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General Parrot Information
Starting
off with some terminology:
Bappy - baby parrot
Fid - feathered kid
Fiddo - same as kiddo only refers to your feathered kid
Frat - feathered brat
Parrot Abbreviations: Example BHC = Black Headed Caique
Basic Avian Terminology: From blood feather to zoonoses.
Information
Galore:
Each of these sites
are chalk full of information about parrots. If you can not find a link
in Cleo's Corner that specifically address your questions then check these
sites out, you will most likely find it on one of these. Even if you do
find a question specific link here at Cleo's Corner visit these sites
anyway, you may find answers to questions you didn't even know you had.
The more information you have, the better parent you will be.
Birds n Ways: Tons of information and links ranging from recipes to mailing lists to veterinary information. Sites to check out inside Birds n Ways are Winged Wisdom E-zine and Articles and FAQ General Topics.
Caring For Your New Bird: What to look for in a breeder, cages, health, etc.
BirdTalk: You can find a lot of good info on this site.
The Aviary: Parrot site with links to articles, toys, etc.
Its a Grey's World: This link is to their articles page. They have a wide range of article topics that pertain to parrots in general.
Quaker Information Center: They have a wide range of article topics that pertain to parrots in general.
PetEductation.com: Topics include: Husbandry & Basic Care, Behavior & Training, Feeding & Nutrition, Diseases & Organ Systems, Emergencies & First Aid, Species, and News.
Exotic Pet Vet.Net: Be sure to check out their Avian link.
The Parrot Pages - A home for avian information: Tons of links ranging from vets, breeders, air filters, and species specific links.
Zachary's Web Site: The site is dedicated to Double Yellow Headed Amazons but has information everyone can use.
Avian Web, All About Birds: "...the ultimate bird/parrot resource."
Avian Network: Many links to parrot information ranging from diet, to first time bird-owners, to suggested reading, and much more.
Connecticut Association for Aviculture: This site has a lot of good links so check out their links page.
ParrotIsland.com Articles: Articles on a wide range of parrot related subjects.
ParrotHouse.com Articles: Articles on a wide range of parrot related subjects.
Please visit the following links to learn more about the unique needs of parrots. Parrots are wonderful pets but many parrots end up in Rescue Centers, or passed from person to person, because the owner did not know what the responsibilities of owning a parrot entailed. Taking care of a parrot is not as simple as giving it food and water and cleaning the cage.
Parrots Online: This page is a reality check. The pictures vividly show what can happen when a parrot is not given the right environment.
Avian Welfare Resorce Center: Please read before purchasing a parrot.
The Parrot Persona: Has some quick insight into parrot needs.
For the Love of Parrots: Things to think about.
How Much Time Does a Bird Need?: Birds require interaction and time outside of their cages.
Parrots Online - Rescue, Rehabilitation, Activism: As this site says "Before You Decide to Buy a Parrot PLEASE read this first!"
The True Parrot: "This site aims to give valuable information on what life living with a parrot is truly like. It is written and organized for new and potential parrot owners in an attempt to educate so that more parrots will be able to stay in their first homes."
The Importance of Cage Dominance: Information on how to interact with your bird to maintain a good relationship.
The Life Span of Some Common Pet Birds: A bird's life span is something to consider before purchasing.
The *First* and Most Important Question: by Theresa Jordon. Talks about the responsibilities you should be aware of before purchasing a parrot.
General Information: The following sites have a variety of different information.
Selecting a Companion Bird - Pet Bird Species Profiles: This article by Theresa Jordan touches upon the information that may help you to determine what species of parrot is right for you.
Rei's Random Birdie Info
Questions and Answers About DNA Sexing From Feathers
Parrot Abbreviations: Example BHC = Black Headed Caique
Predation and the Sociable Parrot: by Donald Brightsmith. This article list the predators parrots have in the wild and associates that with our fids needs social needs. Good insight.
Nest Sites of Wild Parrots: by Donald Brightsmith. Interesting information on our fids wild brothers and sisters.
Color Vision in Birds: Birds see ultraviolet light and have four cones (humans only have three).
Parrots Online Species Specific Links: Links for many specific parrot species.
Birds n Ways Species Specific Links: List articles by species.
Understanding Your Bird's Body Language: by Theresa Jordan. An extensive list of bird body language.
Traveling With Your Parrot:
Moving With Your Bird: by Suzanne Zweigart. Tips and information on moving to a new location with your family parrot.
Air Travel, Avian Style: by Su Egen. This is a wonderful article that covers how to handle your parrot, what to consider, choosing an Airline, the travel cage, documentation requirements, what to expect,and much more.
Traveling With Your Pet: While this article deals with dogs and cats it also has birds specific information via airplane.
Traveling Abroad With Your Pet: You will need Adobie Acrobat Reader (it is a free download) to read this article from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.Carriers, Backpacks, and Harnesses
The Portable Parrot: by Carla Thornton. "Ever wish you could take your bird with you? On a walk, for a drive in the car, on vacation? You can do it!. All you need is the right gear and attitude." This article covers it all, but please check out the products yourself. Search for reviews or try to speak with someone who has experience using the product.
Flight Suits from FlightQuarters.com: I have these and have used them for Cleo and Gypsy. I prefer them over the harness (they are just straps, and didn't look comfortable on Cleo, nor as secure as I would like). The key is to take it slow and not rush your parrot into putting the suit on. It can take weeks to get him comfortable with it. The suit comes with directions on how to get your parrot comfortable. But, every parrot is his own bird, so where one bird may accept the suit, another may not.
Poco Pack
Misc.
Heather's Feathers: Behavioral Consultant.
Bird Names: Having a hard time picking out a name for your fiddo? Maybe this list of names will help.
Pet Loss: "A gentle and compassionate website for pet lovers who are grieving over the death of a pet or an ill pet. Here you will find personal support, thoughtful advice, The Monday Pet Loss Candle Ceremony, Tribute Pages, healing poetry like Rainbow Bridge & much more."
Clicker Training
Bird Click: The clicker-training website for parrots. Give information on how to clicker train your parrot. Also on this page is a link to the Bird-Click E-mail List.
What is Clicker Training: Clicker training explained at ClickerTraining.com.
ClickerTraining.com: Focuses on training a number of different animals.
Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies: To view studies on training pets click on their "pets" link on the left of the page. On this site you can learn why Clicker Training works by reading about operant training versus traditional training.
Simply Amazing!
This site tells of the research being done to determine if parrots are telepathic. This is an amazing site. Here you can listen to Nkisi talk to his trainer/friend, Aimee Morgana. There is a transcript on the site that you can read as you listen so you know what is happening while Nkisi is interacting with Ms. Morgana. The link to hear Nkisi and Ms. Morgana interact is at the bottom of the homepage. Here is a direct link, but be sure to read all the background on Nkisi, it is extremely fascinating.
Legal
Links
on BirdsNWays include:
Pending
Law Alerts,
Reporting abuse at Local Shelters, State
Laws & Regulations, Trust
and Wills, Import/Export
Regulations, Treates
Parrot Magazines and Newsletters: This is a list of both online and sold on the stand magazines and newsletters.
BirdTalk
Bird Times Magazine
Companion Parrot Quarterly
Holistic Bird Newsletter
ParrotChronicles.com
Parrots Magazine
Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine
Parrot Books: As with most things on my site, these are some books that were mentioned and recommended on the Caique Mailing List.
Guide to a Well Behaved Parrot by Mattie Sue Athan
Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior by Mattie Sue Athan
The Complete Pet Bird Owner's Handbook by Gary A. Gallerstein
Feeding Your Pet Bird by Petra M. Burgmann
Holistic Care for Birds by David McCluggage
The Complete Bird Owner's Handbook by Gary A. Gallerstein
FAQs
Do
I have to handfeed my baby parrot in order for it to bond with me?
No. And more importantly, handfeeding by an inexperienced person
can lead to the death of the baby caique. Learn more about the dangers
of inexperienced handfeeding and the dangers
of inexperienced weaning. Never buy an unweaned parrot!!
With that said, in my own experience with Cleo, Monte, and Gypsy I firmly
believe you do not need to handfeed. They are all bonded to me and Cleo
came to me fully weaned at about 3 ½ months old, Gypsy was also
fully weaned when she joined the family at 3 months, and Monte was over
2 years old when she joined our family.
Is cat saliva really
toxic to birds?
Here are a few quotes
from some web sites To read the full account click on the links:
"Cat saliva contains a bacteria that is usually fatal to birds unless
the appropriate antibiotic is administered." (Maine
Audubon)
"Having cat saliva on a birds feathers is enough to introduce an
infection that could kill the bird." (Parrot
Passions UK)
"Even saliva from a cat transferred to a bird can cause them to become
ill and die. If ever your bird has contact with a cat--even if this contact
seems incidental--an immediate vet visit is in order." (Parrot
Parrot: Cats and Birds article)
"Cats commonly have Pasteurella bacteria as part of their natural
flora. While this bacteria is ubiquitous in cats and does them no harm,
it is DEADLY to birds. Even if your cat just bats your bird or gets saliva
on your bird, you could end up with a dead bird." (Parrot
Parrot: Alerts page)
"Regardless, contact with a cat's saliva, which contains a bacteria
deadly to birds called Pasteurella, could be fatal." (Parrot
Chronicles: Hazards page).
Can human saliva
make my bird sick?
My vet is
VERY adament about not allowing birds to come into contact with human
saliva. So much so that he does not even want parrot owners to give a
little kiss on the head. To back him up here are some quotes from the
web:
From Parrot
Chronicles, "Human saliva is not in itself toxic, of course.
And your bird cannot catch a human cold from you. However, all mammalian
saliva carries bacteria that could make your bird sick with infections
of the sinuses, throat, lungs, air sacs, gastro-intestinal tract or internal
organs.Therefore, never let your bird make contact with your mouth--even
for a quick "peck"--and do not bite off food for your bird."
And from ExoticPet.Net,
"Our mouths contain many microbes that can cause disease in birds,
and contact with the human mouth should be strictly prohibited."
My parrot has a
opening under his beak. Is this normal?
Yes. Here is a picture of Monte so that you can be sure we are talking
about the same thing.
Click
photo for larger picture.
My
parrot's beak does not close all the way? Is the normal?
Well, from my experience with caiques and sun conures the answer is yes.
Again, here is a picture of Monte, our beak model, so we can be sure we
are talking about the same thing.
Click
photo for larger picture.
What time should
my caique go to bed? How much sleep does my parrot need?
This one is a toughie for me because I hear so many different things.
I have read that parrots need at least 10 hours of sleep a night. Caiques
of the Caique Mailing list have bed times ranging from 5:00pm to 10:00pm;
with some being like Cleo and Monte who stay up as late as our family
does. Sometimes this means not going to bed until midnight. In my experience
this does not affect them. They are still balls of energy during the day
with wonderful appetites. I have also been told that parrots take naps
throughout the day, so the 10 hour rule is flexible. Still others say
that they must get the 10 hours. Some birds just put themselves to bed,
letting the owner know through body language that they want to go to bed.
So, having really not answered your question, I guess this is one that
you will have to experience on your own. Do some key word searches on
the Internet and consult your vet. Sorry I could not be of more help.
:)