Daily Care Tips for Parrots: Healthy & Happy Birds!

What are the Key Daily Care Tasks for Parrots?

1. Ensuring Comfortable Temperatures for Your Parrot

Birds have a high metabolism, which typically results in a body temperature of over 38°C. However, this doesn't mean they are immune to cold. It's crucial for owners to take precautions to keep their parrots warm and cool as needed.

Be mindful not to place the cage in a drafty area. When providing your parrot with sunbathing, do so judiciously and ideally during the slanting morning sun.

On cooler nights, ensure the cage is placed inside a box or covered to retain warmth. For robust birds, hanging the cage against a wall is preferable to suspending it in the air where it might be exposed to cold drafts.

During the hot summer months, maintain good ventilation in the cage and protect your parrot from overheating to prevent heatstroke. For particularly nurturing birds, encourage them to leave the nest frequently to prevent chicks from becoming overheated and developing damp feathers, which can hinder their growth.

2. Regularly Grooming Your Parrot's Feathers

It's not uncommon for parrots to have damaged wings or tails, and regrowing feathers naturally can take a long time, affecting their appearance. To speed up the process, manual feather plucking can be necessary to stimulate new feather growth.

3. Cleaning Your Parrot's Feathers and Claws Regularly

Sometimes, a simple bath isn't enough to thoroughly clean a parrot's feathers and toes. Owners should assist in this process by gently holding the bird with one hand, wetting the area to be cleaned, and using the other hand to gently rub away dirt with a soft cloth. After cleaning, dry the feathers with a towel and return the bird to its cage.

4. Daily Cleaning of the Drinking Waterer

Drinking waterers often accumulate food particles, droppings, and mineral deposits, which can be harmful to your parrot's health. It's essential to clean these regularly and refill them with fresh water. To prevent your parrot from using the waterer as a bath and contaminating the water, you can place a loofah or a piece of plastic sponge inside. Additionally, check the water level in the drinking waterer during the afternoon in summer and autumn, and replenish it as needed.

5. Regular Trimming of Claws and Beaks

Since parrots spend most of their time in cages, they don't often come into contact with abrasive surfaces like sand, soil, or trees, which can lead to overgrown claws. Long claws can interfere with normal movement and standing, and they can also become trapped in cage gaps, potentially fracturing bones or toes. Generally, if a parrot's claws extend beyond twothirds of the length of its toes, they should be trimmed appropriately.

Dr. Oxygen Pet has outlined some essential daily care tasks for parrots. We hope these tips help you to provide the best possible care for your feathered friend, reducing the likelihood of illness.