The African Grey parrot, is a favourite among parrot owners. They are known best for their excellent speaking and vocal ability. A grey body, black beak and striking red tail make for one bright, extremely intelligent parrot. They are capable of learning over 2000 words. The Timneh Grey is an African subspecies. They are smaller in size and have a darker grey body, a coloured beak and maroon tail. African Grey parrots are somewhat shy and cautious but once the caregiver wins their love and trust, they are devoted and loyal companions.
Breeding :
The natural breeding season for African Greys is from spring to winter, although captive bred Africans will breed all year long. They are sexually mature at 3 to 5 years of age. The female hen will typically lay between three to five eggs. Incubation time is 28 to 30 days. When pulling chicks for hand-feeding, it is best to leave them in the nest with the parents for 2 to 3 weeks. This will ensure they are receiving a strong and healthy start life. Considered one of the most intelligent parrots in the parrot family, African Greys demand affection and stimulating activities. They will thrive well if given a balanced amount of playtime outside of their cage daily.They require several toys throughout the day to satisfy their need to learn and chew. African Grey parrots should be given a spacious cage, no smaller than 36x36x36 inches. This species is prone to feather plucking if the nutritional and emotional needs are not met. These intelligent birds will live for sixty years.
Diet
Feeding an African Grey parrot the right food is very important because it discloses their health, stress level and ability to learn how to talk. African Grey parrots are very different from other bird species because they have their own choice, different diet pattern and eat different kinds of food. Depending on how you teach them, some African Grey parrot only eat soft food while others only eat hard fruit, vegetables etc. So it is your duty as their owner to change their diet and give them a wide variation of fruits and vegetables to see what your African Grey parrot likes best. Be aware that most African Grey parrots fall ill and sick because they eat food that contains less calcium so it is very important to give them a good balance of calcium from food .Calcium diet can make your African Grey parrot healthy and greatly reduce stress levels that cause feather plucking and squeaking. You must try to give them calcium supplements for around two to three times in a week. Most African parrots do not consume too much water since their bodies retain water from the various fruits they eat. A healthy African Grey parrot can learn and respond to speech training quickly and efficiently. Choosing the Right Cage
Amazons are most active from dawn to about 10:00 a.m. They become active again from about 4:00 p.m. until dusk. In captivity it is during these times that some become quite noisy. When alarmed by an intruder, they become very vocal and remain so after all signs of the intruder have vanished. The amount of noise varies with different species and individuals. These times during the day are perfect for speech training as it is the bird's natural vocalization time. The Amazon is a stocky-built bird with a square tail. Those commonly kept for pets are mostly green with light bone or dark gray beaks. They range in size from 10 to 16 inches. Amazons have green body feathers, varying from dark bluish green to a yellow green. Amazons seem plain at first glance, but that quickly changes when they flare into display. In full display, they fan out their tails revealing red and yellow colors. The Amazon raises his head feathers, dilates his eyes and walks stiff legged. He holds his wings away from his body, drops them slightly, and fans the lower wing feathers revealing dazzling bright feathers. Amazons also fan their nape feathers similar to Hawkhead parrots. Although the feathers are not as long, they still make a beautiful frame for their faces. It is easy to see how they would intimidate another male or impress a female. Many Amazon species have eyelashes. If you look closely, you can see the black lashes on a Blue Front.
DIET
Amazons tend to become obese as they age. It is essential that they learn to eat healthy, low fat food early in life. Amazons tend to have Vitamin A deficiencies. Since one can easily overdose with Vitamin A additives, it is important that you include Vitamin A naturally in their diet. Some foods containing Vitamin A are leafy dark green vegetables and yellow vegetables such as carrots, corn, and squash. In the wild they eat nuts, fruits, berries, pods, seeds, buds and blossoms. The average owner of a pet Amazon should give him pellets, vegetables, fruits, and even a small amount of seed (minus safflower and sunflower seeds) with an occasional nut as a treat. You can share your low fat, low salt people food with your Amazon as well. Avoid foods with preservatives, food colorings or any other additives. Do not give avocado, chocolate or alcohol.
CAGE
The cage should be square or rectangular. Round cages are not as suitable as they can cause the bird to develop a nervous turning and twisting of the head. The bars should be thick enough that the parrot cannot bite through them. Cage doors should allow the bird to come in and out of the cage with ease. These birds quickly learn how to open their cages so a good lock may be necessary. Amazons by nature enjoy climbing more than flying. If there are no horizontal bars on the cage, be certain to supply a playground where they can get the climbing exercise they need. Place the Amazon cage below eye level.
They are very social, preferring, in the wild, to live in flocks of twenty or more birds. They are affectionate and energetic and will suit a wide variety of people. Great care should be taken in choosing a cockatoos that has been hand raised by a reputable breeder as poorly weaned cockatoos can develop behavioral problems that include a tendency to screech very loudly. Their screeching can be controlled by giving them plenty of attention, affection and activities. A newly weaned cockatoos in a new environment will often cry and whine and screech if its needs are not met. Stressed or unhappy cockatoos can become depressed and refuse to eat if they are allowed to remain hungry for any period of time at all. Offer to hand feed your new cockatoos once or twice a day, especially early in the day, regardless of its age, when it first comes into your home. This will reassure the cockatoos that it will be taken care of and loved. Continue offering to hand feed your goffin cockatoo for at least a week and possible two, depending on the individual goffin. If the new cockatoos does not appear to eat well on its own, continue the hand feeding until it does begin eating healthily on its own. cockatoos love to climb and chew and play. They should be provided with a variety of toys and the toys should be changed out frequently so they will not become bored with them. cockatoos have an extremely high energy level and will need the biggest cage possible. The minimum size cage should be at least 24 X 36. cockatoos should not be allowed outside of the cage without constant supervision. All that energy means that they can cause a great deal of damage and trouble unless supervised carefully. This is another reason that they should be provided the largest cage possible. Cockatoo cages may not be large enough to accommodate your goffin?s energy and it might be wise to consider a large macaw cage. Provide your cockatoo with rope swings, wooden perches, nest boxes and plenty of wooden toys. cockatoos will chew tirelessly and their toys and perches will need to be replaced frequently.
There are several subspecies of eclectus parrots and the female feather color patterns in those subspecies vary according to the subspecies, from having a blue breast and belly to having a lavender breast or purple breast Males will also vary from a bright yellowish green to a dark emerald green DISTRIBUTION:
BEHAVIOR
These birds are strong fliers and on long flights, they fly high above the forest canopy. Calling loudly, pairs or small parties travel widely through the upper canopy in search of fruits, nuts, nectar and leaf buds. In the evening they engage in display flights before gathering in large groups of up to 80 birds to roost for the night. They have two distinct calls. In flight a harsh, screeching is repeated three or four times. While feeding they have a wailing cry or a mellow flute-like call.
DIET
Eclectus parrots feed on fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, leaf buds, blossoms and nectar, all of which are procured mainly in the treetops.
The lorikeet is a playful and energetic bird and in its natural environment eats nectar and fruits rather than seeds. It requires a specialised diet of a nectar mix, fruit and vegetables. Lorikeets are very untidy eaters and spoil the cage and its surrounds with their large, wet droppings. These messy eating habits require a diligent owner who is willing to clean the cage every day to prevent bacterial and yeast (thrush) infections. The smaller lorikeet varieties (varied and musk) make better pets because of their soft bite, but well-trained rainbow or red-collared lorikeets are good talkers and a lot of fun. Lorikeets are extremely playful and love to listen to music and dance. They form strong bonds with their owner and make excellent pets for those willing to provide the specialised care required by the lorikeet.
FEEDING LORIES
FRUITS & VEGETABLES: While commercial products are considered to be "total nutrition" your birds can benefit from the added nutrients of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Some of the best items to offer a lory are papaya, cantaloupe, mango, pears, apples, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, squash, bell pepper, jalapeno peppers, dark leafy greens such as kale and peas. Cooking foods destroys many of the nutrients so these food should be served fresh. Because of their natural curiosity, most lories will accept new diets readily. Fresh foods can be given in a chopped mix. If the bird seems to reject the chopped fresh foods, try pureeing the fruit and even the veggies and adding it to the nectar. Remember, VARIETY is essential.
Lovebirds have the potential to make great pets for those who have the patience and time required of any parrot species. Because of their inclination to bond, they can form great long-term relationships with people. Lovebirds are healthier and more energetic than some other parrot species. Provided with space, toys, and love, lovebirds can become cherished companions. They love to snuggle and often preen their favorite people. An important tip for lovebird owners is to regulate the amount of time spent with them. If you devote hours per day to your lovebird for several weeks because it's new and exciting and then cannot for some reason you can end up with a very temperamental lovebird on your hands.
Housing
Lovebirds require an appropriately sized cage. Usually the minimum for a single bird is 20"x20"x20". They require lots of toys and things to chew on and play with, or will soon become bored and develop behavioral problems. Lovebirds are extremely social birds, and require several hours of interaction a day if kept singly. They need social interaction, be it with conspecifics or human companion, for their emotional as well as physical well-being. Without this interaction, daily exercise, a roomy cage, and many toys to play with, they may resort to feather-plucking or other behavioral problems. They don't necessarily need the companion of another lovebird, as the myth says. They do, however, need a human who will dedicate lots of time with them and take the place of the other lovebird. They love to take baths almost every day and may sun themselves after bathing in order to dry.
Diet
Lovebirds require a variety of food, such as pellets, fruits, and vegetables. As a regular food, pellets are recommended, as the millet food generally sold in pet stores has too much fat in it and is not a significant source of nutrition. Pellets specially made for birds provide a well-balanced diet. Fresh greens are also extremely beneficial if not essential.
Macaws are popular, but are a high maintenance pet; they are expensive to purchase, adopt, or maintain, they are demanding, and they are extremely loud and noisy cage birds. They ideally should be handled by someone with experience; they are prized for their beautiful plumage and considered very affectionate with their owners. They are considered an intelligent species that can use human speech well.
Macaws require a large amount of room and thus the cage a single bird occupies should be as large as possible, 36 inches wide x 36 inches deep x 60 inches high, or larger as a whole. They need ample amounts of room to prevent the muscles in their wings from atrophying as well as plenty of room to play, exercise in, and spread their wings. The bars of the cage should be no larger than 1 inch apart and should be made of durable metal. It should not have parts that contain lead or zinc, including paint on the bars. The cage should be cleaned weekly and thoroughly with a mild disinfectant soap; a grate is preferable to separate the bird from its feces. The cage should be placed in an area that is off the floor, well-lit, and warm (a macaw has little tolerance towards cold.) Perches are acceptable and recommended as an additional place to hang out as well as a spray bottle of lukewarm water to bathe the bird. (All macaws typically like water and will also respond happily to an outing in the kitchen sink as well.) They should eat a diet that mimics what they eat in the wild (fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds) but if given nuts should ideally be given those with a higher fat content (hazelnuts, brazil nuts, walnuts, etc.)
Macaws eat mostly fruits and seeds, including large, hard seeds. A typical sighting is of a single bird or a pair flying above the forest canopy, though in some areas flocks can be seen. They may gather at clay licks. They like apples, nuts, bananas, and fruits. They also feed on nectar and buds.In addition to requiring large spaces Scarlet Macaws equally require a great deal of stimulation, attention, and affection. They thrive on and need frequent, regular interaction and so should be removed from their cages for long periods to socialize and be slowly socialized with others to retain a friendly disposition towards people; they need time to get to know strangers. They will naturally be extremely vocal and should not be discouraged from this behavior but should be given limits overall. Children are not recommended to have this bird as a pet and in particular should interact with Scarlet Macaws under adult supervision and taught to respect a large, very sensitive bird with a powerful beak designed to crush hard nuts. They love to play and should have plenty of toys in good condition for stimulation; they habitually chew whatever they can get their beaks on and so wooden toys are recommended both for enrichment and to avoid beak overgrowth. Toys that are worn out should be replaced and care should be taken to keep a Scarlet Macaw's curious mind occupied. Birds that do not receive enough attention often display behaviors of over-preening, self-mutilation, depression, and extreme rage/aggression.
Friendly:
Once your parakeet gets to know you, he watches you as you approach his cage. He tilts his head and saunters over to the bars to see what you’re up to this time. Communicative: He chirps and chatters when you enter the room. He says, “Hey, look at me” when you come home from work.
Beautiful:
Parakeets come in a veritable rainbow of colors – and combinations of colors – all of which are appealing to the eye.
Long-Lived:
Properly cared for parakeets live 15 years or longer.
Easily Cared For:
You never have to brush or wash your parakeet. He carefully preens every feather himself every day. Mist him occasionally to bring out his brightest colors.
Economical:
You measure your parakeet’s food in tablespoons – two a day more than “fills the bill.” Cages cost very little and last for years. If you need a new cage, get one as large as your wallet can tote. Entertaining: See how long it takes him to train you to whistle at him. He knows other tricks, too. He’s one of the world’s greatest acrobats. His hooked bill gives him “one leg up” on the competition. Convenient: Parakeets take very little space and readily adjust to your schedule. An occasional cage cleaning takes less than 10 minutes.
Recreational:
After a hard day at the Salt Mines you deserve to come home to someone who looks forward to spending some time with you – your parakeet. Affectionate: Once you befriend him, he willingly hops onto your finger, rides on your shoulder, nibbles your ear, eats from your hand, and enjoys himself when he’s with you. Beware of Threats: Certain common household items cause real problems and even threaten the life of your parakeet. Beware, of these specific threats: Windows, spoiled food, string, threads, loud noises, hot water, tropical plants, fans, Teflon pans, pest strips, flea killers, insecticides, and other pets. Think of his cage as his haven from all these threats. Tame birds always enjoy sessions outside their cage. It expands their interactions with you. But make sure you protect your parakeet against all the above threats first
Size
The average size for the Crimson Rosella is 14 inches (36cm) while the Golden Mantles are smaller at about 12 inches (30cm).
Diet    A good Rosella diet should consist of canary seed, a mixture of millets, sunflower and safflower. Most people will use a Cockatiel seed mix with added Canary seed. They also enjoy fresh fruits & veggies such as apples, blackberries, oranges, cucumbers, sweet potato and mango. Sprouted seeds, kale, boiled egg can also be offered. I find that our Crimson Rosellas tend to totaly devour the fresh foods while the Golden Mantles will take bits and pieces leaving leftovers.
General Care
These birds love to bathe and should be provided fresh water to do so.Compatibility
Males are very much aggressive towards other males exspecialy in the presence of a hen. Young birds should be seperated from the parents as soon weaned to prevent parental aggression. If you house pairs seperatly in side-by-side flights you may want to place solid dividers between the flights as this will help a great deal with aggression. It is not wise to house this spieces with others.Body Structure :
The average weight for a Sun Conure is approximately 100 to 120 grams. Their length is approximately 305mm from head to tail. The Sun Conure has a beautiful red, orange and yellow hue over almost all its body structure. On the wings however there is a slight green colour due to its parrot ancestry. The younger birds are greener and their brighter colours appear after several moults. As with all conures, the Sun has a white skin patch around the eye.Their life expectancy ranges between 25 & 30 years Usually these birds are undeterminable by appearance. However, the shape of the head might help in certain cases. Females have a rounder and smaller head than the males. The males head is squarer, with a flatter forehead.
Disposition :
The Sun Conure is noted for its loud squawking compared to its relatively small size. The bird is capable of mimicking humans but not as well as some larger parrots. Most often they are popular as pets because of their fun nature and bright colouration. Like many parrots, they are high-grade chewers, and require toys and treats to chew.
Breeding/Reproduction :
Sun Conures, which are monomorphic, attain sexual maturity at one or two years of age. The cock usually sits near nesting boxes. Conures are fairly easy to breed. The dimensions of a nesting box can vary, as they are influenced by the owner's and the birds' preferences. The preferences for breeding birds can also depend on the size and type of nest-box/log in, which the bird was hatched and reared.