Parrots are amazing companions, but just like any relationship, your relationship with your parrot needs to be nurtured.
Good parrot care means paying attention to the whole bird: physical health, food, housing, exercise, sleep, and that busy little brain. It also means understanding the individual sharing your home. Some parrots are outgoing entertainers. Others would rather watch the action before deciding whether to participate.
Whether you are learning how to take care of a parrot for the first time or checking your everyday routine, these ten steps offer a useful starting point. Your bird’s species, age, health, and personality will help determine the details.
Arrange regular checkups with a veterinarian experienced in caring for birds. Your veterinarian can recommend an examination schedule and any testing appropriate for your parrot.
Birds can hide signs of illness, so getting to know what is normal for yours matters. Pay attention to appetite, activity, weight, breathing, and droppings. A change that seems small to you may deserve a call to the veterinarian.
Do not wait for an annual appointment if your bird seems unwell. A bird that is struggling to breathe, unusually weak, or sitting on the cage floor needs prompt veterinary attention.
A bowl of favorite seeds may make your parrot happy at breakfast, but it does not necessarily provide balanced nutrition.
For many companion parrots, an appropriate formulated diet, such as pellets, forms the foundation of meals, with suitable vegetables and other foods providing variety. Dietary needs differ between species and individual birds, so ask your avian veterinarian what belongs on your parrot’s menu.
Introduce dietary changes gradually and monitor what your bird actually eats. A bowl containing healthier food is not helpful if your parrot refuses to touch it.
Keep fresh water available, clean food and water dishes daily, and remove perishable foods before they spoil. Use treats thoughtfully, especially during training. Those little rewards still count toward the day’s food.
Your parrot’s cage should provide room for comfortable movement, wing stretching, and play. Choose appropriate bar spacing and arrange perches and toys so they do not crowd the living space.
Allow regular, supervised time outside the cage in a bird-safe area. A play stand can give your parrot somewhere to climb, investigate, and spend time near the family.
Before opening the cage, check the room. Close doors and windows, turn off ceiling fans, and keep other pets safely separated. Protect your bird from hot surfaces, open water, fumes, and other household hazards.
Then give that busy beak something suitable to do. Chewing, shredding, and foraging toys provide opportunities to explore and work on a project. For ideas, read why bird toys are important.
Exercise and enrichment support a satisfying daily routine. They do not mean your parrot will become silent. A healthy parrot still has things to say!
Teaching your parrot to step onto a hand or perch and move to a play stand can make everyday care easier.
Build these skills through small steps and rewards your bird enjoys. Notice its body language, reward progress, and keep sessions short enough to remain pleasant.
If your bird backs away or shows discomfort, slow down. Forcing an interaction may get you through that moment, but it does little to build trust for the next one.
Clear, consistent cues help your bird understand what you are asking. Think of training as a conversation in which both of you get a turn.
Our five tips for solving parrot behavior problems explain how body language and rewards can improve those everyday interactions.
Quality interaction belongs in your daily routine, even when life gets busy.
That might include a short training session, supervised play, or simply spending time together while your bird explores a nearby stand. Learn which activities your parrot enjoys instead of assuming every bird wants to cuddle.
There is no single number of minutes that meets every parrot’s social needs. A brief session can be valuable, but it should not be the only companionship your bird receives all day.
Several enjoyable interactions throughout the day can help you stay connected. Your bird should also have opportunities to occupy itself comfortably between those moments.
Parrots are social animals. Give yours opportunities to see, hear, and participate in household life without placing it in the middle of constant noise or commotion.
A suitable cage location or nearby play stand can let your bird enjoy family activity. It should also have somewhere to rest quietly when needed.
Watch how your parrot responds. Some love an audience. Others appreciate a little distance from the busiest part of the room.
Companionship matters, but behavior changes such as persistent screaming or feather damage should not automatically be blamed on loneliness. An avian veterinarian can help identify possible health concerns and guide the next steps.
Help your parrot become comfortable around other household members and trusted friends.
Start with calm, predictable encounters. A visitor may simply sit nearby or offer a suitable reward while your bird remains in a comfortable place. Handling can come later, if the bird is willing.
Your parrot does not need to step onto every person who asks. Learning that people respect its signals is valuable social experience, too.
If your bird has a favorite person, other family members can build their own relationships through feeding routines, play, and positive training. Let those relationships develop rather than forcing affection.
Many companion parrots benefit from roughly 10–12 hours of quiet, dark, uninterrupted rest each night. Ask your avian veterinarian about the schedule appropriate for your bird.
The television, late-night conversation, and lights going on and off can interfere with rest, even when your bird appears to be settled.
Provide a comfortable sleeping arrangement away from evening activity. If you use a cage cover, make sure it is appropriate for your setup, allows ventilation, and cannot be pulled through the bars and chewed.
A consistent routine helps. Your parrot should not have to stay up simply because the family has decided to watch one more episode.
Trust grows when your parrot learns that you are predictable and safe.
Use familiar cues, respond to its body language, and follow through on routines. Respect a bird that moves away rather than repeatedly pushing for contact.
Avoid punishment, yelling, and deliberately frightening your parrot. If something is not working, look at what happened before the behavior and what your bird may be trying to communicate.
Progress may be gradual, especially with a nervous bird or one adjusting to a new home. Notice the small moments: approaching you, taking a reward, exploring a new object, or choosing to stay nearby.
Those moments count.
No matter how well trained it is, a healthy parrot may still be noisy, messy, and destructive, because it’s a parrot!
Food will land outside the bowl. A favorite toy may end up in pieces. Your bird may enthusiastically contribute to a conversation that did not originally include it.
Good care gives those natural behaviors suitable outlets. It also helps you distinguish ordinary parrot activity from a change that needs attention.
Keep learning about your bird’s species, but leave room for its individual personality. The goal is a healthy, trusting relationship with the bird you have.
For a realistic look at the commitment involved, read A Pet Parrot Isn’t for Everyone.
Taking care of a parrot is an ongoing partnership. Meet its daily needs, pay attention to what it tells you, and enjoy the personality that makes your feathered family member one of a kind.
Adapted and updated by Pet Junction from the original article by Liz Wilson, CVT.
Further reading: Association of Avian Veterinarians: Bird Owner Resources
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