Parrots rank fourth in the popularity of pets. These beautiful birds attract attention not only with their colorful appearance, but also with their cheerful, sociable disposition. However, not all species can live in captivity. Therefore, before purchasing exotic birds, you need to study information about parrots that are suitable for home keeping.

Color, appearance

A distinctive feature of these pets is their bright, variegated coloring with a predominance of green, but there are also monochromatic types of parrots. Many species have long crests and tails. The eyes of birds are relatively large and protected by the lower eyelid.

Their beak is also special - large, bent, sharp. The parrot's thick and short legs have four fingers with claws, two of which are turned back, which allows the bird to bring food to its beak. Some species of these birds can reach up to 1 meter in length, and the smallest are only 10 cm.

Macaw

The top three intellectuals are closed by the Macaw; the male of extraordinary beauty grows up to 50 cm. His beak is huge and curved in a semicircle.

Ara lives up to 60 years.

Homeland - America, has a moat of 36 species.

He can learn up to 20 words, but perfectly imitates rain, barking, etc. He inserts words into a conversation to the point.

Character: calm, but loud voice.

Types of parrots

At home, it is recommended to breed both small species of parrots - budgies, lovebirds, as well as medium-sized ones - cockatiels and large ones - grays, macaws, cockatoos, Amazons.

Budgerigar

The budgerigar is the most famous species of pet parrot. You can keep one parrot, two different-sex parrots, or several birds at once in a cage. The natural color of budgies is grassy green. Through domestication, the color of parrots characteristically diversified into bright and light colors.

The color of the cere tells about the sexual characteristics of the pet. In the older male it looks bright blue, in the young one – purple; in a mature female it is brown, in a young female it is blue.

The beak of this parrot is strong, dark in color in chicks, and pale yellow with a green tint in mature birds. These birds belong to the talking parrots and do not make unnecessary noise.

Keeping budgies does not pose any difficulties. You just need to do the following every day:

• monitor the food in the feeders;
• change water;
• clean the cage;
• let fly;
• provide fruits, vegetables, herbs;
• Give him a bath once a week;
• love your pet.

Criterias of choice

When choosing a new family member, we advise you to follow the following rules:

• young birds (28-35 days) adapt more easily to new conditions, it is easier for them to get along in a new place;
• talkative individuals - males who have no rivals; in order for an individual to speak, you need to communicate with it regularly;
• a sick parrot sits on a perch, does not chirp, does not make contact;
• In a healthy individual, the pupils should not be cloudy, there should be no stains, mucus or other secretions on the beak, the claws should be clean, without signs of growths or peeling.

Characteristics and features of parrots

A characteristic feature of parrots is their bright colors, long crests and tails. The movable strong beak of a parrot serves not only for eating, but also for defense and movement along tree branches. The singing of parrots has individual characteristics and also depends on the character and mood of the pet.

By nature, parrots are quite friendly, sometimes they show themselves in a very funny and funny way, surprising others. These birds require proper care and treatment; they cannot tolerate loneliness and begin to show whims. Pet parrots can be noisy and create chaos in their cage.

Small breeds

Budgerigars

These birds are most often found. They are small in size, no more than 30 cm, they have a bright, attractive color, the birds take root easily and are able to exist in large groups. The most common colors are: green, yellow, purple, white, blue tones; they are often mixed to form a unique color.

The beak of birds has the shape of an arc, the claws are strong and tenacious, and the tail is narrowed towards the bottom. Parrots are smart, they are easy to train; with due diligence and love on the part of the owner, an individual is able to speak and begin to perform even simple tricks.

The birds are active, they chirp cheerfully, react joyfully to their owner and are generally friendly. They will become excellent companions for lonely people, because they are ready to entertain their beloved owner and delight him with their existence. If you plan to have several individuals at once, you will need a spacious cage.

Advantages:

• friendly;
• love children;
• unpretentious;
• They can perform tricks and learn up to 30 words.

Flaws:

• predominantly males speak;
• If they lack attention, they become depressed.

The average cost is 500 Russian rubles.

Corella

The birds are small, but they have a rather lush and spectacular crest. Bright plumage pleases the owner's eye, the desire to make contact and love for children will be big advantages for those who want to have a pet in a large family.

Birds are smart, they learn easily, they can imitate simple sounds on their own, and whistle cheerfully. Caring for birds is not difficult, they are not demanding in terms of maintenance, the main thing is a spacious cage, proper diet, cleanliness and attention from the owner.

Advantages:

• sociable;
• intelligence corresponds to the development of a 5-year-old child;
• talkative;
• unpretentiousness.

Flaws:

• too noisy;
• may become very offended and begin to ignore the owner.

The average cost is from 3,000 Russian rubles.

Lovebirds

Well-known babies up to 20 cm in size have a large head, a small tail, and a bright red beak. Such pets should always be purchased in pairs; they should be kept together, excluding contact between two males. Lovebirds are distinguished by a jealous disposition; during the breeding season, males become aggressive. When living together, parrots are loyal, but a pair should be chosen with the help of a specialist. If the characters do not match, the birds may quarrel without ever getting along with each other.

It is worth considering that even peacefully coexisting lovebirds can sometimes swear, but they quickly make up; in general, their relationship even looks funny.

Birds are unable to learn even simple words, but they can perform various tricks, imitating one another.

A round cage is not suitable for lovebirds; in it they become disorientated and can get injured.

Advantages:

• long life expectancy (up to 20 years);
• sweet communication;
• bright color.

Flaws:

• you need to choose an already established couple;
• During the breeding season, the male is aggressive.

The average cost is from 3,000 Russian rubles.

Lorikeets

The babies have bright plumage and are talkative. They are friendly, love to play, love to swim, love hands and get along well with children. At the same time, individuals in a couple are jealous, they are owners, so they should be isolated from other couples.

The bird loves to talk, but it is impossible to silence it until it expresses everything it wants. You cannot shout at lorikeets, because they also know how to raise their voices, and one can only envy their stubbornness.

Advantages:

• beautiful appearance;
• love to talk;
• smart;
• manual;
• get along with children.

Flaws:

• easily offended;
• they shout loudly.

The average cost is from 30,000 Russian rubles.

Rosella

The birds sing well; any singer will envy their vocals. The bright plumage is pleasing to the eye, and the long lifespan (35 years) will give the owner a best friend for many years.

The bird has an aggressive disposition, it does not get along with other individuals, it does not get used to being handled. If you are not intrusive towards your pet, you can enjoy its beautiful singing and cheerful, cheerful attitude.

Advantages:

• they sing beautifully;
• long life expectancy;
• beautiful feather colors.

Flaws:

• do not get along in pairs and groups.

The average cost is from 8,000 Russian rubles.

Parrot nutrition

It is necessary to provide pet parrots with a complete and varied diet. Various grain mixtures make up 60% of your pet's food. Parrot food depends on the size of the parrot and living conditions in nature; brands such as Padovan, Versele-Laga, Fiory, RIO are recommended.

It is also advisable to give raw and boiled fruits, vegetables, berries, fresh herbs, sprouted wheat and oats, branches of fruit trees, various cereals and mineral supplements.

Be sure to have fresh water in the cage. Several times a month you can give a drink with lemon juice (1-2 drops), a decoction of chamomile or rosehip. The parrot's menu can be adjusted taking into account the bird's age, condition, and season.

Budgerigars

They distinguish up to 150 pictures per second and repeat up to 150 words. But it’s difficult to understand, it’s just an imitation without awareness. But you can teach children's easy rhymes; they speak funny and slurred, sometimes rearranging words (phrases). Males learn easier and faster than females.

They will live up to 15 years, imported from Australia.

The smallest ones are up to 19 cm, the colors of parrots are 200 shades.

Good-natured birds are cute and charming. They constantly chirp pleasantly, easily get used to new surroundings, and do not require care.

Important! It is forbidden to feed all parrots: avocados or chocolates, give alcohol and salt. It's poison for birds!

You can see parrots of all kinds in the photo. Having learned in detail how to care for a parrot and its character, you can decide on a purchase. If you have no experience, it is better to buy undemanding budgies.

Maintenance and care

Keeping parrots at home does not involve any particular difficulty. The very first purchase for a pet should be a spacious cage - all-metal and simple, rectangular in shape, 5 times the size of the bird, with a good lock.

The cage must be placed in a bright, wind-free room, and it is advisable to cover it with a blanket at night. Maintaining silence will allow the bird to feel comfortable.

The parrot's cage is equipped with the necessary items and toys - rings, swings, bells, perches - for activity, mirrors - for the desire to talk. Daily cleaning is part of caring for your pet. This includes washing the tray, feeder and drinking bowl, and replacing the bedding.

The parrot must be let out of the cage to fly. Communication is an important part of caring for your pet. When a bird gets bored, it begins to pluck out its feathers and becomes sad, for this reason it is necessary to devote half an hour to it twice a day.

For the reproduction of parrots and the appearance of chicks, it is necessary:

• choose the right pair of parrots;
• age of individuals from 12 months;
• the presence of a nest or house - each pair has its own nest;
• proper fortified diet;
• temperature 22 degrees, humidity 60%.

Egg laying and incubation period is approximately 1-2 months.

Cockatoo

A good imitator is Cockatoo, grows up to 60 cm, has a strong curved beak, which can damage wooden objects, even thin cage bars.

Life of a cockatoo up to 40 years.

The difference is a large crest of white, yellow or pink color. When excited, the bird will fluff up its crest.

Its homeland is Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea. There are 21 species of these birds.

Kakadu's memory is rather weak, it can remember up to 10 words and 2-3 phrases, but it can perform tricks. But he will imitate the sounds he hears.

A devoted bird cannot stand being alone for a long time; for example, an owner’s business trip can cause her great stress. They may refuse to eat or drink or pluck their feathers.

It is imperative to teach from an early age that if there are small children in the house, it is better to choose another parrot. He doesn't like children and can be aggressive. If you accidentally offend, he bites painfully and takes revenge. He understands only affection and persuasion.

Laurie

Lives in tall, tropical forests of Australia. It eats plant seeds, fruits and berries. The parrot is small in size, the length of which does not exceed forty centimeters. It has very brightly colored plumage.

Capable and intelligent birds, capable of remembering several dozen human words, as well as imitating other sounds they hear.

Senegal parakeet

The African yellow-green Senegal parrot (a close relative of the gray parrot) is not only a good sound imitator, but also a talented trickster.

This parrot is very friendly, unpretentious, active and smart. Senegalese easily get used to people, willingly learn a dozen or two words and repeat them more or less clearly, love to play and solve puzzles.

In nature, they live in colonies of thousands, inhabiting wooded areas and savannas. Because these birds often feed on grain crops, local farmers consider them pests. In captivity, it is a “one-owner bird.” No matter how affectionate and attentive a Senegal parrot can be with a familiar person, it will be just as aggressive and unpleasant with a stranger.

In addition, he will definitely try to dominate your family, with loud screams or even an attack, trying to drive out of the room a person he does not like or another pet in the fight for the unlimited attention of the chosen owner. To properly raise this intelligent bird, you will need not just one hour a day, but much more time - take this into account before you get such a feathered friend.

If you have enough time, perseverance and patience, teaching any of these beautiful parrots listed above to speak is not very difficult. However, in addition to the “entertainment program”, it is important to remember that each of these birds is an exotic from tropical countries, requiring a fairly serious approach to the equipment of the place of residence and living conditions. Do you have enough strength, knowledge and skills to provide such a pet with decent living conditions? Please think about this before you get a beautiful and prestigious talking “toy” that will only make your neighbors jealous.

Aratinga

This genus includes 22 species of birds living in Latin America. All of them are relatively small in size - 25-35 centimeters in length. They have a very beautiful color. But the main reason for the popularity of arating among poultry keepers is not in it, but in the character of these birds.

They are very sociable and friendly. They willingly come into contact with all members of the owner’s family. Often people choose their favorite and become very attached to it.

They reproduce musical melodies well. They remember words quite poorly. Their vocabulary includes no more than 20 words.

The highlight of these birds is that they can learn to dance. They do this so touchingly that they cause friendly laughter from the whole family and its guests.

Gray parrot (Grey)

This large gray forest parrot, originally from Africa, is recognized as the most trainable in terms of “conversation”. It is grays that most accurately copy human speech. They are able to learn several hundred different words and expressions, pronounce them clearly with different intonations and vary them in sentences.

Gray parrots are very smart and curious - this partly determines their ability to learn. In nature, they themselves make many different sounds, and copy the sounds of those around them, for example, other wild birds. So, in addition to human words, rest assured that your Gray will imitate everything - laughter, coughing, sounds of operating household appliances, etc.

A widely known experiment is that of American psychologist Irene Pepperberg, who studied the ability of parrots to assimilate and use sign systems that are not characteristic of them, using human speech as an intermediary language. Her Gray Alex entered into real dialogues with a person, was proven to associate words of human language with objects, and was able to perceive the concept of shape, color and serial numbers. He could even express his own desires, for example, asking not to be left alone in a dark room.

But, of course, you need to understand that in order to achieve such amazing results, you need to spend a lot of time with the bird, starting from chick age - their intelligence and exceptional sociality require constant communication and dynamics. An improperly reared or “neglected” Gray quickly turns into an irritable and extremely loud-mouthed bird, armed with a strong beak.

Amazon

Large birds with a dense build and a length of up to 45 centimeters. The predominant color of the plumage is green, with red spots on the head and wings. Habitat: forests of Central and South America. Amazons are listed in the International Red Book.

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Noble green-red parrot (Eclectus)

Green yellow-billed males and cherry-red black-billed females of eclectus (or noble parrots) are not yet the most common pets in our latitudes, although they have “settled” in European homes since the mid-19th century. For their intelligence and extraordinary affection towards their owner, many breeders call them ideal parrots.

Unlike the rowdy brethren that we described above, this rather large Australian parrot is quite calm, kind and even phlegmatic. He is able to become incredibly attached to a human friend, and is also unusually smart and easy to learn. It is believed that male eclectuses make contact with humans more easily, while the female’s trust must also be earned through a patient, friendly attitude.

Eclectus is quite easy to teach words, songs and even some tricks. But if the bird doesn’t like something (and at first it can be any sounds that are strange to it, like a washing machine turning on), it screams loudly and sharply.