So you want to buy a parrot – or you already bought one. You were told what kind of parrot cage was best for the parrot breed you selected. You were sold Parrot Food, perches, and a few other items. You were advised on how to feed and water your parrot. Parrot care sounded easy.

You probably were not advised on parrot care that would protect your own sanity around this new companion.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that a parrot in the home is such a bad thing that you may suffer mentally. I am just saying that certain parrot care tips reduce the possibility that you will sometime be sorry you bought the bird. After all, a parrot has a long lifespan. You want to make that life happy for both you and the bird.

Parrot Care Purchases

You invested money in your parrot. Investing a bit more will not be throwing good money after bad. Half a dozen extra parrot care purchases will make life easier and happier.

1. Tray and grate: A cage with slide-out tray and grate will make parrot care much easier. You can clean the cage better and without struggle.

2. Seed skirt: Be sure the cage has a seed skirt. You will avoid accumulating a carpet of seed hulls on your floor!

3. Storage base: Parrot care involves storing a number of supplies. Keep them in one place, near the parrot, by purchasing a cage with a storage base.

4. Shower perch: Did you know that parrots need baths? Good parrot care calls for a shower perch that will let your bird bathe itself, saving you work. No water around the cage. A shower perch lets your parrot bathe in your shower.

5. Bedtime Hideout: A parrot can soon “drive you up a wall” by squawking at night or when you want a quiet evening with guests. A cage cover is essential. A “snuggle sack” is an additional incentive for your parrot to sleep soundly.

6. Bird droppings remover: Letting your parrot out of the cage for exercise is great, but the acid of its droppings can destroy furniture. Proper parrot care for your sanity includes bird safe cleaning products.

Investing in these six products at the beginning will prevent a lot of stress. We went hunting such products, and found a great supply at Windy City Parrot. This online parrot supply store seems to have everything we need for parrots. We review Windy City Parrot on this website. To read that review, click here or on the dark blue Windy City Parrot button at the top of this page. To visit the Windy City Parrot site right now, click here.

Help! My African Grey is pulling feathers! My African Grey is pulling many feathers!

If you want to scream because your African Grey parrot – or other parrot – is pulling feathers, please don’t. Your screams will only make matters worse. You want to find out why the parrot is pulling feathers, and correct the situation immediately.

Reasons for African Grey Pulling Feathers

There are a number of reasons that African Greys pull feathers. Many times, it is a simple matter of boredom. Consider that African Grey parrots in the wild spend a great portion of the day flying about the Congo, foraging for food. An African Grey pulling feathers may simply be a bored bird. It may want more excitement in life. It may need a challenge.

1. Foraging Tree: An African Grey pulling feathers – or any parrot – may need only a tree branch in which you hide treats. It’s called a foraging tree. Purchase a large branch of Manzanita wood at a pet store. Fix it upright in your African Grey’s cage, or use an outside-the-cage tree with a seed stand. Hide things in the tree. Use small toys, bells, and bits of food that will not spoil quickly. Tuck them securely into every cranny. Hide them well so that your parrot is forced to climb around and look to find them. Then watch your African Grey forget pulling feathers and get involved. You may want to find a Manzanita tree on sale, as this is not a cheap solution. Make sure it is well cleaned and sanitized before using.

2. Jungle Gym: Another way to stop an African Grey pulling feathers is to give it plenty of time outside the cage on a jungle gym. Provide a way for your parrot to occupy its time. An hour or so on a jungle gym will leave it satisfied and less inclined to pluck feathers.

3. Smoking: Your African Grey may be affected by cigarette smoke. Not that the parrot is smoking, but any smoking in the house is dangerous to the health of parrots. Fumes from cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking can rapidly kill an African Grey. Feather plucking may be the first sign.

4. Other Fumes: If you see an African Grey plucking feathers, it may be telling you that other fumes are making it ill. Parrots are highly sensitive to a number of vapors that we take for granted. The furniture polish you use when you clean the room where your parrot lives or plays can make it seriously ill. Floor polish is the same. When you cook in Teflon-coated pans, you release into the air gases that can kill your African Grey. Feather plucking is a warning.

What to Do

Act quickly if you see your African Grey pulling feathers. Look around for toxins in the home. Take the bird to a veterinarian for a check-up. Talk to the vet about possible toxins in the home. Rid the home of all, or plan how to keep the parrot out of range when you use them.

Order a good “detox” formula to have on hand for feather plucking. It will let you counteract toxins immediately, even when a vet is not available. We found a good formula at Bird Tricks. Click here to visit and order right now.

Bird Tricks has videos that teach you how to keep your parrot healthy and happy. They also help you Train Your Parrot to stop biting, and to do tricks. We review Bird Tricks on this website. Read our review by clicking here or on the dark blue Bird Tricks button at the top of this page.

The King Parrot is a native of eastern Australia - a brightly colored native! Hand reared male King Parrots make good pets. They are amusing and colorful, with bright and cheerful attitudes - sometimes to the extent of being entertainingly sassy. Females are more conservative, both in color and behavior.

Description

The King Parrot is approximately 16 inches in length, including a long, beautiful tail. The male and female differ strikingly in coloration.

* Male: The male King Parrot of 4 years or older has a fiery red head and breast, with the red continuing down the underside of the long tail. The remainder of the male is dark bottle green with a light green patch across the shoulders. He has blue striping on the wing coverts. The male King Parrot sports a reddish-orange upper beak with a black tip, and a black lower beak. His eye ring is yellow. The male King Parrot looks very much like a bright red bird wearing a dark green cloak over its shoulders.

* Female: The female King Parrot that has reached adulthood lacks the red head and breast of the male. She does, however, display the same red belly and lower breast. Her green and blue markings are similar to those of the male King Parrot. Female King Parrots have a black upper beak, and their eye ring is a paler shade of yellow.

Talking

King Parrots are given to beautiful piping, bell-like calls rather than to the squawking that is normal for many parrots. They use their calls freely, and might be rated “moderate” for noise level. If trained with patience, the male King Parrot will become a reasonably good talking parrot. The female is not known for this ability, but can talk a little.

Room to Spread the Wings

King Parrots are very acrobatic, and require plenty of space to perform their stunts. To keep them truly comfortable and happy, you should provide an aviary 12 to 15 feet long and 3 to 6 feet wide. You should also provide a companion, which may or may not be a King Parrot. These birds are very social creatures, and do not do well alone.

Be sure your King Parrot has different kinds of Parrot Toys to keep it occupied. Information on appropriate toys can be found at Windy City Parrot. We review Windy City Parrot on this website. To read that review, click here or on the dark blue Windy City Parrot button at the top of this page. Visit Windy City Parrot right now by clicking here. You will be redirected immediately.