Parrot Cages – STOP RIGHT THERE- Don’t Buy Parrot Cages Untill You Read This

Parrot Cages are 1 of the most important thing to take into consideration when you purchase your parrot. There are 2 reasons this is very very important, so this article will explain in persise detail why it is important and the size you need for the type of parrot you have,or about to purchase.

Parrot cages need to be the correct size for these reasons

Firstly a parrot that has space is a happy parrot that is why size is important, they tend to get depressed and cranky in a small cage.
Other reasons are!!!

Parrots to be able to spread their wings and move around.

Parrots have different size feet, so you need to be able to put different size perches in the 1 cage, we recomend 4 different types to excercise their feet.

Important things to remember are when purchasing parrot cages!!! http://parrot-training.us/2010/08/Parrot-Cages-Buying-Parrot-Cages-Has-Never-been-Easier-Every-Size-Cage-To-Suit-Every-Parrot/

The bigger you go the better it will be, aslong as spacing in between each bars is small enough to prevent injury in the event your parrot tries to escape.So make sure the birds head can not fit in between the bars.

The door must have anough space to fit your hand in comforably to not only catch him, but to put him back in his cage.

Parrot cages latch/lock need to be as safe as possible, parrots are extremely smart and they will figure out how to open it.Majority of the time if your parrot has been purchased from a pet shop they will recommend the minumun size so please read the chart below for the correct dementions to insure your little mate stays happy and healthy.

Below is a chart that will give you an idea of what you need

Parrot cages recomended for Small parrots

Finches
Canaries
Parrolets
Parakeets
Lovebirds
Budgies
Cockatiels
Small Conures
similar sized birds need at least dementions such as 1/2″ to 5/8

Parrot cages recomended for a medium parrot

Conures
Lories
Senegals
Ring Necks
Caiques
Mini Macaws
Pionus
Quakers
Small Cockatoos

similar sized birds need at least dementions such as 1/2″ to 3/4″

Parrot cages recomended for a large parrot

African Greys
Amazons
Macaws
Cockatoos
Toucans
Hyacinth
Alexandrine Parakeets
Con
Eclectus

Do you want your parrots to be happy and healthy so he lives longer?

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Buy a Spacious Parrot Cage for your Pet Parrots

If you prefer a round parrot cage, you would do well to know your parrot doesn’t like it. There must be some corners in the cage so that the bird can feel comfortable and safe. Make sure you keep enough bird toys in the cage, so that the parrot can stay active and stress free. The general rule of thumb is, larger the cage, happier the parrot.

A small parrot doesn’t Mean a Small Parrot Cage
Even small Parakeets should be provided a large parrot cage, which should be at least 18 inches wide, 14 inches deep and 22 inches high. This is only the minimum requirement and you can build as large a cage as you want. The bird should at least be able to fly around a little, flap wings and hop between the perches. These activities would ensure that your parrot is happy, stress free and healthy.

Larger Parrots should also have Some Space
For larger parrots, a parrot cage should be at least 40 inches wide because their wings are larger than that of Parakeets. The parrot cage should be so high that the parrot’s tail doesn’t touch the bottom of the cage when it is sitting on any of the perches. You must have some space over the head of a parrot so that you can hang some bird toys. The bird feels suffocated when there is not much space (or toys) within the parrot cage. Parrots prefer their cage to be square, rectangular or hexagonal in shape. Corners are very necessary so that birds can have some sense of direction. There is no point of reference within a rounded parrot cage so it’s difficult for the parrot to know the direction it is standing in. Lack of sense of direction makes the bird confused and restless. Birds prefer horizontal bars compared to vertical bars since horizontal ones also serve as extra perches.

Parrots shouldn’t Miss Their Home
When parrots are in the jungle, their life is full of activity and flying from one tree to another comes naturally to them. The owner’s aim should be to make sure the parrots miss their original home as little as possible. That’s why you need to hang extra bird toys and ensure that the parrot’s life is full of activity even within the parrot cage. Parrots should be given the opportunity to interact with their owner as much as possible and they should be able to feel a part of their owner’s body (such as finger or face) from within the cage.

Change the bird toys frequently
If the same toy is left hanging near the parrots for a long time, they get bored easily. A practical solution may be to use some home made bird toys so that they can be changed frequently. Leather toys should be avoided because they become sticky due to nectar they are fed with.

Powder Coating for Parrot Cage
If you are getting the parrot cage painted, you should go for powder coating rather than conventional way of painting. There should be no sharp articles within the parrot cage since birds are vulnerable to them. Popular parrot cage materials are wrought iron, stainless steel, wire, bamboo, plastic and wood. Cages made from wood, plastic and bamboo are not likely to last very long whereas those made of metals tend to last longer. Therefore, if you see a parrot cage as a long-term investment you should go for metal cages. You should, however, avoid lead and zinc because both these metals are harmful for the birds.

Shop and buy a small, medium, or a large parrot cage for you pet parrots and other pet birds. All types and sizes of parrot cages are available for your pet parrots. Please visit our site to view and buy appropriate cages and bird toys for your pet birds

Learn about Avian Adventures Bird Cages, one of the featured brands offered at www.BirdExpressions.com. The Avian Adventures Cage Lineup includes both powder-coated and stainless steel bird cages. Their models cover all species from small birds to large parrots.
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Parrot Owners – Materials Commonly Used in Bird Toys

Parrot Owners – Materials Commonly Used in Bird Toys

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Home Page > Home and Family > Pets > Parrot Owners – Materials Commonly Used in Bird Toys

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Parrot Owners – Materials Commonly Used in Bird Toys

By: Kelli
Posted: Dec 03, 2008
Views: 147

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WOOD

Birds need to chew, wood is an excellent material to satisfy this natural urge. Birds play most often with wood toys. Wooden toys are meant to be destroyed. Some bird owners may be frustrated by the destructive nature of their parrots. However, chewing is a natural instinct and vital to birds mental and physical well-being. If you provide only acrylic toys they will often find other, more expensive ways to satisfy their chewing needs (i.e., molding, furniture). It is important to know what woods are safe for your bird. Both soft and hardwoods are commonly used in toys.

Safe Woods (not a complete list):

Pine, Balsa, Birch, Basswood, Poplar, Maple, Walnut, Ash, Apple, Elm, Cactus (Cholla) and Manzanita

Unsafe Woods (not a complete list):

Cedar, Red Cherry, Plywood. Oak

If you like to make your own toys NEVER use pressure treated wood, it is treated with arsenic and will poison your bird. If using natural branches make sure they have not been exposed to insecticides. Also, take care to collect branches in areas removed from highways where plant life may have absorbed toxic emissions from cars. Scrub all branches with a non-toxic disinfectant (dilute chlorine bleach), rinse and dry thoroughly.

If you need to clean wood toys, don’t soak them. It is best to wipe them clean with a damp cloth or sand the soiled area until clean. If your bird likes to dunk his toys beware that moisture can promote bacterial growth and the toys should either be discarded or thoroughly cleaned and dried in a low temperature oven before returning them to the bird.

Birds are able to distinguish colors therefore color makes wood toys more attractive and interesting to birds. Manufacturers usually color wood with food coloring or vegetable dyes. We don’t believe in flavoring wood as the bird should not be encouraged to ingest the wood and, unless properly controlled, the fruit sugars often used provide a perfect medium for bacterial growth. Do not buy toys that have been stained or varnished to add color. If you are interested in a toy with painted parts (ie, ABC blocks) make sure that only non-toxic, child safe paints were used.

ROPE

Several kinds of rope are used in bird toys. Only 100% natural fiber ropes such as cotton, hemp (jute), or sisal should be used in bird toys. Nylon blend ropes should never be used as they can result in serious injury and cuts due to the strength of the strands if the birds get caught in it. Ropes can be safe as long as they are maintained properly and the bird’s beak and nails are kept trim. There have been safety problems noted when excessive fraying occurs. Birds have choked and lost circulation to legs by getting tangled in ill maintained ropes. Rope toys have proven very beneficial in solving feather picking problems and therefore we don’t like to discount rope as a viable material. Bird owners have a responsibility to check their bird’s rope toys daily and to cut back or discard rope toys when they become frayed and present a hazard to their bird.

CHAIN

Chain should have welded not open links. Un-welded chain provides sharp surfaces and narrow openings which have been known to cut toes. Make sure the links are a safe size for your bird, if toes get caught in the links the result can be broken toes or legs. Chain length is also a consideration as a long length of chain could conceivably end up wrapped around a bird’s neck during a vigorous play session. As the wood components are chewed off, a chain hazard could develop. Owners must monitor the status of toys and ensure that as they physically change safety hazards do not develop.

Read more articles
Different types of parrots
Parrot Cages Purchasers Guide and Other Issues to Think about
Parrots As Pets: Is A Parrot The Right Pet For You?
Parrot Cages: All I Want Is A Cage Somewhere

FASTENERS

This is a crucial area of concern as good fasteners are expensive and therefore many manufacturers cut corners and use potentially unsafe items such as split key rings or dog leash type snap hooks. Birds have been cut and lost circulation to toes and tongues on toys utilizing split rings and spring type clamps. For conures or larger birds we recommend either Quick-links (also sometimes called C-clamps) or Pear links to attach toys to the bird’s play area. They come in a variety of sizes and can be tightened with a wrench easily to prevent the bird from unhooking his toys. This type of fastener provides the least potential for injury. They are available in a variety of sizes and can be purchased from your local hardware store if needed to replace unsafe fasteners from existing toys.

Do not use split key rings, spring loaded clips or metal shower rings to fasten your

Parrot cages should be roomy and full of bird toys

Parrot cages should not be round and must have corners for the birds to feel comfortable. Inside the cages there should be enough bird toys to keep the birds active and happy. Parrots are of many sizes. The size of cages you will need to keep your pet will depend on the size of the parrot or parrots. To make the birds happy, make the cages as big as possible and fill it up with toys.

Even small parakeets must have Parrot cages which are at least 18″ x 14″ x 22″, where 18 is width, 14 is depth, and 22 is the height. That, of course, is the minimum requirement. Even small parrots like lories will be happier in cages double that size. Birds should be able to flap their wings, and fly around, and hop from perch to perch within their cages and larger the cages are, the healthier the captive birds would be.

For larger parrots like macaws, the width of the Parrot cages should be at least 40″ as their wingspan is more than that of parakeets. And the height of the cages should be such that the parrot’s tail does not touch the cage bottom when it is on any of the perches. Above the bird there should be enough space to hang the bird toys. Lack of space and lack of toys will suffocate the bird and it might scream and bite and pluck its own feathers.

Parrot cages should ideally be squares, rectangles, or hexagons. Corners are a must for the caged birds to get direction. Within a rounded cage it is said to be difficult for birds to get a point of reference so that they might become confused and frightened. And horizontal bars are better for cages than vertical bars. Horizontal bars will double as extra perches for the bird and they will be more suitable than vertical bars for hanging bird toys.

Jungle life of parrots like lories is full of activity and variety. In their natural habitats they fly from one tree to another in flocks. To ensure that they miss their real home as little as possible, their Parrot cages should be full of bird toys and the birds should be allowed to interact with their masters as frequently as possible. Lories feel the face or fingers of the owner with their brush-tipped tongues and it should be given enough opportunities to do that.

Ideal bird toys for small parrots like lories are hanging bells and ropes that can be easily hung inside Parrot cages. Plastic, wood, and other natural fibers are ideal toys material. Leather toys are not strongly recommended because it often tends to become sticky and messy with the nectar that these birds are fed. Twigs and wood used, whether for perches within the cages, or for bird toys, should be free of chemicals and pesticides.

Birds get bored with the same toys day in and day out. One way out of this is providing them with small, improvised homemade toys. Lots of things available in the backyard, or leftover things like containers, covers, and water bottles, can be converted into good bird toys with a little innovativeness.

Shop and buy a small, medium, or a large parrot cages for you pet parrot and pet birds. All types and sizes of bird cages and bird toys are available for your pet birds.

My baby playing with toys
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Thinking Of Buying An African Grey Parrot? Part 1

One of the most sought after pet birds in the world is the African Grey. This bird, native to Africa, is considered one of the most intelligent of birds. It’s amazing ability to speak and mimic sounds make it an entertaining companion.

African Greys are a medium sized parrot, predominantly grey, with accents of white. The two most common subspecies are Congo, noted as having a cherry red tail and black beaks, and the Timneh, which is smaller in size, darker gray, with a maroon colored tail and light colored mandible. The Congo is considered the better talker, but both are very capable of talking and equally intelligent.

African Greys have a long and rich history being kept as a pet. Egyption hieroglyphics dating back 4,000 years depict pet parrots. Throughout the Greek, and Roman histories Greys were highly valued for the ability to talk, and kept in very ornate cages. King Henry VIII had one, and Portuguese sailors kept them as companions on long voyages. This probably led to the images of pirates with parrots on their shoulders.

In 2007 the Grey Parrot was uplifted to Near Threatened status by some environmental groups. The international community is prohibiting the capture and import/export of wild caught Greys. In America, it is illegal to import these birds. Therefore, all Greys currently sold have been raised domestically. They are readily available, but can be quite costly

THE COST- When you begin your search for your Grey, you are going to be amazed at the wide price range. A bird breeder in Florida will sell a young Congo for as little as 0. Drive a few hundred miles north and the price jumps to 00. Walk in to a New York pet shop and you will be lucky to find one for 00. So why the price variations?

The costs start with the bird breeders. A properly raised handfed Grey require constant attention. Babies must be fed every 2 hours, 24 hours a day. This requires a tremendous amount of labor. Once the baby has been weaned, little is needed except to give the bird constant attention. As the bird gets older, this time must be compensated, so the cost goes up. A 1-year-old Grey now costs as much as 0-00. Some breeders who do this for a hobby are not as interested in recovering labor costs, as they do it for the joy of it.

Another factor is location. Birds bred in warm climates require little environmental control, and birds can be raised in outdoor flight cages. In northern climates, they can’t handle the cold weather (remember, these birds are native to Africa) so the cost of housing adds up. Therefore, expect to pay a bit more for birds raised in these areas.

Pet stores very rarely breed their own birds, and depend on “jobbers”, breeders or even wholesale dealers to supply them with birds to sell. They may get a price advantage from buying large quantities of birds, but they also must make a profit for themselves. This explains why pet stores sell Greys for as much as 00.

Therefore, when you begin your search for your new pet, the key to getting a good price is research and negotiation. Whether you buy from a breeder or pet store is up to you. There are good and bad in both groups. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Call around and find the price range that Greys are being sold for, and make an offer.

HOW MUCH ATTENTION THEY REQUIRE?

African Greys are a highly intelligent bird. They will require a lot of interaction from the owner.

If you want your bird to talk, don’t expect it to happen with those DVD’s, tape recordings or other easy methods. It takes human interaction. Sorry, shortcuts won’t work. You must teach your Grey to talk by starting with short, simple phrases. Be consistent, and reward your pet whenever possible. Greys should begin talking at about 1 year old. But be aware that your bird must want to talk, and many times they never will. In our experience they may not say a word for many years, then suddenly will begin repeating everything they have learned. Just be patient. Move your bird to another room, away from his cage, and work with him for 10 minutes per session. Interact as much as possible. Your Grey will devote itself to you and clamor for your attention.

The Grey does not like to be left alone without attention. They have a tendency for feather plucking and self mutilation. This is a clear sign of stress, insecurity or boredom. Move your bird to an area where the family is at. Place it in front of a window. Be sure your bird has lots of toys. But none of these replaces your interaction with the bird. You need to set aside a part of each day to give your bird attention.

CAGES- There is no such thing as a cage too big. But every bird owner will have their restrictions, and in many cases they look for the smallest cage possible.

African Greys require a medium sized parrot cage. It must be able to spread it’s wings, move freely about, and have room to hang toys and food/water dishes. The minimum preferred size is at least 28 inches. Preferably a cage 36 inches tall to allow for lots of exercise room. Bar spacing should be no wider then 1 inch, as the bird can get it’s head stuck between the bars. The material should be of strong gauge wire, because Africans can easily destroy a cage designed to hold parakeets or cockatiels.

When you buy the cage, keep in mind that you need to clean it frequently. Fancy ornate cages can be very time consuming. Metal cages will rust if not dried thoroughly. Stainless steel cages are preferred, but very expensive.

Examine the cage for dangers such as doors that don’t fit properly. Greys have been known to get their feet caught in entry and feed doors, so look them over. Look for bad welds that may have sharp edges. These are all common with inexpensive cages.

Make sure perches are big enough for your bird. Your Grey will spend much of his time standing on them, and improper perches will result in feet problems. A variety of different sized perches is a great start.

Find bird cages that have replacement food/water cups, and by extra sets. This way, while one set is in the case you can be soaking and cleaning the others. Contaminated water dishes is a major cause for disease, but such a simple problem to fix!

DIET- You can talk to ten different breeders and get ten different answers on this topic…all can be correct. My standard answer? African Greys have the same exact nutritional requirements that humans do. What would happen if you ate seeds and nuts all day long? Why would you expect anything different from your Grey?

Grey’s require a higher protein diet then other birds, and a lot more calcium. By feeding your bird a good quality commercial bird pellet diet, and supplementing it with lots of fruits and vegetables, you will never have a problem. There are commercial diets available formulated specifically for African Greys.

I also disagree with many assertions that Greys should not eat meat. Keep in mind the Grey’s ancestral history of coming from Africa. While they do eat lots of seeds and vegetation, they are also part scavengers. Meat is loaded with protein and high in vitamin B’s, which is missing from a seed and vegetable diet. Pelleted foods add these vitamins and addition protein to correct this, but you can do the same by sharing your meals with your bird. Not only does this improve the birds diet, but it increases the interaction you are having with your bird. But just like humans, don’t overdue it.

Another major source of argument between breeders is whether to give birds milk and dairy products. Here is the scoop…

Milk and dairy products contain lactose. In order to properly digest it, your body produces an enzyme called lactase. Birds do not produce this enzyme, and it’s actually toxic to the bird! Too much milk results in diarrhea, which in turn causes severe medical problems for birds. So the uneducated breeder just removes dairy products from the diet.

But milk also contains a huge amount of calcium and other minerals that are sorely lacking from the birds diet. While this can be replaced with supplements such as cuttlebones or other sources of ground up calcium, it’s still depriving the bird of other vital items it needs in the diet.

African Greys can easily handle small amounts of dairy products. Cheese and yogurt, rich in calcium but low in lactose, is an excellent treat. Be creative… Give your birds an occasional slice of pizza, or a splash of milk over their favorite cereal in the morning. Just don’t overdue it!

LIFE SPAN-African Grey’s, like other larger parrots, have a long lifespan. This fact must be taken into consideration by the new bird owner. What do you do with the bird when you die and the bird outlasts you?

Greys reach the age of maturity from 3-5 years old. A properly raised Grey will live from 35-50 years. It is not unheard of for Greys to live up to 80 years old!

So if you choose an African Grey as a pet, you can expect a very long lasting relationship with him.

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• Professionally produced HD-DVD
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• Published 2008

Product Description
Reading your bird’s body language is one of the most important skills you can learn to help you build a relationship with your parrot based on trust. It is how your parrot communicates. In this DVD professional animal trainer Barbara Heidenreich guides you through the process of looking at a combination of body parts and what they are doing uder different circumstances to give you an idea of just what might be going on in those very special bird brains. Barbara Heidenreich is an accomplished trainer and consultant with more than 17 years experience teaching bird training workshops at zoos, nature centers, and other facilities around the world. She is the publisher of Good Bird! magazine, as well as the author of The Parrot Problem Solver: Finding Solutions to Aggressive Behavior and Good Bird!: A Guide to Solving Behavioral Problems in Companion Parrots. A true leader in her field, she also serves as the president of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators.

And she brings these vast resources to the creating of this helpful and unique DVD that can benefit both you and your parrot!

Barbara is genius in her training methods shown here on this DVD. She makes it easy for anyone to be a great parrot trainer. Her specialty is free flight bird training. She has been a part of the development and production of more than 15 different free flight education programs.

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