Parrot Healthcare 101: Keeping Your Parrot Healthy

One of the responsibilities that comes with owning a parrot is giving them the proper healthcare they need to live a long, happy, and otherwise healthy life. Like any other animal, parrots have specific and needs and requirements that be met to keep them healthy.

As the owner, it’s up to you to ensure your parrot’s needs are satisfied and met.

The fact is that far too many people decide to own a parrot without thinking about the health care that goes along with them. Not only are you going to have to invest extra time into caring for your parrot, but it’s also going to cost money.

Living Environment

No matter type of parrot you have, it needs to have a clean and healthy living environment. The ASPCA recommends buying the largest, most well-constructed cage you can afford, as this will give your parrot plenty of room to move around.

Even though your parrot may be able to fit in a smaller cage, studies have shown that those in larger cages tend to live happier lives. We discuss stainless steel vs powder-coated cages in another for your reference here: www.BirdCagesNow.com/blogs/stainless-steel-vs-powdercoated-picking-the-perfect-cage/

Once you’ve set up a suitable cage for your parrot, you’ll need to stay on top of cleaning it. Some people don’t realize that parrot poop can be a harbinger of some pretty harmful bacteria and parasites that can not only affect your parrot, but they can also affect you.

The bottom line is that you have to frequently clean their cage inside and out to prevent bacteria from building up.

Veterinarian Visits

Depending on how healthy your parrot is, you should take them to the veterinarian about once every year for a thorough check-up. They will be able to look at their body and check for any signs of health defects, as well as check their weight, size and other features.

Before you go packing your parrot up and hitting the first veterinarian hospital you come across, you need to call to check and see if they deal with parrots.

Unfortunately, many veterinary hospitals don’t service parrots; therefore, owners are left searching for ones that do.

If you’re active on some of the online bird forums, you can just ask members around your area who they recommend :)

Also, you can keep a parrot first aid kit on hand for emergencies.

Lots of Love and Toys!!

The key to keeping a parrot mentally happy is to give them plenty of attention and toys to play with. 

From swings to ropes to playstands, there are many options to keep your parrot entertained when you are not around.

Give your parrot the love and attention they deserve by spending some time with them each and every day. If you neglect your parrot day-after-day, they will grow depressed and may not eat or drink.

Whether you own an African Grey, Macaw or Parakeet, all parrots are highly social creatures that crave attention.

Leaving your parrot locked up in their cage for days on end with no social interaction will only lead to depression (yes, parrots can become depressed).

To prevent this from happening, place your parrot's cage in a place where you and other members of the family frequently travel by. For instance, you could place it in the living room or foyer, as this will naturally offer a more social experience for your parrot. Even if you can't take your parrot out, you can still talk to them as you enter and leave the house.

Talking with your parrot will play a huge role in their emotional health and well-being; however, nothing compares to actual playtime with your parrot. When you get home from a long day at work, take your parrot out of their cage for some free playtime.

Doing so will give them a chance to step outside of their comfort zone to engage in a new type of environment. Mental stimulation such as this will boost your parrot's intelligence while keeping them happy.

Keep Your Parrot Feed

A well-fed parrot is a happy parrot. As an owner, it's your responsibility to make sure your parrot is being properly fed and given all the nutrients their body needs to maintain healthy growth and development.

A good rule of thumb is to feed your parrot once in the morning and again in the evening. Feed your parrot either a balanced blend of premium seed mix or pellet food as their primary source of nutrition. Of course, you can also give your parrot some occasional fruits and vegetables as treats.

Give Them a Friend!

One of the most commonly asked questions by parrot owners is whether or not they should purchase a companion.

Parrots are highly social creatures that crave the attention of others; therefore, common sense should tell you that a companion is a good idea. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages to adding another parrot into your home.

Placing a new bird into your parrot's cage can create a dangerous situation. If they aren't fully accustomed to one another, they may get into a fight and cause injury. Placing a companion in your parrot's cage will also keep them mentally stimulated.

If you are looking to teach your parrot a wide vocabulary or even certain tricks, you'll want to stimulate their brain, and there's no better way to accomplish this than using a companion parrot. The company of another parrot in their cage will keep them focused with the drive to learn.

Far too many parrots grow complacent in their captive environment over the years, making them more difficult to train. You can prevent this from happening, however, by placing a companion bird in their cage.

How to Introduce Parrots

So, what's the best approach for introducing a companion into your parrot's cage? Start by placing the companion in a separate cage and setting it up next to your current parrot's cage. This will allow the two birds to see one another without the threat of a fight breaking out.

Leave the two cages set up for around 2 weeks before you place the companion into your parrot's cage. As long as they seem docile and content with one another, you should be able to leave them.

Studies have shown that raising two or more parrots in the same cage will increase their life expectancy. When parrots are left alone for long periods at a time, they may suffer from depression and other emotional problems. This is why it's important to always interact with your parrot each and every day.

Placing a companion parrot in their cage will give them company 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just the simple addition of a companion in their cage will instantly brighten their attitude while increasing their life expectancy.

Also, new companion parrots may carry disease or parasites which could transfer to others. Most bird experts agree that all companions should be quarantined for at least 30 days before exposing them to other parrots.

Happy Parrots Are Our Favorite Parrots 

It's a little-known fact that a parrot's emotional well-being plays a key role in their physical health. Parrots who are neglected by their owners and given little-to-no mental stimulation are more likely to succumb to disease and illness.

Thankfully, you can prevent this from happening by spending a little bit of time with your parrot each and every day. These are just a few techniques owners can use to maintain a happy and emotionally healthy parrot. Primarily, you might also want to ask yourself if you're ready to adopt a pet parrot. Above all else, though, show your parrot love and affection on a regular basis.