Pet birds make loyal and beautiful companions when you show them the love and care they deserve. If you’re thinking about adopting one or more feathered friends, you probably have quite a few specific questions about their care and keeping. To start with, your bird will need a spacious place to live!

One of the most common questions we receive is — “What kind of cage does my bird need?” The answer can get complicated since it depends on the bird, but there are a few factors that you should consider when picking out the right cage. Here’s what you need to know!

Bird Size

The first thing you’ll need to consider when choosing a bird cage is the size of your bird(s). After figuring out the type of bird that you’d like to adopt, look into recommended cage size range, and purchase the largest cage for the range. This gives your bird the most comfortable living space, with plenty of room to grow. 

Bird Habits

Every bird is a little different since they all have their own personalities. However, different types of birds are more prone to certain behaviors than others. Be sure to read up on your bird’s habits before you choose a cage. Here are some questions to find answers to:

• Does your bird prefer more horizontal space or more vertical space? (Most birds prefer vertical space, but this can vary.)
• Does your bird’s species enjoy a specific type of perch or toy? If this is the case, don’t forget to include it in your cage setup.
• Does your bird like to be kept in a quiet environment, such as a back room? Or do they prefer being near all the excitement?

Cage Features

Cage Material

By their nature, birds are prone to chewing on anything they can get their beaks on. Even if you provide them with plenty of toys, treats, and stimulation, small birds’ and larger birds’ beaks alike can still do a number on the cage material over time. That’s why it’s important to select a durable material. Both stainless steel and powder-coated steel are good choices for your bird.

Bar Spacing

Bar spacing is an important cage feature you’ll need to consider carefully. Different species of birds require different amounts of space between the cage’s bars. The smaller the bird, the easier it is for them to slip through wide bars. As a general rule, your cage bars should be close together enough so that birds’ heads can’t poke through but not so narrow that their claws or wings can become trapped. You should always research bar specifications based on your specific bird. Below are a few recommended dimensions:

• Canaries, parrotlets, and budgies: 3/8″ to 7/16”
• Small cockatiels: 5/8″
• Large cockatiels, small conures, and small parrots: 1/2″ to 3/4″
• African Gray parrots, small cockatoos, and large conures: 3/4″ to 1”
• Macaws, large Eclectus parrots, and large cockatoos: 3/4″ to 1.5”

Wheels or Casters

Bird cages with wheels or casters can be significantly easier to clean or move around. However, if you have carpeted floors, live with small children, or have invested in a cage that’s already relatively easy to clean, this option may not be necessary.

Perches & Toys

All bird cages need perches so that birds can rest and groom themselves. They also need a variety of toys available, so they don’t become stressed or bored. Be sure to include at least two perches (each made of different materials) per bird, and don’t forget to provide a variety of bamboo logs, Crazy Tails, or other essential bird toys in the enclosure.

Cage Location

Now that you’re almost ready to buy a bird cage, there’s something else worth thinking about — the location where you’ll be placing said cage. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when deciding on the right spot for your bird’s bedroom:

• Choose a location where the cage is easily accessible. This will make feeding, care, and cleaning much easier.
• Don’t place the cage in a child’s room. The child might tip the cage, get their fingers stuck in the bars, or end up harming themselves in another way.
• Avoid placing the cage near temperature hazards such as space heaters, wall heaters, AC units, wood-burning stoves, HVAC vents, and fireplaces.
• Keep the cage away from doors and windows.
• Never put the cage in the kitchen, even for a moment. Not only are there hot temperatures, but also certain cookware fumes can threaten the health of your feathered friend.

When in Doubt, Ask the Experts!

It can be overwhelming to choose a cage that feels “right.” If you’re still stumped after reading this article, your best bet is to seek out advice from a reputable business that truly cares about birds. The “decorative” cages available in big-box stores or even some chain pet stores should never be considered. Much like how true fishkeepers disavow fishbowls, anyone who cares for birds quickly lets you know that decorative cages just don’t cut it. These cramped, cheap-o cages are too small to provide a healthy environment for birds, and they’re often made from toxic materials to boot.

Buy Your Bird the Best!

We hope you’re ready to choose the perfect cage for your parrot, cockatoo, canary, or conure. If you have questions about keeping birds or want to order some of the best bird products on the market, don’t hesitate to contact our team! We’re passionate about all types of birds and want to help your pet be as happy as possible in its new home. Good luck bonding with your new bird buddy!

Birds are some of the most intelligent and emotionally driven pets in the animal kingdom. Whether you are an experienced bird owner or have gotten your first one through our bird rehoming program, finding ways to connect with your new avian friend outside of its cage is crucial to developing a relationship with them. Birds treat their cages as their sanctuary, so building the level of trust and sense of security your pet bird feels with you can be a slow and meticulous process. 

If you try to leave your bird in their cage or aviary for an extended period, it can negatively impact their mood and potentially lead them to develop a case of depression. Your bird wants to explore its surroundings, so leaving them cooped up for multiple hours a day doesn’t do them any favors. Developing a bond with them can help improve their mood and make it a more beneficial experience for you. 

The Benefits of Bonding With Your Bird Outside of Its Cage

Birds are naturally social and curious creatures. They want to explore their environment, stretch their wings, and enjoy the freedom that flight gives them. However, living with a cage door between them and their explorative nature can lead them to experience significant depressive episodes. 

We’ve mentioned that birds have a highly developed sense of emotional intelligence. The downside is that, like humans, they can also experience depression. 

Birds love to stretch their wings and fly around — engaging with them in extended playtime outside their cage can help improve their spirits and your developing bond. It allows you to build trust with them and lets them explore more of their new home than they would otherwise. 

The Ideal Length of Parrot Play Sessions

For parrot owners looking to engage their avian friends in extended playtime, finding the right balance between freedom and maintaining their routine can prove challenging. You may want to spend an entire day bonding with your parrot over playtime outside of the cage, but it could cause too much turmoil in their established routine and do more harm than good. 

Keeping play sessions short enough not to disrupt your bird’s routine but long enough so they experience a fair amount of freedom is a fine line to walk for bird owners. Keepin most play sessions between 20-30 minutes strikes the right balance and prevents your birds from ever feeling too “homesick” for their cage. 

Utilize Parrot-Safe Toys

When it comes to bonding with your birds, utilizing toys that are safe for them becomes vitally important for their continued development. You want to give them bird toys that are free from choking hazards or toxic chemicals that can negatively affect them in the long run. Keeping play sessions fun, interactive, and filled with parrot-approved toys will help you bond with your parrot in a safe and controlled environment.

Don’t Push Them Too Hard, Too Fast

The parrot’s emotional intelligence can prove a double-edged sword at times. While their remarkable intelligence can spur more meaningful and engaging playtime, it can also present challenges to bonding with them. If you try to push a connection too quickly, it can backfire on you, similarly to forging new friendships with people. 

Treat bonding with your parrot in a similar way to making new friends. Don’t try and force something that isn’t there yet and take your time. Patience is key to forging this budding bond. 

Come to Todd Marcus Birds Exotic for Your Parrot Needs!

If you need help finding a new bird for your home, Todd Marcus Birds Exotic has a lineup of birds of varying species looking for a new home. We also have a vast inventory of bird toys, cages, and more to help your new feathered friend feel more comfortable in their new home as you form a bond with them. It can be a long process, but sticking with it is its own reward. 

Get in touch with us today for more bird bonding tips or to find your next companion!

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Preening vs. Plucking vs. Molting: What’s the Difference?

When owning a pet bird, such as a parrot, cockatiel, cockatoo, or any other bird, the health of its feathers is essential. Bird feathers are often very hard to deal with because there are many different kinds of issues that could occur with them. Typically there are three types of bird-induced feather issues. They are preening, plucking, and molting. But they all sound similar, and all involve the removal and damage of bird feathers. Are they the same? No, they are very different.

Here are some differences between them and how each issue should be handled, so you can keep your bird healthy. 

Preening 

Preening is when a bird grooms and takes care of its feathers. Normal bird feathers must be preened often. When they preen, they spread oil from their preening gland onto their feathers, which helps to keep their feathers waterproof and strong. If they are not preening, it could be very dangerous for their health.

Preening is also very good for keeping feathers clean. Dust and other unmentionable matter can end up on your bird’s feathers, making preening an essential process for your bird.

It’s important to note that preening can become excessive and even dangerous. When this happens, your bird’s feathers can fall out more than they should. If your bird is over-preening, such as every ten minutes or all the time, you should check your bird’s health and possibly take it to a vet. 

Plucking 

Plucking is a common bird feather-related issue that is also the most dangerous. Plucking is when a bird pulls out their feathers on purpose, usually to release endorphins, and it often can become very addicting. Plucking can result from stress, lack of sleep, or another health issue, such as environmental issues or boredom. It can result in:

• A rough-looking bird 
• Large bald spots all over the bird’s body
• Permanent follicle damage
• Bleeding spots 

It should be taken seriously, and if you notice any of these issues, bring your bird to a vet for an examination immediately. And if you are thinking of using pet bird boarding services soon, you should ensure that the plucking issue is taken care of because it could increase the problem if your bird is suddenly in a different environment. Often if you help your bird right away, a quick fix such as a change of environment or attention can help a bird who is plucking.  

Molting 

Molting is when a bird loses its feathers so new ones can grow. Bird feathers are meant to fall out on their own, not be pulled out forcefully. So depending on the bird, it can happen a few times a year or even more. Molting is perfectly healthy when occurring regularly. Signs of molting are: 

• Shedding
• Looking patchy and missing prominent feathers, such as flight feathers and tail feathers
• Feathers that are everywhere at certain times of the year

It’s important to remember that molting is normal and actually healthy for your bird. However, if your feathery friend starts molting continuously, you will want to take them to the vet right away. There may be an underlying health issue.

Find a New Bird Friend

At Todd Marcus Birds Exotic, we have many birds that would be beautiful additions to your home. Our exotic creatures are cared for lovingly, and we strive to give them the best homes possible. We are happy to help you find the perfect bird, as well as make sure you have all the information and equipment you need to keep your new bird happy. We have everything from Amazon parrots to cockatiels for sale at our shop. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have!

What Is Parrot Hormonal Season and How Can I Help My Bird Stay Regular?

With spring in full swing, the temperatures rise, the days get longer, and your exotic birds are quickly approaching mating season. Around this time, your bird will start showcasing increasingly erratic and confusing behaviors that are out of the norm. It’s a natural occurrence this time of year, but birds in captivity can undergo an extended version of this hormonal season and showcase these behaviors for longer periods. What causes these prolonged periods of unrest, and what can you do to help keep your bird’s hormone levels in check?

When Is Parrot Hormonal Season?

Typically, parrot hormonal season begins in the spring. The weather has gotten warmer, the days are longer, and the birds’ bodies are ready for the mating and breeding season’s rigors. A bird’s body can typically only handle breeding once or twice a year, and their hormones go into a dormant state for the remainder of the year outside of these specific windows. This behavior occurs so their body can recover and bring their offspring into the world before the winter. 

What Causes Disruptions in the Hormonal Season?

Wild birds get prepared based on external factors such as food availability, weather, and a host of factors that we do not yet understand. Captive birds still go through the same process; however, the guaranteed food supply, sedentary lifestyle, and irregular sleep patterns can throw their hormones out of balance and create an extended hormonal season. With these changes in their natural rhythms, captive birds can suffer from an extended hormonal season and continue to display the erratic behavior that becomes a calling card of the season. 

What Behaviors Should I Look Out For?

At the outset of the hormonal season, you will see shifts in your bird’s behavior that indicate that mating season has begun. Most birds will showcase a few of the following behaviors:

• Flat backing
• Strutting with fanned tail feathers
• Nesting
• Feather plucking
• Food regurgitation

These are some of the most common behaviors that your bird can showcase during its hormonal season, and being aware of these signs can help you become better prepared for the changes. 

How Can I Help Regulate Their Hormones?

While you cannot eliminate parrot hormonal season entirely, there are steps you can take to help keep your bird in a natural rhythm and avoid prolonged bouts of hormonal season antics. One of the most significant contributors to an out-of-whack hormonal season centers on their diet. If they currently have an imbalanced diet that does not provide them the proper nutrients, their hormonal season can quickly get out of sync. By changing their diet and focusing on bringing them the right balance of nutrients, you can help keep their system in balance. Additionally, mate availability, access to nesting materials, and longer daylight hours are other major contributing factors affecting hormone levels. 

When it comes to finding the proper diet for your birds, Todd Marcus can help! Our store features a wide variety of parrot treats, bird travel cages, and other dietary options that can help give your bird the balance they would find in the wild. Help their hormone levels stay in check by visiting Todd Marcus Birds Exotic today!

Do You Need to Rehome Your Exotic Bird? Here’s What You Need to Know

Owning exotic birds presents unique challenges that some pet owners aren’t aware of when they start their journey. Many people will throw the term “forever home” around when they’re adopting a pet. However, with parrots and other exotic birds, that term takes on a new meaning. When it comes to exotic birds, one of these unique challenges can be the animal’s long lifespan. After all, some species such as large macaws and cockatoos can live up to 80 years old! As people come to realize that if properly cared for, exotic birds can long outlive their owners, they begin to recognize that rehoming their birds is more of an eventuality than a fleeting thought experiment. 

Common Reasons For Rehoming Exotic Birds

Taking care of exotic birds differs significantly from other pets. As some pet owners take the first step towards adopting an exotic bird, they may not have done their homework into the kind of attention, specialized care, and patience required to raise a bird properly. As the birds go through an adjustment period, if the pet owner isn’t ready to deal with these challenges, they may opt to rehome the bird instead of exercising patience. Additionally, if the owner got the bird later in life, they may no longer have the energy to give them the attention they need. 

There are also plenty of other life circumstances that may come up, such as needing to move to a new location where you cannot have a pet, a changing work schedule that doesn’t allow you adequate time to interact with your bird, or anything else that happens which prevents you from meeting your bird’s needs. 

Where Should You Take a Bird That Needs to Be Rehomed?

Exotic birds have more specialized needs than dogs and cats, so finding the right place to rehome them where you know that they will receive the level of care that they require is imperative. Most common pet stores do not have the training or the equipment to properly care for these birds, and if they let someone adopt them, there is a good chance that they won’t be properly educated about what they are getting into — potentially leading them to bring the bird back yet again. While some exotic bird sanctuaries might be a good fit, others may simply be a front for the owner to collect exotic birds. It’s important to vet the sanctuary thoroughly before leaving your bird there.

At Todd Marcus Birds Exotic, we know birds, and we care deeply for these amazing creatures. When someone decides to rehome their bird with us, we will properly care for them until we can find them a suitable home. When someone is interested in adopting a bird that’s had a previous owner, we carefully consider their experience and the environment in their home before agreeing to allow them to take the bird. Additionally, we get to know many of our regular customers on a personal level, which helps us to determine if they would be a good fit for the bird. After that, we often see the bird for many years to come if the new owner brings in the bird for grooming or just to socialize! 

What to Know When Adopting a Rehomed Bird

When someone begins considering adopting a new feathered friend, we want to ensure that they can meet the bird’s complex needs and have the patience to handle the adjustment period. Birds often display more anxiety while adjusting to a new environment, even more so than other animals, and the new pet owner must have the patience to help guide the bird and not put too much pressure on the animal before it’s ready. 

Choosing to adopt a bird or find a Scarlet Macaw for sale that has lived with another owner involves an acclimation process that people need to be aware of ahead of time. If you think you are up for the challenge or are looking for acrylic bird toys to help ease their transition into your home, visit Todd Marcus Birds Exotic today!

How to Keep Your Beaks and Nails in Check: Grooming Tips for Your Birds

Keeping your bird as comfortable and well-kept as possible is one of a bird owner’s most important responsibilities. Throughout a wild bird’s day, they perform different tasks and actions to keep their bills and nails in check and prevent them from growing too much. Since bird’s bills are made of keratin, they will continue to grow throughout their life. It’s why wild birds have been documented rubbing their bills and talons against rough surfaces to wear and shape them in such a way that keeps them properly balanced. However, when they are in captivity, birds may not have the ability to keep up with their grooming routines. That’s where you can help. 

Why Grooming Matters

With your exotic birds, the length of their bill and talons matter a great deal for their day-to-day quality of life. Birds will utilize their bills for a variety of tasks throughout the day. Based on their activity level, the chance for their bills to become overgrown increases and can cause problems for your bird if left unchecked. Bringing your feathered friend into a trusted bird store can be an easy solution to get their bill trimmed down to a manageable size. 

Keep Those Talons Trimmed

When it comes to your bird’s feet, the length of their nails matters more than just for appearances and preventing scratches. The birds use their feet to grasp stands, interact with their environment, and move around when they aren’t flying. If the nails are not regularly trimmed, your bird will have difficulty moving around their cage and your home than they would have otherwise. Every species of bird will vary in how often they will need their nails trimmed, but the general rule thumb is every one to three months. 

What Can I Do to Help in Between Trimmings?

While birds in the wild have multiple ways to help maintain their grooming habits, their options become a bit more limited in captivity. At the same time, they can no longer forage for their food and use these actions to keep their bills nice and shapely; the dynamic shifts when they live in a cage in your living room. There are various toys on the market that you can get for your birds that will help them maintain a semblance of the grooming routine they would have had in the wild. The variety of chew toys and bird shredding toys available in our online marketplace can help your feathered friends keep their grooming routines, even in captivity. 

You Don’t Have to Handling Grooming Alone

You can handle the bill and talon trimming on your own; however, your bird may not appreciate the procedure and hold it against you. To avoid becoming the “bad guy” in the eyes of your feathered companion, you can swing by Todd Marcus Birds Exotic and take advantage of our grooming and bird nail trimming services! We’ll help your birds look and feel their best!

CAN I TRANSFER ILLNESSES TO MY BIRDS?

With the current COVID-19 outbreak, many people are taking precautions to prevent the spread of this coronavirus. But those of us with pet parrots may be wondering: if I get sick, can I transfer the illness to my bird?

The good news is that it isn’t likely that you would transfer this virus to your bird. Evidence right now suggests that the disease is not transferring between species. However, the American Veterinary Medical Association still recommends exercising caution and limiting contact with your pets. 

Here, we review some good habits to help keep you and your feathered friends healthy all year round.

Keeping a Clean Environment

To keep both the people and birds in your home healthy, it’s important to practice good hygiene. This means keeping both yourself and your bird’s environment clean.

Hand Washing

The best thing to do when interacting with your birds or any other animal is to thoroughly wash your hands both before and after handling them or any of their toys, food bowls, and cages or perches. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to help prevent the spread of any virus or bacteria that could be on your hands. Hand sanitizer can be used as a substitute if need be.

Cleaning Cages

Your bird probably spends at least a few hours a day in their cage. Given that parrots relieve themselves pretty frequently — at least a few times an hour, depending on their size — their waste can accumulate pretty quickly on the bars of their cage and whatever material you have at the bottom of the cage (such as newspaper, sand, or pet bedding). 

Below, we share some tips for keeping your bird’s cage clean:

Todd Marcus Is Open to Serve You and Your Birds

During this difficult time, we want to assure you that we have all the supplies you need to care for your birds. If you plan on visiting the store, please call to make an appointment; only two people will be allowed in at a time. We also encourage curb-side orders. Or you can order your parrot food and supplies online for convenient delivery no matter where you are.

A Look at 5 Common Parrot Behaviors

Just like people and other animals, parrots will tell you a lot about how they’re feeling through their body language. However, if you’ve never spent much time with parrots before, then it may be difficult to decode their behaviors. As a bird owner, it’s important to be able to learn to read your bird so that you can foster a positive relationship with them. 

While habits vary slightly between species, the following behaviors are common in most parrots:

Eye pinning

What it is: When a parrot rapidly shrinks and dilates their pupils in succession. It is easier to observe in birds with light-colored irises.

What it means: Eye pinning can either be a sign of surprise or excitement, or agitation or anger. For example, many birds will display pinning eyes while they are vocalizing or playing with a favorite toy. On the other hand, if pinning eyes are accompanied by other signs, such as a flared tail, the bird may be feeling threatened. Either way, if your bird is pinning their eyes, it is not a good time to handle them — whether you’re interrupting their fun or something is threatening them, they are likely to bite in response.

Beak grinding

What it is: Side-to-side sliding of the top beak over the bottom, creating a gentle clicking noise.

What it means: Birds most often do this as they are getting ready to go to sleep. It is a sign of contentment, so if you hear this, it means your bird is happy and relaxed!

Beak wiping

What it is: Wiping the beak from side to side, usually on a perch or another surface.

What it means: If your parrot has just finished eating, then it may wipe its beak to remove food that has gotten stuck. Other times, your bird may do this as a display of marking their territory, especially in the presence of another bird.

Regurgitation

What it is: Bobbing head and stretching neck to spit up small amounts of food.

What it means: In nature, birds will regurgitate for their mate, typically while they are sitting on the nest and cannot get food for themselves. If your parrot is regurgitating for you, it is a sign of affection. However, pay attention; if your bird regurgitates frequently right after they eat, it may be a sign of illness.

Tail wagging

What it is: Tail feathers wagging back and forth.

What it means: Just like a dog, parrots may wag their tails when they are happy to see you! One caveat: a quick tail wiggle may also be an indication that your bird is about to *ahem* drop a little something. Recognizing this sign can be very helpful with potty training your bird.

The more time you spend with your bird and observe their behaviors, the more confident you will be in the subtle cues that they are giving you about how they’re feeling. Knowing the times when your bird is happy and ready to interact will help you to strengthen your bond.

Got a question about something that your bird does? Let us know! We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have.

While parrots can make wonderful pets, they are certainly not the right pet for everyone. Just like any other animal, it’s important to do your research before bringing one home. Birds are highly intelligent, social animals that are often compared to human toddlers. Some of the same traits that make them great pets for one person might make them a less than ideal choice for someone else.

At Todd Marcus, we love our birds — but we hate to see someone take a bird home without knowing what they’re getting into. Here, we discuss some of the “problems” with parrots, as well as some of the things that make them fantastic companions.

Why Parrots Are Not for Everyone

Remember how we said birds are like toddlers? You’d be surprised at how similar they are. Birds can be loud, messy, and they’re smarter than you think — which can sometimes get them into trouble.

They can be very messy.

If you watch a bird eat, you’ll notice that a lot of their food ends up on the floor. And the walls. And somehow, halfway across the room. Besides being messy eaters, they will also drop feathers, and some species (particularly Cockatoos and African Greys) will leave a lot of “dust” due to a special powder coating on their feathers. Areas where they live and play need to be cleaned regularly, and even then, don’t expect that your house will ever be “spotless” for more than five minutes.

They are noisy.

Parrots are loud — some more so than others. That’s because in the wild, they need to communicate with members of their flock at a distance. When you bring a bird home, your family becomes the flock, and your bird will communicate with you accordingly. That means they will chatter regularly, alert you to any perceived “danger,” and may be louder during certain times of the day (often, in the afternoon or evening). The noise level can vary widely between different species, from the sweet whistles of a cockatiel to a deep squawk of a macaw to the piercing scream of a conure. If noise is a major concern, such as in an apartment or with a roommate who might not appreciate it, then a bird might not be an ideal pet.

They need dedicated space in your home.

While you don’t need an entire room for one bird, they do need a cage to sleep in and to spend time alone in which has enough space to move around and play with toys. The larger the bird, the bigger the cage you will need to accommodate them. Additionally, you’ll also need a spot where they can spend time out of their cage. This can just be a stand so that they have their own spot out of the cage where they can spend time with you and observe things going on in your home.

They require a little patience.

Birds are known to be anxious, and it typically takes them longer to get used to a new situation than a dog or a cat. That means if you bring a weaned baby bird home, it might take days before it comes out of the cage and steps up onto your hand easily. This is even more true for birds that have had previous homes, like those in our consignment room. They may have unwanted habits or be more reluctant to trust strangers, making them difficult pets for a novice with birds.

They need mental stimulation.

Birds are very intelligent, which means that they crave mental stimulation. Without it, they become bored — which means that they will either get themselves into mischief or become depressed. Neither situation is good, which is why it’s important to provide novel things in their environment, including different types of toys and puzzles, and to spend some time interacting with them each day.

They are not just decoration or a talking novelty.

While there’s no doubt that a parrot’s beautiful plumage can be mesmerizing, a bird should be more than just a colorful centerpiece to show off to guests. And while many parrots can learn to talk, this should never be the sole reason for wanting one as a pet. Parrots are more likely to speak when they have regular interaction with you, but even in a species that is well-known for its talking ability, there is never a guarantee that an individual bird will talk.

They are a long-term commitment.

When choosing a parrot as a family pet, you may be selecting a companion for life. It’s not uncommon for many species of parrots to live 30 years, and some larger birds may even live up to 80 years or more. Even some small birds that are more common as pets, such as budgies and cockatiels, may live 10-15 years, which means bringing home a parrot is a decision that should not be made on a whim.

Why Parrots Are Great

It might seem like there are quite a few downsides to owning a parrot; however, talk to anyone who has shared their life with one and they will tell you that they are mostly minor inconveniences compared to the joy their bird brings them. 

They are highly interactive.

Parrots are very intelligent, as we mentioned, which means that they are relatively easy to train. They love being showered with attention, and training them to do tricks is a great way to bond. These can be simple tricks such as shaking hands or showing off their wings, to more complex tricks like teaching them to put a bird-sized basketball into a hoop. They can even learn to match shapes and colors.

They are very social.

Birds want to be part of your family. In the wild, they spend the day with other members of their flock. In your home, you and your family become their flock members. Daily interaction is important, even if it’s only for a couple of hours. Many birds enjoy just being out on their stand or sitting on your shoulder and observing what you’re doing, whether it’s putting away groceries or washing the dishes (although with the latter, they might want to get more involved).

They are affectionate.

If you’ve never lived with a bird, it might surprise you that they can be super sweet and affectionate. Most birds enjoy having their heads scratched, and some even enjoy cuddles and belly rubs. They also exhibit a high degree of emotional intelligence, and many bird owners say that their birds have been supportive during difficult times.

They teach patience.

While some might view the length of time that it takes for birds to become comfortable in their environment as a negative, it can also be a positive experience for both adults and children. With so much around us offering instant gratification, having a bird as a pet teaches us to be patient and persistent. It makes the experience that much more rewarding when you watch a bird go from reluctantly stepping up onto your hand to begging for your attention the minute you walk in the door.

There are hundreds of different species.

There are so many different species of parrots, and they each offer something different. Even within a family of parrots, there can be many different species of varying sizes and traits. For example, there are over 20 different species of cockatoo, ranging from the tiny, familiar cockatiel to the large and distinctive palm cockatoo. Birds quite literally come in a rainbow of different colors, shapes, sizes, and personalities.

Not sure if a parrot is the right pet for you? Our short quiz is a good place to start.

Are you ready to start your floc?

If you think you’re ready to bring a parrot home, we invite you to come visit our store in Delran, NJ, and meet our feathered friends in person. Our staff is always ready to help if you’d like to handle a bird, and they can answer any questions you might have, including helping you to choose the right bird for your lifestyle. Call us today to find out what birds are currently available.