To help give your pet parrot a happy healthy, fulfilling life, here are a few guidelines from
The World Parrot Trust
Sponsored by: K & J Slavin
l.THE BIGGEST CAGE YOU CAN MANAGE
"I need room to move about, and room to exercise my winqs without restriction."
2. A CHANCE TO FLY
"A bird is born to fly, and
I'll be very frustrated if I
can't A few minutes flight
every day, perhaps
around a room with the
windows,covered, will do
wonders for my health
and happiness."3. THE RIGHT DIET
"Variety that's what I need. Not just seed but fruits, beans and vegetables. Plus some vitamin drops in my water twice a week".
4.BRANCHES TO CHEW
"Once or twice a week,
please give me some
fresh branches to
chew. In the wild I'd be
chewing all the time.
Apple, willow,
sycamore - me and my
beak love it all."5. SPRAYING
I need lots of water to keep my
feathers in good condition.
In the rain forest I'd
bathe in
the treetops,
but you can
sort me out with a five-minute
spray with warm water twice
a week. But keep me away
from draughts until I'm dry.6. HUMAN OR BIRD
"Every parrot needs a friend.
If I haven't got a pal of my
own parrot species, a
human being will do,
but I must have a lot of
attention!.
Talk to me, feed me
sensible titbits, try to
get me out of my cage
as much as possible"7.THE ULTIMATE LUXURY-AN AVIARY!
"If you can manage it an
indoor or sheltered
outdoor aviary
would be bliss for me."TAILPIECE: Macaws & Cockatoos: In our opinion, the large macaws and cockatoos are too noisy and destructive to be good household They really should live in aviaries.
Budgies & Cockatiels:These are members of the parrot family and make excellent pets.
If your bird becomes ill, don't hesitate - contact a vet
WILD- CAUGHT PARROTS
PLEASE avoid buying a parrot which has been caught in the wild. An unfortunate bird like this will always be terrified of humans. Remember, it will have suffered terribly during capture and transit.
These days responsible pet shops can usually supply you with a young parrot which has been bred in an aviary in this country and hand reared, so helping stamp out the cruel trade in wild-caught birds.
A hand-reared bird will almost certainly be tame and confiding and will make an excellent pet. However it will not be cheap.
But be warned - your bird will need a great deal of attention, day in and day out, for perhaps fifty years. Think hard before you decide to keep a parrot as a pet.
is working for the SURVIVAL of parrot
species in the wild, and the WELFARE of
every individual parrotYou can help their work by making a donation, or by becoming a member of the Trust
Write or email for details to:-
Nick Reynolds, The World Parrot Trust, Glanmor House, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 4HY.
