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Myths & Facts
There are many myths or
misconceptions, about parrots. Some are old wives tales, some are taken as
gospel, for the new parrot owner how do you know what is true, and what isn't,
here we will try and put some of these 'myths' where they belong...and they a
myth, or a fact
Myth: Parrots must always have grit to enable them to
digest their food.
Fact: Parrots shell their seeds, there is no need to give
them grit. It can actually impact their crop, and lead to starvation.
Myth: Parrots don't get lonely.
Fact: 'Parrots are extremely social animals, and thrive on
attention. They live in flocks in the wild, and in the home YOU are their flock.
If you don't give your bird enough attention, you will end up with a totally
different creature than the sweet one you brought home from the breeder! Parrots
can easily become feather pickers, screamers, or just downright cantankerous if
not handled , talked to & played with daily.
Myth: Squirting with water is an effective training
method.
Fact: Your bird will never allow you to mist it again. You
cant expect a bird to know the difference between a 'lets have a nice bath' and
a 'squirt in the face as you are being naughty', which is it, treat or
punishment, its not surprising it confuses them.
Myth: Babies you finish weaning yourself make better pets.
Fact: There is absolutely no evidence in this. In fact
inexperienced hand feeders can make mistakes that may result in crop burns,
infections, starvation, and perhaps death.
Myth: Parrots don't need baths, because they preen
themselves.
Fact: Birds naturally take baths in the wild, most do it
daily. Misting your parrot helps to relieve itchy skin when it is moulting, as
well as controlling dander. It makes the feather sheaths soft, easier to remove,
and more comfortable for your pet. Baths also improve the overall feather
condition of your bird.
Myth: Clipping one wing on the parrot is better than clipping
both.
Fact: NO ! Clipping one wing will make your bird lopsided.
It will not be able to balance and will do a spiralling nose dive. Clip both
wings evenly, which will allow the bird to glide to the ground, instead of
crashing into it . Also clipping of one wing only will result in uneven chest
muscle development which is bad for the bird
Myth: It is cruel to clip a bird's wings.
Fact: Clipping is a personal choice, and we have members
that do clip and members that don't. Clipping does have its advantages it does it not hurt the bird (it's like a
person getting a haircut), it helps keep you more in control of your bird, but
it should ALWAYS be carried out by a avian vet
Myth: If my bird is clipped I can take him outside
without a harness or cage as he cant fly away
Fact : Outdoors is a whole different ball game to indoors, a
breeze can lift the bird to inaccessible places or carry them for miles just
'gliding', a parrot should always be in a cage if taken outdoors with padlocks
on any doors, feeders.....anything that may open. DON'T RISK LOSING YOUR PARROT
Myth: Seed is the best diet for my bird, it's what they
get in the wild!
Fact: Seeds are high in fat. Birds on an all seed diet
more prone to diseases. Birds on seed diets usually have shorter life than those
on a mixed diet. The argument "it's more natural!" is often used,
owners forget that wild birds spend a huge amount of their time just in search
of food! Because of this they get far more exercise than our house pets that
have food given to them on a plate. Anyway, birds in the wild eat more than just
seeds - they eat greens, fruits, nuts, and flowers too! A good diet for your pet
bird will include pellets, veggies, fruits, pasta and rice, and a VERY small
amount of seed
Myth: When my bird screams, I should flick it in the head.
Fact: Never, ever hit a bird, they do not understand !
Flicking the bird will only make it angry and possibly violent. First try and
find out what is wrong, parrots usually scream for a reason, then just ignore
the screaming. Reacting will only make the bird continue, because it has learned
that through this negative behaviour, it gets attention.
Myth: All African grey parrots bond to a human of
the opposite sex
Fact: Rubbish. Greys bond to the person who interacts with
them the most. All members of the grey's "human family" have to ensure
they spend equal amounts of time with the bird. It will then not bond to anyone
in particular
Myth: Vitamins should be added to the parrots water!
Fact: Adding vitamins to your bird's drinking water is
creating an open breeding ground for bacteria. If vitamins must be added, and
only if your avian vet recommends them, add them to their daily pellets. Try and
offer them a variety of veggies and other foods instead of using vitamins
Myth: My birds won't breed if I don't provide them a
nestbox.
Fact: They'll lay their eggs in their food bowls or on the
bottom of the cage. The only foolproof way to prevent your birds from breeding
is by separating them.
Myth: When your bird lays an egg, if you take it away,
she'll stop laying.
Fact: If you take away your bird's egg, she will lay more
to make up for it. Best let her sit on it until she gets tired of it, or remove
it and replace with a "dummy" egg.
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