Larger parrots can live for a very long time so you are committing yourself to long-term care of the parrot.  If you intend to put your parrot in an outside aviary during the colder months, you should ask the breeder how acclimatised the bird is and if you are already the owner of parrots, it is also advisable to quarantine the new one for approx. 35 days before allowing it into the same area of your existing parrots in case it is carrying any form of disease.

Check to see if your new parrot is fluffing up his feathers, resting with his head in his wing, is standing on two legs rather than one leg or is breathing heavily with discharge from his nostrils, as these are sure signs of illness and you need to keep him warm and quiet.  The best temperature is around 80 to 90 degrees F (27 to 32 degrees C) and make sure that he’s provided with easily digestable food like baby food that is easily reached from his perch.  We would advise that you then contact a vet with avian expertise immediately. As these Vets are not common, it would be sensible to locate one before you buy the parrot as it’s often in the very early days of ownership that you might need one.  If you contact The Parrot Society, they will assist you in finding a vet with avian expertise who is the most local to you.

Feed your parrot a wide variety of foods such as canary seed, mixed millets, hemp, wheat, maize, safflower, sunflower (in moderation as it is an oily seed and can cause your parrot to become overweight), oats, buckwheat, paddy rice, niger, linseed and groats. Also let him have fruits such as oranges, sweet apples, grapes, pears, cherries and bananas. If possible try to include some exotic fruits such as papaya, mango and kiwi.

Never give your parrot avocados as these are toxic to birds.  You can however offer him  carrots, celery, spinach, beetroot, peas, beans and lightly cooked corn on the cob. They also enjoy sprouted seeds and soaked biscuit but don’t feed him scraps from the table.

Larger parrots like macaws should be given nuts in their diet throughout the year and these can include walnuts, brazil nuts, pecans, macadamia, cashews and hazelnuts. He will also enjoy a few cob-nuts when they are in season.

Don’t forget to wash all fruit and vegetables that you give your parrot and make sure that the bowls inside his parrot cage are washed thoroughly before use.  It’s best not to place any food bowls directly underneath the perches in his parrot cage as they will soon become soiled.

Of course, the usual proprietary foods in pellet form are available from pet shops, but a lot of experienced aviculturists believe that this doesn’t provide foraging experience for the parrot and so has little therapeutic value. However they are very convenient and will provide adequate nutrition so can be used extensively or in part. Your avian vet will be able to advise you further on this.

As with all pets, the larger the home you can provide him with the better.  A large parrot cage is acceptable so long as your parrot is allowed out of his cage every day.  Don’t however, leave him on his own, unsupervised as he may chew electric cables, damage your furniture and fittings or escape.  Provide him with a bird play stand and some parrot toys so that he can amuse himself as well as fly around when he is out of his cage.

Large macaws are better kept in large outdoor aviaries and ideas-4-pets have some quality aviaries to choose from – both timber and metal.

The floor of his parrot cage should be covered with peat, shavings, sand or newspaper and changed daily to make sure it is clean, fresh and hygienic. Garden aviaries should have a draught-proof, weather proof indoor section to protect your parrot from extremes of weather. Because parrots are intelligent and inquisitive, provide your parrot with an interesting, stimulating environment with plenty of climbing opportunities.  These could include cotton rope, ladders and wooden climbing frames. Packs of suitable toys can be bought from ideas-4-pets. If you are keeping your parrot in an outside aviary, make sure he has penty of perches and cotton climbing ropes but remember to leave him enough room in there to fly around.

All bird cages and aviaries are better if they are fitted with natural perches (fruit tree or sycamore branches are ideal) as these provide different diameters for your parrot’s feet to move to.  This allows him to flex the bones in his feet. It is also important to change the perches on a regular basis.

As with all pets, fresh, clean water should be provided daily. In the case of parrots, multi-vitamin drops can be added to the water and should have access to grit cuttlefish which will provide him with calcium.

If you provide your parrot with the correct housing, the correct food, things to play with and time to spend with him, he will provide you with amusement and wonderful companionship for many years.

If you are purchasing your bird from a pet shops you should be offered some advise on which type of parrot cage to buy, but it’s still better to do your own homework as well before purchasing.  Different breeds of parrot require different types of cages.  For instance, some birds like to climb so they are better with a cage which has some horizontal bars for them to climb up.  The width of the bars on the bird cage are also important because you wouldn’t want your bird to get his head stuck in the bars !!  A reputable breeder should guide you in the right direction as these are the experts and expect the best for their birds.

Amongst the many factors to take into account when choosing and buying your parrot cage, I still think that the most important factor is that the bigger the bird cage the better.  I know that this isn’t always financially possible, but if you really want the best for your bird then invest in a parrot cage that you know you can afford and can provide the best home for your parrot.

Your new bird needs plenty of room to move about, exercise and flap his wings easily without any risk of him banging on the sides of his parrot cage.  If you are able to provide this for your parrot then this is an excellent start for both of you.

Consider what shape of parrot cage to purchase.  Some people like a square or rectangular shaped cage and others like the look of a rounded one.  I think that most parrot owners agree that a square parrot cage will provide a more secure environment for your bird whereas a round one can cause your bird to feel stressed as these do not fit into corners of the room very easily and can cause your bird to feel vulnerable. A square cage can be put against a wall or in a corner so that 1 or 2 of the sides are closed in and parrots appear to prefer this.

It’s worth knowing that African Greys and Macaws enjoy plenty of space in their parrot cages as they are large birds and if they are cooped up in a small parrot cage they become depressed and stressed which can lead to feather plucking.  Parrot cages with a gym or play top are a good idea if your bird likes to come out of his cage and also if you can’t afford to purchase a playstand for your bird.

It’s wise to invest in a good quality cage – there are some good powder coated ones on the market which have been oven baked at high temperatures resulting in a parrot cage that will provide a long lasting and safe environment for your bird.  Always check before purchasing that the paint is non-toxic and doesn’t contain any zinc which can be fatal to birds.

You should also consider a bird cage cover as birds need their sleep just as we humans do – a tired parrot can be a grumpy, aggressive parrot and it cruel to expect your bird to sleep without the darkness of a cover.  They are used to sleeping among the foliage in the wild and this is the next best thing.  Expecting your parrot to sleep whilst the light is on and the TV is on and people are chatting and moving around is like expecting a baby to do the same – it won’t !!

One point to remember – Your parrot will be like having a small child in the house again.  He will rely on you not only to provide the best housing for him, but also to provide good, nutritious food, toys to play with.  Last but certainly not least,  because parrots are very social creatures, you will need to spend plenty of time playing and interacting with him.

Although they are quite friendly, it is worth knowing that Zebra Finches will rarely become tame enough to perch on your finger like a budgerigar.  Some who have been hand-reared may do this, but generally they are happy to just respond when you talk to them but will not mimic your voice like a budgerigar does. To pick up a Zebra Finch, make sure your palm covers its back and wings while your middle and index finger surround the bird’s neck. Use your other fingers to support its body and feet and please be very gentle Zebra Finches will bite if they feel stressed or threatened. If your birds are housed in an outside aviary, then use a padded rim net and never try to catch one in mid flight – always wait until it is perched safely to avoid stress and injury.

There are lots of bird cages on the market that are ideal of finches and they come in various shapes and sizes.  However, even in the largest of bird cages, they will need regular exercise outside their bird cage and are at their most active during the daytime, sleeping once it gets dark.

Zebra finches would appreciate either a large cage with a plastic base in the house or in a purpose-built aviary outside. If you are considering the former, then the bird cage should include some horizontal bars set at different heights because they love to hop from one bar to another.  A large square or oblong cage works the best with bars no wider than 12mm apart otherwise they may get their heads stuck or try to escape. If you opt for an outdoor bird aviary, then you should make sure there is plenty of room inside the aviary for the birds to fly around in.  Zebra Finches that are kept in the house should be let out of their cage daily to exercise once they are familiar with the room you have placed them in.  Don’t forget to shut all the doors and windows before letting them out or you could have your birds flying out of the door or window.  All birds need plenty of sleep, so ideas-4-pets advise you to cover the parrot cage with a bird cage cover to encourage your birds to settle down quietly. The bird cage should always be placed in a position away from draughts and direct sunlight.

Because Zebra Finches love to play, it’s a good idea to provide them with plenty of toys in their cage to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. They like to climb and so should be let out of their cage at least once a day for exercise.  You could purchase a small table-top bird play stand but make sure that it is suitable for this type of bird before purchasing.  Providing a bath for your Zebra Finches is also a good idea.  You can either fix it to the outside of the bird cage or place a shallow bowlinside the cage for them to splash around in.  Some birds prefer to be sprayed with tepid water instead.

You will notice when purchasing a Zebra Finch that they come in assorted colours and markings. The most common colours are fawn, grey or white and typical markings are black breasted, penguin, yellow beak, and crested.  They eat a wide range of seeds, grains, and vegetation when they are in the wild but when kept as pets, you should look for a specially-formulated Finch mix with a few supplements added. Small pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables are also enjoyed as treats and as with all pets, make sure they have easy access to fresh drinking water.  It’s certainly worth remembering that birds can be poisoned if given avocado, lemon, potato, lettuce or any sweets or drinks that are made for humans. A Cuttlefish bone placed in the cage will provide your birds with some extra calcium.

As mentioned before, Zebra Finches can be kept alone but prefer the company of their own kind. They can be as a male and female pair, although if just keeping a few birds together, either sex should get along fine together. For larger aviaries it’s usually best to keep more females than males as, like other birds, they will become territorial and may fight over the females. You can also mix pairs of Zebra Finches with other soft-billed small birds such as canaries although if kept in a breeding aviary you shouldn’t mix more than 2 species together.

To give your birds the best in life, make sure they are fed a good balanced diet with no sudden changes which can affect their digestive systems, Keep them entertained and amused by supplying them with lots of toys, make sure that their Water bottle and feed bowls are cleaned daily and that they have easy access to clean, fresh water all the time, Try to use peaches that file their nails as this avoids having to have them clipped, let them have access to a daily bath as they need to preen themselves to keep clean and lastly, ensure they have daily exercise outside their cage.

In captivity, however, your parrot will not have this freedom and you will have to allow your bird to have some time to exercise, entertain and express himself.  Your parrot can’t let himself out of his cage whenever he wants to fly around, he has to rely on you letting him out when it suits you.  So choosing a parrot cage which will allow him to be happy while you’re out of the house or at work is essential as he will be left in his cage for a large part of each day. Read up about the type of parrot you intend keeping and then decide which parrot cage would be suitable for you and more importantly your parrot. Consider how much space you can spare in your home – this is important as you would not want to purchase a large Macaw if you lived in a small flat for instance.

Choose a bird cage that will provide your bird with a comfortable environment and buy the largest bird cage you can possibly afford that is suitable for both your home and your bird. ideas-4-pets suggest that at a minimum, the diameter of the floor should be at least twice the span of your bird’s fully extended wingspan and the minimum height of the parrot cage should be at least one and half times the overall length of your bird from the top of his head to the tip of his tail. This measurement is based on one bird per cage but if you intend to keep two birds in the parrot cage then these dimensions must be increased by a minimum of at least 50%.

The spacing of the bars in the parrot cage is critical. You have to make sure that your parrot’s head will not fit through the bars as they could get their head stuck and not be able to get back in. The thickness of the bars of the parrot could easily bend, if not break, thin bars. If the cage has some horizontal bars for the bird to climb up and down this is ideal because although birds can navigate up and down vertical bars, it is more difficult for them.

ideas-4-pets have lots of designs of parrot cages to suit all tastes but generally a rectangular metal parrot cage, preferably longer than it is tall, is probably one of the best designs as it will allow your bird to hop from perch to perch. Tall, narrow cages can sometimes be less practical as most birds don’t fly straight up and down. Round cages can create a situation in which every perch across its width is in some way directly over the perch below it and this can lead to constant soiling of the perches below.  This is because in a parrot cage of this shape, the bird is only able to perch in one position or climb up the sides of the cage, which can also lead to food and water containers being soiled with faeces as well.

In the lower price range, you can purchase cages made of wire amd the wire may or may not be painted or powder-coated. These cages come in sizes suitable up to a medium sized parrot such as a Pionus. If you have to choose a wire bird cage be sure that the wire is not made of a metal that is toxic to parrots and that if painted the paint doesn’t contain lead.

Most of the more expensive cages are made of iron or steel and are then sandblasted and powder-coated but as before, be sure the coating isn’t toxic and that any paint doesn’t contain lead. These iron or steel parrot cages are durable, long lasting, and withstand busy beaks and escape artists. We have a great selection of Montana parrot cages which are an excellent made with smooth welds and no sharp edges to injure your bird.  All doors on parrot cages should be escape-proof or easily made to lock with a clip or lock. Stainless-steel cages are the best as they are non-toxic, indestructible, easy to keep clean, but cost wise are probably the most expensive.  Remember that when purchasing a parrot one of the most important things to think about is the expected life span of the bird compared to saving money on a cage.

Place your parrot cage where your parrot will gets lots of interaction with you and your family. It’s not a good thing to place his cage in a room where the sudden appearance of anyone coming and going into the room could startle or frighten him and ideally, his cage should be against a wall so that he feels secure. Situate the parrot cage where it can get some natural light as this helps to keep your bird healthy. Avoid it being right in front of a window as excessive sunshine or people moving around outside might cause ythe kitchen may be giving off fumes that could be toxic to your parrot, it’s not a good idea to site his or rooms where the temperature can fluctuate. A normal house temperature of about 21-27° C (70-80° F) will be tolerated well by your parrot. Remember that parrots should NEVER be exposed to cigarette or cigar smoke, or burning candles etc.

Purchase a bird cage cover for your parrot’s cage as parrots need to have lots of sleep in order to remain healthy and lively.  At bed-time, place the parrot cage cover over his cage and he will rest much better than in a room with the TV on or lights switched on and off. 

The parrot cage and all its contents must be kept in pristine condition all the time if you want to keep your parrot happy, lively and enjoy his company for a long time.

You should also carefully consider the choice of perches used, as your parrot will spend most of his time standing on one inside his parrot cage. The best perches are natural tree branches such as washed, fresh  apple, elm, ash, maple or willow – these are both functional and attractive in the cage. If you go for natural branches, select a variety of diameters for your parrot to perch on. This will give him various textures, choice of grip and good exercise for his feet. Natural branches also provide entertainment value for birds that like to chew. Wood is more difficult to disinfect due to its porous nature, so make sure you wash and replace his perches regularly.

Some parrot cages have sandpaper covered perches but we would not recommended these as this type of perch will do little to wear your parrot’s nails down and could lead to serious foot irritation, sores or even deep infections. Plastic perches are very commonly used but although they are easy to clean and disinfect they can sometimes be slippery for gripping and seem to only be available in a couple of sizes. Larger parrots have been known to chew and splinter the plastic perches into sharp pieces.

The best water and food dishes for your parrot are made from stainless steel.  These are easy to clean and disinfect every day and should be attached securely to the side of the parrot cage. Don’t fill the dishes too deep or a lot of his food will be wasted. Position the dishes so that they are easily accessible and won’t be accidentally soiled with faeces. Most food bowls are attached to the side of the parrot cage and swing out for easy feeding, they should never be left on the bottom of the parrot cage as this is the bird’s “toilet”. As a lot of pet parrots enjoy a good bath once in a while, it’s a good idea to place a large shallow dish of water in the parrot cage so your parrot can have some fun. Some birds even like to be “misted” with a fine tepid water spray. Try this a few times to see how your bird reacts to it.

Whether you’re at home with your bird or out of work, a parrot needs some type of entertainment.  Imagine being cooped up all day on your own and how frustrating and boring it would be !! Parrots love to explore and play with toys, including pieces of rope, stainless steel mirrors, bells, hanging toys,etc. and will also love pieces of wood to chew on whilst in the cage.   You can choose a selection of entertaining toys for your parrot from your local pet shop.

You might also like to consider a parrot play stand so that when he out of his cage, he has a safe place to perch and play and stretch his wings.  There are plenty of different shapes and sizes of bird play stands to choose from and you are sure to find one to suit the species of parrot you intend to own. 

As there are no real quality controls or regulations to provide safe toys for your parrot, you take great care to ensure that the toys you choose to put in his parrot cage are free from potential dangers. Amy parrot toys that can easily be taken apart or broken are dangerous as are certain types of rope which can be untangled and get fast around his beak or his toes.  Rope made from synthetic fibres can sometimes be a real problem, so make sure you know what you are buying. Rubber toys can be easily chewed into pieces by certain species of parrot so must be avoided to ensure your parrot does not choke.   Lastly, make sure the toys you choose are not too small as these can be swallowed easily.

Some birds have been known to love hiding in cardboard boxes or paper bags or you can purchase highly coloured tents for your parrot to hide in. If you have an assortment of toys, these can be rotated every week so that your parrot doesn’t get bored with playing with the same ones.  All your parrot’s toys should be washed and disinfected periodicially, but remember to rinse them very well after washing with clean water.
 

Buying a pet parrot, as with any other pet,  is a big decision so please take your time and read up on the different breeds that are available, there temperaments, size, etc. before jumping in with both feet !!  Make a list of all the equipment you will have to purchase before the parrot comes home eg. bird cage, parrot play stand, bird cage cover, parrot toys, parrot food, etc.

Because parrots are such intelligent birds, you should do your upmost on a daily basis to give your parrot some fun time and lots of enjoyment either in or out of his parrot cage. 

Providing your parrot with a good quality range of safe toys to play with and a selection of items to chew on in his parrot cage, will greatly increase your parrot’s happiness and well being and will also encourage you, as a parrot owner, to interact with your parrot reguarly.  Good interaction has benefits for both you and for your parrot and will help promote a healthy, playful, happy bird.  Without parrot play there is a good chance your parrot could become bored and perhaps this could bring the onset of Feather Plucking which is most unpleasant to see and also painful for your parrot.

Bird perches and parrot stands act like a bird gym and will give your parrot plenty of exercise and climbing room.  They come in many shapes, sizes, designs and different materials so are very much a personal choice by the individual.   There are smaller types of bird stands for the smaller parrot and the larger parrot play stands for the larger breeds.

You can even have them custom made, floor or table standing.   If you add a variety of different parrot toys onto the parrot play stand  for climbing, swinging, etc. your parrot will throroughly enjoy playing on the stand for long periods of time.  This time out of his parrot cage will also enable him to stretch his wings and have a taste of freedom which he will greatly appreciate. 

When he’s had enough of all this activity he will gladly go back into his parrot cage and will be happy to sleep until the next big day.  A parrot cage cover is ideal for shutting out the light and draughts and giving your parrot some quiet, private time to rest and sleep – parrots enjoy their sleep as much as we humans do and sleep deprivation can greatly affect their health.

Did you know that there are two types of budgies – the American budgie or parakeet and the English budgie. English budgies are larger than the American variety and have a different appearance to the American budgies, but all budgies belong to the same species, Melopsittacus undulatus. The average budgie lives to about 10-15 years old but some have been reported as living to be 20 years old !

They originate from Australia and their normal wild coloration is green with black bars on the wings, back and head.  Mature females have a tan or beige cere which is the fleshy part around the nostrils and the males have a bluish cere.  Having said this, it is unreliable in some of the colour variations and young birds of both sexes have pink ceres. Young budgies have bar markings on the forehead that recede with age and their eyes have dark irises that gradually become grey with age.  However,  this isn’t necessarily true for all colours and through selective breeding a huge variety of colours and patterns are available.  There are wonderful colours such as violet, blue, yellow, pied, albino, and others.

Some budgie owners like to have pairs of birds as they make good company for each other, but it is worth knowing that if you do this, they may then not bond as well with their owners or mimic speech as well. A single bird is fine, but you must spend a significant amount of time interacting with a single budgie on a daily basis as they are very playful and active and love the company.  Although the budgie is quieter than some other parrots they can still be noisy !!

When choosing a bird, it’s best to choose a hand fed baby or at least a young bird that has been handled regularly. You may have to pay more for a hand reared or very young bird, but it’s worth the extra cost and ideally you should purchase your baby bird from a good breeder as they will be able to advise you of their age and history.  If you purchase one from a pet shop, the bird may have an unknown history and if it is older will be more challenging to bond with and tame.

Always look for a bird that is bright, alert and active because a bird that is sitting quietly with puffed feathers could be ill.  His body feathers should be smooth and shiny and lay down flat against his body. The feathers around his back end  should be clean, dry, and free of faecal matter. The scales on his feet should be smooth and his nails should be seen to be in good condition, his beak should be smooth and well-shaped with his nostrils looking clear and clean.

Because Budgies are active and playful, you should purchase a large bird cage or parrot cage to allow room for his toys and room for him to exercise. The minimum bird cage size that you should look for should be approx. 18 ins wide x 18 ins deep x 20 ins high but as with all pet housing, the larger the better. The spacing between the bars of the cage should be 0.5ins or less and horizontal cage bars will offer your bird the best opportunity for climbing and exercise. Look for a bird cage that has at  least 2 perches at different levels with enough space to comfortably move between them.  If you can offer your bird a variety of perch sizes this will help to keep his feet in good shape .

Your bird will need easy and constant access to clean fresh water and you should feed him with a quality bird food to suit his breed – your vet or breeder will  be able to advise you  on this.  A cuttlefish bone placed in his bird cage will help him to keep his beak in trim and will also supply him with calcium.

Remember, that even with a large bird cage, budgies need play and socialization time outside his cage is still very important.  You may want to consider purchasing a bird play stand which again will give him an opportunity to play and exercise and also keep you, his owner, well entertained!!  Lastly, but an important factor is that birds need to sleep just as we do and so it is important to provide him with a bird cage cover so that he can have some rest time.  And  it is also important not to place your bird cage in a draught, in the full sun or in a room that is smokey as none of these places will be a healthy place for your bird to live.
 

Montana parrot cages provide the ideal environment for your bird and will provide you with an extensive choice of home for your parrot

Montana have paid great attention to detail when designing and building their parrot cages and all their parrot cages are manufactured to very high quality standards. Montana offer a one-of-a-kind craftsmanship with unique characteristics using the highest quality materials.

There are Montana parrot cages to suit all types of birds from small finches to larger African Greys. The parrot cages are finished with their patented lead & zinc free AVILON powder coating. The parrot cages are all oven baked at very high temperatures so the powder coating will not chip. Montana have independently tested the toxicity of their parrot cages and this has resulted in them providing a long lasting and safe environment for birds.

Montana parrot cages are available with both the horizontal and the vertical bars to facilitate climbing. Most also feature a swing out feeding system with stainless steel cups which makes feeding your parrot easier than having to put your arm into the cage in order to reach the feeding cups.

Some of the parrot cages have an opening roof featuring a play or gym area, so that your bird can play on top of his cage. Those and others may also have a drop down landing platform to make take-off and landing easier for your parrot. Some of their parrot cages have a dividing panel which enables you to separate your birds if required.

Most of the parrot cages have a removeable excrement grate, a robust seed drawer and a catch basin which all help to make cleaning the cage easier. Some of the parrot cages also have a small door which enables you to attach a nesting box to the side of the cage. Most of the cages are supplied on stands that have castors for easy movement.

Lastly, most Montana cages have a bird-safe lock on their doors, ensuring that your precious parrot will not escape unless you want him to !!

Montana have also designed a number of Parrot Play Stands. Being extremely social creatures, birds need time out of their cage to interact with their family or “flock” each day. Parrot Play Stands offer you a way to allow your parrot to interact with you and your family for longer periods of time. They also help you to keep your pet bird socialized. Parrot Play Stands help give your bird a sense of fun, safety and peace of mind, exercising both his mind and his body to make for a happier, healthier pet parrot.

The Senegal Parrot is probably one of the most compact, cuddly and very playful birds you could own. They originally come from North Central Africa where they were heavily imported into the United States and Europe until their importation became illegal in 1992.However, the original wild Senegals were a totally different bird than those you will find on the market today. Where the originals were skittish and sullen, those you can purchase today are extremely playful and happy birds.You will see them having fun by dangling on one leg and they will chatter for hours at a time. They love to be handled much in the same way as cockatoos and like cockatoos they love to be the centre of attention. However, they are not particularly demanding birds and are gentle and sweet in nature. Generally, they have a charming personality, they are clever and can learn to speak clearly (not as well as the African Grey) but are also quiet and easy to care for.

Ideas-4-pets have a number of parrot cages that are suitable for Senegals. Ideally, the parrot cage should be as large as possible dependant upon your finances and the size of the room you intend to keep the parrot cage.

There are endless designs of parrot cages, from huge ornate cages to dome cages, play top cages, square cages and corner cages. Round bird cages are not really suitable for parrots because they may cause psychological problems and lack of orientation for your bird. When looking at parrot cages, you should also think of the distance between the bars as a small bird in a large bird cage could push his head through the bars and become trapped. Ideally the bird cage should open at the top as this allows your bird to climb on to a high perch which will give him a feeling of confidence and security and also act as a launch pad when he flies off to his bird play stand or on to your shoulder.

It’s a good idea if you do have a bird play stand for your Senegal to place it in another room in the house so for instance if his parrot cage is in your living room, put his bird play stand in the conservatory or the kitchen so that he can have some of his own space in both areas of the house. This gives him the option to go to either of these places to feed, drink and rest and will allow him to stretch his wings flying from one place to the other.

Always remember to give your bird easy access to fresh, clean water and ideas-4-pets also advise you to ask your breeder or local vet for advise on your parrot’s diet.

The Senegal Parrot is probably one of the most compact, cuddly and very playful birds you could own. They originally come from North Central Africa where they were heavily imported into the United States and Europe until their importation became illegal in 1992.

However, the original wild Senegals were a totally different bird than those you will find on the market today. Where the originals were skittish and sullen, those you can purchase today are extremely playful and happy birds. You will see them having fun by dangling on one leg and they will chatter for hours at a time. They love to be handled much in the same way as cockatoos and like cockatoos they love to be the centre of attention.

However, they are not particularly demanding birds and are gentle and sweet in nature. Generally, they have a charming personality, they are clever and can learn to speak clearly (not as well as the African Grey) but are also quiet and easy to care for.

Ideas-4-pets have a number of parrot cages that are suitable for Senegals. Ideally, the parrot cage should be as large as possible dependant upon your finances and the size of the room you intend to keep the parrot cage.

Always remember to give your bird easy access to fresh, clean water and ideas-4-pets also advise you to ask your breeder or local vet for advise on your parrot’s diet.

Cockatoos are not good talkers, but have very endearing personality traits. If you decide to invest in a cockatoo you will find him to be an active bird who can be very noisy at times !!  Cockatoos need a spacious area away from anyone in the house who might be bothered by their loud calls.  Having said this, cockatoos love to be the centre of attention, so if you have someone in the household who does not like noise then this is not the bird for your family.

The first thing to consider purchasing is a suitable parrot cage and there are lots on the market to choose from. Ideas-4-pets have numerous types of bird cages that would be ideal for a cockatoo and they are available as either dome top parrot cages or gym top parrot cages.  They are also available in different colours to match your home.  If you choose a gym top cage, your cockatoo can climb out of his cage and play on the gym perch. Alternatively you may like to consider purchasing a play stand for your bird so that he has a totally separate area to fly to and sit and play on.

You will love to watch your cockatoo playing on his play stand or on the top of his parrot cage. He will do all sorts of fancy moves with his head and body in order to gain your attention. As the adverts say, they really do feel that are worth it !!

The typical lifespan of a cockatoo is about 40 – 50 years old so you have to make sure that you are prepared to give lots of love and attention to your little feathered friend for a long time !!

There are several types of Cockatoos to choose from: The Great Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo, Lesser Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos, Moluccan Cockatoos, Umbrella Cockatoos, Goffin’s Cockatoos and Rose-Breasted Cockatoos. These listed are just a few of the most popular types of Cockatoos you can purchase.

The Great Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo is an all-white parrot that measures about 19” long. He sports a bright yellow crest that stands erect when he is excited, angry or startled. You will find him to be a highly intelligent bird and he will suffer greatly if he doesn’t get the attention he needs. In fact, this is true of most large parrots.

The Lesser Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo is a smaller version of the one mentioned above and his average size is 13”.

Moluccan Cockatoos are about 20” long and these birds come in various shades of pink and white. If you opt for this type of cockatoo you will find that he is an energetic performer and will be great fun to watch. Moluccans have extremely loud calls which can be quite startling in their volume and intensity. They also have a huge propensity for chewing things so can be quite destructive in the house.

The Umbrella Cockatoo is probably about an 1”-2” smaller than the Moluccan. He is a white parrot with a touch of yellow on the underside of his tail and wings, and sports a black beak and large crest.

The Goffin Cockatoo measures about 15” and is a bundle of energy !! Goffins are excellent mimics and talkers and just the bird for your family if you have the time to spend teaching them little words and phrases. These birds have a high level of intelligence and are very friendly parrots to be around.

Remember to always do your homework before purchasing something as important as a parrot. Read as many books as you can about the different breeds and their upkeep, diet etc. because as mentioned before you will have a lifetime of care in front of you and if you have the love and patience to spend lots of time with your bird you will be rewarded greatly.