So you have made up your mind, you want a pet parrot. The next question is what kind of parrot are you looking for. There are 3 distinct characteristics in the parrot world, and no one parrot possesses all 3 of the qualities:

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The 3 qualities are;

Colorful

Talkative

Affectionate

 

Parrots like the Blue and Gold Macaw are extremely affectionate and colorful but not such great talkers like for example the African Grey who is famous for the talking ability but not as colorful or affectionate as the Macaw and Cockatoos.Talking, singing and whistling depends upon several distinct natural factors, and herein lies the main reasons why some parrots learn to talk very well, while others will simply never talk at all. In fact, if you have considered a speech training sessions, then chances are that your parrot will become a great talker, because parrot talking depends, not only on the parrot's natural talking ability, but also on the amount of time and discipline YOU invest in your their talking training sessions.So below are a few points you should consider about a parrot's natural ability to become a great talker.The 3 crucial elements that influence a Parrot to become a great Talker -- or NOT! 

 

Factor #1:Your parrot's natural ability to talk which varies greatly from varies from species to species, as we will see below, but it includes your Parrot's health.

 

Factor #2: The time spent speaking to your Parrot - it should be not too much, nor too little, as there has to be a proper balance.

 

Factor #3:Your Parrot's age - the earlier you train your Parrot to talk, the higher its chances to learn to speak well.To produce a tame and loving parrot pet, socialisation and regular handling combined with lots of attention and time are the keys.Breeders and suppliers of hand raised parrots, Cape Town

Buying your first Parrot

 

A question that many prospective parrot owners are faced with is whether to buy directly from a breeder or a pet shop.

There is no easy answer. With a pet shop, you expect a certain minimum standard. Your new pet should have been vaccinated and weaned off of baby food. It should have been handled by humans a lot and they should have socialised with other birds in the shop. While it is easy to see whether the bird has been properly socialised or not, it is trickier to tell if it has been fed a proper diet and has received all the shots recommended by avian vets. How do you know that their guarantee is worth the paper it is written on (you did demand one, didn't you)? Many pet shops have a no-refund policy on livestock and you will have a hard time getting your money back in the event that you are unhappy with the state of your bird.

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The breeder

 

With a breeder you are in a position to negotiate a better price. There is less risk involved with buying directly from a reputable breeder. By buying directly from a breeder, you can also have a first hand look at the state in which the birds are kept, something that a pet shop cannot tell you with certainty. The breeder will be able to give you information about the bird as from the day it was removed from the nest. The breeder will also be able to tell you about the birds personality and temperament and which parrots makes for a better pet.

 

Things to look out for

 

A few things to look out for when buying a new parrot are its weight, mood and the state of its feathers. If the bird feels lighter than it looks, it has probably been underfed, or has gone on a hunger strike for some reason. If it seems lethargic, or is sitting very low on its perch, it is probably sick. Birds don't display signs of illness quickly, so at the point that they openly display these signs, it is critical that you take action right away.Have a look at its feathers. Are they in a good condition? Bear in mind that a baby's feathers can look a little rough. This is normal, but there shouldn't be any excessively frazzled feathers. The feathers around the vent should also be clean and free of droppings. While on the topic, also take the time to inspect its droppings. It shouldn't be too runny and should be a dark green and clear colour with a small amount of white. Depending on the diet, the droppings can also be brown, rather of green. Also watch out for any semi-digested pellets. All these things can point to a digestive problem and should be looked at by a vet.

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Life-long commitment

 

If you take the trouble to do many of these checks yourself, you can save a good chunk of cash on the price of your new feathered friend. But if you're lazy, you should stick with buying from a reputable pet shop. Either way, the purchase of a new parrot is a life-long commitment and it should never be done on a whim. Larger parrots like the Macaw can live up to 70 or 80 years and even their smaller kin like the African Grey and Cockatoo can live to be "pensioners". Even the fragile Eclectus or the tiny Senegal lives to be 30 years or older (and in some cases, MUCH older). And yes, those are human years.