| Amazon Parrots |
From "Pet Care"
episode PCW-102 |
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Dick Schroeder, a columnist for Bird Talk Magazine, shares some of his expertise about Amazon parrots. He gives these tips for anyone who's thinking about acquiring one as a pet: - They are loud screamers, especially in the morning and late in the afternoon.
- Parrots are not very far descended from their wild ancestors. When they reach sexual maturity, at about 5 or 6 years of age, they may become aggressive and bite. Being large and strong, they have a very powerful and painful bite.
- A parrot may like only women, or only men. Or he may like only one person and not tolerate anyone else.
- These birds are very long-lived and may outlive their owners. If you take one on, you should seriously consider opening a savings account for him or taking out a specific type of insurance policy that will provide for him if you predecease him.
If you do decide that this is the type of pet for you, there are several items you should invest in: - Pet carrier: You'll need this for traveling and for taking your bird to the vet.
- Perches: You'll need a perch in the pet carrier for long trips (figure A). Don't use a plain wooden dowel for this purpose; a wood such as manzanita (figure B) makes an ideal perch. A perch needs to be of varied contours, not round and even like a dowel. The different muscles in a bird's foot need to be used and exercised. You can also find grooming perches, which are made of a mineral material to help keep the nails filed down, resulting in fewer trips to the vet. (Don't make the grooming perch his only perch, though: it can make his feet sore.)
- Nets: Your bird's wings may be clipped, but somethimes it's been longer than you think. And if he gets on top of the draperies, you'll be glad you have a long-handled net on hand. Short-handled models are also available for thime when you just need to stop him in his tracks.
- UV lighting: You can buy special bulbs, or use the regular fluorescent strips that are readily available.
- Cage: Remember that birds don't fly straight up and down, so you should get a horizontal cage that's the biggest you can find.
- Correct food: Contrary to what a lot of people think, a diet consisting only of seeds is not good for a parrot. Specially formulated pellets (figure C, right), which contain all the necessary nutrients for a variety of breeds of birds, are a better choice, but birds like variety as much as we do. Any of these will be a yummy addition to your parrot's diet: low-fat cottage cheese, fried chicken, broccoli, grapes and macaroni and cheese. Never give a bird alcohol: the sugar will go straight to his liver and kill him. Two other big no-nos: avocados and chocolate.
Guest: Dick Schroeder
Owner, Cuddle Bone Plus in San Marcos, CA
Columnist, Bird Talk Magazine
Information private
Web site resources for Amazon Parrots: Amazon Parrots from petsmart.com Parrot Breeders Links from Yahoo.com Parrot Place Books: Amazon Parrots
By Werner Lantermann, Matthew M. Vriends and Susanne Lantermann
ISBN: 0764110365
Barron's Educational Series Inc. (2000)
Available at bookstores nationwide and online.
Guide to Owning an Amazon Parrot
By John Bales
ISBN: 0793820006
TFH Publications Inc. (1997)
Amazon Parrots as a New Pet
By Anmarie Barrie
ISBN: 0793801842
TFH Publications Inc. (1995)
Available at bookstores nationwide and online.
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