What Do I Really Need

[Inger]

As a parent of a 23 year old human daughter, I often find myself rolling my eyes at things new parents are convinced they will REQUIRE to raise their new babies.

As an "expectant" parent of a Parrotlet, I find myself looking at cool stuff for Future Bird and then wondering if I should be rolling my eyes at myself.

I have a nice, roomy cage, and I know I need lots of toys, good food, and an outside of cage play area. I'm also getting a smaller cage to put in my bedroom/TV room so he can be in the same room with me but safe from the dogs on weekends (I only have them part time).

I want to teach Future Bird tricks. Do I really need a training perch?

What about a harness? My apartment has a nice patio and I would like Future Bird to enjoy it with me in nice weather. I absolutely will not take him outside loose, but do harnesses work? Or should I just bring his small bedroom cage out with me?

What do you consider a must have accessory and which things were a waste of money?

Thanks for your advice

 

[SilverSage]

Welcome

I've never used a training perch, but I've never really taught my birds tricks. My training mostly focuses on life skills like "you may not chew on this, but you may chew on that."

As for a harness, I LOVE MINE!!! But I also take my birds on adventures with me (I'll include pics). If I were just going out to the patio a small cage would be easier. Wearing a harness is a trained behavior and takes time and patience.

Toys are obviously a must, but my birds prefer home made shreddable toys and foraging toys. Most others are a waste of money in my flock.

I love my shower perch but you can easily make your own if you want one. Or you can put the bird on your shoulder, as long as you make sure no soap gets on them.

You do not need to buy any supplements. A well-balanced diet based on pallets or fresh food preferably both, does not require the addition of any sort of vitamins or supplements that the pet stores like to sell. In fact those supplements are not regulated at all and I personally find them to be dangerous.

You do not need a snuggle hot, tent, cozy corner, or anything similar no matter what even if you have a conure. Some people choose to use them, but they are widely considered the most dangerous parrot accessory commonly sold and they promote hormonal behaviors and adolescent and adult birds.

You do not need an expensive cage cover that matches your cage. A sheet will work, or you may choose not to cover the cage if your bird cage is in an area that gets natural sunrise and sunset.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SilverSage]

You DO need the phone number of a good AVIAN VET, not just an exotics vet, not just a dog and cat vet who sees birds.

You do need an emergency vet fund. $2000 isn't unheard of in a crisis.

I highly recommend a round water dish. It is extremely difficult to insure you actually have all the germs out of interior corners and it just isn't worth the risk or hassle. Round water dishes, stainless steel or ceramic, are worth every penny.


You do not need a special bird bath; a pie pan etc will work just fine.

You DO need natural wooden perches (not smooth dowels) to preserve your bird's feet. My favorite are the grape wood; they last forever and are amazing. Some pedi perches and lava perches are good too; but don't waste your money on sand paper perches or plastic perches. Rope perches (or any rope or cloth toys, etc) should NEVER be placed inside the cage; those should be used only under supervision.

Seed+pellet mixes are a waste of money. The bird will eat the seed and leave the pellets. Much cheaper (and healthier!) to feed seeds separately as treats and go with just pellets as the dry food.

Your bird does not need to see a vet or groomer for wing and nail trims if you learn how to do it yourself. It isn't hard and it saves a lot of money.

Unless your bird suffers from a beak injury, fatty liver disease, or other medical condition, he should never need his beak trimmed. If it becomes overgrown, see your vet to determine what is causing the problem. The notable exception to this seems to be eckies for some reason.

You do not need an expensive Celtei carrier. Never mind the fact that I desperately want one; you can use a cheaper carrier. Even though they are amazing. And I want one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[YUMgrinder]

Rope perches (or any rope or cloth toys, etc) should NEVER be placed inside the cage; those should be used only under supervision.

wait, I have rope perches in both my cockatiel's and sun conure's cages... I have never heard that these should not be in the cage?

 

[BeatriceC]

You do need an emergency vet fund. $2000 isn't unheard of in a crisis.

Let me second this. I've spent $1500 at the vet for one sick bird just in the last 10 days. That doesn't count what I've spent this month on other birds. And we don't really have a solid diagnosis and his survival is still not a sure thing. Thankfully, I do have a large emergency vet fund and could swing it, but not everybody does, and most people don't think to keep a savings account for such things.

 

[SilverSage]

Rope perches (or any rope or cloth toys, etc) should NEVER be placed inside the cage; those should be used only under supervision.

wait, I have rope perches in both my cockatiel's and sun conure's cages... I have never heard that these should not be in the cage?

It's a risk for catching nails, leg bands, etc as well as a risk of ingestion. Doesn't always happen but happens often enough that I don't find it worth the risk.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[YUMgrinder]

you can always get more stuff AFTER your new family member gets aquainted You can even take him/her with to the petstore to shop! I take both my cockatiel and conure to petsmart to visit. Everyone there is always happy to see Jazz or peanut on my shoulder. I let them pick out a toy.

They are like my toddlers lol

"ONE toy. No candy, put that back. No that's not for you. yes that's a loud dog. get off my head, stop chewing on my hat! ok hold on it's windy outside."

 

[YUMgrinder]

Rope perches (or any rope or cloth toys, etc) should NEVER be placed inside the cage; those should be used only under supervision.

wait, I have rope perches in both my cockatiel's and sun conure's cages... I have never heard that these should not be in the cage?

It's a risk for catching nails, leg bands, etc as well as a risk of ingestion. Doesn't always happen but happens often enough that I don't find it worth the risk.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

daaaaang I have done a lot of research and never heard of this! Damn I have like 2 in each cage! I don't notice jazz ever chewing on it but peanut does chew on his.

 

[SilverSage]

I wouldn't worry so much about the socks, but I would remove the cloth from the cages. I've seen a bird dislocate a leg in a panic after catching a nail in a rope perch, I've seen cockatiels die from ingesting their rope perches, and conures lose toes because strings got caught around their toes and constricted the blood flow.

The reason you don't hear much about the dangers is because (in my opinion) they are such a big money maker for a lot of companies, and they push them pretty hard. Same with snuggle huts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OutlawedSpirit]

As far as toys, I would just get a variety to start with, sort of one or two of each "category" for now. You can get more later when you figure out what FB actually likes to play with. They each have their own preferences and you'll be able to determine what it is once they start playing.

For the patio, I would say just take him out in the small cage. Even though my ekkie is harness trained, if we are just going out to sit on the deck, I usually just put her in her travel cage because it is easier. Plus, as small as parrotlets are, I imagine it could be rather difficult to try and put a harness on and then adjust it properly. I also have big, clumsy fingers, so maybe that's just me.

As far as food, mine have access to pellets at all times, and get fresh food every morning. I mix a little seed in with their fresh food, but not a lot, maybe a teaspoon per pair. They usually eat all their seed and fresh foods and pick at their pellets when they get hungry in the evening.

I think the one thing that was really a waste for me to buy, and it may sound odd, was bird treats. I've found that most of my birds would prefer to have something of mine than some "bird specific" treat. And honestly, it is much cheaper to share a couple peas off my plate than to buy an expensive bag of dried who knows what that they won't eat half of anyway. Even for training purposes, I buy "people food", so it's not a bird specific treat either. By that I mean I buy human grade unsalted nuts or unsulfured dried fruits. And then I eat half of them...my bad.

 

[SilverSage]

That's a good point! I never buy bird treats either. Not only are they expensive but half of them are full of things that are TERRIBLE for birds!

I was going to say as well, I said no need for supplements but a cuttle bone is always a good idea.

I personally have never actually met a parrotlet in person, but I have used a harnessed budgies

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BeatriceC]

I can third the suggestion to not buy bird specific treats. The only bird specific food items I buy are the pellets and a seed mix that I use for training. Everything else is human grade food. They'd all rather eat from my plate than their own bowls anyway. Hell, Charlotte tries to get herself into the fridge if MrC turns his back on her for longer than 10 seconds.

My list of "must haves"

-Natural wood perches
-A variety of chew toys of the size and type preferred by each bird (the suggestion to buy just one or two of each type until you know what FB likes is a good one).
-A variety of mental engagement toys also of the size and type suitable for each birds specific likes.
-Multiple play stands or an easily transportable play stand. My birds like to be where I am (or MrC) so we have space for them in any room where we spend any significant time. We have large play stands in both my office and MrC's office for the big birds, and move around the play stands for the smaller birds.
-Some sort of shower set up, but don't spend a lot of money until you figure out what FB likes. My bigger birds all like our home made shower stand, but the smaller birds prefer to splash around in a shallow tub. Absolutely nobody likes the pre-made shower perches that suction to the walls. Other people have birds that love them. It's all up to the individual's preference.
-Heat lamps/cage heaters. My birds like things a little warmer than the humans in my house. Also, having an easily movable heat lamp came in really handy when a bird got sick and needed extra care.
-Bird safe first aid kit (for the bird). This doesn't have to be fancy, just easily accessible. Good things to keep are gauze, a clean towel, a sealed bottle of distilled water (for cleaning wounds), vet wrap, that powder that's used to stop bleeding (the name of which is failing me at the moment), and the numbers to your avian vet and any recommended after hours emergency clinics your vet recommends. You just want it in a place where you can easily grab it in an emergency and not have to run around your house looking for stuff.
-Baby wipes. These are great for cleaning up poop accidents on your floor or clothing.
-A good travel cage. You want this not just for trips to the vet, but if you ever want to travel with your birds. We take our birds everywhere. As we speak, Charlotte and Goofy are on Los Angeles with MrC.

I think that's everything.

 

[SilverSage]

As far as above I think the powder you mean is Kwikstop, but I highly recommend corn starch as it is just as effective and much safer when ingested (and they WILL ingest it).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BeatriceC]

Yup. I was thinking Kwikstop. It's what my vet uses. Though I've also used cornstarch in the past. I hesitated to use the Kwikstop when Charlotte fell and chipped the tip of her beak off because of the ingestion issue, and the vet okayed cornstarch, though we wound up having to go to the emergency vet anyway, since it was a stubborn bleed.

 

[ParrotLover2001]

I used a training perch for past birds, I'd recommend it, but it isn't completely necessary.

I use harnesses on my cockatiel and one of my budgies, they work, but I wouldn't recommend getting one for a parrotlet. I do believe that parrotlets are smaller than budgies, and no one likes the idea that I have a Harness on my budgie instead of a flight suit, so I'd recommend a flight suit instead.

Nothing I have for my birds was a Waste or money. Each of them like something different form the other. So each toy I buy, if one doesn't like it, one of the others will.
Must have is anything that your future bird likes, get a few toys and the bird will pick its favorite, also, a swing. Get a swing, I have found that all of my birds (and past birds) loved swings. Natural wood perches I have 2 of them, and I'd recommend it. Phone number of a certified avian vet, a birdie first aid kit, a good diet with lots of fresh veggies, will all help keep the healthy.

I'd recommend both seed and pellet to be fed everyday, not in the same bowl or at the same time.
For example, my birds feeding schedule is, fresh fruit and veggies in the morning, pellets in the afternoon, and seed right before I cover them for the night. I had a bird on an all pellet diet with lots of fresh fruit and veggies daily, that bird devolved kidney disease, and I blame the pellets.
I'll also recommend plain nuts as treats, but your future bird might not like nuts, so I won't recommend it. But you can still try to give it plain unsalted nuts.



Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

 

[Kentuckienne]

Wow, such great advice. This thread should be edited to a single post, with credits of course, and made sticky! I'll add that a training perch is a good idea. It lets you take your bird from room to room, and provides opportunities to practice step-ups. Getting your parrot to reliably step up and off is a YUGE deal, for bonding and for safety.

I like having a few parrot books on hand. I keep a copy of "The Second Hand Parrot" where I can pick it up every day and glance through. I've done this for almost a year, and it's not a large book, but every time I see something valuable. Unlike kids, parrots don't really learn to talk to you, and if you can learn to read their body language and understand their emotional and physical needs you will find it improves everything. Good luck!

 

[SilverSage]

I used a training perch for past birds, I'd recommend it, but it isn't completely necessary.

I use harnesses on my cockatiel and one of my budgies, they work, but I wouldn't recommend getting one for a parrotlet. I do believe that parrotlets are smaller than budgies, and no one likes the idea that I have a Harness on my budgie instead of a flight suit, so I'd recommend a flight suit instead.

Nothing I have for my birds was a Waste or money. Each of them like something different form the other. So each toy I buy, if one doesn't like it, one of the others will.
Must have is anything that your future bird likes, get a few toys and the bird will pick its favorite, also, a swing. Get a swing, I have found that all of my birds (and past birds) loved swings. Natural wood perches I have 2 of them, and I'd recommend it. Phone number of a certified avian vet, a birdie first aid kit, a good diet with lots of fresh veggies, will all help keep the healthy.

I'd recommend both seed and pellet to be fed everyday, not in the same bowl or at the same time.
For example, my birds feeding schedule is, fresh fruit and veggies in the morning, pellets in the afternoon, and seed right before I cover them for the night. I had a bird on an all pellet diet with lots of fresh fruit and veggies daily, that bird devolved kidney disease, and I blame the pellets.
I'll also recommend plain nuts as treats, but your future bird might not like nuts, so I won't recommend it. But you can still try to give it plain unsalted nuts.



Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

Is there a specific reason you suspect the pellets are to blame? I ask because that's pretty much unheard of. Also keep in mind that you have budgies and cockatiels which are grass parakeets and have different dietary needs that parrotlets.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I guess it also depends on the size of the birdie. Never have been owned by a "small" fid,unti Beebs came into our lives.

Amy has a lot of toys. She has a four perches in her house. 3 are wooden of varying lengths and diameters ( smallest is about 2 inches,no dowels) She also has one of those "keep my nails trimmed" types. An abundance of chew toys. She does have a large circular type hanging tightly woven rope swing that honestly, I have never seen here perch on ..it also has wooden wood chew blocks hanging from it..I just may remove it for good to make room for something else she may enjoy instead..and I do have to throw it in the washing machine from time to time to get any poo that landed on it,from her hanging upside down from her ceiling.

She has 3 large,round,hard plastic food/nummy/water bowls. She DOES get a bowl of a good grade seed/pellet mix,however,she rarely eats from it,prefering her nummy bowl of people-ish type food..veggies..different fruits..nana's (her fav)...grapes..( red...not green..she throws them away,go figure )..she will eat just about anything I will and her seed/pellet bowl is only vivited if she wants a late night snack or something before brekky arrives. I DO treat her with nutraberries and on occasion one of those honey type sticks,which to me is a waste of money coz 95% of it is just chewed off and thrown to her basement.
She gets clipped twice a year and goes with me every where in the summer,no harness or flight suit. I think after all this time she might not appreciate it.
Bath time is usually in the shower with me. She sits on her "perch stick" that I have had since she was a baby..I even take it with me if we go out someplace. The stick allows her to hang upside down,open her arms and flapflapflap in the shower. I tried one of those "stick it to the tile" only to find it to fall off the wall or its not long enough for her to open her arms fully..


Jim

BB gets

 

[Inger]

Welcome

I've never used a training perch, but I've never really taught my birds tricks. My training mostly focuses on life skills like "you may not chew on this, but you may chew on that."

As for a harness, I LOVE MINE!!! But I also take my birds on adventures with me (I'll include pics). If I were just going out to the patio a small cage would be easier. Wearing a harness is a trained behavior and takes time and patience.

Toys are obviously a must, but my birds prefer home made shreddable toys and foraging toys. Most others are a waste of money in my flock.

I love my shower perch but you can easily make your own if you want one. Or you can put the bird on your shoulder, as long as you make sure no soap gets on them.

You do not need to buy any supplements. A well-balanced diet based on pallets or fresh food preferably both, does not require the addition of any sort of vitamins or supplements that the pet stores like to sell. In fact those supplements are not regulated at all and I personally find them to be dangerous.

You do not need a snuggle hot, tent, cozy corner, or anything similar no matter what even if you have a conure. Some people choose to use them, but they are widely considered the most dangerous parrot accessory commonly sold and they promote hormonal behaviors and adolescent and adult birds.

You do not need an expensive cage cover that matches your cage. A sheet will work, or you may choose not to cover the cage if your bird cage is in an area that gets natural sunrise and sunset.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you! It looks like you have a "harness" on one of the birds and "flight suits" on the others. Which do you prefer/recommend?

 

[SilverSage]

FlightSuit are harnesses I use flightsuits and Aviator Harnesses, and I love both. However for a bird as tiny as a parrotlet I would go with a FlightSuit. The Aviator doesn't come in a size smaller than the one used for IRNs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk