ParrotCareGuide
PreparedbyDr.LucyHaileonbehalfofWellesleyAnimalHospital
HOUSING
Cages
?Avoidgalvanizedmetalcages
?Usethebiggestcagepossibleforyourbird
?Linethebottomofthecagewithnewspaperorpapertowel
Nighttime
?Considercoveringthecageatnightorhavingaseparatenightcageinaquieterareasoyourbirdcan
getundisturbedsleepfor12hoursaday
?Coveringthecagetodecreasedaylighthourscanalsodecreasethehormonaldriveforsomespeciesof
parrotstolayeggs
Perches
?Haveavarietyofdifferentsizedperchesmadeupofdifferentmaterials
?Placetheperchesatdifferentheightsthroughoutthecage
Locationofcage
?Don’thouseyourbirdinorneartothekitchenduetotheriskofrespiratorydiseasecausedbycooking,
especiallyonTeflonornon-stickpans.(Thetoxiccomponentispolytetrafluoroethylene[PTFE])
?Avoidcandles,incenseorsmokingnearyourbird
DIET
?Agoodqualitypelleteddietshouldmakeup70-80%ofthediet.Theremaindershouldbeavarietyof
freshfruitsandvegetablesandhealthytablefoods
Pellets
?Westronglyrecommendapelleteddiettoensureyourparrotreceivesallthenutrientstheyneed
?Roudybush,LafeberandHarrison’sarethreebrandsofgoodqualitypelleteddiets.Ifunsureofwhich
size/typeofpellettobuydiscussitwithyourveterinarian
?Avoidpellets“mixes”whichcontainfruits,seedsandnuts.Yourbirdwilloftenpickouttheirfavorites
resultinginanunbalanceddiet
?Seedsarehigherinfatsandthisexcesscancontributetodiseaseslaterinlifesuchasliverorheart
disease.Seedsalsolackessentialvitaminsandminerals.Theyshouldonlybegivenasoccasional
trainingtreats
?Besuretochooseapelletsizeappropriatetoyoursizeofbird