Making Your Home Parrot Friendly
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This course is for those who
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Garden Design
Explore the art of garden
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Professional garden design
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The whole process of design
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Course Outline
Introduction - Garden Design
Influences
Client-Designer Relationship
- The Basic Principles of
Garden Design
Planning the Garden
Taking measurements
Drawing the Plan
Preparing the garden
Equipment, Tools, Soil and
Irrigation
Surfaces
Lawns and Steps
Planting
Garden features
Costing and estimation

Course Certification

On completion of this course
you will receive two
qualifications:

Qualification 1: Garden
Design Diploma issued by
Stonebridge Associated
Colleges, entitling you to
use the letters SAC. Dip.
(Garden Design)

Qualification 2: ASET Level 3
Garden Design Award

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---------------------------------
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Help Birds Make Nests
Why Build a Birdhouse
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Your Dog's Vet
Breeding Freshwater Fish
Feeding Freshwater Fish
Plan Your Fish Aquarium
Plant for Aquariums
Internet Business
Medical & Health
Personal Development

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    Making Your Home 'Parrot Friendly’

There are a number of areas which you need to check so that you can provide a safe and
comfortable environment for your Parrot and minimize the amount of damage to your
possessions and your nerves at the same time.

Two of the most intriguing qualities that all parrots share are curiosity and high energy
levels. These also are major reasons that parrots get into so much trouble, with many being
injured or killed each year through domestic “accidents”.

Other Pets

Parrots are a poor choice of pet if you also intend to keep lizards, snakes or ferrets. The
birds have a high risk of being frightened so badly that many will die or becoming a meal for
their natural predators – your other pets!

Dogs and cats should not be left alone when parrots, especially the small varieties, are in the
same room. Don’t be fooled by how well they seem to get along while you are watching them.
You may have heard that “some people are only honest when they are being watched”.
Well, most domesticated carnivores, like Tabby and Rex, may also be opportunistic if they get
the chance!

Other People – Family and Friends

Children may injure or kill a parrot with kindness by hugging it – even a robust, fairly large
parrot may have a fairly delicate chest area and the pressure of an adoring, but over-excited,
child cuddling it may cause fatal injury and scar the child emotionally.

Children, and even some adults, may lay down and put their parrot beside them. This puts
the parrot at risk of being suffocated if it works its way into their bedding and, for whatever
reason, cannot get out.

Also, though it may be hard to believe, some parrots are crushed when their adoring owners
or other family members fall asleep and roll onto the bird while it is on, or in, the bed.

Parrots that are on the floor inside our homes, risk injury or worse from being unable to get
out of the way of a hurrying child (and most of them are hurrying all the time they are
awake) or by the oversize feet of un-observant adults.

Parrots prefer to perch and live mostly on the highest available perches wherever they are,
but we prefer to entice them to stay down at a lower level, even on the floor, because it’s
more convenient for us.

There is danger for the parrot from people and pets unless we maintain a good watch on
them. But, most of us are as easily distracted as the average parrot.

It is dangerous to your parrot and unfair to your child if you make the child responsible for
the welfare of the family parrot when it is out of its cage and you are unable to provide some
close support.

Chewing can be Their Undoing!

Parrots chew anything that they get the opportunity to.

This can be dangerous or even fatal.

You need to survey your whole home before your bird’s arrival to minimize the potential
hazards.

They include electric cords, marking and other pens, candles, imitation fruit and anything
which is soft enough for them to scrape or chew pieces from.

Convenience Items can Kill

Do not let your parrot anywhere near the kitchen, especially if you use non-stick electric
cooking pans or have a self-cleaning oven.

I was told that fumes from these items when they are heated cannot be seen by us but may
be deadly to your birds.

Dangerous Drapes and Blinds.

If any of your drapes or other furnishings have loose, dangling threads because of their
design or from wear, they are a potential cause of injury to your parrot, especially if it is one
of the small varieties. Many birds are injured or die from being tangled in threads.

The Food we Love ….

The food we love may be dangerous or even fatal for our feathered friends.

Never give them any sort of alcohol, not even the smallest amount. A drunken bird is no
joking matter – you could cause its death or prolonged illness for the sake of a cheap laugh!
Their physiology is not capable of dealing with alcohol even as well as ours can. Repeated
episodes are likely to ensure the lingering disability or early death of the bird.

Caffeine is also dangerous for birds, even more than it is for humans.

I’ve been told that rhubarb and also onions are very dangerous, but I don’t know why
anyone would offer these things to parrots anyway.

Avacado will definitely harm your parrot but they never last long enough at our place to be
offered to our parrots anyway.

Although a parrot’s diet is likely to include a variety of seeds, there are some which can be
dangerous to them. Please consult your veterinarian for current advice.

Many parrots like sunflower seeds but their tolerance varies. I’ve also been told by a seed
merchant that too much sunflower seed in the bird’s diet may cause feather loss!

There are several places on the Internet which offer lists of “safe” or “unsafe” plants for the
information of bird owners. All the lists are accompanied by disclaimers which you should
read first.

The reaction of different birds may vary in degree.

Even something which my parrots have never been affected by may have some negative
effect with your bird and vice-versa.

There may also be poisonous residues in some plants that we buy.

The best thing is to never give your pet very much of anything the first time that you offer it
and never to let it indulge too heavily with any treat – all things in moderation.

Consult your Veterinarian about any type of food that you are considering offering your bird
for the first time.

Metal Menace

I’ve already mentioned zinc and lead which can cause the death of your bird but you should
minimize the possibility of your parrot being able to chew or even scratch at any metal
objects which might have harmful ingredients or which could otherwise cause injury.

This would include metal weights, fastening, sharp metal objects and anything with loose
paint, other coatings or rust on it.

Dangerous Toys

This could just about be a book by itself. There seems to be a lower standard applied to
safety with regard to pet toys (and other accessories) compared to those marketed for use
by children.

When my children were small, I used to think that some toys were devised by people that
may have never played with a child. That opinion goes double when I look at some of the
items which are offered as playthings for our pets.

A friend, who is an experienced salesman, told me that many pet toys are made to attract
the eyes, emotion and cash of the pet owners without much regard for the pet’s enjoyment
or even, sometimes, safety!

That makes our choice harder and our responsibility to protect our pets even greater. Some
things to watch for and avoid are;

  • Toys made of thin, hard plastic that the bird might break and then injure itself on sharp
    edges that could result.

  • Chains that have links that could trap a claw or even a whole leg.

  • Chains with links that your bird might open and swallow. The potential damage from
    small links, whether still closed or partly straightened so that they are just a short
    piece of wire with sharp ends is not something I want to think about.

  • Be very careful of bells. Avoid bells with clappers – my parrots removed the clapper
    from an open bell and then removed the small, weak metal ring that had connected
    the clapper to the plastic bell.

  • I had thought that the bell and the wire ring were too strongly joined for the small
    parrots to be able to separate them. It took one of them just several seconds to
    destroy the connection and it would not have taken much longer for them to be injured.

  • Check any enclosed bells to ensure that the ball inside cannot possibly fall out or be
    extracted by your birds.

  • Fabric toys are not suitable for parrots as they will be chewed to destruction in a short
    time. The fabric and the contents of the toy (which may include small plastic beads,
    fibre and foam) could be your bird’s last meal.

  • Toys that have rubber or other unsuitable, chewable material as part of their
    construction should never be considered.

  • Try to ensure that any painted item which you put within reach of your parrot does not
    have any lead or other dangerous content in the paint.

  • Toys which have a piece of natural rope can be attractive to your parrot as an
    alternative way to exercise its beak. But they can also become a potential death trap
    when they are partly unravelled and the bird could catch a leg or claw or even be
    strangled in the strong, loose fibres.

  • Wooden toys are doubly attractive to many parrots because they get to exercise their
    beaks on them. Make sure that all materials are safe (no poisonous metals) and there
    are no gaps where the bird might injure a wing or a claw.

  • You will need to budget for a regular supply of new wooden toys as they become
    damaged and less attractive, or even start falling apart.

  • Don’t let your bird continue to play with toys that have been fouled with its droppings
    or other materials. These would be potential sources of infection.

  • Either clean the toys thoroughly at least every week or discard and replace them on a
    similar schedule.

  • Balloons, whether inflated or not, should never be accessible to your Parrot.

  • Streamers and ribbons can also cause injury to your bird.

Vapor

Vapor from insect sprays, paint and many other common household items might poison your
parrot or cause it breathing problems.

was advised not to use any aerosols in the room where the parrots are. It might be wise to
remove their cage from the room or cover it if it is too large to move easily, if you need to use
any sort of spray.

Even burning ornamental, scented candles might cause some birds significant discomfort.

Water

Parrots have a constant need to drink and are thus likely to try any water source they can
get access to. There are several in the average home which have proved to be death-traps
for unwary birds at times.

These include toilets (another good reason to always put the seat down!), the drinking
bowls of larger pets like dogs and cats, and fish tanks.

Baths and pools are designed to be inviting but make sure that your parrot does not go near
them.

It only takes about a half-inch depth of water to make a drowning hazard for a small parrot.

Windows

Your windows are a big hazard for wild birds as well as your parrot. They do not know what
windows are and are likely to find out when they hit a window while they are flying unless
you either close your blinds or curtains before you let the parrot have its exercise or fit
permanent screens so they can easily see that there is a hazard there and it is not open for
them to fly through to freedom.

Wire Ties

These are the short, pieces of thin wire, covered with soft, colored plastic. that are twisted
tightly around many products, that we get in plastic bags, including vegetables and locally
produced seed mixes.

Some people use them to attach things to the sides or top of their parrot’s cage but this is a
very bad idea.

Parrots will be attracted by the challenge of removing the twisted plastic from their cage and
then from the thin, sharp wire that it protects.

Swallowing the plastic coating is bad for them and the wire has the potential to cause even
more damage whether the bird swallows or not.

The best type of fastener for attaching something temporarily to a cage is a stainless steel
quick link. It looks a bit like a thick paper clip with just one loop of metal and a threaded tube
which you use to screw over the two ends of the wire loop. It is easy to use and remove and
the higher cost is justified by the much higher safety that you provide to your parrot.
 
 
DO you like what you have just read?  The above is an extract from the ebook Your Pet Parrot.
 
    Thinking About a Parrot For a Pet?

Thinking About a Parrot For a Pet? Chances are pretty good that you have seen a parrot on
television and fell in love with these intelligent members of the avian family.  You may even
have friends or family who own a parrot or two.

Regardless of your previous experience it’s important to make an intelligent and informed
decision about adopting one of these wonderful feathered friends.

If you have other pets and/or children, then you need to be doubly aware of just how
challenging an adoption like this can become.

The place to go for informed answers is not to the person you are buying from.  There are
many reputable dealers out there but for every reputable one there are two frauds.

You need to prepare yourself BEFORE you get to the “buying” stage.  What are some of the
questions you need to ask a potential seller?  Here are just a few:

  • How to use free research techniques to create customer focus

  • How wild are these birds?

  • What is the bird’s age?

  • Where did this bird come from?

  • Beware of money-hungry breeders!

Why do you want to purchase a parrot?  This is not a trick question.  Everyone has different
needs and desires but when it comes to inviting an exotic creature such as a parrot into your
home you had best know your motive.

    Other Parrot Points to Ponder

Who will care for your parrot?  Do you know what is entailed in the everyday care and
feeding of a parrot?  What else is there to think about?  Let’s take a look:

  • Is there an experienced bird veterinarian in your area?

  • How much does the vet charge?

  • Should you buy pet insurance?

  • What kind of cage do you need?

  • What about your other pets?

  • What to feed your parrot.

Hmmm, it looks like there are many more questions than answers, doesn’t it?  This is true.  
So how do you go about preparing for the potential purchase of a parrot?

Just like any other journey, you need to find answers to all your questions.  Buying a parrot
as a pet is an expensive proposition.

It’s one you should not take lightly.

We have the exact tool for you to read.  “You and Your Parrot” is just what you need to
answer all these questions and many more that you haven’t even thought of!

Written by a long-term parrot owner, Maureen Pace shares her hands on experience in
simple terms.  Her passion for her parrots is evident as she shares her stories and underpins
this primer with her candid reflections, especially on the “do’s and don’ts.”

The chapter on training is most helpful and a definite must-have for anyone considering a
parrot purchase.  She leads you step-by-step through the primer and helps insure that you
have the perfect experience with your parrot.

Grab a copy of “You and Your Parrot” BEFORE you buy and with Maureen’s help you, too, will
agree to spread the word that parrots make the perfect pet!
 
 
This book Your Pet Parrot alone sells for $17 each.  But as s special gift to someone who is
convinced that he/she really wants to own a pet dog, I will make you a very special offer too
good for you to refuse .  You get the following four pet books absolutely free as bonuses:
 
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If you have always been a "dog person" you are in for a real treat
with your new adopted feline friend.  Learn everything you need to
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Food to vaccinations and for everything else in between, you must
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Your new kitty will thank you.



There's a brand new guide out that will teach you everything your
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It doesn't matter what kind of pedigree your choice of canine has,
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Once you make that committment what's next?

What's next is learning "How to be a "Top Dog Owner."




Discover how to create your own magical kingdom right in your own
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Learn everything you need to know about how to use your own
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If you've ever given any thought to stgarting this hobby we highly
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If you are someone who loves wild birds how would you like to
attractdifferent species to your own back yard? Just like the movie
classic, if you build it, they will come.

If you are looking for a great new family project, building birdhouses
will give you great fun working on the job with your kids. Plus, the
lessons about birding and the environment will teach your kids the
importance of taking responsibility for the world we live in.

Discover how important it is to build the right house for the right
species. You can't just throw up a birdhouse today and expect to put
up the no vacancy sign tomorrow. Nope, your feathered friends have
specific needs for their home and not all species are alike.

Learn the right combination of birds and birdhouses and you will
have years of enjoyment as they return year after year.
Yes, you will get all these five books for only $17.

Your Pet Parrot
+
Understanding, Caring For And Training Your Cat
+
How to be a Top Dog Owner
+
Tropical Freshwater Fish Aquariums
+
How to Build Your Bird House
 
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 Immediate download
 
Your purchase through PayPal is fully secured.
Your purchase is also fully guaranteed.  If for any reason, you are not satisfied with your
purchase, within 8 weeks, you can ask for your full money back.  What's more, you can even
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Proudly brought to you by Jacob Gan, PhD (Michigan)