The small parrots they enter into a species that includes various birds. It has its own order of animals known by the name of Psitasiformes. They are divided into 12 families and have several subfamilies. They are usually birds with bright colors and great color. It is the common name used to refer to all these species. It usually stands out for its small size and for being in high demand as a pet in homes.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, habitat, care and feeding of small parrots.
Key features
They are small animals that are characterized by having a short and very strong beak. Its upper jaw is mobile and allows it to climb. Surely many times you have seen him see these animals climb over the bars of the cage thanks to his beak. The tongue is fleshy and thick and some species is covered with fibrous papillae. They have small and atypical legs. They have 4 toes on each paw.. The first and last ones face backwards, while the middle two face forwards. This allows small parrots to have a greater ease when it comes to grabbing something.
Its wings are quite short and rounded. The problem is that some species of small parrots have lost the ability to fly. This can be an advantage when it comes to having a pet at home. And it is that in this way the fear that it can escape by flying if we take it out of the cage is lost.
Their tail is usually quite long. The most normal thing is that small parrots are sociable and gregarious animals. They are monogamous species, although some young are usually made in colonies and others are not. The eggs stand out for being white.
Feeding and talking to small parrots
When we have small pet parrots we must know that they have a specific diet. Their diet is mainly based on seeds, roots, tubers and fruits. As for water, he doesn't need much of it. However, it is essential that you have a drinker so that you can drink when you need to. They do not consume a large amount of food, so it is not an expense to take into account when we have it as a pet.
If we train them from a young age, they can be fascinating animals, especially because of their ability to speak. This attitude occurs in a general way in the species that are larger, although it also occurs in small parrots. If it is true that small parrots it is more difficult to make them talk. However, with patience they are able to repeat the limiting words that people do. There are some parrots that can say entire sentences. It all depends on the constancy with which you can teach your pet.
The vast majority of them can easily whistle. This does not mean that they can understand everything we say to them, but rather that they are words that make no sense to them. They are able, through observation, to relate certain words with concrete facts. This occurs more frequently in larger parrots, since it depends on the size of their brain. However, they are animals that have very good eyesight and hearing. For this reason, they have the ability to relate different daily events to establish words on a par.
The size of these pets is usually small, coming to find specimens that only measure 9 centimeters. Unfortunately, the number of small parrots in the world has decreased considerably due to human impacts. It is mainly due to the import and export of illegal birds. Another of the factors that are reducing the populations of these animals is the reduction and destruction of their natural habitats. Today, small parrots are considered an endangered species and are protected by the international convention on endangered species of wild fauna and flora.
small parrot care
If we decide to have a small parrot as a pet, we must take into account certain care. The main care that this pet requires is cleaning and grooming both the cage and the animal. Other factors to take into account are the appearance of parasites and the possible appearance of infections and diseases. In order to avoid infection problems or damage to the legs, we must maintain the cage and the hangers where they are placed are always clean. In addition, it is convenient to also provide him with elements to wear down his beak and prevent it from getting too big.
Let's not forget that these animals have unlimited beak growth throughout their lives. It happens something similar to the teeth of rabbits. The incisors are prepared to grow continuously in order to overcome the wear and tear they have in their day to day. For this reason, it is essential to place elements on it so that it can wear down its beak and prevent it from becoming too large and triggering other types of damage.
Let's not forget that they are animals that should be exercised despite being at home. Therefore, you have to be aware that they need help to be able to exercise correctly and without the danger of escaping and not being able to return to the cage. These animals grow in captivity and if they get lost they will not be able to survive on their own. The attitude between the owner and the pet is essential for a good relationship to develop. You must move and act calmly in order to establish a positive relationship. Avoid dealing with what you understand that attracts too much attention.
some considerations
The first thing we must get our animal used to is our hands. Normally we should encourage small parrots to come to our hands with food that they like as prizes. In this way, it is possible to tame it in an easier way. If we want to establish a better relationship, the younger the parrot becomes, the better. With age they tend to resist when establishing teachings. We must always treat the animal with affection since it will give better results than using force or shouting. In this type of teaching, patience is our best weapon.
An entertainment for parrot owners is to teach their pets to speak. It is usually repeated several times a day and in the clearest way possible for you to learn a word. We can play with the intonations so that the parrot stimulates its memory. More than by the word itself, he will learn to speak based on the intonation that we must. The ability to speak of small parrots is less than that of older ones. Nevertheless, It depends on each species and sex, but it is mainly the action of the owner.
Normally, males are more conducive to learning to speak than females. Another feature to note is that parrots show a preference for some of the specific sexes in people. Some species like men and others like women. The affection we show will be essential at all times.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about small parrots and their care.