Posts tagged "parrot"

African Grey Parrots 101

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Dec 22nd 2009 4:00PM Filed Under: Birds, Exotic Pets

african grey parrot Flickr/rebeccakoconnor

Name: African Grey Parrot

Personality: Intelligent (some say African greys are the smartest of the parrot species), affectionate, emotional, and very social, but prone to depression if not properly entertained or attended to. Like many large birds, they are sensitive and can develop neurotic behaviors and depression if left alone.

Common Health Issues: Health problems typically found in African greys are respiratory disease, weight loss, seizures, tumors, and self-mutilating behaviors (like feather picking) due to depression. With proper care, though, these birds can live 50 to 75 years.

Macaws 101

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Dec 10th 2009 4:00PM Filed Under: Exotic Pets, Small Pets

macaw parrots Flickr/Adal-Honduras

Name: Macaw

Description: In addition to being possibly the most beautiful bird on the planet, macaws are also active, affectionate, playful, intelligent and engaging. There are many varieties of macaws, including scarlet macaws, blue and gold macaws, military macaws, and hyacinth macaws. Additionally, you can choose the rarer mini macaws, with species like Hahn's, noble, and yellow-collared.

Grooming: There are three primary types of grooming for which a macaw owner is responsible. First, bathing or showering can be done indoors by misting the bird with warm water and allowing them to dry in a warm area, or, on a warm day, by sprinkling them inside their cage with the hose and letting the sun dry them.

Clipping a macaw's wings will keep them calmer and easier to take outdoors. Make sure you know what you're doing before beginning to clip; clipping a blood feather can cause serious blood loss, while clipping too much, too little, or unevenly can also be major problems.

Finally, routine nail clipping is necessary.

How to Train a Parrot

by Rose Martelli (Subscribe to Rose Martelli's posts): Nov 6th 2009 2:00PM Filed Under: Birds, Pet Training

"Why, yes, I've read Emily Post. Why do you ask?" Flickr/Peter Fuchs

Parrots are the most colorful of house pets, literally and figuratively. A lively, happy parrot can add plenty of fun to your home. The problem is, your home is far, far away from your parrot's natural environment. Patient and persistent training is crucial to ensure that both you and your pet are comfortable cohabiting with one another.

Parrots are renowned for their amusing antics, like talking, but are equally infamous for exhibiting "bad" behaviors such as squawking, biting, and errant pooping. When you train your parrot, you must remember that a parrot isn't a toy; you can't just teach it the "fun" stuff and hope that the other behaviors will fix themselves. Parrots are also not dogs; they do not respond to punishment as a training method. In fact, parrots are even more attention-hungry than most dogs, so if you punish a parrot, it will likely see that interaction between you two as a desirable outcome and repeat whatever "bad" behavior you are trying to correct.

Before you begin, take the time to create a safe training environment for your parrot. Aim to do all of the bird's training in the same room -- one that is clean, closed off (no open windows!) and quiet. If possible, train daily, and at the same time every day, and not in the same room as your parrot's cage. Make sure to always have treats like cut-up fruits and vegetables on hand during a training session to reward the bird when it successfully learns or carries out a new command. Lastly, always approach and interact with your parrot in a calm and confident manner. Parrots can sense tension and anxiety and will react to it with biting and squawking, so even if your parrot upsets you or snaps at your during a training session, do not act out on the parrot.

So, what are the most common steps to training a parrot? Read on to get started training your parrot into becoming a well-adjusted pet!

Funny Cat Video: Parrot and Cat BFF!

by Evan Jacobs (Subscribe to Evan Jacobs's posts): Oct 26th 2009 3:30PM Filed Under: Birds, Cats, Funny Animal Videos

Not since Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin shook hands, or that crow started taking care of that cat, has there been a relationship like this one. Watch Coco the parrot huggin' on his buddy, Lucky the kitty. These bizarre BFFs are BFFAE (Best Friends Forever And Ever). Eat your heart out, Paris Hilton.

If you like this video, you'll find a goldmine of Coco/Lucky loving from the YouTuber who originally posted the clip.

Parrots Play Ruff with Dog and Horse

by Kirsten Taylor (Subscribe to Kirsten Taylor's posts): Jul 23rd 2009 3:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Birds, Exotic Pets, Pets News

"Birdy want a doggy?" Photo: Fame Pictures

Ava and Mio are double trouble. The blue-and-yellow macaws have become local celebrities in their hometown of Hamburg, Germany, thanks to the games they play with their four-legged friends, reports the Daily Telegraph.

The two-year-old birds love to chase their owner's seven-year-old mutt, Flitzer. Sometimes the mischievous birds instigate a romp with Flitzer, and other times Flitzer is the one trying to ruffle his friends' feathers. "It's an interactive game between the birds and our dog," said the animals' owner, Julian Knott.

Knott lets the birds out each morning, where they head straight for an apple tree for breakfast. After spending most of the day lounging among the leaves, the parrots wake up for evening playtime. But Flitzer isn't the parrots' only playmate: Ava and Mio also spend time carousing with a neighbor's 15-year-old horse.

Macaws are large, intelligent birds with a knack for mimicking human speech and forming close bonds with their owners. Despite their impish ways, Ava and Mio don't stray too far from home, Knott reported. They always return every evening -- after playtime is over, of course.

Source

Michael Jackson's Chimp Bubbles and Other Animal Pals

by Paul Ciampanelli (Subscribe to Paul Ciampanelli's posts): Jun 30th 2009 4:00PM Filed Under: Exotic Pets, Celebrity Pets

Photo: GAB Archive, Redferns / Getty Images

Michael Jackson's death last week has left fans with questions regarding all aspects of the singer's life. Pet lovers in particular may wonder about the fate of Jackson's menagerie of exotic animals, especially the most famous of them all: Bubbles the chimp.

Bubbles, of all of Jackson's pets, was probably the closest to Jackson. His 1985 adoption of the chimp from a Texas research facility, and the subsequent bond between man and ape became a key part of the singer's eccentric persona. Bubbles often was seen at Jackson's side as a member of Jackson's entourage during the peak of the entertainer's fame in the 1980s. He attended concerts, album recording sessions, and tea parties at Elizabeth Taylor's house. That is, when he wasn't kicking it in high style at Jackson's Neverland ranch, practicing his moonwalk.

Now in his mid-twenties, Bubbles still lives a stylish life, although much less in the blinding spotlight of his glitzy early years. As he matured, Bubbles became too aggressive for domestic life with the Jackson family and was given to a California-based animal trainer who later entrusted the chimp's care to the Center for Great Apes, a sanctuary for "retired" apes in Wauchula, Florida, where he resides today.

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Miniature Dogs

Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodles, like all Poodles, are excellent swimmers who originated as a water retrievers. All Poodles, Standard, Miniature and Toy are actually one breed, just different sizes. Miniature Poodles, who can be white, black, apricot or gray, are usually 15 inches or under, according to the American Kennel Club.

David McKelvey/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgmckelvey/3748491903/

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Dachshund
The Miniature Daschund, only 11 pounds or under, is not a separate classification of the Daschund -- it's just a smaller version of the Standard. The miniature dog, with its long bodies and strong sense of smell, are both hunters and lapdogs, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer is of German descent and was originally bred to be a small farm dog. The most popular of the three Schnauzer breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer is a attentive, lively and a favorite among celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore and Bill Cosby. The strongly built miniature dog is between 12 to 14 inches, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Bull Terrier
Just like the playful Bull Terrier, the Miniature Bull Terrier, who originated in England, has a similar personality. Don't let its size fool you – the Miniature Bull Terrier is strong, energetic and audacious. Miniature Bull Terriers are between 10 to 15 inches and can be solid white or colored, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo Dog is one of three separate categories of the American Eskimo Dog. Between 12 to 15 inches, the bright white dog is loving, protecting and sociable. Now a great companion dog, the miniature dog was once a circus dog, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs

Miniature Pinscher
Also known as the "Min Pin," the Miniature Pinscher is a German Breed whose ancestry includes the Daschund, Italian Greyhound and the shorthaired German Pinscher. The quick, curious dog is the perfect apartment dog. Despite its small size, the compact pooch makes a wonderful watchdog. The spirited miniature dog, about 10 inches to 12 1/2 inches, can be red, black, or chocolate with tan, according to the American Kennel Club.

Miniature Dogs