Important Parrot Products

[ClayEnglish]

After keeping Chico for the past 10 years, the two biggest problems we have faced are.

1) Clean drinking water

2) Feet problems.

What we have done to solve these problems has been very simple, but often overlooked by many people.

The clean drinking water problem is best solved by providing a watering solution that never allows the bird to get in it. Contaminated water is the #1 reason for many sicknesses your parrot may get.

The simplest solution is a water bottle, just like rabbits, or gerbils would drink from.

Chico learned how to drink from the bottle the first day we installed the bottle, some 6 years ago. Now his water is always clean and contains the vitamins that are easily added.

Here is a sample water bottle, but any walmart version will also work.

[ClayEnglish]

Re:Important Parrot Products

Next is the subject of thier feet.

Parrots are on their feet constantly. The only exception is when they will "hide" one foot under them as they sleep.

Smooth branches and perches are fine for climbing and moving around, but are bad for their feet. Several foot problems can arise just because everything is too smooth, or slick.

A conditioning perch is a must with a large parrot. You can see Chico on his conditioning perch in that post, and that perch is several years old.

These conditioning perches almost feel like a rough sandpaper, although that may be a bad analogy. These perches constantly stimulate the feet to keep them "tough" and also automatically help trim the nails.

It may sound odd, but with completely smooth surfaces all the time, the parrots feet tend to get soft, and develop problems.

I know for a fact that everytime Chico comes to "rest" it is on this conditioning perch. He has other options, but this is his spot.

There are several on the market, most of which look similiar to this

[Barracuda_41]

Re:Important Parrot Products

8)Excellent post Clay, i would like to add that all pet birds regaurdless of size or type need diffrent size perches or branches as well to stimulate there feet and to also make sure you trim the nails as they can get to long.. Also to make sure you have plenty of toys and things for the bird to keep it ocupied as well as boardom can lead to feather plucking a bad habit thats hard to break.. Make sure your bird has a calcium supply as well and some form of vitamins.. A good and varied diet as well lots of food we eat a parrot can eat as well....All birds should have the chance to bath as well in a bowl of water or in the shower with you or the sink with a small amount of water to help keep there feathers and skin healthy.... I use to have cockatiels, parrakeets, zebra finches, love birds, and had a few conures Nanday and blue fronted... Excellent info again Clay...

[ClayEnglish]

Re:Important Parrot Products

Excellent points Cuda,

Also should mention that if you have large parrots, go ahead and spend the money up front for high quality toys. The one in the picture was 35 bucks, but is made of unbreakable acrylic and thick chain.

We bought several cheaper ones and he dismantled them in one day.

He can crack a walnut with his beak, so cheap plastic or wood doesn't last a day.

Also all branches including the conditioning perches are available in many many sizes, so if you are unsure about the size you need, just email the company for specifics and they can help you.

petsmart and petco.com are easily searchable for these products and so the sizes as well

[eViL_KaRoT]

Re:Important Parrot Products

I might want to point out. For those of you who may have gotten this from Clays post. DO NOT use perches with actual sand paper on them. Those can actually over stimulate the feet and actually cause harm to a bird feet. For those of you who are the more naturalists. Actual tree branches work great. But use braches such as Oak or maple or some other rough barked branch. Be sure that it is not one that has alot of sap, that becomes a sticky mess, over time. Use live ones that you cut off the tree. Dead or aged ones tend to have more mites and ticks. Remove all leaves and smaller sticks off the branch. Then take the branchs home and soak them over night in the bath tub with a bleach/water solution. Or you can use white vinegar and water. That sanitize the branch and kill off any insects that might be harboring in the branch. You can the mount the stick on the cage by lying it accross the cage through the bars or by useing washers and screws and screwing them into the end of the branch. This is just an Idea for yeah. Plus, if by chance the parrot or other bird decides to chew it up, it's real easy to replace.

But as cuda and clay stated, Toys are very, very important. But unfortunantly, it's hard to find toys for some birds. Some of them are real picky. I'm still searching for toys for my starling. I'll have to take her to the pet shop with me sometime and let her pick it out..LOL!!