(Part 3) Best pet bird supplies according to redditors

Nope, it's coated in sandy stuff. It's this perch.

As for the getting along bit, they're a little crazy. They've been together for about a year now and they're at that can't live with/can't live without stage. I've had him (IRN) longer than her. I didn't do anything special, I just house them next to each other and let them have supervised playtime together. I occasionally have to step in and separate fights where he bullies her or she tries to steal his toys, but for the most part they're okay sitting next to each other when closely watched. If one attacks the other and I put the the culprit back in his/her cage for a timeout, the "victim" screams bloody murder until I bring the offender back. Five minutes later they fight again. Freaking siblings :P

Maybe things like this and this?

spiral bird rope

bendy bird rope

wooden bridge

Sputnik/space pod

foraging toy

wooden climbing platforms

2-pack lava ledges

foraging wheel

Also a good idea might be to look up some rat safe treat recipes and make a little ratty goodie bag for them (banana chips, oats, dried pasta, certain seeds, etc.)

Certainly!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OE3C1K6?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

My favorite feature is the long screws attached the bowls. They can be removed easily for cleaning, but provide stability for the bowls. I often unscrew them and thread a toy on them, before putting them back in.

Also, the base provided a nice catcher for food and droppings. Lightweight and portable. Highly recommend!

Yeah I'm in the same situation, although I only had them for about three months. So what I have for mine is this bowl thing you attach to their cage and fill it up with water. I'll leave the room, go out and come back to see them drenched. Parakeets are very curious little things so I don't see why they won't try this.

Happy Hen Treats Mealworm Frenzy, 30-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008UAW6E0/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_SmAYtb17ZAWFVBC6

Believe it or not, but there are some types of animal feed on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Naturally-Layer-Chicken-25lbs/dp/B0068SP1XE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426556107&sr=8-2&keywords=chicken+feed

You should make a wishlist and add it to your post.

I have the exact same perch. It's this one from Amazon.

Well i know they like bells but i guess I could show you what my guys have (I'm away so I'll provide links instead of pics) They like to climb all over this and mine go crazy over things like this you might want to get a ladder or too, they can climb on it, and it's pretty much were my older tiel likes to go sleep.

Edit: pretty much anything they can chew without getting hurt, also they'll be scared of it at first but they'll get used to it.

Thank you for the ping /u/stringoflights! <3

/u/mel_bell: Thank you so much for rescuing a bird who needs your help! Pepper needs you right now and I'm so happy that you stepped up.

It definitely helps that you have a prior relationship with Pepper and that you're able to handfeed her treats.

My boyfriend and I adopted Rocky in spring 2016 under similar circumstances. The comment that /u/stringoflights linked has a lot of detail about what we did to help him.

For Pepper, I recommend that you:

• Target train her immediately. This lets you redirect Pepper when she gets into trouble, and get her in/out of the cage as needed. It also builds trust and confidence. Pepper will know that she has this awesome task she can perform (follow and touch the target stick), and that she can trust you to give her a tasty treat whenever she does it! Check out [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqtptXFyb2c
  ) for the basics. It took Rocky only a few days to get the hang of it.
  
  
• Get her diet in order. I'm not sure what she's eating now, but a balanced diet ensures that she's energized and feels healthy. A parrot who feels good is more likely to behave well, which is really important when you're training and bonding with a rescue. I recommend Harrison's High Potency Coarse for the first six months; you can switch to Harrison's Lifetime Coarse after that. She should also get "chop" every day (chopped dark green leafy vegetables for calcium source + orange vegetables for vitamin A). Save treats she really LOVES for training rewards. (seed-based treats like Nutriberries or Avicakes, nuts in the shell like almonds and pistachios)
  
  
• Get her sleep in order. All parrots need about 12 hours of sleep per night to feel their best. Is she DNA-sexed female? We're in the middle of breeding season, so she needs 14 hours of dark and silence every night to prevent egg-laying, which is stressful to her body, and hormonal behavior, which can appear aggressive if you don't know the difference. Use a blanket to cover her cage at night.
  
  
• Interact with her often, but keep the ball in her court. Don't force touching or handling when she doesn't feel like it. Talk to her, sing to her, whistle to her. Give her pieces of fruit and nuts so she knows you're the cool person who brings her food. Greys often bow their heads when they want scratched, it looks like this.
  
  
• Give her freedom. She's been trapped in a cage her whole life. Whenever you're home, open up the cage door and give her the ability to come out if she wants. Some greys will just stand on top of the cage, and others will prowl around on the floor.
  
  
• Teach her to play. This will help her entertain herself when you're not there to talk to her. Rocky finally plays with SOME bird toys, but his favorites are just things like cardboard boxes, popsicle sticks, and paper bags. Give Pepper a lot of choices and swap out toys often. She'll be afraid of toys at first, and that's normal: just don't give up, keep exposing her to new toys and she'll figure it out eventually. Some people have success modeling play behavior by pretending to play with the toys in front of their parrot, and then offering it to the parrot.
  
  I think that's all the most important stuff. Sorry for writing an essay! If you have any questions about anything, let me know. I have seven parrots, and two of them were neglected adult rescues, so I've done a lot of research on training and rehabilitating.
  
  Best of luck to you and Pepper. I can't wait to hear about how your relationship with her progresses!

Ooops! That's what I get for trying to double task.
Real link: http://www.amazon.com/Perch-Clear-View-Carrier-Travel/dp/B002EO1OIW/

Here's a bunch of general safety stuff. Hope this helps and is useful.

Check out this list especially Item #10. It happened a few weeks ago to a member on this subreddit--tragic.

I don't agree with Item #2 from that list. For taking your bird outside you're going to want to get an Aviator Harness. There's a video that shows you everything you need to know on it--it's surprisingly easy to get on and off your bird if you follow their approach. The earlier you begin betting your bird accustomed to the harness the better.

Also, be extremely careful around open flames (gas stoves, candles, fireplaces), cooking pots (boiling water, hot oil, griddles), hot stove/range tops, hot baking sheets, essentially anything that poses a fire/burn hazard to your bird. A good practice is to have your bird secure while cooking and after everything has cooled down.

You'll want to get a first-aid kit with a set of needle-nose pliers and styptic powder/gel. Here's an overview of what blood feathers are](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwszSwu4JMc) another video about handling/pulling broken blood feathers--if your bird breaks a blood feather or gets a cut, you need to handle it right away or your bird can bleed to death. In the case of blood feathers, you need to do what amounts to minor surgery to remove the feather shaft cleanly. There's a medical way to hold a bird, you'll want to learn that and get your bird acquainted to being toweled. The main thing when this goes down is you need to be the calming presence--which can be difficult when your bird is flapping and slinging blood and trying to claw/bite you because he's in pain.

You'll also want to ensure that there's no mold anywhere and your bird's cage is kept super clean.

Read up on PTFE/PFOA free cookware. These pans emit fumes when overheated that kill birds. Greenware ceramic-coated nonstick is really good and bird safe. Also things like bake-in-bag dinners can emit fumes that are toxic to birds and someone recently pointed out that the "Oilless Air Fryers" kill birds. Anything you buy that heats up like hair-dryers, space heaters, toaster/toaster ovens you'll need to ensure is PTFE PFOA free.

Be careful with appliances that your bird can get trapped in like Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators. A member of this sub lost a conure recently in a washer-related incident.

Get a gram scale (preferably with a "T" perch) and measure your bird's weight regularly--ideally every day, it's super quick. Changes in weight of 20% or more (assuming your bird is fully grown) is one of the best indicators of a potential health problem--birds are flock creatures and will mask any illness they have so as not to be abandoned by the flock for appearing weak or ill. Also, get good at reading bird poop.

Get a shower perch and shower your bird frequently. Lukewarm water--pressure to taste (good to start gentle and add more as your bird goes to splashing!).

Make sure you're feeding the right foods. Ensure that you have a good high quality protein pellet (I use Harrison's). For seed, avoid sunflower--do not use the black sunflower seeds that they sell for outside bird feeders. I use Volman's Superhookbill--it's safflower seed based.

Don't feed your bird chocolate or avocado. These are toxic to birds.

Get your bird into working with you through target and/or click training. The Parrot Wizard on youtube has a bunch of good videos on this his site and its forums are really good too: http://parrotwizard.com/.

This is a lot of info, but hopefully it gives you a good start toward being super parrot safe!

Ideally you want perches with different diameters and different textures. In addition, consider an area in the cage where she can stand on a flat surface, if she doesn't regularly run around on tables/floors out of the cage (so she can stretch her toes out flat sometimes. Budgies in the wild actually spend a lot of time on the ground.)

I don't know where you are or where you shop, these are just examples to give you an idea:

Rope perches are very popular: warm and soft on feet, available in many different lengths, they clip to the bars or can be hung up.

Wood perches also come in various sizes and shapes and different kinds of wood. One thing I like about them is they only need to be attached to one wall of the cage so you have more options for length and placement.

Hope that helps. Beautiful bird!

Pellets are fairly easy to find online. Here are some examples:

Harrison's pellets

Roudybush Crumbles and the smaller Roudybush Nibbles

Zupreem Natural pellets and Zupreem Fruit Blend

There are many more, but these are the one's I've looked at for my own cockatiel. My bird is not a big fan of pellets, but he will occasionally eat Zupreem Fruit Blend for budgies and the Roudybush Nibbles. He ignored the larger, "cockatiel" versions of the pellets.

My cockatiel is also not a huge fan of veggies. Like your bird, he'll eat the broccoli bits that look like seeds. I found out that he'll eat anything that looks like that, which includes cauliflower (especially purple cauliflower) and broccolini. He likes crunchy stuff, so he'll nibble on the stems of kale, spinach, and other greens (not the leafy part). Try as many crunchy vegetables as you can: green cabbage, red cabbage, snow peas, green beans, pea pods, etc. If I make a big show of eating sweet peppers and carrots ("mmm, yum yum, these peppers are sooooo good!"), my bird will get interested and try a bit. If you can, make yourself a little salad with lots of different vegetables and pretend to keep it away from your bird. When she comes up to steal a bite, let her get away with it. My bird will eat more vegetables if he thinks he's sneaking "people food!"

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002EO1OIW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ML1-Bb2CQHMA2

This is what I use it's plenty big enough for my gcc. It's kinda a bugger to put together but works great for short trips.

Buy a cheap perch with a tray on amazon . Line the base of it. Every morning take them out of the cage as he wil have to go as soon as he wakes up. Verbally praise him and put him on your shoulder that is the reward.

Every time you take him out have him empty the tank as soon as he comes out and then put him on your shoulder to start a routine. If he just sits there then let him sit until he finally goes no matter how long it takes. ( I recommend placing the perch on the floor during his time as he will be anxious to get to higher ground)

Soon he will realize that he is stuck on a boring perch until he relieves himself and will get significantly faster.

Consistency is key.

This is the perch I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OE3C1K6?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd&th=1


I actually don’t use the bowls or side branches and screw the T shapes over a piece of bird cage liner. It’s portable and keeps everything in place.

Oh wow awesome, thank you!! They used to be in a smaller cage and I'd just go outside and get them sticks for perches, but we just set this new cage up and it's so spacious! I was thinking of getting one of those bird baths that you can attach to to the corner of the cage, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/JW-Pet-Company-Insight-Accessory/dp/B000HHS8QE/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1496173899&sr=1-2&keywords=parakeet+bird+bath

How do you get them to use it? lol

Thank you! Not sure if you’re in the US but I got this one from amazon Super Bird Creations SB747 Bright... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JKXUDMI?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share. So far he hasn’t had any issues getting stuck and he loves to lay down on it.

Non-mobile: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0068SP1XE/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/181-0921758-2681745?fp=1&pc_redir=1427235482

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

Lol that sounds like my bird! We buy bird kebabs in bulk for him to shred. He's weirdly picky about the stuff he likes to shred; he'll attack some toys and ignore others.

I'm just so excited, meeting another cherry head owner! They are truly special birds :)

It's a snap on bath tub. I found it at feeders supply but here is the amazon link.
http://www.amazon.com/JW-Pet-Company-Insight-Accessory/dp/B000HHS8QE/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376255671&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=cage+mount+bird+tub

I leave the boing on the top -- Mangogh has only recently started showing interest in what's on there. Now, he climbs up and down the pole, as well as the boing.

I got the boing from Amazon, though I'm not certain that's the exact one I've got. He also has one inside his cage.

I marked things with a [w] if they're on my WL!

1. Something that is grey. China Glaze Polish Ecollection Recycle [w]
   
   
2. Something reminiscent of rain. Hehe, a watering can [w]
   
   
3. Something food related that is unusual. Miracle Noodles - they're these weird low-carb noodles [w]
   
   
4. Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why. (Yes, pets count!) LARPing Book for my friend Dennis. His is missing several pages, which is very frustrating to him. He's endlessly dear to me. [w]
   
   
5. A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it! Other People's Love Letters - doesn't that just sound romantic? :D [w]
   
   
6. An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related! Mickey Mouse Cookies!
   
   
7. Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...) SmartCat [w]
   
   
8. Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it. Triple heart necklace <3 [w]
   
   
9. A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why? Love Me If You Dare. Everyone should have more French film in their lives. It's a beautiful, artistic, funny, romantic movie. The main characters are hot.
   
   
10. Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain. Cast Iron is heavy! [w]
    
    
11. Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals. For exercise, way easier on my knees than the treadmill [w]
    
    
12. One of those pesky Add-On items. Awesome fabric softener - and I really want it, too! [w]
    
    
13. The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why? A Roomba. I have pets. I need to vacuum more often. I'm lazy. Also he would be my robot butler friend. I'd name him Alfred or Jeeves or Pennyworth. My cats would be afraid of him. [w]
    
    
14. Something bigger than a bread box. A mattress is quite a bit bigger! [w]
    
    
15. Something smaller than a golf ball. Pearl earrings [w]
    
    
16. Something that smells wonderful. Lilac and Lilies! [w]
    
    
17. A (SFW) toy. Cat toy! [w]
    
    
18. Something that would be helpful for going back to school. Chromebook! It's actually for when my husband starts college. [w]
    
    
19. Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be. Filter for my new fishtank! [w]
    
    
20. Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand. Electric bike so, my comment on this is: “Theoretically I would like to bike. Realistically I'd like to bike, except up hills. Oh, here we are!”. Right?! Also what they sell electric bikes on Amazon? Damn! [w]
    
    Bonus:
    
    Oregon Chai!

Some birds will eat meat, but it is not a natural part of their diet. giving your bird fresh fruits and vegetables and switch him to a pellet based diet would be best. Pellets should have all the nutrients your bird needs. You can order pellets from amazon if there are no pet stores nearby.

Try [these] (http://www.amazon.com/Harrisons-High-Potency-Fine-1lb/dp/B0007LI108/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1454019120&sr=1-6&keywords=harrisons+high+potency+coarse) or [these] (http://www.amazon.com/ZuPreem-Fruit-Blend-Fruitable-Cockatiel/dp/B00DRP472W/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1454019038&sr=1-1&keywords=zupreem&refinements=p_89%3AZuPreem+Fruit+Blend). You can also buy [avicalm] (http://www.amazon.com/Avitech-113514-Avicalm-Calming-Supplement/dp/B00I2LT1YK) on amazon.

I'd second that, budgies are inquisitive playful creatures and need mental stimulation. They will need some chew toys like this https://www.amazon.ca/Colorful-Parakeet-Cockatoo-Cockatiels-Lovebird/dp/B01H5BCC3E/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1550553646&sr=1-6&keywords=budgie+chew or kabobs like this: https://www.amazon.com/Bird-Kabob-Shreddable-Parrot-Mini/dp/B00JXLOOTA/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=shreddable+bird+toy&qid=1550553894&s=gateway&sr=8-1, some toys that make noise like bells (budgies LOVE bells), and some swings to fly and hop around on. Most budgies LOVE rope swings like this: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00061UX2I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

Also look at foraging toys for mental stimulation as well.

​

A variety of perches of shape and size (rope, wood, cement) is good for their feet.

​

Make sure to also provide a cuttlebone and mineral block.

Super Pet Habitat Defined Enrichment Pod, Hide N' Go Treat
http://amzn.com/B002LE88VQ

This is the one they have. I got them the one with the levers, too, but it doest work too well with their treats. Every Petco I have ever been to has had them on sale at nearly half cost. Apparently birds don't like them that much.

So I can be lazy and keep my cat from being lazy. =P

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0068SP1XE/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/181-0921758-2681745?fp=1&pc_redir=1427235482

Only thing that sucks is the shipping : (

Good to hear from you again! Leo is lovely and I'm so glad you are seeing her happy, chirpy, eating, etc. Your patience with her is especially good. One small suggestion: her perches are the standard wooden dowels and they are not good for her feet. It would be great if you could get one of those rope perches https://www.amazon.com/Penn-Plax-Rope-Perch-Small-Diameter/dp/B00K9PFR2W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511932527&sr=8-3&keywords=rope+perches+for+birds. As to bird toys, plastic rings with a bell on the bottom; chew toys, and another ladder or two to allow her more climbing exercise. That's all I got! I hope you did very well on your exams and I look forward to more updates on the both of you!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002HBO6K/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1369457628&sr=8-1&pi=SL75

I'm on mobile, so sorry about the messy link. I have a rag covering the perch because the blue bit scares Zippy half to death. The rag is more up his alley. He's a weirdo. But the perch is great!

I don't have a Grey, but I'll throw my two cents in here.

A) Zephyr's wings quiver a little when he's nervous or in a new place for the first time. His chest and tummy feathers shiver a little when he's very relaxed and fluffed up on his perch. This is normal. If it's accompanying labored breath or trouble balancing, it becomes an issue.

B) I try to let my baby get about 11-12 hours per night, and that's what he likes. He goes to bed at 9pm, and usually wakes up between 8-11am depending on the day. He's usually happy to sleep in a little with us on the weekend. His sleeping cage is at the foot of our bed, and when he gets scared or wakes at night a little whisper from me will generally settle him down quickly. If you're not covering the cage at night, do that. If he doesn't feel comfortable sleeping away from you guys, maybe a sleeping cage could help? This is the cage we use for sleeping. (it also doubles as his carrier and travel cage!)

C) Just make sure you're washing your fruits and veggies very well before feeding. Teflon is what you're worried about, when heated over a certain temperature, it releases harmful airborne toxins that can easily kill a bird.

D) In the wild, birds split their days between foraging for food, and preening. It takes a LOT of work to keep all those feathers nicely zipped and flight-ready. Preening looks like they are combing their feathers out with their beaks in long movements from the base of the feather all the way to the tip. As far as I know, plucking looks more like the bird is tugging on the shaft of the feather violently to pull it out.

E) Molting is different for every parrot. Some go through seasonal molts, some molt continuously, and some do a big molt once per year. This mostly depends on the bird itself, but can be influenced by temperature, diet, and bathing.

This is what I have. It's awesome, and comes with everything you need. It's sturdy and durable and super easy to clean.

Idk what kind of bird you have but it's a big large for my lorikeet. You could fit an African gray or Amazon in it for trips to the vet, but not a macaw.

You can get a small cage with bars, made of acrylic, etc. Generally a smaller travel-cage is better than a big one, as you don't want your bird trying to fly within there, or falling far and getting hurt. As traveling can be scary for the bird with scary sounds that can cause them to bolt in fright.

Here's a couple in your budget:

https://www.amazon.com/Perch-Clear-View-Carrier-Travel/dp/B002EO1OIW/

https://www.amazon.com/Pennzoni-Display-Small-Acrylic-Carriers/dp/B0043GCPQE/

I dont think this is the exact toy but I have a very similar swing found here

I also forgot to mention bugs. Chickens love bugs. We've gotten crickets from the petstore and earthworms from the baitshop.

Also, if you leave a piece of cardboard in the grass overnight it tends to attract crickets. Gather your chickens, and lift the cardboard and watch the hunt begin. Best way I've ever found to attract earthworms is a pile of wet leaves on cement for a few days.

We also keep a bag of freeze dried mealworms. When they're being difficult and don't want to come in for the night, shaking the bag will bring them all running.

I've changed her bedding since this gif, but back then I think it was Kaytee soft granule bedding.

This one: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000JLPIWU?cache=0c13fc5e1e870d17060330f85dead697&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1414250935&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

It's going, don't worry. It's being replaced with this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EH6ELKW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for the help! Do you think this type of pellet will be good? http://amzn.com/B0007LI108

I use these flip-top Lixit bottles and I love them. I had one that started leaking after a couple years but several others that have had no issues. I like them because you don't need to remove them from the cage to refill them and they have a valve instead of a bearing so they're completely silent.

Ah yes, okay. As far as feeding him is concerned, I feed my Luna Harrison's Bird Food. You can find it here for a decent price. They recommend feeding the kind that I linked you to for the first year of eating it. It's their High Potency mixture, and I think it just has extra nutrients and whatnot. Then they recommend you switch to this kind here. It's just the basic everyday diet. On top of the pellets, fruits and veggies and nuts are a good thing to give him. Apples, carrots, grapes, sweet potato, broccoli, any kind of hot or sweet pepper, greens like kale or collard greens, oranges, tomato, etc. Stuff like that. Lots of parrot owners will get an assortment of fruits and veggies, chop them up real small, and mix them together. They call it "chop", and both of my parrots love it. Seeds are something you probably want to give your parrot in small amounts, mostly as a treat.

As far as talking is concerned, you want to make sure you are spending plenty of time with him talking to him and interacting. The time that you spend with your parrot is very important, and should happen every day. Even if you're just holding him while watching TV and chatting with him during the commercials. They are social animals, and they crave to be interacted with.

To train him you might want to consider looking at target training. Here is a video that goes over the basics. There are lots of resources, both free and paid, that can be found on the internet. Google is a great tool to find all of this. There is also lots of information in different posts right here on /r/Parrots.



Hope that helps!

So, this could be a good time to start potty training him if that interests you. I say that because you ideally want to mix up what happens when you return him to the cage. It sounds like he's learned that going back to the cage means he's probably going to be closed up in there and he doesn't like it so he bites when he realizes you guys are heading there. I suggest potty training (and I use the term very loosely) because I return my bird to the cage to let him poop pretty often and I pick him right back up after he does his business. So you get the double benefit. Getting him used to going to and from the cage often without being locked away and being rewarded for pooping in his cage and not on you or your things.

Ways you can mix things up. Walking my bird back the cage doesn't mean he's going to get locked up, it could mean a couple of things. One, we are going to work on him stepping up for me, in which case he'll get some treats (showing him the treat jar before we start does a lot to get him motivated to train), two that it's time to potty and I'll pick him right up again after he poops, or three it's time to hang out in the cage and entertain himself for a few hours. So I think what you are just going to have to do if the target training doesn't work to target him back into his cage is just work on rewarding him around the cage and hanging our near it when you aren't going to put him away for awhile. It's going to be annoying initially. I think you can make it work through because I was able to do the opposite with my bird when I needed to get him out.

Can he fly? That was another thing I did to get my bird to return to his cage. I'd tell him "Go to your cage" and give him a little boost towards his cage. He'd naturally launch from the momentum of my moving my arm gently towards the cage and fly back. Then I'd call him back to me and reward him, launch towards cage again. Benefits from this are, he returns to his cage, he sometime poops when he gets back, it gives him some exercise and we practice recall flight training.

Last thing I can suggest picking up is this. If he still is stubborn, you can set him on this perch away from the cage. Pick up the perch, and use it to transport him back to his cage. Make sure you reward him a bunch when you return to his cage and he goes back in.

When you say "squeaky hammer," I'm immediately reminded of the Lesson of the Guinea Pig Thumbs, an allegorical tale from the long forgotten Sissimee Indian tribe in the Texas lowlands. The Sissimee, of course, occupied only a brief moment in history, as their incredibly lame traditions and dolorous nature made them easy targets for the more fierce Comanche and Apache tribes. Even the Kickapoo kicked the shit out of the Sissimee, no pun intended.

The Lesson of the Guinea Pig Thumb was a great example. Soon after the world (i.e., Texas) was created, on an evening of the full moon Guinea Pig spoke to the Night Sky: "Oh, great Night Sky, If only you would grant me my heart's desire, a hammer, I could break these rocks into [odor-absorbing pellets] (http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Granule-Blend-Bedding-2-Liter/dp/B000JLPIWU/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1395929282&sr=8-13&keywords=guinea+pig+bedding) which would make my nocturnal emissions so much less noticeable. Hence, I would be more welcome among the other creatures of the world, and perhaps could aspire to King of the Beasts. Please, O Night Sky, grant me a hammer!"

Of course, since Guinea Pig was, after all, a guinea pig, what really came out was, "Squeak squeak squeak squeak hammer squeak squeak hammer." But of course, the Sissimee gods understood any language of the natural world, guinea piggish included. Some even spoke the more ancient language of guinea pig Latin.

Unfortunately for Guinea Pig, his plea was heard not by Night Sky, but by the trickster god, Hahashithead. The trickster god knew quite well that often the worst thing you can do to a person is give him or her exactly what he or she asked for. Hence, Hahashithead descended to the marshy bottomland, appeared before Guinea Pig, and said, "Here's your hammer, sucker."

Hahashithead vanished again even as Guinea Pig squeaked his thanks. Guinea Pig turned eagerly to his rocks, only to find that he couldn't lift the hammer, because guinea pigs lack opposable thumbs.

And that's why on the night of the full moon each month in Texas, of one listens (extremely carefully) one can hear Guinea Pig howling squeaking his eternal rage.

I swear to puppies I'm going to throw a psychotic fit!

Harrison's, mixed with
Roudybush, topped with mixed human grade freeze dried veggies (broccoli, spinach, peas, corn, tomato, bell pepper, and carrots). He gets a couple nutriberries in his hanging treat ball. Plus he eats his share of whatever we're eating.

It sounds like a lot, but I mix the pellets in one container, and the veggies in another. In the morning I put half a shot glass scoop of each in his bowl, plus a couple nutriberries in his treat thing.

He is a healthy weight, and recovering from a blood infection. If I could get him to eat fresh veggies instead of dried, it would be great, but he refuses. Loves the dried. It would cost a lot to get everything at once, but buying over time wasnt that bad.

Edit: fixing the formatting.

I like Zupreem pellets

You know who I think really deserves something? /u/schmin. This would be a little something for schmin and her cat.

Yeah, I mean, I would definitely go for a travel cage if I were you (plus, they are just super handy to have just in case). This is the exact one that my boyfriend and I have for our birds, and it's been wonderful.

And as far as food and water go, I completely forgot to mention that. With cat carriers you can get these little shallow bowls that will attach to the front grate, but I imagine most of the water will slosh out within 5 hours. Having a real water bowl and food bowl for your little guy seems like a better option for him and your car =P

Really, it’s my pleasure. I just like knowing that some little parrot is gonna be happier because I was able and willing to share knowledge on how they should be cared for. :)

So, onto foraging.

You know how cats like to hunt? And dogs enjoy working for food? Well, parrots like to search for theirs and uncover it!

The YouTube Channel FlockTalk is a parrotlet-oriented channel that you should check out! They’ve got some videos on DIY toys, but I’ll give you my bird’s favourite, too.

I did a search, and in case that link doesn’t work, here’s an image of the product. In case that also doesn’t work, here’s an Amazon link to the product.

^ With these, I use a small skewer, toothpick, or something else very long and narrow to push seeds into the very soft wood. As your bird chews it apart, he’ll be periodically rewarded with seeds! This is very fun for them! You can use this method with any soft or porous (having many small holes like a sponge) toy! Just push in or pour the seed into it for your bird to find!

My parrotlet really likes paper, so making some paper contraptions with food inside is always a good time once they realise there’s a reward in it for them besides fun. FlockTalk has some nice tutorials, but any small oragami piece made of plain, non-toxic paper with gaps to shove seeds into will suffice. :) You probably want to have her play with it over a solid surface instead of cage bars so they don’t lose the seeds, whether it’s out with you or a small tray in her cage (not below any perches so it’s less likely to get pooped on).

You can absolutely get creative with toys! Just make sure all the materials are bird safe. Anything that they have to destroy to reach the food is fun for them; it makes them work for it, like a cat stalking prey, or a human going to a not-soul-crushing job to earn a living.

If you aren’t already aware, parrots are scarily intelligent. Even the little ones have a formidable brain behind that beak; it’s what allows them to mimic sounds! Intelligence and boredom just really don’t mix. They’re too smart to be unoccupied for long periods of time. If you know how to read their body language and sounds, it’s downright creepy how much they understand.

Changing the position of the toys and perches can help with engagement! Like rearranging your room, moving stuff makes things fresh and interesting. I personally leave the “favourite perches” (the ones he spends a lot of time and sleeps on; the rope by the “broccoli corner” and the branch by the little bird warming plate) in the same place always, but your bird may or may not be upset by their favourite spots being moved. Other than the favourites, changing the decorations around is a good way to break the monotony of living in a cage. It’s even better if you have enough toys to rotate them. It’s recommended you do this every one to two weeks, but it won’t be the end of the world if you don’t. As long as everything is clean.

My mom and I use So Phresh Wipes to keep the cage sanitary between deep cleans. You might like them, too!

In the end, parrots need clean surroundings, a variety of available food, routine without monotony, and parrotlets specifically need at least an hour of Out-Of-Cage time per day (though more is highly recommended, as they are very social creatures).

And again, any questions, concerns, or curiosities about parrotlets you may have, feel free to contact me and I’ll either give you an answer or a few reputable links that will point you in the right direction. All I want is for our babies to live long, happy lives. :)

Parrots are very high maintenance, but so incredibly smart. They’re truly a joy to have around, as I’m sure you can attest to.

How did the first attempt with chop go? Don’t be discouraged if she didn’t take to it immediately; birds past adolescence are often very reluctant to try new things. It’s normal.

http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Avian-Habitat-Defined-Enrichment/dp/B002LE88VQ?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s02

This one is pretty easy.

Can you have anything shipped to you? Harrison's pellets are pretty popular, since the company is USDA.

A couple other things to consider:

Ever heard of the canary in the coal mine? Birds are INSANELY sensitive to toxic fumes. One of our cockatiels died because it was near an open window (2nd floor) and one of our apartment neighbors decided to smoke a cigarette on the ground floor below. We also lost a Sun Conure to Teflon poisoning (the non-stick coating on much of today's cookware - if it gets too hot, it will gas off, and that stuff is like insta-death for birds). So, if you or anyone you live with is a smoker, don't get a bird. If one of your neighbors is a smoker, be very conscious of where they like to take their smoke breaks, and mind your windows. Get rid of all you Teflon pots and pans (go for ceramic instead, just don't use metal utensils with it or you'll ruin it). Be careful with paints, cleaners, aerosols, etc. Seriously, don't fuck around with fumes.

Prep your house for your bird; not your bird for your house. I'm talking about wing-clipping. Don't do it. 100% of a bird's body is optimized for flight. Take that away from them and they'll start getting health issues from top to bottom due to inactivity; it'll also kill their mental health. We clipped our Sun Conure's wings due to some behavioral issues with it, and regretted it immediately. Seeing a depressed Sun Conure is fucking heartbreaking... and that was shortly before the Teflon thing, so it never got the chance to grow them back to fly again. That was over 10 years ago and I still feel guilty about it.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT PARROTS ARE A PREY ANIMAL! The biggest mistake I see in new bird owners is to treat it like a cat or dog - both of which are predators and respond well to dominance (i.e., they need to know who's the leader of the pack). If you try to show a bird "who's boss" all you'll do is teach it to bite and fear you. You are part of it's flock - you have to gain it's trust, not 'win' its loyalty. Respond to good behavior by giving it positive attention/treats; respond to bad behavior by ignoring it - NOT punishing it (don't ever flick its beak, blow on it, etc). At worst, you can give it "time outs" if it's displaying really bad behavior, but don't use it's main cage for that (or it will start to despise it's cage / misbehave intentionally when it wants to go home) but a small travel cage with nothing but food and water; and don't leave it there for too long (after 10 mins or so, it won't even remember why it's in there anyway).

And finally: parrots can be potty trained!! Get something like this and give it a treat every time is shits while perched on it; don't give it a treat when it shits anywhere else. Eventually it will catch on and actually fly to it when it needs to drop a load; and cleaning shit off the smooth plastic surface is a lot easier than off your clothes/furniture/walls/ceiling (yes ceiling... one of our parakeets managed that, judging by the size of the turd... no idea how the little bastard managed to pull that off). I never did have luck potty training any of our parakeets; but 'tiels can learn it if you stick to it long enough (talking months here). Both of my conures picked it up within a few weeks. Best trick you'll ever teach your bird!! ...I've met folks who have owned parrots for like 30 years, and never thought to try potty training them - just not something some people consider with birds, but now you know, so don't neglect it!

> I appreciate your time and answers!

/salute!

Pardon the wall of text (holy shit, I got carried away with that!!). Lots to consider though!

Hmm. It sounds like you're doing what you can. What time do they usually get to sleep? Do you cover them at night?



You may want to try switching out the hut with a soft and open sided platform. I use a sisal hammock thing and hang some bird safe fabric from the top of the cage.



What my bird sleeps on:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JKXUDMI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.RZszbXXJZED0

I use this litterbox with the white tray removed, and Yesterdays News litter. I stuck it in the poop corner and they trained themselves.

I used the water botle that came with the All Living Things Starter cage, but my boys are in my bedroom and the nighttime drinking noise was intolerable. I got them a locking dish and I like it, they like it. But I started to worry they weren't drinking enough water, so I got a Lixit valve bottle and I love it. My boys love it too, they picked it up very quickly.

Just out of curiosity, how did they chew through the plastic bottle? Was it mounted inside the cage?

I agree with you - I recognize the bedding though, it's Kaytee soft granule bedding. I've used the stuff, and it works very well!

Naya is mostly potty trained. I have a designated "poop perch" that I have trained her to use as a permanent and portable potty. When she needs to go, she gets antsy and flutters her wings in an effort to fly to the perch. I take her over to it, instruct her to "go potty" and she goes. I can take it wherever I go inside my place and she knows its her place to go.

I picked up a few new toys and then another water dish. I recently broke his dish plastic dish and it’s a perfect time to grab another metal one. So far he’s been bouncing all over his cage with excitement :)

Booda Byrdy Bush

Rope Perch

Shaggy Kabob

Did you ever get an answer to this? I've been wondering about it too.

edit: I did some prodding at the product over on amazon and learned that apparently it works for them too! https://www.amazon.com/ZUPREEM-230301-Fruitblend-Small-2-Pound/dp/B003SLM11Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1521487727&sr=1-3&keywords=zupreem+fruit+blend

Dried worms in a clear window feeder. Like everything else, available on Amazon.

The window feeder I have (it's like 3' from the bed) looks like this only has a removable tray. I'd wait for that one to get restocked or look locally.

I've had good luck with this Petco brand dripless small animal water bottle. My bunny couldn't figure it out at first (I think maybe he just couldn't figure out that it was a water bottle?), but as soon as we pressed down on the lever at the mouthpiece and showed him water comes out, he took to it and hasn't had a problem since.

Before this one, I tried one other kind of dripless bottle with the lever type opening, but it was really sharp and hard to press so I took out pretty much immediately when my bunny tried to drink from it and failed. He's been using the Petco bottle for almost a year now, and we haven't had a single issue with it. I'm surprised no one else here had tried these or recommends them. Way better than a water dish.

edit: This is the kind I tried first. You can see the lever design from the picture. It was located in the small animal section at the store, but it makes sense as a bird water bottle because the lever is really sharp/stiff so probably fine for beaks but not little wodent/bunny teeth? Regardless, the design of the petco bottle is the same idea but a much better execution for bunnies. And it's nice and big.