🦜 Stuff Every Bird Owner Should Know: Training Guide

Lifespans vary by species

A pet budgie, also called a parakeet, usually lives about 5 to 10 years. Wild budgies come from Australia and are usually green. A budgie you get as a child could still be with you years later.

A cockatiel can live up to about 20 years. Even this smaller parrot can need care for many years. Plan for the long haul before choosing one.

Amazon parrots live an average of 40 to 50 years. They are known as good talkers and singers, but they are loud and often bond closely to one person.

Large parrot species may live for more than 70 years. In general, bigger parrots live longer than smaller parrots. A family should plan carefully before making such a long commitment.

Species traits and noise

A budgie is usually not loud, so it can suit apartment living. A budgie can also learn to talk. Merck lists canaries as suitable for most apartments too.

Macaws are the largest parrots, and their screaming voice is very loud. That loud scream can irritate neighbors. Macaws also need a lot of exercise, time and attention.

Larger conures, like sun and jenday conures, are active and brightly colored. Their voice is piercing when they scream. They are not known for talking, and small conures are relatively quiet.

Cockatoos are not for inexperienced owners. They can scream very loudly and may demand lots of handling and attention.

Canaries and finches are happy singing in their cage and do not enjoy being held. Male canaries often have a lovely song, which helps people tell them from females.

Healthy, captive-raised birds and trustworthy sellers

Choose a bird that was raised in captivity, not taken from the wild. Wild birds can be sick and are not as tame as captive-raised birds. You can also adopt from shelters or rescue groups that know bird care.

Be careful if a seller quotes a very low price and gives no proof of the bird's origin. Price alone does not prove the bird is healthy or legally sourced. Ask for proof of origin.

A good seller should agree to take the bird back and refund you if it is not healthy. You should also get written proof of the bird's health. A bird vet should check the bird before you bring it home.

A healthy bird is bright, alert and active, with clear eyes. A bird that sits puffed up and huddled may be sick. Also look for missing feathers or anything oozing from the eyes, beak or tail.

Most pet birds today wear a closed leg band that was put on when the bird was a chick. The band helps identify the bird. Microchips are replacing or adding to leg bands for identifying birds.

Today's pet birds in the US are mainly captive-bred parrots. Mass importing of wild-caught parrots was curtailed in the mid-1980s.

Smart birds need daily attention

African grey parrots are very smart birds. Because they are so smart, they often develop behavior problems if they do not get enough attention. They need a lot of time and attention every day.

Large parrots like cockatoos and African greys need to interact with people every day. Think about how much time you really have before picking one.

Cockatoos may demand a lot of handling, cuddling and attention. Lots of cuddling can add to hormonal behavior problems. Loving a cockatoo means more than snuggling it.

Boredom can cause problem behaviors

Birds are social animals and get lonely. Without enough attention and activity, a bored bird can start biting, screaming or pulling out its own feathers. Boredom is a big reason for these behaviors.

Merck suggests hiding small pieces of food around the cage so the bird can search for them. This gives a bird something safe and natural to do.

A bird that is lonely or bored can start biting, screaming, or pulling out its own feathers. Giving it enough attention and activity helps prevent these problems.

Bonds, talking, and kind training

Larger parrots can live 20 to 50 years and bond strongly to their owners. This makes it hard for them to adjust if they change homes. Pick a bird you can keep.

To reduce biting, reinforce a safe substitute behavior that occupies the beak. Do not use force or punishment, because punishment can create fear, helplessness or withdrawal from the training relationship.

African greys may know the most words of any parrot, but they often will not talk in front of strangers. Do not expect a show for your friends.

Cage size and shape

The cage should be at least one and a half times the bird's wingspan in all directions. A small cage stresses birds. A cage for more than one bird must be even bigger.

Most birds prefer rectangular cages to round ones because they like having corners to sit in. A pretty round cage is not the best pick.

A bigger bird needs a bigger cage. Consider the bird's size, as well as the cost, time and effort needed to keep the bird healthy. Noise is another practical factor.

Buy the largest cage you can fit and afford while following minimum sizes. The cage must fit toys, foraging, perches and room to move and exercise.

Keeping a solitary bird in a small indoor cage with little exercise can cause physical and psychological harm. A proper cage needs enrichment and room to move.

Bar spacing and minimum sizes

For a budgie or cockatiel cage, Merck recommends bar spacing of 0.5 inch. The minimum cage size for these small birds is 20 by 20 by 30 inches.

Macaws and large cockatoos need cage bars spaced about 1.5 inches apart. Their minimum cage size is 48 by 36 by 66 inches.

Conures and caiques need bars spaced 0.75 inch apart. Bigger birds get wider spacing, but it must suit the species.

Recommended bar spacing depends on the bird's size. For a budgie or cockatiel, use 0.5 inch spacing. For a macaw or large cockatoo, use about 1.5 inches. Check the recommendation for your bird before choosing a cage.

Sleep, temperature, and natural light

A pet parrot usually needs 10 to 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. A noisy television or late activity near the cage can keep a bird from resting.

A dark room at a steady bedtime helps a bird rest. Covering the cage may not block household noise and light, so a separate dark room may be needed. A timer can help keep lights on the same schedule.

The University of Florida suggests an ideal room temperature range of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the cage out of the direct path of air-conditioning and heating vents.

Sunlight through a closed window is not the same as unfiltered sunlight because window glass blocks needed UV rays. Provide safe unfiltered sunlight, suitable full-spectrum lighting, or both.

A bird must be able to move away from direct sunlight. Sun exposure should never trap a bird in heat, and outdoor cages need monitoring and protection from predators.

Activity and toys

A roomy cage does not replace safe out-of-cage activity. Regular extended out-of-cage activity helps keep pet birds happy. Use a bird-safe room, play stand or parrot perch with continuous supervision.

An avian veterinarian might recommend keeping a bird flighted when owners can provide a safe flight environment. Flight is a natural behavior that gives birds exercise.

Toy safety depends on the bird's size and strength. Toys that are too small or too weak can become hazards. Toys should be cleanable, and frayed rope should be removed before strands trap toes.

Rotate familiar bird toys at least weekly to keep them interesting. Watch the bird and avoid removing a special toy if that causes stress.

A food-dispensing toy encourages foraging, a natural behavior. Make a gradual switch from eating out of dishes to finding food in new places.

Balanced amounts for small and large birds

For most budgies and cockatiels, Merck recommends 40 to 50 percent pellets, 30 to 40 percent seed mix, 10 to 15 percent vegetables, and 5 to 10 percent fruit. This is not a seed-only menu.

For larger parrots, pellets should form most of the diet. Merck recommends 80 percent pellets, with smaller portions of vegetables and fruit. Seeds and nuts are occasional extras, not the main food.

For a larger parrot, seeds and nuts are best offered occasionally as treats or training rewards. A tiny favorite food can make a powerful reward without becoming the whole meal.

A traditional seed-only bird diet is high in fat and deficient in calcium, vitamin A and other nutrients. A full seed bowl does not mean a complete diet. Pelleted diets have significantly improved bird health.

Lories and lorikeets need a special liquid diet, which is messy. Prepared nectar can spoil quickly, so it must be changed often. Many nectar-eating birds are sensitive to iron in their diets.

Why a mixed bowl can fool you

If you mix pellets and seeds in one bowl, your bird may pick out the seeds and ignore the pellets, so it still misses key nutrients.

A mixed bowl can still lead to poor nutrition because the bird may pick out only its favorite seeds and leave the balanced pellets. Selective eating can cause a bird to take in too few nutrients even though the bowl contains good food.

A full seed bowl does not mean a complete diet. Seed mixes can be high in fat and missing important nutrients.

Switching to pellets safely

Birds may distrust unfamiliar food. Introduce pellets gradually instead of forcing a sudden change. A new food must become familiar in sight and taste before the old diet disappears.

Track the bird's body weight while changing to pellets. A bird can appear to visit the bowl without eating enough.

Call the veterinarian if the bird loses more than 10 percent of its body weight during pellet conversion. If weighing is impossible, reduced fecal output is another reason to call.

A sudden switch can leave a bird thin and sick. Gradual introduction is safer than forcing a bird to accept pellets overnight.

Foods that are never safe

No part of an avocado is safe for a pet bird. The skin, flesh, pit and leaves all contain persin, which can harm a bird's heart. Keep the entire plant away.

Birds must be kept away from chocolate and caffeine. They stimulate a bird's nervous system and may cause extreme excitement, tremors or seizures.

Onions, garlic, leeks and chives belong to the same plant family. They can change red blood cells and cause severe anemia in birds.

Never offer alcohol to a bird, even a sip. All species can suffer alcohol poisoning. Fermenting bread dough can also produce ethanol.

A diet of mostly seeds is linked to fatty liver disease in inactive pet birds. Galah cockatoos, macaws, Amazon parrots and Quaker parrots are especially likely to become obese.

Bird-proof the room

Close windows and doors before letting a bird out of its cage. An open window or door can let a bird escape in seconds, and birds commonly fly into open windows and doors and get hurt.

Make windows and mirrors obvious to a flying bird. Clear glass or a mirror can look like an open flight path, so cover or mark them.

Turn every ceiling fan off before opening the cage, even if the bird's wings are clipped. A flying bird can collide with rotating blades and suffer serious trauma. Keep the fan off until the bird is safely back inside.

Hide electrical cords from a parrot's beak. Chewed cords can electrocute birds, so unplug and block access.

Secure open toilets, sinks, tubs or pans of liquid before out-of-cage time. A bird can fall into them and drown. A shallow supervised bathing dish is different from an unattended deep container.

Keep perfume, aerosol cleaners, air fresheners and lit candles out of a bird's environment. Bird airways are very sensitive to chemical fumes, and an open flame can burn a flying bird.

Supervision and separation

Keep watching the bird the whole time it is outside the cage. Loose birds can quickly reach flames, water, cords, doors or toxic objects.

Birds should leave their cages for exercise, but they must be safe and supervised. Check the room for hazards before opening the cage.

Do not let a bird share loose playtime with a friendly cat or dog. A cat or dog can injure a bird in an instant, even during play. Cat and dog bite wounds occur frequently in bird trauma cases.

Some pet birds may not suit a home with young children or people with weakened immune systems. Certain germs that birds can carry may make those people sicker.

Handling, restraint, wing trims, and travel

A wing trim does not guarantee that a pet bird cannot fly away. A clipped bird may glide indoors and gain lift outside in wind, so never rely on clipping to prevent escape.

An excessively aggressive wing trim can remove too much lift and make a bird drop instead of glide. This may cause physical and psychological harm, especially in young birds learning flight. Only primary flight feathers should be trimmed, and heavier birds need fewer trimmed.

Have a professional trim a pet bird's wings, because trimming can hurt the bird if it is not done right.

Use a towel to gently restrain a bird if needed. Wrap gently around the back and never press on the chest because that makes it hard to breathe. A small washcloth works for a small parrot, while a large bird needs a large towel. Because incorrect restraint can hurt a bird, learn the technique from an avian professional.

A pet bird should ride in a car inside a secure, well-ventilated carrier. Place the carrier near the center of the vehicle and secure it so it cannot move.

Reward a young bird when you touch its feet. This trains the bird to accept nail trims later.

Veterinary care and hidden illness

Take a pet bird to the vet at least once a year. Feed good food, keep the cage clean, and wash food and water bowls in hot, soapy water every day.

New owners should look for a veterinarian specially trained to treat birds. Birds are prey animals that hide sickness, so problems are easy to miss.

Birds hide signs of illness because a wild bird that looks weak can draw predators. A sick pet bird may look normal until it is quite ill.

Common signs of a sick bird include fluffed-up feathers, sleeping more than usual, and being less active. Sitting low on the perch or at the bottom of the cage is another warning sign.

A kid should tell an adult right away if a pet bird looks sick or acts different. Any change in how a bird acts or looks means a trip to the vet right away.

Illness signs and common conditions

Changes in droppings or appetite can warn that a bird is ill. Refusing most food is a warning sign. In psittacosis, lime-green or yellow droppings are common. Weigh birds weekly to track weight.

Tail bobbing with each breath can mean breathing trouble. Wheezing and tail bobbing are signs of a sick bird. Air sac mites can cause tail bobbing in canaries and finches.

Psittacosis is caused by bacteria called Chlamydia psittaci. It can spread from birds to people. Some birds can carry it without looking sick.

Feather plucking can come from medical or behavior problems. Poor nutrition is likely one of the most common factors. A vet first checks medical causes, and regular baths or misting may help.

Aspergillosis is the most common fungal infection in pet birds. It comes from mold spores birds breathe in, and lung damage can happen before signs show. Good hygiene, fresh air flow and balanced nutrition help prevent it.

Never give a bird human medicine without a vet. Human medicines can poison birds. Give only the medicine your vet prescribes, in the amount the vet says.

Egg binding emergencies and first aid

A female bird with egg binding cannot lay an egg that is stuck inside her. One common cause is a diet low in calcium. Small species such as cockatiels, budgies, and lovebirds get it often, but larger parrots can too. Because it can quickly become dangerous, treat egg binding as an emergency. A bird may sit on the cage floor, seem weak, strain, bob her tail, or have a swollen belly.

Ongoing bleeding of any kind is an emergency, especially from a wing, beak or foot. A bird that is huddled, weak, unresponsive or lying on the cage bottom is also an emergency. Call the vet and go right away.

Keep styptic gel in a bird first aid kit to stop minor bleeding from feathers, beaks or nails. Avoid powders a bird might inhale and greasy ointments unless prescribed.

If a bird's bleeding has stopped, leave the clot alone. Disturbing the clot can start the bleeding again. The bird should still be examined as soon as possible.

Keep a sick or hurt bird warm, dark and in a carrier on the way to the vet. Cover at least three sides of the carrier with a towel. At home, a warm quiet spot such as a spare bathroom can help while you wait.

Keep phone numbers for your bird's vet, an emergency hospital that treats birds, and animal poison control in the first aid kit. Not every animal hospital treats birds.

Laws and conservation

The US Wild Bird Conservation Act limits or bans imports of exotic wild birds when trade is not sustainable or good for the species. It is US law 16 U.S.C. 4901 to 4916, passed in 1992.

No individual may import more than two exotic birds as pets in any year. The owner must have lived outside the US for at least a year. The permit application must say whether the bird was bred in captivity or taken from the wild.

The Wild Bird Conservation Act covers bird parts such as feathers, wings and skeletons, not just whole birds. Domestic poultry and some bird families, such as ducks, are not counted as exotic birds under the rules.

CITES is a global treaty to make sure international trade in wild plants and animals is legal, traceable and sustainable. Many parrots are listed. CITES has 185 Parties, including 184 countries and the European Union.

A bird species on CITES Appendix I is threatened with extinction and trade can happen only in exceptional cases. Appendix III species are listed by a single country seeking help controlling trade. In 2016, African grey parrots moved to Appendix I, which prohibits international commercial trade.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits killing, capturing, selling, trading or transporting protected native migratory birds without US Fish and Wildlife Service permission. Since 2004, it applies only to listed native migratory species. The Act carried out a 1916 treaty with Canada. In California, Quaker or monk parakeets are restricted and cannot legally be kept as pets. When moving to another US state, a destination state may require a health certificate from a vet.