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A pet Parrot is a great but you’ll need to know how to care for him or her if you don’t already have experience. Caring for an exotic bird like a parrot is not like caring for a dog or cat.

parrot-puzzle

Here are some basic parrot care tips that will help your parrot live a long and happy life.

Diet

Your pet parrot has to eat, of course but it’s not as simple as bird seed. There’s not enough nutrition in seeds and pellets. You will also want to make sure your feed your bird fruits and vegetables, pellets, nuts, and seeds, and don’t forget about the water.

Watch out for sunflower seeds and peanuts. These are too fattening.

Here are some diet mainstays for  your pet parrot:

  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Berries
  • Broccoli
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Cheese
  • Chilies
  • Collard
  • Greens
  • Corn
  • Grains – whole wheat breads
  • Grapes
  • Green Beans
  • Kale
  • Mango
  • Melon
  • Orange
  • Papaya
  • Pasta (raw or cooked)
  • Pear
  • Peas
  • Popcorn
  • Spinach
  • Yogurt

Food pellets can be used well in conjunction with these basic foods. But seed can be good as well. Make sure it’s a good mixture of seed and you provide enough for your pet parrot to eat daily.

Don’t be afraid of cooked foods. If you’re having mashed potatoes, beans, eggs, rice, etc then go ahead and put it in your parrots food dish.

Wash bowls and dishes daily in soapy hot water. Keep the water fresh and not placed under the birds perch or near his favorite toy.

What NOT to feed your pet parrot:

Never feed your parrot things like chocolate, avocado, caffeine, or heavily salty and greasy foods. No fruit pits either. These can be toxic for your bird.

Just remember, like a child, a well balanced diet with lots of variety is important.

Bathing

Baths are not required daily, but it should be done regularly. Two to three times a week is good. Your parrot will likely love it. If at first he doesn’t like it, don’t give up. The more he is bathed the more he will get used to it and before you know it he’ll be begging for bath time.

Here’s how to give your parrot a bath:
* Fill a spray bottle with tepid water and holding the bottle 18 inches from your parrot and spritz, or take him in the shower with you, or a shallow bowl or sink filled with about 2 inches of water will go.
* No soap required. Just get the wings wet with a little water and the rest happens naturally.
* You can then towel dry your parrot. You can blow dry, but set the dryer to warm and keep it 18 inches away. It’s important that you keep your parrot warm after a bath as they are tropical animals.

Parrots can’t swim so always supervise them around the water. But baths in general are great for a parrots skin and feathers so doing it regularly is important for a healthy parrot.

Other Daily Pet Parrot Care

Your parrot needs plenty of attention and nurturing on a daily basis. Playtime and interaction is very important. Allow him to stretch his wings as well. Cleaning out his bird cage on a daily basis is important. Plenty of playthings are going to be important for your parrot as well. You can even use household items like paper towel rolls, empty beer cans, cardboard boxes, etc to create playthings for your parrot to keep him occupied. Watch out for toxic things or things he can hurt himself on when you let him out to play though.

Parrot ownership is a great thing so long as you remember a good daily diet, regular bathing, and plenty of interaction. You are going to have your parrot for a long time so you you want to make it good times. Having a parrot can be a lot like having a child. So remember that when you are deciding if you are ready for a pet parrot.