Obviously each species is different. Even though they are still a true
parrot or a hookbill, each one is different which poses different health risks
for them and along with each species comes a lot of untrue rumors. I'm here to
help set the record straight. Here are the facts about certain species:
Budgies
1. Budgies, also commonly called parakeets, are NOT true parakeets.
True parakeets are much larger and more colorful. You should always
refer to these wonderful pets as budgies.
2. Budgies come in two varieties. Regular budgies which are usually
around $17 to $20 each and English Budgies which range in price
from $35 to $250 depending on the "quality" of the birds head and
tail.
3. Budgies are prone to Fatty Tumors, especially in the abdomen. They
also suffer from Obesity and Reproductive problems, especially Egg
Binding! They can also suffer from Thyroid problems.
4. A 7 year old Budgies that dies died early in its life! Seven years
is NOT the life expectancy of a Budgies. At minimum your Budgie
should live to be at least 12 years old; up to 15 years even! The
oldest on record that I am aware of was 17 years old! This is what
proper diet and being in a smoke-free home can do for your bird!!!!
Cockatiels
1. Cockatiels are true cockatoos. They are just smaller and come in
more colors and make fantastic pets! Genetic testing proved they
are in the true cockatoo genus.
2. The color of the orange cheek patches is NOT an indicator of sex or
age. Orange cheek patches can be bright in both sexes or dull in
both sexes and ages.
3. "Albino" cockatiels are actually White Faced Lutinos!
4. Males and females can whistle and learn to talk, however it is much
more rare in the females so if a bird that can whistle and possibly
mimic human speach and other sounds is important to you, then get a
male. However, this is NO guarantee as the bird will do what it
wants!
5. Cockatiels, no matter what color or "variety" you have are prone to
Liver and Kidney disorders.
6. It is recommended to give herbs such as Lactulose and Milk Thistle
to help control liver disorders and adding a teaspoon of Flax Seed
or Spray Millet to the diet helps the Kidneys.
7. Other less common but still serious disorders in cockatiels consist
of Obesity, Fatty Tumors, Xanthomas, Reproductive and Feather prob-
lems.
8. Your Cockatiel has a life expectancy of at least 21 years, up to 27
if given the right diet and a smoke-free home!
Conures
1. All species of conures are the "bull dogs" of the bird world! They
have very little fear of other birds and WILL attack larger birds
like amazons, cockatoos and macaws and will obviously fail and be
injured or killed.
2. Noise wise, conures are the most noisy parrot species. They are NOT
the loudest by any means but they are extremely noisy so you either
love them or hate them! If anyone tells you they have a relatively
quite conure......they are lying to you!!!
3. Conures, like cockatiels and amazons come in a very wide variety of
colors and by far one of the most popular is the Sun Conure.
4. Conures are prone to Obesity, Fatty Tumors, Xanthomas and Feather &
Reproductive problems.
Amazons
1. Amazons, if given the proper care and diet they need can easily
live to be over 100 human years in age. These birds must be put in
a will as they can easily outlive their owner!
2. Amazons are very prone to Fatty Liver Disease, Obesity, Ovary and
Liver dysfunction and Atherosclerosis.
3. Amazons need a pelleted diet with lost of fresh veggies and fruits,
especially those that are dark green or bright in color such as bok
choy, sweet potatoes, celery, peppers, etc. Seeds and nuts are
prohibited as they are too high in fat!
African Grey's
1. African Grey's are the most sought after companion parrot species
because of their mimicing and speach abilities. They are ranked #1
for this ability but NOT all African Grey's "talk".
2. African Grey's are prone to Calcium Imbalances and Respiratory
disorders.
3. African Grey's MUST have daily access to sunlight or UVB full spec-
trum lighting in order to obtain proper levels of Vitamin D3 and
Calcium levels in the blood!
4. The most common is the Congo African Grey which has the bright red
tail. The other species is called a Timneh African Grey which has a
dark, maroon colored tail and horn/black colored beak.
5. African Grey's may have a tendency towards Atherosclerosis, aggres-
sion and feather picking.
6. Geriatric Arican Grey's may need some additional high quality fat
in their diet later in life which will be determined by your Avian
Vet. If this is the case, a good sources of this fat is from a
product called Sunshine Factor made by Harrison's which is a
specially processed Carotina Oil from the Red Palm Nut.
Cockatoos
1. Cockatoos are extremely prone to Vitamin A deficiency and should be
seen by your Avian Vet annually for blood work and possibly a given
a Vitamin A injection or supplement.
2. While cockatoos are the "love bugs" of the parrot kingdom and love
attention and be cuddled, behaviorally, they have a tendency toward
aggression and feather picking!
3. Cockatoos are EXTREMELY loud parrots. The Moluccan Cockatoo, also
called the Salmon Crested Cockatoo, is the loudest parrot in the
world with a scream at 138 decibles. That is deafining to the
human ear after only 4 to 7 minutes and their screams can easily be
heard up to 5 miles away!!!
4. Cockatoos are hard chewers and are EXTREMELY destructive to walls,
furniture, carpet, etc. If you have a perfect home, DO NOT get a
cockatoo for a pet!
5. The larger cockatoo species can easily live to be over 100 human
years in age and should be placed in a will as they can easily out-
live their human owners!
6. Cigarette smoke is leathal to your bird. Considering your Cockatoo
can easily live to be 100 years old, the average age of a Cockatoo
in a home with a single smoker is only 15 years!!! If you smoke,
QUIT or get a pet rock instead!!!
Macaws
1. Like the Amazons and Cockatoos, the large Macaw species can well
out live their human care givers. Macaws, on record, have lived to
be 120 human years!
2. Some common problems in macaws include Reproductive and Feather
problems along with Digestive Disorders, Bacterial, Fungal, Bone
and Beak problems in babies.
3. Hyacinth Macaws need extra oils in their diet which they must get
from two large Walnuts or a dose of Sunshine Factor made by the
Harrison's company which is a specially processed Carotina Oil from
the Red Palm Nut. Actual Palm Nuts can also be given which these
very large birds actually eat in the wild. Be prepared for a very
expensive diet to properly feed a Hyacinth though; Palm Nuts are
about $80 per 5 pound bag!!!
4. Macaws are hard chewers and are EXTREMELY destructive to walls,
furniture, carpet, etc. If you have a perfect home, DO NOT get a
cockatoo for a pet!
5. Macaws, whether large or small are very, very noisy and squawk a
few times per day. Their squawk can easily "wake the dead" and if
you or your guests are not used to it, plan on jumping out of your
skin a few times per day. The large macaws like the Blue & Gold
can easily be heard up to 5 miles away!
6. Cigarette smoke is leathal to your bird. Considering your Macaw
can easily live to be 100 years old, the average age of a Macaw in
a home with a single smoker is only 15 years!!! If you smoke, QUIT
or get a pet rock instead!!!
Monk or Quaker Parakeets
1. These are fabulous birds as pets and are extremely playful, happy
birds.
2. Quakers are prone to Obesity, Fatty Tumors, Xanthomas and reproduc-
tive disorders and also suffer from feather problems.
Lories and Lorikeets
1. These birds are EXTREMELY messy, both diet wise and poop wise! On
average they poop about every 20-30 seconds because of their juicy
nectar diet!
2. These birds actually do best on Harrison's Formula. Most of the
"lory diets" and Nectars on the market are too high in Vitamin A
and are deficient in many other vital nutrients needed by Lories.
3. Common health problems in Lories are Obesity, Liver Malfunction,
Fatty Tumors, Bone Disorders, Respiratory Diseases, Fungal and
Yeast Infection. They are also very prone to Iron Storage Disease.
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