FAQs
I strive to ensure that both you and the young parrot you purchase from me have a positive experience and enjoy a long relationship together . As such, I am happy to answer any questions or worries you may have with the parrot that came from me; the FAQs address many of them.
A young parrot is a blank canvas, a sponge waiting to develop a character from its experience of life. It’s therefore hugely important to get it right from the very beginning. I will handle and encourage others to handle the baby and start the step-up/step-down training.
This should be encouraged and rewarded throughout its life. Always reward stepping-up and flying to the hand - not to the arm, and definitely not to the shoulder. You have little control over the training of a shoulder-sitter, and risk bites to your ears or face. This will have a detrimental effect on the parrot’s happiness as well as yours: after being bitten, you may be reluctant to handle the parrot again…
Should I have my parrots' wings clipped Test?
Absolutely not. If you don't want a pet that can fly, get a goldfish! Parrots' health and mental well-being are compromised by being rendered flightless. Flying - even in a controlled area - builds musculature, improves the respiratory and cardio-vascular systems, and increases a bird’s confidence that it can escape from danger. What’s more, the very act of cutting across the quills causes irritation and can lead to plucking or self-mutilation.
My parrot loves chocolate - is it ok for them to have it?
I’m afraid not! A good rule of thumb is certainly that ‘variety is the spice of life’ as far as feeding parrots is concerned, but that variety should only include things that are considered healthy for us too. So no chocolate, crisps, pizza or any other over-sweetened or salted food please. Avocado is apparently poisonous to them too.
Is it true that Teflon is bad for parrots?
Yes; non-stick pans, if overheated, emit fumes which are highly toxic to parrots and can cause death in seconds. Keep parrots out of the kitchen!
I like to have my parrot sitting on my shoulder. Is that ok?
No. Even the most gentle parrot could bite an ear or an eye, so best to train your parrot to remain on your hand so you have control of any given situation.
Should I have a male parrot as I myself am female?
Parrots are individuals with their own personalities and if brought up correctly, handled compassionately and trained well, gender should not be an issue. Having said that, male cockatoos and Amazon’s are more outgoing and feisty than females, so will need careful attention to their training!
Can I put my new parrot in with my old one?
Parrots with a few exceptions are sociable birds and may grow to like a newcomer. However, introduction must be made slowly and carefully. Site the new birds’ cage next to the existing bird so they can see each other but not touch. Ideally, a completely new location would prevent any territorial issues. Once they have seen each other for a period of time, introduce them in a neutral territory and supervise the interaction. If it goes well you can allow them more time together, and if they are of similar size and even preen one another they could eventually be housed together.
Are parrots messy?
Yes! In the wild parrots would feed in a tree, take the desired part of the food item and drop some to the ground before choosing another. As such the area around a captive parrot will be littered with food items, and staining juice from fruits. They will poop several times daily wherever they are , although it is possible and not difficult to train them to fly to the training stand to toilet. Parrots will shed small insulation feathers constantly as well as moulting the larger ones. They will shed dander dust constantly too with the white cockatoos and African greys being the dustiest. Daily spraying will help reduce this and keep the feathers in good condition.
I want to teach my parrot to talk; which is the best breed for that?
Members of the parrot family from budgies to large macaws can “talk” i.e. repeat human language, often in context. More important than the species is the rapport between you and the bird in determining how much it learns. African greys and Amazons are often thought of as the best “talkers” and some do indeed become very chatty where others don’t utter a word. Enjoy your parrot as an individual, interact with him and if he utters a few words think of it as a bonus!
If I don’t get on with my parrot, will you buy it back from me?
It is of the utmost importance to me that my babies are happy and well cared for, and therefore that you are happy with the baby. Think long and hard about the commitment of keeping a long-lived and demanding pet such as a parrot. The baby will come to you well raised and handled, and it is your personal responsibility to continue with good feeding, care and training. I am always willing to give help and advice, but it is vital that you ask for it at an early stage, not after you have trawled the internet for a number of conflicting opinions. If it gets to the point where you can no longer keep the bird, I will either help you re-home it or take it back myself in order to prevent it suffering on the roundabout of unsuitable homes. I can not guarantee that any payment will be made to you however. A perfect, weaned baby is at its most valuable, so expect a drop in value if there is a behavioural or physical problem.
Any tips on feeding parrots?
Part of the joy of having a parrot is preparing their food, which they enjoy and should have freshly available at all times. Macaws are probably the most adventurous when trying new foods, and Greys the least, so it’s important to continue offering a wide range of the fresh foods on which I will have reared them. Different species and individuals within a species will have their likes and dislikes, some of which may be seasonal, mirroring that variety of ripening foods they may find in the wild. Young parrots should not be deprived of food whilst growing and they will thrive on the most varied diet you can encourage them to try. With the rise in popularity of free-flying macaws, novice owners are sometimes advised (wrongly!) to underfeed their baby in order to make it keen for training rewards. It is, however, essential that growing macaws have sufficient nutrients to sustain their growth; if not; problems will arise in later life. So please ensure that a high fat diet is offered, based on plenty of nuts and oily seeds. When adult, a bird’s favoured foods can, of course, be used to good effect as a treat when training.
I’ve seen eggs for sale online and want to rear my own baby, do you sell eggs?
In my view, only scammers sell eggs. Parrot eggs are much more fragile than commercial chicken eggs and the slightest jolt can kill the developing embryo, so I would say there is no point in buying eggs. Even if it were to hatch, an inexperienced person can easily kill the developing chick by ‘aspiration’ (ie, allowing it to inhale food into its lungs), over- or under-feeding, or by maintaining the wrong temperature. Also, ask yourself why someone would sell an egg for £50 when babies themselves are selling for many thousands of pounds…
I have a dog and a cat, will a parrot be OK with them?
There are many instances of these different animals getting on; however, I would never leave a small parrot unsupervised with “predatory” pets - even the most trustworthy animal could change and attack the bird. Larger parrots are often the aggressor in this situation, and give the dog or cat the runaround - plus a bite on an inquisitive nose!
