Having a great desire to acquire a winged companion, you are probably wondering what types of parrots are acceptable for home keeping? These birds in a bright outfit are pleasing to the eye of many. And their imitation capabilities delight us. Some species are capable of reasoning; artificial intelligence cannot compare with such philosophers. In addition, there is no need to walk them several times a day, or endlessly collect wool from clothes. It’s easy to surprise guests with chirping exoticism in the house. And to make the parrot happy, before moving it into the house, we advise you to study the species differences and features of keeping.
Parrots for children and beginners
Birds are kept for children. The birds are unpretentious in care and maintenance, the child learns responsibility. The future pet is chosen based on financial capabilities, living space and the age of the child. Errors are possible. At the persistent requests of a child, sometimes a large parrot is purchased. It ends badly: the bird returns to the pet store or to the breeder. This is the best case scenario. At worst, she is rarely remembered and kept in disgusting conditions. The pet dies due to poor care.
To avoid such a situation, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the breed of bird you plan to purchase.
Who to choose for a small apartment, a cockatiel or a budgie? The child insists on cockatiel. This bird requires a large cage and quite expensive food. Will adults be able to support it? Is there a secluded corner for a cage in the apartment? Will the cockatiel be comfortable there? By answering these questions, parents will be able to make a final decision.
Important! A budgerigar would be an ideal pet for children. He is small, cheerful, and learns to talk easily. With good care, it can live up to 15 years.
Which parrot is better to have at home if the space allows you to keep a large bird, but there is no experience in keeping it? There is only one recommendation - a budgerigar. A novice “poultry farmer” can take care of him.
Budgerigars
Which parrot is best for a child, other than a budgie? The bird is good for its unpretentiousness and cheerful disposition. Budgerigars quickly become tamed and make contact easily. Able to remember and reproduce 150-200 words. With regular training, they will delight the little owner with their achievements.
The parents decided to get a parrot for their child. How to choose a budgie?
- The male, up to 6 months old, has a pink-violet beak. With age it turns blue. The older the bird, the brighter the blue color of the beak;
- In young females, the color of the beak is soft pink. In individuals older than six months, it becomes darker. An adult or old bird has a brown beak;
- There are black waves on the heads of young birds. After 4 months they disappear or become almost invisible;
- The parrot's cloaca area should be clean. If the bird's feathers and cloaca are contaminated with droppings, the parrot is not healthy;
- A healthy bird is active. She chirps cheerfully and pesters her cage neighbors. A ruffled parrot with dull or closed eyes is sick.
- If you plan to further train your parrot to talk, the male is ideal for this. Females chat less often.
- The cost of a bird ranges from 800 to 1500 thousand rubles. Males are more expensive than females.
cockatiels
The choice of a parrot for a home is based on the desire of the future owners and the ability to keep this or that bird. If you want to buy a large parrot, but there is too little space in your apartment, the cockatiel will be an alternative.
The parrot is classified as medium. It is slightly smaller in size than a pigeon. Cockatiels are mostly gray in color. But light yellow and ivory-colored individuals can be found. The birds have a funny crest on their heads. Males differ from females in their red “blush” on their cheeks and their massiveness. Female cockatiels are rather small, they have pale cheeks and a shorter crest. A Corella will cost about 3500-4000 thousand rubles.
Lovebirds
How to choose lovebirds? There are several subspecies: pink-cheeked, masked, Fisher's, black-cheeked, black-headed, collared. The list can be endless. The most common are rosy-cheeked, masked and Fischer. They differ in appearance.
The highlight of pink-cheeked birds is the color of their heads. The main background is most often green. The head is green-white. The cheeks are pale pink.
The masked lovebird is the most beautiful. The upper part of the head, back and chest are bright yellow. The muzzle is black, with a clearly visible red beak. Large white eyes with black pupils complete the image of the bird. The lower back and body are green.
Fisher's lovebird can be green or yellow. Its muzzle is painted bright orange or red. The beak is yellow or red. Of all the subspecies, this is the most expensive.
Males and females cannot be distinguished by appearance. It is acceptable to keep one parrot, but it will be sad and lonely. He has been wary of his owners all his life. He sits on your hand if you really try and train him, flies around the room, and responds to his name. However, he doesn’t like unnecessary touches. A solitary lovebird is more comfortable in a cage than with a person.
A couple of lovebirds are quite noisy at home. Birds are busy only with themselves, “talking” in their own language. They scream loudly, and the scream is quite disgusting. Having a child is not an option. Suitable for an adult or a married couple without children. Not everyone can withstand constant screaming. A pair of lovebirds can cost up to 10,000 - 12,000 thousand rubles.
Instead of wire cutters, a snow-white parrot
The cockatoo's head is also decorated with a crest. Only it is larger and rounded in shape than that of a cockatiel. In color it contrasts with the white plumage. However, not all cockatoos are white. Exceptions are pink and black birds of this species.
According to scientists, the most common plumage color of exotic birds is green, but it is not found in cockatoos. The female and male differ only in size (the female is smaller), adults can reach 30-60 cm.
These gentle birds have a massive and strong beak. This gift of nature is used for breaking and crushing hard objects: nut shells, branches and even wire. The word cockatoo in translation means “biter”. Interestingly, birds have a hollow in their tongue, which they use like a human using a spoon during lunch. The bird is not picky about food. Fruits, seeds and nuts are recommended to be given in limited quantities. The basis of the diet is grain mixtures. Vegetables they prefer are beets, potatoes, carrots and boiled corn.
Intimate conversations are not the cockatoo's strong point. They are trainable, but do not achieve great results. They are nice to look at, but you have to put up with their specific voice. Some people won't be able to stand the creaking sounds. The price of a cockatoo is about 35,000 rubles.
Serious parrots
Large parrots are suitable for keeping in your own home. Birds such as Grays, cockatoos and Amazons need a lot of space. But they will not make the owner bored. Grays are the most trainable. They can remember up to 500 words. Cockatoos are also mischievous and imitative. Intelligence allows them to master different tricks. Amazon is the laziest of the three. But it is well tamed, recognizes its owner, and masters about 200 words.
Which parrot to choose is up to the future owner to decide. Before purchasing, you should find out about the characteristics of the chosen breed.
Jaco
In Russia, the most common red-tailed Gray. This is a large bird, its weight reaches 500 grams, and its height is 40 centimeters. Grays have a powerful beak that can easily crack a coconut. The bird is gray in color and has white glasses on its face. The tail feathers are scarlet-red.
Jaco is highly intelligent. With constant practice, his vocabulary can be replenished with a sufficient number of words. It is easily tamed, recognizes its owner, and allows itself to be petted. Keeping your bird in a cage all the time is not recommended. Gray needs free movement. The bird returns to the cage when the need arises to eat, sleep or go to the toilet.
The price of a gray coat reaches 150 thousand rubles. Life expectancy is 25-30 years.
What kind of parrot should I get if I have no experience communicating with them? Not exactly hot. The bird needs constant communication and proper care. For beginners, it is better to start with small parrots; budgies are the ideal option.
Cockatoo
Which parrots are best kept at home, subject to proper care and maintenance? A cockatoo will make a good feathered friend. Surprisingly sociable birds. The bird is easy to train and loves the company of people. Cunning and quick-witted, the cockatoo will master 350-400 words. With constant practice, of course.
In terms of imitation, he has no equal. The parrot enjoys learning different tricks. Learn to dance? Easily. Imitate singing? Even simpler. Teasing family members? With pleasure.
This is interesting! The most popular in Russia is the yellow-crested cockatoo. Its main color is white. The head has a yellow tuft. This feature makes the bird look like a punk. The neat crest looks like a mohawk when the bird is excited. In a calm state, the crest is folded and lies horizontally.
Large comrades, weigh up to 1.5 kilograms. The height reaches 50 centimeters. Able to live up to 40-50 years. Such a bird costs about 100–120 thousand rubles.
Amazon
Muller's Amazon is widespread in Russia. This is a large bird, weighing up to 750 grams. Height does not exceed 40 centimeters.
Muller's Amazon is not suitable for beginners. A bird that falls into the hands of people without experience can become dangerous to others. The bird has a powerful beak, with which it explores the world and tests its owner's strength. The consequences of such an inspection can be bloody.
It is not considered a parrot for an apartment if its area does not allow the bird to have a separate room.
Intellectually developed, he is not inferior to a cockatoo in mastering new tricks. But the lazy bird is not interested in this. He would like to eat, fly and follow his owner. A sociable bird, it cannot stand loneliness at all.
The color of the Muller's Amazon is green with a hint of bright green flowers. There is a yellow stripe on the head, starting from the beak to the back of the head. The powerful beak looks like a triangle. Expressive eyes.
The parrot has an interesting character: he is lazy, but if he needs to achieve something, he will manipulate his owner no worse than a smart dog. Needs training by an experienced person. The bird needs control.
Lovebird: the most faithful friend!
Little lovebirds bear this name not only because of their attachment to their chosen pair for the rest of their lives, but because of their loyalty to the person who sheltered them.
They win the hearts of breeders with their unusually catchy colors, in which green predominates. Head, neck, chest - parts of the body painted in other colors (blue, yellow, red). Usually the beak is red or yellow. In the wild, the thick, powerful beak serves as a natural weapon against offenders.
There is a common concern that exotic birds are difficult to keep. Lovebirds are unpretentious. They amuse the eye with their mobility and playfulness. Despite their short legs, they happily run and climb on the surface.
They are almost identical in size to budgerigars, with a short tail. The weight is almost unnoticeable - 50 g.
You just won’t be able to talk to the bird. A rare specimen is able to remember a word and produce it. But they live a relatively long life, about 20 years. The cost of lovebirds is from 1,200 to 5,000 rubles .
What is needed for a parrot in an apartment
It all depends on the chosen breed. But every bird needs its own corner. The cage should be positioned so that the bird is not disturbed unnecessarily.
Minimum cell dimensions (in centimeters):
- For budgies 40*25*40;
- For lovebirds 60*35*60;
- For cockatiel 50*50*65;
- For grays 70*50*80;
- For cockatoos 60*60*110;
- For Amazon 70*50*90.
It requires wooden perches if we are talking about a large bird. Serious parrots love to taste what they sit on.
A cage with a retractable bottom is convenient. It must be washed daily, especially for large birds. The cages are sold already with feeders. The drinking bowl will have to be purchased separately. For budgies, cockatiels and lovebirds, a plastic drinking bowl that is attached between the bars with a spout is an ideal option. For large birds, hanging metal drinkers are chosen, or a second feeder is adapted for this purpose. Both the feeders and the water bowl should be easy to get out of the cage.
The main diet of any bird is dry food. The choice in pet stores is quite wide. The more expensive a pack of food is. The better its composition. This is a proven fact. The basis of the diet of budgerigars is millet, oats, and millet. For lovebirds and cockatiels, sunflower seeds are added to this composition. The full composition is always indicated on the packaging. Feed is divided according to the type of bird.
Attention! You should not feed your bird food that is not intended for him. Cockatiels are not fed budgie food. Grays are not good food for lovebirds.
Large parrots love nuts and berries. Their food must contain these products. Vegetables and fruits, nuts, and berries serve as additional food. Cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, apples, pears, dill - all this is suitable for pampering the bird.
The cage is equipped with toys. For a budgerigar and a cockatiel - this is a mirror, all sorts of bells, wooden ladders. Grays and cockatoos easily deal with new toys; a wicker ring or rope toys are suitable for them. But no toys can replace the company of the owner. Every bird needs attention.
His Majesty, parrot!
King parrots are sold in pet stores. It is almost impossible to find and purchase them at the poultry market. Maybe because of their high title?
The colorful creature received this name not by chance. From time immemorial, the color red has been a symbol of royal families. The same color forms the basis of the bird's plumage. The back and wings are painted green. A dark blue line runs above the tail and along the neck; the wings are decorated with a pattern of white stripes. The tail is also not simple: black feathers from below, feathers with a blue tint and red tips towards the top. It was as if nature was creating a masterpiece! However, males fall under this description, because females are green. The fruit of love of parrots does not receive such luxurious royal attire for 2 years of life.
The body length is 40 cm, while the tail is 20 cm. King parrots are similar in size to cockatoos.
It seems that besides impressive external data, the winged friend has nothing else to surprise. This is far from the truth, since birds are talented students. With some effort, they can acquire a modest vocabulary. There is one condition: the parrot must be tamed when young. But the singing abilities are not enviable.
Royal parrots do not force you to purchase grandiose apartments, but the owner needs to keep in mind that a small cage will negatively affect the well-being of the pet. The ideal option for keeping is an aviary cage. The average price for a parrot is 20,000 rubles .
Cockatoo
And this parrot will entertain you not so much with his speech as with his funny antics and tricks, although he is quite capable of remembering a couple of dozen words. Like the species described above, cockatoos in nature live in flocks and are very social.
There are more than 20 species of cockatoos - and not all of them are equally trainable and imitate human speech. White-crested and yellow-crested cockatoos are considered the best talkers and “artists.”
Cockatoos are smart, active, very attached to their human owner and can become a real companion. The bird will constantly seek communication and, if you do not devote enough time to it, will communicate its dissatisfaction with sharp loud cries, although in “conversation” it has a fairly pleasant voice. These calls can become a real problem if the cockatoo is constantly bored alone and trying to attract attention.
It is important - for all its charm, affection and artistry, this type of parrot is touchy and vindictive. In retaliation for an insult or when frightened, a cockatoo can bite - and its beak is unusually powerful and sharp. Therefore, you should think carefully before getting such a pet in a family with children, especially small ones.
Corella (nymph)
The small graceful Australian nymph parrot, or cockatiel, is perhaps the best choice for a beginning birder who dreams of a “talking” pet. It is small in size, inexpensive, fairly unpretentious in content and is quite capable of imitating human speech.
Corella is the closest relative of the cockatoo. This bird naturally lives in flocks in the savannah, and appears in European homes only in the middle of the 19th century and immediately gains great popularity. Moreover, as in the case of the previous parrot, breeders tried to develop many of its colored decorative forms.
With adequate training at home, the cockatiel is quickly tamed and can memorize 100-150 words, as well as simple melodies. Males sing well, imitating street birds - nightingales, tits, magpies. If you are not able to devote a lot of time to the nymph, be sure to buy her relatives for company - otherwise this parrot will quickly get bored and wither away, as it is highly susceptible to stress and mood swings.
Greetings from the warm tropics!
Amazons are parrots brought to Russia from tropical corners of the earth. Their length does not exceed 50 cm, including a short tail. The bulk of the birds are green with small colored spots.
These parrots were tamed back in the time of Columbus, because they quickly adapt to the environment and eat common grains. They do not need to be pampered with fruits and nuts often.
Breeders must understand that in a new home the pet will behave constrained, but when contact is established, the Amazon becomes completely tame, often even arrogant. It should be mentioned that these animals are real screamers. Therefore, before purchasing, you should make sure that there are no problems associated with noisy birds.
About 100 phrases and words are retained in the parrot's memory. Amazon is able to imitate musical instruments and reproduce melodies. He agrees to demonstrate his successes in front of guests at home, because attracting attention seems to be the meaning of his life. For a feathered artist you will have to pay an average of 30,00 rubles .
Kalita (monk, Quaker)
Let's move on to smaller parrots. Let's start with the green monk parrot, which, although originally from South America, has already reached Europe and feels great in the wild, for example, in the parks of Barcelona. And in their homeland, in some places they are even considered pests that destroy agricultural crops - for example, they love to “frolic” in apple orchards.
On the other hand, blue-winged monk parrots are the most popular feathered pets in Brazil for their easy, cheerful disposition and ability to learn human speech.
Be prepared for the fact that in addition to words, Kalita will happily repeat all other sounds - from a cat's meow to the ringing of an alarm clock or the whistling of a kettle. In addition, in nature, these parrots often scream loudly; it is possible that the monk will have the same fun in the apartment if he has nothing to do.
However, these are very smart birds, they are active, easily and strongly attached to humans, quickly tamed, love to play and communicate, although they are also very likely to be offended by lack of attention. It is interesting that monks are terrible owners; they love to collect various objects of interest to them in their cage and protect them; they can even bite the hand of their beloved owner if he encroaches on the bird’s treasures.
