discouraged, so do check it out. Weaning is a stressful process for baby birds and many things could happen if they are not cared for properly. The same goes for handfeeding, with concerns such as sour crop, burnt crop, infection, formula rejection, etc.

I remember losing my first unweaned African Grey baby. The vet’s lab report is a bacteria respiratory infection, caught from other birds while at the pet shop. On hindsight, the baby has appeared skinny and of a weak constitution then but I was so eager to get a bird I consciously will myself to overlook that nagging sign. It’s a harrowing experience losing a baby parrot this way, not to say a huge waste of money and time. Lesson learnt and I get my second chance with Manju, my sister’s African Grey; healthy size and outgoing baby when we first met him. He sailed through our handfeeding and weaned smoothly.

Moral of the story--unless you seriously wish to learn how to hand-feed and wean a baby bird, is willing to make all the efforts (multiple feedings daily, preparing formula, weaning food, etc), to learn and accept whatever risks that may come your way, it is much safer to get a weaned bird although unweaned babies are more readily available in Singapore’s contexts.

Other than the issue of unweaned babies, is the issue of tameness. Parrots come with varying degrees of tameness from wild caught untamed adults to meek and mellow babies. It is therefore important to be clear right from the start the kind of relationship you wish to have with your parrot.

A most intimate and interactive relationship with a parrot would probably means a need for a tame bird while someone who wishes to keep the parrot in a cage or aviary all the time and appreciate it at a distance can be less demanding in this respect. To avoid disappointment in companionship expectations, get a parrot that is tame enough to be handled, that cooperates in stepping up onto our hands. Wild adults may be much cheaper but the taming process require skills, experience, consistency and patience on the part of the owner and the help of a bird trainer or avian behaviourist, best left to those willing and capable of the aforementioned.

3. Protection from household dangers

Before bringing your bird home, an inspection around our house can help reduce the chances of regrettable accidents. Keep a lookout for toxic plants or substances such as Teflon coating on frying pans and ironing devices, uncovered fish tanks that can drown unwitting birds, etc. A checklist of household dangers can be gotten from available parrot resources.

4. Homecoming

It would be good to prepare the cage in advance, if not at least the place and position allocated for the parrot and its cage, keeping in mind the dos and don’ts of a parrot’s housing environment—not too near an open window with strong noon heat, not too near doorways that may frighten the birds when people pass by and suddenly appear in their line of vision, etc.

Ideally, fetch the bird home at a time when the house is quiet and when one has ample time to help the bird adjust to its new home.

5. Wing Clipping for the Companion Parrot

Parrots destined to become friends with us and allowed some freedom outside their cages should have their wings clipped for safety reasons. Limiting their flight ability through wings clipping is a painless process and helps facilitate the establishment of a cooperative relationship between us as dominant flock leader and them. Many a new bird is lost when the bird is startled into flight, leaving the new owner distraught with loss. Wings clipping also prevent birds from flying into household hazards such as ceiling fans, kitchen fire, etc.

There are, however, some people who allow their companion parrots’ wing feathers to remain unclipped. These people have chosen to flight train their parrots. As wonderful as it may sound for the birds and us to see them happily and healthily soaring, recall training is important. These parrots have to be trained regularly. Even so, loss is unpredictable especially when they are startled while in the open. I have heard of macaws lost this way.

There is a lost budgie that once flew into a classroom, colliding with the ceiling fan, splattering blood and feathers all over the screaming students.

Please, do not let tragedies like this happen to you and your bird.

6. Introduction to a healthy diet

A healthy selection of fresh vegetables, fruits and grains should be introduced right in the beginning as this is a good time to teach the bird to be open to a wide variety of food alternatives. Offer the bird comfort food that it has been eating while introducing new vegetables, fruits or grains. Pellets are a convenient and important addition that should make up a major perceptage of their staple.

This is because once the bird is set in its eating habits; it is more difficult and stressful to convert it to a healthier and varied diet.

7. Setting limits right from the start

It is understandable that the new bird may be frightened of us and its new environment initially and may require a few days to settle down and get used to. Once the bird is observed to behave normally, relaxed, eating and drinking properly, socialization and handling should begin.

Baby birds are usually cooperative, mild and easily impressionable, making handling and training easier. This is a window of opportunity not to be missed. This will let the bird learns its place in this new “flock hierarchy".

Behaviours can be modified to make some species more suited to domestic setting, for example, teaching a cockatoo to play independently and quietly, a firm will with the baby macaw so that it knows its place, stick training the Amazon in the event of sexual maturity aggression in the future, teaching the bird to get used to a carrier for transportation and excursions in the future, etc.

8. Attention moderation

While there might be an urge by you, family and friends to keep checking out the new bird frequently, moderate the attention to the same amount you are able to consistently give throughout the coming years. Giving too much attention at the beginning will deceive the bird into expecting the same amount of your time, all the time. The innocent bird may not understand why we have to spend the whole day working plus over time or rushing a school project, thereby possibly inducing stress or bouts of screaming episodes.

So start the bird on the right footing by balancing different forms of attention and teaching it independent play. It will go a long way to achieving the happy and contented parrot family.

9. Socialization and the one-person bird

Just as with attention, a bird should be exposed to interaction and handling by different people so as not to allow the bird to demand too much out of a particular person or be too reliant and emotionally attached to him/her. Such strong attachments may on one hand be flattering for the person, can on the other, become a source of problems, especially in the event that this person may not be able to care and attend to the bird due to unforeseen circumstances.

Exposing the bird to multiple people allow the baby to be used to others, thereby making for a stranger friendly bird. Although some species, such as the African Greys, may be shier in front of strangers, with proper and consistent exposure and socialization, it is possible to get an extroverted grey that talks in front of strangers! There are accounts that validate this, so do not overlook this aspect. It can also be an enjoyable experience for these intelligent and sociable birds.

10. Toys and a dynamic environment

In relation to the above point, get the new bird used to changes in the environment and different toys. This is a preventive measure against phobias that some parrots might develop. Toys are instrumental in engaging the time of the parrot to occupy their intelligent minds. As such, it is important to get new baby birds used to the idea of toys and their purpose as play things. Some intuitively know toys as toys but some may need to be taught.

To break the monotony of our home, outdoor excursions can be a stimulating and enjoyable experience for both the birds and us. So do get the bird used to going outdoors and to different places, making for a confident and outgoing bird.

Finally, enjoy the companionship of your parrot!

End Note:

This is yet another piece written during the holidays when I'm very free. Because I realize that many questions have been frequently asked by those who are new to parrots keeping, I have decided to write an organize into a guideline what I have learned from people, books, magazines and experience with my birds.

May they be of help to new parrots owners.