Image by Lip Kee
Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot
Loriculus galgulus
The great thing about keeping an African Grey parrot as a pet is that it can form a strong bond with you. Unlike a dog which can fetch a baseball, an African Grey can talk, well at least mimic the sounds you and others around you make, including the telephone and microwave oven.

Just like any other pet, this bird requires all the attention you can give to it. Spend some quality time feeding your bird and you will discover their amazing character and affection. Unlike a cat or a dog, an African Grey parrot can live as long as humans do, and some even outlived their owners. In that sense, it is a great companion to have.

Considering that this bird is going to live with you for a very long time, it will need a big and sturdy cage for comfort, with doors opening on the front and at the top. It will not be a problem to source for a suitable cage because pet shops carry a wide variety of cages for parrots. And with the internet so accessible to anyone, ordering a bird cage from a website is also a good option if there are no pet shops in your area.

Unlike other pet birds, this parrot needs stimulation. Get parrot toys so that your bird can amuse itself during the times you are not at home. The most common ones are plastic rings that you can hang from the top of the cage. They love to bite, climb and hang upside down on the rings.

The African Grey loves dry natural seed and nut mix. You should be able make this yourself with ingredients from the grocery store or supermarket if the pet store is too far away. Fresh cut fruits and vegetables like celery and asparagus are also good for the parrot for the vitamins that they provide.

This parrot likes to be spoken too, especially by its owner. But be careful with the vocabulary that you use because the bird is actually studying all the sounds that you make and registering it in its head. But one good idea is to let it speak your name, home address and telephone number. This is exactly what an owner did and when his African Grey flew away through an opened window, the person who found the parrot managed to return it because the bird kept on repeating its owner’s phone number.

Yahoo Answers:

Question by Peter Blake-segovia: Can 2 cockatiels with eggs live with a wild parrot?
I have two cockatiels in an outside aviary and a wild parrot keeps hanging around. I am able to catch this parrot easily, and I was wondering, if I caught this wild parrot, could it live with my cockatiels and their two eggs?

Best answer:

Answer by Jmbs Onetwothree
yeah. But only if you give them no food for a few days so they learn companionship

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Image by SantaRosa OLD SKOOL

Food For Parrots

If you intend to keep parrots as pets, this may be your first question. Before you check out the pet stores for parrot supplies, here are some useful tips on providing a well-balanced parrot food.

Parrots need healthy, nutritious diet to help them live long and healthy lives. A healthy diet also impacts your parrots’ behavior and their response to training. The good news is that preparing the right diet for your pet parrots is not that difficult.

Do not just feed your parrots bird seeds, thinking that they are hardy birds and can live on just that. Yes, parrots such as the Macaw and Cockatoo are hardy birds, but bird seeds do not contain enough vitamin A and calcium which they need. In fact, bird seeds have a high content of fat, which as we know it is not healthy. In any case, bird seeds should just form only 10 percent of your parrots’ diet. If you own other species of parrots that are big seed eaters such as budgies and cockatiels, than the bird seeds should form 25 percent of their overall diet.

Another popular choice among parrot owners is pellet food as they have a good source of nutrients. Pellets contain vegetables, grains, fruits, vitamins and minerals, and is a convenient all-in-one parrot food. However, feeding just pellet food everyday may bore your parrots. Pellet food should just make up about 50 to 60 percent of your parrots’ daily intake.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are important food elements for your parrots. Depending on the size of your parrots, cut the fruits and vegetables to chewable size for easy consumption. Hanging the fruits on the side of the bird cage is also a good idea as it is easier for the birds to eat them from there than from a plate or bowl. Examples of ideal fruits for parrots are papaya, kiwi, pineapple, mangoes and pomegranates. These are tropical fruits found in their natural habitat, and naturally suit their diet best. Ideal vegetables are carrots, green beans, corn, cauliflower, cucumber and eggplant. To add variety, you may want to include softer fruits such as oranges, bananas, peaches and apples to the diet. Avoid giving them avocado, guacamole, and mushrooms as these are toxic and may harm the birds.

Keep the diet with nature’s food and avoid giving your parrots processed foods that we humans eat, such as chocolate, candy and caffeine. Make sure that when children are around the parrots, they do not feed the birds with kid’s food such as marshmallows and jellybeans.

The state of your parrots’ health has a lot to do with the diet and nutrition they are getting. It is the parrot owner’s responsibility to provide a balanced diet to the birds. However, feeding your parrots and watching them enjoy delicious food is fun and satisfying and is one of the reasons why people keep parrots as pets.

Parrot food should be limited to a solid-colored pellet, and should definitely not be focused on seeds. Discover how seeds are fine as a treat for parrots with help from the president of a bird club in this free video on parrot food. Expert: Ces Erdman Contact: www.wilmingtonncbirdclub.com Bio: Ces Erdman is the president of the Wilmington NC Bird Club, a group dedicated to the education of its members and the community on the care of companion birds. Filmmaker: Rendered Communications

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• The 4 ft. Diameter Indoor Aviary is the perfect addition to any bird lover’s decor.
• Made of sturdy metal the aviary features five panels; a large door makes it easy to insert perches formable ropes or play stands.
• A 72-inch interior height gives your bird plenty of space.
• The aviary provides you with up to .5-inch bar spacing necessary for smaller pet birds.
• The cage comes with Black Jewel and Patina/White finish options.

About CagesByDesign.com

CagesByDesign.com was established in 1998 and soon after incorporation the company began a mission to develop the ultimate small animal reptile and bird cage system. A factory-direct sales philosophy enables CagesByDesign.com to keep prices low while offering enclosure systems that are mobile and light enough for the average person to fit into a home or office. The cages are durable enough for commercial use and attractive enough for museum-quality display.

The company has become the nation’s largest built-to-order small animal bird and reptile cage manufacturer.

Retail Price: $1459.99

Sale Price: $1109.99

4 ft. Diameter Indoor Aviary is a post from:

• Your bird will love the versatile Protege Cage and Stand.
• This cage is perfect for small to medium-sized birds from lovebirds to conures and can sit on a table or on its own stand.
• Security for your birds is provided by the 5/8-inch bar spacing and 3/32-inch wire gauge.
• We’ve also included outside access to three of the five stainless steel food bowls an opening top a removable playpen and bird-proof door locks.
• The playpen slides out of the cage without having to disassemble the cage.
• It includes a Bakau hardwood perch a tray a toy hook and two cup holders.
• Removing the playpen allows for more convenient cleaning in addition to a separate environment for your birds.
• Available in several finishes the Protege Cage and Stand assembles easily with no tools or hardware required.

Recommended Birds for this Cage include:

Cockatiels Small Conures Small Amazons Budgies Lovebirds Parrotlets Grey Cheeks and other Small Parrots

About Mid-West Metal Products

In 1921 Mid-West Metal Products made only one item a Kruse Switch Box Support and over the years began manufacturing millions of wire and sheet metal component parts. By 1960 they were producing training crates for pets. Today Midwest Homes for Pets a division of Mid-West Metal Products produces and markets a variety of pet containment products. These products include dog crates training puppy crates dog kennels cat playpens bird cages vehicle barriers soft-sided carriers grooming tables and much more. They also manufacture a full line of pet accessories like beds and feeding dishes.

Retail Price: 349.99

Sale Price: 229.98

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• The biggest problem with large bird species is their ability to bend cage bars.
• With the durably constructed Jasper Corner Bird Cage you’ll have the solution.
• Framed with a high gauge metal that’s five millimeters thick this cage will stand up to the abuse that large birds can dish out.
• This cage sits low to the ground and features four stainless steel feeder bowls.
• Customize your cage with a wide color selection; finishes are non-toxic and bird-safe.
• One-inch bar spacing ensures safety for your pets.
• The cage consists of two 40-inch wide back panels and three 22-inch wide front panels.

Additional features include:

• 2 removable seed trays at top and bottom
• Complete set of seed catchers
• Hard plastic castors
• Large main access door

The durability of the Jasper Corner Bird Cage makes it a perfect choice for housing your bird community.

Ideal for:

Macaws Cockatoos Umbrella Cockatoos Triton Cockatoos Amazons Yellow Nape Amazons Eclectus Hyacinth Macaws Scarlet Macaws

Retail Price: $659.99

Sale Price: $584.99

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• The Pompano Bird Cage is a flight cage for your small or mid-size birds.
• This cage includes three perches and two food/water cups.
• An extra large front door makes it easy to retrieve your birds.
• The 1/2-inch bar spacing will safely enclose your small or mid-size birds.
• The base has a pullout drawer with a wire grill to contain messes.
• A sliding cup door provides easy access to food and water.
• Some assembly required.The Pompano Bird Cage is a spacious cage for your small birds.

Retail Price: $149.99

Sale Price: $89.98

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The Geneva Victorian Bird Cage’s elegant design gives your birds a comfortable elevated perch.

• A four-wheeled base makes moving the cage around your home an easy task.
• Cleaning the cage is made simple with a removable grate and seed tray and the wrought iron construction will stand up to daily use.
• Customize your cage with a variety of color choices.
• Bar spacing is 5/8 of an inch.Provide the birds you love with a secure home that they will love with the Geneva Victorian Bird Cage.

Ideal for:

Caiques Jendays Conures Senegals Meyers Parrots small Cockatoos

Retail Price: $409.99

Sale Price: $339.99

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About the Playtop Bird Cage

• Designed to be a comfortable home for parakeets finches canaries and lovebirds the Playtop Bird Cage will offer years of enjoyment.
• It features two perches to ensure comfortable seating while the roomy cage and open play top promote plenty of healthy activity.
• Available in a choice of attractive non-toxic epoxy-coated finishes. Stand with casters is optional.

Retail Price: $119.99

Sale Price: $89.99

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About the Sasha Playtop Bird Cage

• The Sasha Playtop Cage makes a roomy comfortable home for cockatiels lovebirds small parrots and other similar-sized birds.
• Three perches ensure comfortable seating while the roomy cage and play top promote plenty of healthy activity.
• To make cleaning easy the cage has a pull-out tray and grate.
• A metal stand with easy-roll casters lets you enjoy the company of your bird anywhere you want.
• Available in a choice of attractive non-toxic epoxy-baked finishes.

Retail Price: $229.99

Sale Price: $199.99

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Your pet bird will have more room to spread its wings in the Clean Life Tower Bird Cage.

• With 1/2-inch bar spacing this cage will be ideal for medium-sized birds.
• Lower cup placement provides less distance for the seed to fall away from the cage and an integrated seed guard guides seed and debris back into the cage effectively reducing mess.
• A snug-fit squeegee-edged removable drawer eliminates the gap between the base and the drawer to keep the mess inside the cage.
• The bottom grill is removable from the front of the cage and slides out for easy cleaning.
• Some assembly required.
• You will have a happy bird with the Clean Life Tower Bird Cage and you will be able to spend less time cleaning up messes.

Retail Price: $169.99

Sale Price: $94.98

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