Companion Parrot


Many people ask me, “which is the most suitable parrot for companionship?” Although this question seems very simple, the answer is very complex because the suitability of a parrot depends on many factors. A parrot that is suitable for one owner can be unsuitable for another owner. To find the perfect companion parrot you have to ask few questions and have to set parameters. Some questions you may consider asking yourself are:

  1. Will it be necessary to ask your neighbours how they would feel about a parrot making noise?
  2. How much of your time you can spend with your parrot?
  3. How much money are you eager to spend on your parrot?
  4. Does your financial condition allow you to breed a parrot?
  5. What types of equipment are necessary to keep a parrot? And do you have space?
  6. Are you willing to make a long term commitment to your parrot? Parrots can live for up to 60 years!

Those are not all of the questions you should ask yourself, but it’s a good start. After answer these questions you will have set some parameters. You can then go out and find a parrot type that will fit into those parameters. Make sure you research which parrot species appeal to you so that you can find a parrot that you like AND fits into your lifestyle. With everything you learn during your parrot research make sure that you think about how each parrot could potentially fit into your life or could potentially make your life problematic.

Parrots vary in size and color and can cost from $50 to $1500 or more for rare breeds and well trained parrots. The potential age of the parrot depends on the species; the different species can live from 5 to 60 years and sometimes longer.

After on the species of your parrot companion, you will have to find a place to purchase it. The logically choices are a pet store, an animal shelter or a parrot breeder. The parrots you can find at an animal shelter are often well behaved, so it is not as though you are buying damaged goods. A reputable parrot breeder is the best places to find a companion parrot because they will provide top-notch care for their feathered friends. When you buy through a parrot breeder you will also be able to learn about how the parrot was raised and maybe even meet its parents!

The parrot breeder should be able to answer all your questions about how the parrot is raised, as well as how she behaves. When you take your parrot home for the first time, you should already have her cage set up in a suitable location and have the room temperature set to the right level. Having your feathered friends environment set up properly will go a long way towards keeping her happy and healthy. The things that matter most when creating a healthy environment for your parrot are her cage, the cage’s location and size and the variety of parrot toys.

Many parrot owners adopt parrots that have the ability to speak. There are some species of parrots that quickly learn to talk and are quite talkative. How well your parrot speaks depends on appropriate training. Yellow Headed Amazons and African Grey parrots have very good and clear voices and they have high levels of intelligence.



Parrot Egg Binding


Egg binding is common in smaller birds like cockatiels, finches, budgies and lovebirds. However, it occurs to some degree in every female bird.

The causes of egg binding are thought to include the following:

  1. Hypocalcaemia Syndrome (low calcium levels) is commonly associated with egg binding. As you know, the hard outer shell of an egg is made of calcium and if the breeding hen is low on calcium then her eggs will not develop properly. It is important to provide the breeding hen with a good quantity of calcium and vitamin D supplements. If you do not want to give supplements you can try providing the breeding hen with a dish full of crushed eggshells that she can munch on. As for the vitamin D, the best practice is to provide your feathered friend with full spectrum lighting. When full spectrum light strikes the skin it initiates a chemical reaction resulting in the synthesis of vitamin D. Learn more about parrot lighting here.
  2. Malnutrition has been shown to lead to egg binding. If your parrot is on a low protein or seed-only diet she may be malnourished even though she is not showing any outward signs of malnourishment.
  3. Cages that are too small for your parrot lead to a sedentary lifestyle which has been associated with egg binding. When the parrot cage is too small for the parrot then she will have underdeveloped muscles and probably suffer from obesity because she will not be able to properly stretch or move around.
  4. Parrots that are old and/or sick are particularly at risk for egg binding.

Clinical Signs of Parrot Egg Binding

A breeding hen whose eggs are bound will be depressed, less hungry, sit fluffed at the bottom of the cage and suffer from abdominal straining. Some of the hens are found passing large wet droppings and some do not pass any droppings because the egg is interfering. Bleeding or swelling of your parrot’s oviduct will happen in some egg binding cases.

If you think that your hen is facing egg binding then contact a veterinarian quickly. They may be able to feel the binding eggs in the parrot’s abdomen. They can also run an x-ray to confirm the presence of a egg binding. Medical treatments are successful in most cases and allow your hen to pass her egg. In some cases surgery will be necessary.

Parrot Egg Binding Treatment

If egg binding is confirmed in your breeding hen there are some treatments your vet may discuss with you and these include:

  • Calcium shots – these shots will allow your hen’s egg to harder within a very short period of time and then hopefully she can pass the egg.
  • Lupron shots – these will prevent your parrot from being able to breed, which avoids the whole egg binding problem.
  • Splaying – you can use this to put a permanent stop to breeding and egg binding problems.

The nine points below have been known to solve the egg binding problem in some parrots. Please know that not all hens will survive; if the situation is critical when it is discovered or there is no vet available when you need them. In the later stages of egg binding, parrots will suffer from profound cardiovascular collapse and they probably will not be able to pass the egg without intervention.

  1. If you suspect your hen is suffering from egg binding make sure you keep her in a warm place and give her very supportive care.
  2. If you think your parrot hen is going to pass a bound egg what you can do is create a sauna for them. Bring your bird into a bathroom with a shower and run hot water until the windows and mirrors fog up. The ideal temperature for the room would be 85-90 degrees F (29-32 degrees C) with a humidity of 60%. Let your hen sit on a wet towel. The warmth will relax your hen, which will encourage her vent to dilate increasing the chances of her passing the egg.
  3. Giving your hen a warm bath can also help a lot, but please only shallow water. You do not want your hen to drown. In many cases, your hen will pass the egg into the water. Make the water as warm as you like and give your hen a good long soak.
  4. Use olive oil to massage the muscles around your parrot’s vent. Often this will encourage the successful passing of the egg. Please Note: Giving this type of massage can be very risky because it may cause the egg to break. The egg breaking inside the hen is life threatening. If you are in doubt, have your vet handle it.
  5. Even if cause of the egg binding is not hypocalcaemia giving her more calcium will not hurt.
  6. You can also try applying a lubricant like KY jelly to your hen’s vent. This should help ease the egg through.
  7. If your parrot hen’s vent is swelling, you can try applying Preparation H to reduce the swelling. Some breeders have reported that this can help a lot.
  8. Passing the Egg Successfully – after the egg has been passed keep your hen in a quiet and warm area. Keep her separated from other birds until she is drinking and eating well.
  9. Preventing Parrot Egg Binding – give your parrot high-calcium, high-calorie food to make sure that future eggs are strong and not as susceptible to egg binding. Click here for information on parrot nutrition and feeding.