Parrots are bright, unusually beautiful and very curious birds. There are more than 300 of their species in the world, many of which have become pets. Historians and ornithologists believe that these quick-witted birds appeared at least 50 million years ago.
Parrots are extremely popular as pets. In the homes of many urban and rural residents live mainly budgerigars or cockatiels, which are close relatives of the great cockatoo. Lovebirds are a little less common, which got their name because if they choose a mate for themselves, then for life. Often people keep African gray parrots or grays - excellent imitators of human speech. The macaw is quite rare, which impresses with its size and picturesque plumage.
Buying a parrot
Before deciding to purchase such a pet, it is important to realize that serious care is required for it, and financial investments will be needed in its maintenance. It is best to buy parrots in special nurseries or stores. An important criterion when choosing a pet is its price.
The formation of the cost of a bird depends on several factors: the breed of the parrot, its origin, age, gender. Human-raised chicks are more expensive as they are already adapted to life among humans.
Affects the cost, of course, and the size of the parrot. According to this feature, they are divided into three main groups - large, medium and small. Large parrots (macaw, gray, cockatoo) are up to 90 cm tall, have a significant intellectual. Those wishing to buy this bird will have to pay an impressive amount. Representatives of such species as cockatiels, budgerigars, lovebirds are much smaller and, of course, not as expensive as their larger counterparts.
Maintenance and feeding
In addition to the actual cost of the parrot, you need to take into account the fact that you will need a cage, food and other accessories for its maintenance.
The parrot's cage should be appropriate for its size - its width should be at least twice the span of its wings. In addition, it should be convenient for the owner of the bird, in terms of cleaning it, since it needs to be cleaned twice a day and this procedure should not be accompanied by inconveniences. In the cage, there must be a feeder, a drinker and a so-called perch for games and entertainment for the parrot, because without this it simply cannot develop normally.
It is better to buy poultry food in a specialized store. Pet food for parrots contains all the necessary ingredients for their growth, development and normal functioning. But feeding with natural products is also possible, for example, a grain mixture, which consists of seeds of cereal plants. In addition, vegetables, fruits and greens must be present in the diet of feathered pets.
Regular expenses will also be required for veterinary maintenance of the parrot. You cannot visit the doctor's office only when the bird is not feeling very well. The owner should make it a rule to regularly show the parrot to a specialist in order to exclude the occurrence of problems with his health.
