Parrots are naturally sociable birds, they love to interact and play and it's these traits that make them perfect pets.
Many people buy a parrot as a pet and don't have any clue about how they should look after them.
They buy a cage that they guess would be adequate enough and give it tidbits of left over dinner as a treat unknowingly doing the bird some harm.
If you have decided to buy a parrot or already done so then first of all you have made a terrific choice.
Now lets consider how to look after your parrot so you both enjoy the benefits.
The cage is your parrots home so you need to ensure that its adequate for the size of the bird.
Parrots like to climb so the height is something to consider along with the length because they will want to be able to move around freely and stretch their wings.
With this in mind I would choose one between 30 and 36 inches in length and 24 to 30 inches in height.
Steel bars are fine because this will enable the parrot to climb.
It's also a good idea to have different size perches at different levels.
Fresh water and a diet of seeds, cereal, nuts and fruit would be most welcome.
You can add a few toys here and there and maybe a piece of wood which they will gladly chew.
Newspaper is also a good idea because parrots really enjoy ripping it up into small pieces.
Make sure fresh water is added daily and the bottom of the cage is cleaned regularly.
The cage itself should be cleaned once a week to avoid any disease.
You can fix the parrot cage to a wall or free standing.
Free standing is recommended because you can move the parrot around.
They particularly enjoy being near windows so they can watch the wildlife, people and vehicles passing.
A conservatory is also a good position because they will have a panoramic view.
Make sure no direct sunlight is on the bird, if they get too hot it can seriously damage their health.
Just place them in a cool ventilated area with a view.
Parrots love to interact with you and they will often mimic you voice.
They are not making fun out of you, they are just showing you how clever they are.
Talking and whistling to the parrot is something they love.
They crave attention and will play all day if they could.
You should have a separate stand and perch available so you can bring them out of the cage.
A normal stand will have a perch and table underneath to catch mess.
This is when you really start to bond with the parrot and enjoy each others Company.
You can buy additional parrot gyms and towers also if you feel like spoiling your bird.
Parrots love these because they can climb, chew and scratch to their hearts content.
As a general rule birds love to bathe and it cleanses their feathers of dust and dirt that can stick to the underside of the feathers.
Parrots on the other hand can be a little temperamental when it comes to splashing in water.
You can try your bird in the bath in some shallow water just to see their reaction.
You never know, they may love it.
Try and not leave your parrot on their own for long periods.
They crave attention and thrive on a social bond.
Make a fuss out of them when you come in and they will love the interaction.
If your parrot is unhappy then trust me, you will be the first one to know.