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Birds for Sale
Bird
Keeping Birds as Pets
This is Kelly, a Yellow Crowned Amazon Parrot
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Each species of bird is wonderfully unique in its own way but there are some general guidelines that apply to
them all. This chart will cover the general guidelines. Below you will find some
unique traits that apply to specific species. Generally larger parrots are
harder to care for than smaller birds. |
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Type |
Birds are warm-blooded
vertebrate animals that have wings, feathers, a beak, strong, hollow bones and
no teeth. Most have powerful flight muscles. |
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Temperament |
Choosing a bird as your pet can be very rewarding. Owning a pet bird
can be a wonderful experience but birds are not the best pet for everyone. There
are many different types of birds to choose from. It is very important to choose
the right bird to fit into your lifestyle. Hand-raised babies make the best
pets. Birds are intelligent, entertaining
and active. Some are playful and affectionate. They will not be happy if placed in a secluded part of the house and
ignored. Toys should be provided for
entertainment. Select your toys with the birds safety in mind. Beware of toys
with small parts that can come apart. Many different bird toys can be found at
your local store. Toys should be rotated to keep the bird stimulated. Pressing
seeds inside an orange or an apple can be entertaining and challenging for a
bird. A bored bird is an unhappy bird. When deprived of attention or
environmental stimulation they often become destructive of their surroundings
and sometimes even to themselves. Most birds chew anything they can get their
beaks on. This is a natural, healthy exercise for the bird. For this reason it
is important to keep the house clear of dangerous items when your bird is flying
free. Avoid anything made of led such as stained glass, fishing weights, metal
toys and even jewelry. Hide all electric cords and avoid poisonous house plants.
Some types of birds will over eat and chew excessively when they are not
properly stimulated. Some can be trained to do simple tricks and to talk. Most
birds have pleasant voices when talking or singing, but can quickly become loud
and obnoxious when jealous or angry. Some types of birds are more demanding than
others. Some are affectionate and will enjoy being held while others will prefer
not to be. When trying to get your bird to perch on your hand, do not
misunderstand an open beak aimed at your hand as an attempt to bite you. Birds
almost always "test" a perch before stepping onto it, and will often touch its
beak to your hand before stepping onto it. Be sure to research the different
types of birds to find the one that fits into your lifestyle. |
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Size |
Varies greatly depending on the
type of bird you choose. Anywhere from 4-36 inches (10-92 cm.) |
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Housing |
Pet birds are housed in bird
cages or aviaries, however it is very cruel to lock the bird up all day long.
They are very intelligent and need to be let out daily. This is particularly
true with larger parrots. While some types of smaller birds are less demanding
of time outside the cage, it is detrimental for most of the larger types to be
let out several times daily. The largest cage or aviary that can be accommodated
in the home should be provided. It should be wider than it is tall to allow the
bird to easily stretch out its wings, ample height should be provided for
long-tailed birds. The minimum width should be twice the bird's wing span when
wings are fully extended. Large parrots do best in large aviaries as opposed to
cages. Be sure the bird cannot slip his head between the bars
of the cage. The cage should be non-toxic and easy to clean. It should be strong
enough to resist bending or dismantling by the bird. Cages should be placed at
human eye level in a well lit part of the home where there is lots of family
activity. Natural sunlight is desirable but the bird should always have access
to shade. Cage liners such as
newspapers, paper bags or paper towels can be placed inside the cage for easier
clean up. Some use kitty litter, walnut shell, chopped corn cobs, wood chips or
sand, however these are not preferred as they can promote growth of mold and
fungus and can make it difficult to monitor the birds droppings. Whatever you
choose to use should be placed under a wire barrier so the bird does not have
direct access to it. At least one perch should be provided inside the cage. Some
types of birds prefer more than one perch. The perch should be placed high
enough that the birds tail does not hang down into its food for water or touch
the floor of the cage. Food or water should not be placed directly below the
perch as bird droppings will contaminate them. Generally pet birds can tolerate
temperatures that are comfortable to humans. Sudden changes in temperature may
be a potential threat to the bird. Pet birds can adapt to a wide range of
humidity levels. Birds which are native to subtropical climates may need
increased humidity levels such as running hot water in the bathroom or frequent
spraying of the feathers with a water bottle. |
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Clean-up |
Birds can be quite messy. Food
and water bowls should be cleaned daily. A thorough cleaning of the cage should
be done at least once a week. When outside of the cage they will for the most
part, may poop at anytime. Be prepared to clean up the birds droppings.
Sometimes this can cause damage to things inside your house, however this is one
of the factors about having a bird that you must accept before deciding on this
type of pet. Birds also like to chew and should be watched carefully when
outside of their cages. |
|
Grooming |
Do not use any product other
than plain water to bathe your bird. Frequent bathing can help remove oil build
up from petting and handling. Trimming a birds wings prevent the bird from being
able to fly around nonstop, however, even a fully clipped bird can fly in the
right conditions. Wings can be trimmed by your avian vet or can be done at home.
It is best to have your vet show you how this is to be done. Never cut new
feathers still in their sheath (blood feathers if cut, they will bleed. If you
accidentally cut a blood feather, you must grasp the wing and pull the feather
out at the base to stop the bleeding. Cutting feathers of both wings will allow
the bird to flutter to the ground but not maintain flight. After you have
trimmed your birds wings, hold him close to the ground and let him gradually
discover he cannot fly. Nails should be trimmed frequently. If a nail is sharp
or is starting to curve past the plane of the toe you know it is time for a
trim. Using an emery board on a daily basis can be sufficient. Styptic powder
should always be on hand in case you trim the nail too close to the quick.
Placing styptic powder on a nail will stop the bleeding. Sandpaper perches can
cause serious foot problems, including chronic ulcerated sores, and do little in
regards of wearing down the nails. If you provide sufficient things for your
bird to chew on, in most cases it will keep its beak trimmed on its own. Some
chewable items which can be provided are soft white pine, pine cones, sugar
cane, tree branches, lava rock, mineral blocks, natural fiber rope, chew bars,
rib or steak bones, cuttle bone, rawhide dog chews, hard biscuits and nuts. Manzanita, madrona and eucalyptus are all safe woods for birds to chew. They
should be rinsed with water before giving them to the bird. Some flaking and
shelving of the beak is normal however excessive flaking, shelving or overgrowth
may be a sign of a sickness. Birds with overgrown tips or cracks may need
smoothing. Since the beak has a blood and nerve supply take caution in how much,
if any, should be trimmed. Your bird should have the opportunity to bathe daily.
Leaving a bath bowl on the bottom of the cage or by gently misting the bird with
a water bottle are two ways you can give your bird a bath. Baths should be given
in the early part of the day so the bird is dry by bedtime. Frequent bathing
stimulates normal preening behavior. Preening is when a bird runs its feathers
through their beaks from the base to the tip to straighten and clean them. Some
birds have oil glands at the base of their tails. They take some of these oils
and spread them out along their feathers, creating a "sheen" which protects and
repels water instead of absorbing it. Birds are often seen preening one another.
They may also attempt to "preen" their humans hair. Preening should not be
confused with plucking or feather biting. When a bird feather bites, it will
bite its feathers, snipping them off at the base, close to the skin or directly
at the feather follicle. A plucking bird will pull and pluck the feathers out
completely. Plucked feathers grow back quicker than those feathers that have
been cut off at the base. Regular bathing has been known to cure
feather-plucking in some birds. Bathing not only keeps the bird clean but it
also controls the bird's dander, applies essential moisture to the feathers and
softens the new pin feathers. |
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Feeding |
A birds diet is one of the most
important aspects to keeping a healthy bird. Birds require a nutritionally
balanced diet for a long and healthy life. Food should be placed in a wide bowl
as apposed to a deep cup. Spreading out the food allows the bird to see it
better, promoting them to eat a wider variety. Since birds diets vary greatly
from one species to another, research what types of foods are recommended for
the type of bird you own. A good overall rule is, no more than 50% of a birds
diet should be seeds and nuts. Depending on your type of bird, some examples of
other foods commonly fed to birds are a variety of other people foods such as
leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, spaghetti, yogurt, lean cooked meats such as
chicken, small amounts of cheese and boiled eggs. If a food is not healthy for
humans, it will not be healthy for your bird. A powdered vitamin supplement can
be added. A bird fed only seeds and nuts will be unhealthy. If you find your
bird is only eating seeds and nuts and not the other foods you are offering him,
try only offering seeds and nuts for an hour a day and leaving the other foods
out the rest of the day. If your bird is hungry, he will try the other foods.
Fresh water should be provided at all times. Water should be changed daily. Be
sure to research what types of foods are best for your species of bird. |
|
Exercise |
Birds should be
allowed out of their cages to fly around the house or to craw around the outside
of their cage. When allowing your bird out
of it's cage make sure all windows are closed. Screens are essential for windows
and doors. Decals or curtains should be placed on windows to avoid the bird from
crashing into them. Keep all ceiling fans off while your bird is out. Avoid
cooking on the stove or oven while your bird is out. Birds can drowned in small
amounts of water. Take caution with tall skinny glasses of liquids, or hot liquids such
as a cup of tea. Toilet lids should be kept closed. Most birds like to play in
water but water play should be supervised. Many even enjoy showers with their
owners. Avoid hair spray and bath perfumes around your bird. Always stay close
by when your bird is out of its cage. |
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Life Expectancy |
Anywhere from 8-80 + years
depending on the species of bird. |
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Health Problems |
Be sure the bird you choose is a
healthy one. A sick bird is no bargain no matter what the price. In most cases
by the time a birds shows symptoms of sickness the illness is quite advanced. Do
not choose birds who make clicking sounds when he breathes or whose tail bobs
with each breath. A bird who appears tired, ruffled or droopy, or who
hides his head under his wing is a sure sign of an unhealthy bird. Avoid birds
who are sneezing, sitting on the bottom of the cage or who have discharge above
the nostrils. Droppings stuck to a birds tail feathers is not a good sign of a
healthy bird. A healthy bird will have lots of energy and will eat often. It
will be bright eyed with clean shinny feathers. Birds should be taken to an
avian veterinarian at least once a year for a well check up and immediately
after it is purchased for a good over all physical and anytime your bird shows
any signs of sickness. Take caution when introducing new birds to the birds you
already own. Many birds harbor contagious, disease causing organisms. Placing
these new birds in an isolated room for a period of time is recommended. Keep in
mind that birds are exquisitely sensitive to toxins, especially those in the air
they breathe. Things that smell strong to humans can often kill birds.
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|
Gestation |
Birds are egg layers |
| Origin |
- |
|
Types |
African Grey Parrot
Amazon Parrot
Budgie, Budgerigar (Parakeet)
Caique
Cockatiel
Cockatoo
Conures
Eclectus Parrot
Grey Cheek Parakeet
Hawkheaded Parrot
Indian Ringnecks
Jardine Parrot
Lories Lory (Lorikeets)
Lovebirds
Macaw
Meyers Parrot
Pacific Parrotlet
Pionus Parrot
Quaker Parakeet (Monk)
Red Bellied Parrot
Senegal Parrot |
| African Grey Parrot
 |
Special Traits: Affectionate, but can be shy. Excellent talker,
known to be the best parrot at mimicry, although some individuals may not speak.
Not colorful, prone to self destructive behavior such as feather plucking when
bored. This behavior may be due to the birds intelligence. Greys have been known
to understand and use human language. Relatively quiet compared to other
birds. Tends to bond to one person. Can be very temperamental, and are known to
be nippy. Capable of loud calls. Life Expectancy: about 50 - 60
years
Size: 13 inches (33 cm.)
Sexing: Males are usually about 1 inch larger than females. Males
have larger, flatter, broader heads, while females have a more slender neck and
a smaller rounded head. Males eyes are more round than the females. Females eyes
are more egg-shaped. Male Congo African Gray Parrot usually are darker on
the wings and has red feathers around the vent. The vent is the area just in
front of the tail on the underside of the bird. |
| Amazon Parrot
 |
Special Traits: Excellent talker, very affectionate, but few enjoy
petting. Clear voices and learn new words easily. Good at singing, laughing and
whistling. Can become very tame, and enjoy human company. Can be aggressive
during breeding season. Some male Amazons can be difficult after they reach
sexual maturity. Good early training is required to prevent the male Amazons
from becoming too mean. Some Amazons are known to be noisy, while other types
are reported to be quieter.
Life Expectancy: 50-60 years
Size: 11-15 inches (28-38 cm.)
Sexing: Hard to tell by appearance |
| Budgie, Budgerigar (Parakeet)
 |
Special Traits: Good first bird, easily tamed, limited ability to
talk. A few can be taught to talk, but not all will. Hand raised birds are more
likely to speak. Quiet compared to other birds, but can still get loud. Not one
person birds, they will interact with the whole family. Excellent
whistlers and sometimes will mimick speech and sounds.
Life
Expectancy: 10-20 years
Size: 7-10 inches (18-25 cm.)
Sexing: Females have brownish cere, males are deep blue. (cere is
the colored area above the bird's beak where its nostrils are) Note: color only
appears after the bird is about 6 months old. |
| Caique
 |
Special Traits: Playful, highly intelligent, curious, energetic and love people.
Can get silly, enjoy hanging, tumbling climbing and rolling. These busy little
birds need lots of toys to help focus their energy. Don't tend to be one person birds. If hand fed as babies they
tend to like
everyone. Gentle nurturing dominance should be practiced with these birds,
because if left to their own devices, caiques can become pushy, dominant and
aggressive. They should be provided with plenty of chewable toys to keep their
strong beaks busy. If they are not kept with another bird they will be quieter.
Have a shrill call, but tend to only be as loud as the environment around them.
Life Expectancy: 25-30 years
Size: about 9 inches (23 cm.)
Sexing: Cannot be determined by appearance |
| Cockatiel
|
Special Traits: Good first bird, easily tamed, limited ability to
talk, but can sometimes be trained to mimic whistles and short phrases.
Males are more likely to become talkers and whistlers, and are more independent
than females. Females tend to be quieter, more affectionate and often are
more acrobatic. Gentle and docile, and have a friendly personality. Quiet
compared to other birds, but can still get loud. Good for children and working
owners as they require less time than some of their other larger parrots.
Life Expectancy: about 15-25 years
Size: about 12 inches (31 cm.)
Sexing: Males tend to be more colorful than females. |
| Cockatoo
|
Special Traits: Limited talking ability, but most can learn to
talk, very affectionate, friendly and intelligent, self destructive if
neglected, may learn to scream at owners for attention. Larger cockatoos are
harder to care for and require more time than smaller types. Some owners have
reported their large Cockatoos do not like small children. They cannot be left
and ignored, they need a lot of daily human attention and a lot of time outside
of their cages. Cockatoos naturally produce a lot of feather dust or powder down
from their feathers. Life
Expectancy: 30-70 years
Size: 12-20 inches (31-51 cm.) depending on the type of Cockatoo
Sexing: Generally males have darker eyes than females.
|
| Conures
 |
Special Traits: Entertaining, playful with a great personality,
funny little characters.
Easily trained . Can be trained to talk. Hand raised and fed birds are
more likely sweeter and more affectionate also easier to train. Tendency to be
very loud. Can be protective of their loved ones.
Life Expectancy: 25-40 years depending on the type of Conures
Size: 10-13 inches (21-33 cm.) depending on the type of Conures
Sexing: Hard to tell by appearance, however in the Blue Crown
Conure, the male the feathers cere are slightly longer. (cere is the colored
area above the bird's beak where its nostrils are) Also the males have larger
white eye patches. |
| Eclectus Parrot |
Special Traits: Quiet compared to other birds, but will match the
noise level around them, will scream if the noise around them is too loud. Can be trained to talk. Does a
good job of imitating humans. Hand raised Eclectus will have much better
temperaments. Love food, younger birds may get upset if you put off their meal
for too long. Life Expectancy: 30-50 years
Size: about 14 inches (35 cm.)
Sexing: Males are green with a yellowish beak, females are a
red with a black beak. The underside of the male's wing is bright red with a
small patch of blue. |
| Grey Cheek Parakeet |
Special Traits: When one spends a lot of time with this bird they
can be taught to do tricks, are great mimickers, sweet, curious, social,
fearless, extremely
intelligent, energetic, and very playful. Not very loud compared to some other
birds, but can become loud if they want to get your attention or if they become
over excited. Life Expectancy: 8-15 years
Size: 8 inches (20 cm.)
Sexing: Cannot tell by appearance |
| Hawkheaded Parrot |
Special Traits: Sociable, excellent talker, very affectionate,
outgoing and playful. Clear voices
and learn new words easily. Good at singing, laughing and whistling. Can become
very tame, and enjoy human company. Can be very high-strung. Loud, harsh call, known to sound like a seagull.
Life
Expectancy:
Size: about 14 inches (35 cm.)
Sexing: Cannot tell by appearance |
| Indian Ringnecks
 |
Special Traits: Excellent talkers, have been known to learn about
250 words when one spends the time teaching. Very intelligent. Can learn tricks
fairly quickly. Not necessarily affectionate, but when one spends a lot of time
with this bird they can be very friendly and playful. Love to climb. Energetic
and love to chew. Very social; have a pleasant nature but will develop a
screaming habit if teased. When alarmed or excitedly its voice can reach a
high-pitched shriek, which can sound like a car alarm. Needs large cage because
of long tail. Life Expectancy: about 30 years.
Size: 16 inches (40 cm.)
Sexing: Adult male has a black Ringneck with a slightly pink shadow
and a manly flat big head size. Females do not have this prominent ring but may
have a very light grey ring on the neck. |
| Jardine Parrot |
Special Traits: Great talkers, stable temperaments, however some
have strong reactions to stress. Charming and goofy. Not known to
be loud, do not generally scream, but rather make low key whistles, chirps,
squeaks, and assorted chattering. Should be handled by lots of people to avoid
them becoming one person birds. Life Expectancy: 30 years or more
Size: 10-12 inches (26-30 cm.)
Sexing: Cannot tell by appearance |
Lories
Lory
(Lorikeets)
 |
Special Traits: Colorful, can be trained to talk. High shrill call, and may
call often, but are relatively not loud. Very playful, physical, love to be
scratched, wrestled with, and enjoy playing with many toys. If socialized while young, can be very affectionate.
Need large cage to contain their energy. Specialized diet produces liquid
droppings which can be messy. Life Expectancy: about 15-30 years
Size: about 6 inches (16 cm.)
Sexing: Hard to tell by appearance |
| Lovebirds
|
Special Traits: Very active, curious, playful and feisty. Not
known for talking, however there are exceptions. High shrill call, and may
call often. If socialized while young, can be very affectionate. May fight if
kept in pairs. Can be taught tricks. Very cuddly birds, however their intense
personalities can make them prone to nipping, territorial aggressiveness and
jealousy. Hand-raised babies make the best pets.
Life Expectancy: about 15-30 years
Size: about 6 inches (16 cm.)
Sexing: Hard to tell by appearance |
| Macaw |
Special Traits: Large, requires a lot of space, very intelligent,
colorful, loud, bold and impatient. Limited talking ability, but can learn to say some words and
phrases and will learn to use them appropriately. Love to play in water and love
toys. These highly intelligent birds must have a lot of daily attention or will
become bored, distressed, anti-social and destructive. Some types of Macaws are quite demanding and have a tendency to become
aggressive or pluck.
Life Expectancy: up to 80 years
Size: 13-36 inches (33-91 cm.) depending on the type of Macaw
Sexing: Hard to tell by appearance |
| Meyers Parrot |
Special Traits: Very pretty bird. Sweet, not shy. Are not known as
the best talkers, however can learn to mimic some sounds, words and phrases if you spend a lot of
time with them. Not known to be loud, do not generally scream, but rather make
low key whistles, chirps, squeaks, and assorted chattering. Generally not a one
person bird. Likes people. Good for a house with kids, unlikely to bite, calm by
nature. Love to chew. Life Expectancy:
Size: 8-9 inches (20-23 cm.)
Sexing: Cannot tell by appearance |
| Pacific Parrotlet |
Special Traits: Can learn to talk. Cute little voices, which are
not too loud. Will chirp, but does not scream. Can be very affectionate. Fearless
and mischievous, may try to aggravate other animals. Must be handled regularly
to avoid them becoming aggressive. Life
Expectancy: 12-20 years
Size: 4-5½ inches (10-14 cm.)
Sexing: males have blue feathers, females do not |
| Pionus Parrot |
Special Traits: Can be a good first bird. Generally quiet and less active then most other
birds, although some have been known to scream. Some types of Pionus, if not
entertained spend a lot of time eating and may get fat. Can learn simple tricks.
Generally are not known for their talking abilities, however some can learn
10-20 words or so. Like people and don't tend to be one person birds. If hand
fed as babies they will tend to everyone. Life Expectancy:
average of 25 years. Some have been known to live up to 40 years.
Size: 11 inches (28 cm.)
Sexing: Hard to tell by appearance |
| Quaker Parakeet (Monk)
 |
Special Traits: Entertaining, playful with a great personality,
funny little characters.
Can mimic voices and can whistle. Thought to be
one of the best talkers of the smaller parrots. Easily trained . Friendly, but tends to bond with
one person when kept by themselves and may become protective of the person they
bond with. Can be boisterous and mischievous. Hand raised and fed birds are more
likely sweeter and more affectionate also easier to train. Can be quite noisy.
Life Expectancy: 30-35 years
Size: 11 inches (28 cm.)
Sexing: Hard to tell by appearance |
| Red Bellied Parrot |
Special Traits: Can learn to talk but sometimes their voices are
not as clear as other birds. Not known to
be loud, do not generally scream, but rather make low key whistles, chirps,
squeaks, and assorted chattering. Playful and enjoy being held. Should be held
by a variety of people to avoid them becoming one person birds. Intelligent, and
can be nippy and aloof if they don't get their way, handfeds are calmer.
Life Expectancy:
30 + years
Size: 8-9 inches (20-23 cm.)
Sexing: Males have red-orange chests, females do not |
| Senegal Parrot |
Special Traits: Intelligent and highly social. Inquisitive,
curious, playful, and clownish. Emotional, affectionate and friendly. Needs lots
of toys. Are not known as the best talkers, however can
learn to mimic sounds quite easily along with some words and phrases if you spend a lot of time with them. Not known to
be loud, do not generally scream, but rather make low key whistles, chirps,
squeaks, and assorted chattering. Can be a good bird for well behaved children
if handfed from babies and lots of time is spent with them.
Life Expectancy:
20-30 years
Size: 8-9 inches (20-23 cm.)
Sexing: Hard to tell by appearance |
Bird Calendars!
Bird Shirts!
Kelly the Yellow Crowned Amazon Parrot
Flora the Lutino Pearl Cockatiel. Owned by Emily Tiscarenio
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| This is Scooter, the African Grey Parrot, eating a lollipop, which he is very much enjoying!
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Conures,
"Taz
(top back) is the Green Cheek and Buster is the Jenday Conure (front)"
Bird Pictures Pages
1 - 2
- 3 - 4
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