Monday, June 11, 2012

Healthy Fresh Fruits for parrots

    Healthy Fresh Fruits For Parrots
    No to Pesticides! Choose Organic!
    Always wash fruit with a good fruit wash!

    Apples without the seeds (seeds toxic)
    Banana
    Blueberries
    Cantaloupe
    Cherries (pitted)
    Grapes (seedless)
    Guava
    Mango
    Nectarines
    Oranges
    Papaya
    Peaches (remove the pit)
    Pears (remove the pear core)
    Plums
    Pomegranate
    Prunes
    Raisins
    Strawberries
    Raspberries

              
Healthy Fresh Vegetables
    Asparagus
    Beans (cooked only)
    Beets
    Broccoli
    Brussels Sprouts
    Carrots
    Cauliflower
    Corn (corn on the cob is fun for parrot enrichment)
    Chard
    Cucumber
    Hot peppers
    Kale
    Kiwi (peeled)
    Kale
    Pea Pods
    Red Leaf Lettuce
    Sprouts (Alfalfa, Broccoli, Bean)
    Squash Cooked ( Acorn, Butternut, and Pumpkin)
    Sweet and Baked Potato / Yams Cooked
    Zucchini


    Other Healthy Foods To Offer
    Bran Squares
    Brown Rice
    Couscous
    Eggs ( scrambled, hard boiled)
    Fresh nuts ( leave in shell for enrichment play )
    Meats
    Millet
    Oatmeal
    Pilaf
    Shredded Wheat





    Foods To Avoid Feeding Your Parrot
    Avocado
    Caffeine
    Candy and Chocolate
    Junk foods (chips, cookies, pastries)
    Large amounts of dairy products
    Mushrooms
    Onions

    Please note that with all fresh fruits, vegetables, and other foods, your parrot should not be given anything with salt, sugars, chocolates or caffeine. All fruits and vegetables should be washed with a fruit and vegetable cleaner from your local supermarket. It really does make a difference! Some fruits and vegetables such as apples, strawberries, and cantaloupe may contain extremely high amounts of pesticides. This can vary depending on the time of year and country that the foods are being imported from. It is strongly recommended to feed organically grown foods.  Caution: Remember to remove any uneaten fresh food from the cage before it spoils.

LoveBirds ( breeding , cage , toys ,food)

     
     

    General:
    The loving lovebird is an adorable, stout little parrot with a short tail. They developed their name because of the way they sit in pairs very close grooming and preening one another. There are a variety of beautiful mutations available such as cinnamon, albino, lutino, pieds and variations of black and blue. Lovebirds are not talkers but they do enjoy chattering throughout the day.

    They are easy to train to perform tricks such as giving kisses, waving a foot, and "stepping up" on a finger. Playful and entertaining, the lovebird is an affectionate companion parrot.


    Environment:
    Lovebird parrots originate from Africa. There are 9 different species that include the Peach Face, Fischer's, Masked or Black Masked, Black Collared, and the rarer species, the Lilian's (also called Nyasa), Black - Cheeked, Abyssinian, Red Faced, and Madagascar.


    Diet:
    A proper daily diet for lovebirds consist of fresh fruits, vegetables, a high quality cockatiel seed mix, and formulated parrot pellets. Sprouts are a favorite and are available at your supermarket in alfalfa, bean, or broccoli. Fresh water should be given twice daily, removing any contaminated water bowls and replenishing with fresh. Check out  the fresh foods you should be feeding your parrot on our fresh food list.





                          



    Breeding:
    Breeding lovebirds can bring happiness and joy when a proper foundation is set up correctly for these sometimes unpredictable birds. Lovebirds are not sexually dimorphic, meaning male and female cannot visually be determined. There are a few simple ways of trying to determine the sex, these methods are just basics and are not an accurate prediction of whether the lovebird is male or female.

    A hen is usually a little broader and often perches with her legs a little further apart than a cock does. A females pelvic bones can be a little further apart and you may be able to feel the difference by gently feeling with your finger.

    A DNA test is the more practical guaranteed procedure. This can be done through sending a blood sample through the mail to a lab or taking the bird to an avian veterinarian. Once pairs have bonded, the exciting journey can begin. When breeding more than one pair of lovebirds, it is recommended for these parrots to be able to hear each other but not see one another for effective breeding results.

    Once the female starts to nest, she will lay four to six eggs, laying one every other day. Incubation is on average 24 days. Those that are choosing to handfeed these little bundles can pull them from the nest at 2 1/2 weeks. Lovebirds will wean at about 8 weeks of age, some a bit earlier or later.


    Captivity:
    Lovebirds are hardy, playful, and sweet!  Most birds love to take a bath and should be misted daily with a good spray bottle or mister from a reputable pet store. The bird cage should be placed where the family spends the most time, typically the living or dining room. We highly recommend purchasing an acrylic cage or your bird to be housed in.  


    This species is known to become untame if kept in a cage for a majority of its life. It is best to give social and physical attention to them daily with frequent outings of the bird cage. A small parrot play gym is a nice place to have them perch while the family is doing daily activities. Lovebirds make great companion pets for those looking for a smaller parrot.