Parrotlet Periodical - issue #8, March 2023 |
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Tips and tricks for your flying family member! |
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Hello Everyone! Topics in this issue include: |
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Updating your cage... some "no expense" ideas! |
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I don't know about you but it seems that Spring causes me to look around my own home and revamp my furniture layout, accessories, and just give everything a general sprucing up in anticipation of the upcoming warmer weather. I can't help but think that this same approach could be applied to our feathered friends regarding their home sweet home (aka cage). Here are my suggestions: give your cage a deep cleaning to remove built up debris and freshen the space. clean the toys and move them to new locations. I suggest taking a toy that usually hangs vertically and try hanging it in a horizontal position. This will not work for all toys, but it can be applied to a great many of them. add different textures for your pet to enjoy...and chew. I like to add a seagrass placemat or bamboo plate holder to the top or side of the cage. You can find plenty of this kind of embellishment at a place like Goodwill or the Dollar Tree for little to no expense. Of course, be sure to clean thoroughly before laying it on top, or hanging it to the side of the cage. Your p'let will thank you for their new "chew toy"! speaking of toys...ever tried a "foot" toy for your pet? Something like a ping pong ball can make an great addition to capture your bird's interest. Don't forget to use color, pattern, and design to decorate it up. Parrotlets love color and see a much broader spectrum of colors than we do. make sure that your baby can get the most flying space by placing perches on either end of the cage so that they have to fly across the cage. I often see one long perch bar that spans the entire cage. This does not give your p'let the opportunity to utilize the flight space across the cage. place a playground or "play tree" on top of your cage to give your pet additional exploration space. It is similar to adding a room to your space. add some fake greenery along some of the top or along the sides to give your baby a feeling of security. Mimicking their natural tree top habitat has got to make them feel more at home. change the position of your cage in the room. This gives your parrotlet a whole new vantage point from which to view their world. A spot with a window allows them to witness the seasonal changes that are to come. And believe me, parrotlets see color and will take it all in!
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Ideas for challenging your p'let's foraging! |
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Keeping your feathered companion challenged can be a challenge in itself. Here are a few suggestions to help you change things up... place treats on top of the cage. Things such as airpopped popcorn or a millet spray creates a foraging dilemma when placed on top of the cage bars. (see pic) wrap treats in brown paper (a grocery bag is good for this) to create a beak tearing opportunity to forage. try a different food. Recently, instead of giving my pets the fresh broccoli crowns as I am accustomed to doing, I split the stem lengthwise down the stock, creating four long strips of the broccoli stem. I hung the broccoli strip and they absolutely devoured it! Obviously, they loved the broccoli stock as much as the broccoli crown...who knew! try toasting half of a multigrain bagel and hanging it like a donut in your cage. My birds love tearing off bits of this moving target. Be sure to get a bagel with little to no preservatives.
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These beautiful, hand tamed babies are weaned and available for adoption. They are socialized daily and will make wonderful companion pets. | | |
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Previous issues of "Parrotlet Periodical"... | | |
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As always, I welcome your questions and comments. Thank you to those who contact me with their thoughts and observations. I value your communications! Best regards, Carla |
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