May 12
16
Eclectus Parrot Information
The Eclectus Parrot may not be one of the most well-known parrots in the world, but it is well-known for a couple of different things. Mainly, its incredible sexual dimorphism and its talking abilities cause this parrot to stand out.
These medium-sized parrots originated in New Guinea, and then branched out to populate many of the nearby islands. They are usually around 13 inches (35 centimeters) in length, and will live around 40 to 50 years in captivity when properly cared for. They live in all types of habitats, from forests to grasslands as well as coastal regions. Because of the diversity and adaptability in where they live, the Eclectus parrot also has good variety in its diet.
They eat fruits, figs, raw nuts, seeds, and plant buds. When kept in captivity, it’s important that they are fed a good diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables, and nuts and seeds only given sparingly. Wild birds require a lot more of the fats and oils that nuts and seeds provide, whereas a pet can become fat on too many of these treats.
With their extreme sexual dimorphism, males and females are easy to tell apart. In fact, they were believed to be different species for many years. The males are almost completely green with a few spots of other colors, and the females have red mixed with blue or bluish-purple feathers. The exact coloring will vary depending on which of the nine different subspecies it is.
The Eclectus parrot is considered one of the top talkers of the parrot family. Some people will even say that they rival the African Grey, which has long since been called the most intelligent parrot. The key to getting your parrot to talk well is a lot of careful training and practice, as well as getting it when it is very young. What is interesting about the Eclectus parrot is that females generally sound more feminine while males sound more masculine.
These parrots also enjoy making a number of different sound effects, and will learn many of the different sounds around it just by listening. This can be a lot of fun, but can also be difficult if you don’t want your parrot to be making phone or doorbell sounds, or barking back at the neighbor’s dog. Overall, the Eclectus parrot makes a great parrot for anyone who’s looking for a brightly colored parrot that can do a whole lot of talking and learning.
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May 12
10
Popular Types Of Talking Parrots
Many people want to buy talking parrots, but don’t always know where to start. The best place to start is by researching parrots and their care. The amount of time you have to put into your parrot and the size of the parrot you want will be deciding factors in what type of parrot you get. Because some types of parrot can live for over 70 years and most need several hours of attention every day, it’s important to realize that having a parrot is a huge commitment.
The Indian Ringneck Parakeet
For being on the small size, the Indian Ringneck Parakeet is a great talker. In their native land of India, they learned and recited the daily prayers of the monks, which led to the monks holding these birds as being sacred. They are naturally green, but color mutations means you can now find them in blue and white as well. Only the males have the ring around the neck which gives them their name, and they typically live for 25 years.
The Quaker Parakeet
The Quaker Parakeet is another small bird that can still talk really well. They are grey and green, and are usually better at learning sounds than words. That just means that you have to take a little extra time with them to be sure they’re learning more words than background noises. These little birds usually live around 25 years.
The Amazon Parrot
Amazon Parrots are mostly green birds that are larger than the parakeets, and can usually have a larger vocabulary. These are particularly good at learning new words because they seem to make a game out of learning lots of different sounds and words. They do require some more care and socialization, but can make great companions as they live for about 50 years.
The African Grey
By far considered the most intelligent type of parrot, a few have been recorded as knowing over 500 words or phrases. These medium-sized parrots are primarily grey with some red in their tail and can be expected to live for about 50 years.
From the giant Macaws down to the little cockatiels, almost all types of parrots can be taught to say a few phrases. It’s important to know before buying a parrot what species are the best at talking, and that they will learn more when you spend more time talking with them and if they are talked to from a very early age. Talking parrots can be a lot of fun, but they’re also a lot of work.
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Apr 12
19
Preparing To Breed Parrots As Pets
The first and most important investment to weigh when you consider breeding parrots as pets is your time. It may not seem like much at the outset, but when you have chicks to hand-feed, as much as nine times daily in the beginning, time is definitely the one thing you cannot skimp on.
Should you specialize in one type of parrot or spread your options? The advantage to limiting yourself to one species is that you will only need to accommodate the needs of that one species, when it comes to caging dimensions and diet. It will also be easier to become an authority on the traits and habits of a single species, and this will recommend you to potential buyers. On the other hand, you may attract more buyers if you diversify.
Artificial incubation is another serious consideration. Incubating the hatchlings and hand-rearing them increases the survival rate of your parrot chicks and may even have the added advantage of more eggs in the nest. The downside is that it is labour-intensive.
When choosing parrots to breed, do not rush your selection. If buying from other breeders, try to find out as much as possible about the health and history of the bird you are planning to buy. Quarantine it for 30 to 45 days, to protect your other birds. You should also take your time to introduce the male and female parrot to each other. Parrots form intense bonds with some other members of their species, but you cannot force or rush this process.
Place the male and female parrot in adjoining cages, just out of reach to avoid any potential for injury, but in a position to observe each other’s activities. You may notice after a while that they begin copying each other and doing the same activities such as eating, drinking, playing and grooming at the same time. The experts call this phenomenon ‘parallel behaviour’. If all goes well, your two parrots will soon mirror each other. When settling for sleep, they will choose spots as close to each other as possible.
The next step would be to remove both from their cages and to let them interact in a safe but neutral area. If all goes well, they will play and eventually begin to preen each other. This may indicate that they are ready to share a cage.
The male will slowly progress towards feeding the female. Once this occurs naturally, they are well on the path towards mating and being considered a bonded pair.
This process may take weeks or months. Two African Greys, for example, may take years to bond but that is just how it is when you try your hand at breeding parrots as pets.
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Parrots inhabit most tropical and subtropical regions, including Oceania, Africa, Australia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and South and Central America. The greatest proliferation of parrot species occurs in South America and Australasia.
Amazons and Macaws originated from the rainforests of South and Central America, as do several smaller types of parrot such as the parrotlet, the Caique and the Peonus parrot, which shares some of the features of the Amazon. The parrotlet is only 5 inches (13cm) long.
The African Grey is the most famous of the parrots that inhabit the Dark Continent, but there are a few other species. The slightly more colorful Senegal parrot of West Africa makes a popular pet and there are also a few species of ring-necks, lovebirds and other types of parrots.
The Eclectus parrot, found in the Solomon Islands, Sumba, New Guinea, the Maluku Islands and Northeast Australia, shows one of the most striking versions of sexual dimorphism. While the male is emerald green, the female displays a beautiful combination of red, blue and purple in her plumage.
In Indonesia, the small Sangihe Hanging Parrot was until recently listed as endangered, as it is only found in the forests of the island Sangihe. Its population seems to have stabilized. The Chattering Lory of North Maluku is similarly vulnerable.
Although sometimes less colorful than most types of parrots, the cockatoo, found naturally in Australia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Indonesia, share many other traits of parrots. They are not eloquent speakers, but are responsive to music and very affectionate towards their owners. The cockatiel, native to the Australian outback, is the smallest cockatoo subspecies. All cockatoos have a very distinctive crest at the top of their heads.
Illegal poaching and habitat loss presents a major threat to the continued survival of parrots in the wild. It is estimated that up to 800,000 parrot chicks are taken every year, mostly for the very lucrative trade in exotic birds. Since parrots have relatively low reproduction rates, this does impact heavily on their numbers.
Parrots migrate in interesting ways. Captured from their natural habitats, they are then domesticated and transported to regions they are not native to. When birds escape, they in turn establish feral colonies in foreign regions. For example, the rose-ringed parakeets that occurs mainly in south Asia and a narrow tropical strip of Africa, has through human interaction established wild communities in various cities of Europe, South Africa and Japan. London and The Hague host large populations of these escaped pets.
Apr 12
1
Choosing Parrots As Pets
When considering any animal to become a part of your family a great deal of thought is necessary and even more so when choosing parrots as pets. Parrots are extremely intelligent animals and are not content to sit and be ignored like a piece of furniture in a home. They need mental stimulation in order to remain healthy. If they are not truly made a part of the family and a part of the daily routine of all members of the family they can become depressed, refuse to eat, pull out their own feathers and peck themselves until they become exhausted and die. The fact that healthy parrots have extremely long life spans complicates the issue of being able to give them the proper attention they need over a long period of time. Sometimes they even outlive their owners and must be taken over by caretakers after the owners pass away.
Because parrots are so intelligent and such good mimics many studies have been performed to try to determine if parrots can actually communicate or if they are simply responding to prompts that have been given to them over a period of time. At the very least they are able to learn complex routines involving both physical actions and voice in repetition. And the question still exists and is very disputed in the scientific community whether they are able to actually hold a conversation or answer questions rather than simply mimicking what they have been prompted to do. There have even been cases in family situations where a parrot is introduced and will select one family member to terrorize while being perfectly calm and the perfect pet for the rest of the family. Even a simple behavior like this tends to show parrots are able to distinguish higher thought processes and are able to feel jealousy between multiple people in a family.
But even on a general level a parrot can be an excellent companion who will greet you when you come home and want to spend time with you on a one-to-one basis. Many people leave on a television or radio to keep their parrot company while they are away and to help deter the parrot from becoming bored or depressed. Many people who spend time with their parrots are able to teach them to say certain words and to perform certain tricks upon command. This is one of the things that make it popular to so many people to have parrots as pets.
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Mar 12
23
Owning A Senegal Parrot
It is hard to believe that a bird as beautiful as a Senegal parrot that is hand raised and revered as a pet in many parts the world is actually a pest in its homeland of Africa due to destruction of maize and millet. Their bright beautiful colors make them a prized pet regardless of their status in their home country. Another characteristic that makes them popular as a pet is the fact they are not as loud as some of their parrot cousins. This makes them more popular in apartments or areas where an extremely loud pet would not be acceptable.
The decision to own a Senegal parrot should not be taken lightly as they are known to live for 25 years or more in the wild and up to 50 years in captivity sometimes actually outliving their original owners. It is sometimes hard to determine whether a Senegal parrot is male or female based on their markings alone, although sometimes it is noted that the female may be slightly smaller and more narrow than the heavier, stockier build male.
Due to conservation issues the trade, import, and export of all wild caught parrots for any reason is illegal therefore a person wishing to buy a parrot of any species should make sure it is in the country legally. Wild caught parrots that are smuggled illegally into the country do not generally survive very well nor do they become good pets. It should also be confirmed that parrots are legal to be owned as pets in the area in which you live because of conservation issues listed above.
Since there are legality issues as well as acclimatization to environment issues it is very important to know the origin of the Senegal parrot and to introduce it to as many people and environments as possible during this process. If this species of parrot is allowed to be owned by only one member of a family it can become very overly possessive and destructive to other members of the family due to jealousy. This can also be dangerous for the person it has chosen as its favorite because if it does not receive enough attention from that person it may display different forms of aggressive actions which are not acceptable behaviors from a pet.
Before making the decision to own or obtain a long-term pet such as a Senegal parrot much research is needed to make sure the parrot and its owner have a happy relationship for many years.
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Mar 12
14
Information On The Senegal Parrot
If you’re considering bringing a Senegal Parrot into your home, be sure that you know all the facts and are fully prepared for his or her arrival. Like all animals, you want to give the best possible care to your new pet, which begins before he or she arrives.
The Senegal Parrot is a smaller parrot with bright green wings and backs. Their bellies can be anywhere from red to yellow. They have a grey hood, and black skin. On average, they measure 9 inches (23 cm). In the wild, they have been known to live 30 to 40 years, and can easily live over 50 years in captivity, if they are well cared for. Although they are not known for talking, they are intelligent and can learn a few words if a lot of work is put into them.
The Senegal Parrot is considered to be “bulletproof” by some owners, as it does not scare easily, and very quickly adapts to new people and situations. Despite this ability, you should be sure to expose your parrot to as many people and new experiences as you can when he or she is young, because they can become aggressive as they get older if they become overly attached to just one person.
In the wild, the Senegal Parrot eats a wide variety of fruits and seeds. Seeds are high in fat, and although they are good for wild birds, they are not good in large quantities in captive birds. That is because in the wild, these parrots have to sometimes fly for miles in a day to find food, which means that they need as much energy as they can get. In captivity, they don’t put out that much energy. Seeds are best used as treats, especially when training or acclimating to new situations.
Although the Senegal Parrot is very social like other parrots, they are not quite as socially needy as some, and therefore do not require hours of daily socialization. This makes them fit easily into the busy lifestyle of someone who wants to own a beautiful parrot but simply does not have a lot of time for daily socialization. If you don’t have that time for socialization, you do need to provide a lot of toys so that your bird can entertain himself.
For seasoned parrot veterans and for the first time parrot owner, the Senegal Parrot makes a great companion.
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Mar 12
5
Keeping Parrots As Pets
Although parrots as pets have needs that are very different from the needs of dogs and cats, they still have many needs that you will need to provide if your pet parrot is going to reach their full life span. Before you begin caring for your parrot, you should be trained by a avian veterinarian to be sure that you know what you are doing and won’t do something to stress out or harm your parrot.
The parrot’s ability to eat is very important to his health. For that reason, it is important to keep an eye on the condition of your parrot’s beak. Sometimes, a parrot’s upper or lower beak may grow to the side as a result of injury or a birth defect. Either way, caring for your parrot’s beak to be sure that he can properly eat is vital to his health.
It is also important to keep your parrot’s claws trimmed to an appropriate length. This is as much for your own safety as it is for your parrot’s. To cut your parrot’s nails, you must find out from your vet how long the claws should be. You will also need to have sharpened trimmers that are the right size for your parrot. Always cut your parrot’s nails in a quiet area, and restrain your bird in such a way that they are calm and will not get stressed. Accidents happen, and you should always be ready with powder in case you cut the nail too short.
When your parrot’s wings are properly clipped, they won’t be able to fly away, but he will still be able to slow himself down to avoid hitting the ground hard. If you do not clip your parrot’s wings correctly, he may be able to still fly enough to hurt himself on ceiling fans or by running into windows, or he may not be able to maneuver so that he can go from his perch to the ground safely. Make sure you know exactly how to trim your parrot’s wings so that he will be totally safe in your home.
By making sure your parrot’s beak is growing properly, keeping his claws trimmed to the right length, and by clipping his wings properly, you will be able to help give your parrot a nice, long, healthy life. With your avian veterinarian by your side, you can easily keep your parrots as pets looking and feeling their best.
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Feb 12
16
How To Train Talking Parrots
Many people would like to have talking parrots as pets, but they may not know how. It is possible to get a parrot and teach him to talk, but it will require a lot of pacience.
Ideally, you would get a parrot that is 2 months old, and a male. However, you can’t tell the sex of the parrot at that age without taking him to a veterinarian for a blood or surgical test, so you may have to take a chance with the gender if you don’t want to go through that trouble.
Most parrots will not be able to start talking until they are 4 months old, but these first two months are extremely important for forming a bond with your parrot that will make them think that you are a part of their flock. This will make them want to talk to you and be interested in what you are saying. Even though they can’t talk yet, you need to be consistently talking to and spending time with your parrot during these first two months.
After your parrot picks up his first word, he will begin to learn quickly until he is about 1 year old. After 1 year, his learning will slow down, so it’s important to be sure you’ve taught him as much as you can in that first year. Some parrots can still learn to talk even if you get them as an older bird, but some also may never learn to talk, which is why it’s so important to get them when they are very young and will bond with you.
The times and environment in which you teach your parrot is very important. Parrots are naturally more social and talkative in the early morning and in the evening, so aim to spend these times talking and interacting with your parrot. In order to help your parrot concentrate on learning words, you need to remove all other sounds from his learning environment. Otherwise, your parrot may be distracted by the sounds of the dog barking or the TV, and will start learning those sounds rather than the words you want him to.
The best way to train any animal to do anything is through positive reinforcement. You can use seeds for rewards, and give them only while training, which will make them special and desirable. When your parrot is first learning, be more generous with the rewards, and be sure to offer verbal praise as well. Remember that they’re not going to get everything right, so be patient. Once they do start saying words better, you can give rewards only when they say it on cue, and exactly right. And with that, you will be on your way to having wonderful talking parrots that have big vocabularies.
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There are many different types of parrots as pets to choose from, so it may be difficult to decide on what kind you want once you’ve decided to bring a parrot into your home. Every type has some pros and cons, so you have to know what you’re looking for in a parrot.
The first thing you have to consider before getting a pet parrot is how much time and energy you are prepared to put into your new pet. Some of the larger species of parrots can live up to 80 years, making them a life-long commitment. These species are also the more intelligent ones that require a lot more care during their lives. If you are not prepared to make this type of commitment, don’t worry. There are several smaller species of parrots that do not require so much time and work.
The budgie is considered to be the easiest to care for, and they have a life span of 5 to 8 years, making them a much more manageable commitment. They also require significantly less care and attention than the larger species of parrots. However, they are not one of the species popular for talking, which may be a deal breaker for some people.
Cockatiels are also fairly easy to care for, but have a longer lifespan, usually of 15 to 20 years. They can learn to say some simple phrases and will often learn to whistle various musical tunes, but are not nearly as talkative as the larger species, and some won’t ever be able to learn to talk.
Macaws, Amazon Parrots, and Ringneck parrots are on the larger end of parrot family. Ringneck parrots may live 20 to 30 years, and the macaws and Amazon parrots can live anywhere from 50 to 80 years. These birds will therefore require a lot more care and time. They are also very intelligent birds and can learn many different words and phrases. If you are looking for a bird that is beautiful, intelligent, and will live a long time, one of these may be the right choice for you.
Whichever type of parrot you decide to get, you need to be prepared to care for him for his entire life. Parrots are wonderful as pets, and will give you many years of love if you are willing to put in the care that these birds need.
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