My husband has always been interested in birds, the feathered variety, so for his birthday I decided to buy him a pet parrot. At first I thought I would visit our local pet shop but then opted to browse on the internet to find out if there were websites which bought and sold birds. I came across an excellent site, www.buysellbirds.co.uk which supply birds as well as selling books and videos on how to care for them.

After reading this website I realised that anyone can advertise a bird for sale. My husband has always wanted a cockatiel and sure enough there was one for sale. The seller lived quite close to my home town so I decided to visit and check out the bird myself. The owner was able to give me plenty of information about this pet such as its eating habits, cleanliness, likes and dislikes.

It is really quite easy to sell a bird on this website. All that is required are personal details completed online with a description of the bird for potential buyers who may be interested. A buyer can search the relevant area where birds are for sale including the category of the bird itself.

I had to decide which kind of parrot to buy for my husband, a cockatiel, a macaw or a parakeet. I eventually plumped for an African Grey Parrot as I learned they are charming, have wonderful characters and are highly intelligent. I also read on this fantastic website that their diet consists of seeds, nuts, fruit and other plant material.

I returned to the seller once again and decided to make the purchase. I knew my husband would be delighted with his unusual birthday present. Sure enough on his birthday he was very surprised to receive this gift with a difference. He has named the cockatiel Cynthia and is building up a rapport by trying to get her to speak - practice makes perfect.

I highly recommend this superb website for anyone who wishes to buy or sell a bird. They only accept genuine advertisements, no time wasters. They also advise customers not to send cash payments until the bird is authenticated, that it is for sale and you have personally met the seller. Escrow is the suggested means of payment to safeguard any problems concerning financial arrangements between buyer and seller.

Bird shows are always a favourite with bird fanciers and indeed are advertised on this website. This gives the opportunity for enthusiasts to meet up and discuss their hobby in greater detail. The company itself has interesting reading material including ways to contact them and the policies used within the parameters of their website.

Returning to my husband and his special present, I must admit I am starting to feel slightly jealous of all the attention he is giving to Cynthia. However on a more serious note, she has brought a lot of happiness to our home and is a pleasure to us and everyone who visits.

Check out this new free classified ads portal that lists a vast selection of birds for sale in the UK . The most popular section is the parrots for sale.

categories: parrots,birds,pets,home,family,animals,personal,lifestyle,hobbies,animals,advice,sales

Written by John Gray using tags: advice, animals, Birds, family, hobbies, Home, lifestyle, Parrots, personal, Pets, sales, superb-parrot-for-sale

Proudly owning a bird like a parrot is amazing and of course you are eager to look after it and adore it for a long time to come. The first thing will be choosing the home it is going to live in. It's well worth investing some time considering various factors which will affect the daily life and well-being of your bird. Bird Cages come in a wide array of shapes and sizes so here are our 5 S's to follow when making this necessary purchase.

Size : Parrots require space to explore and play. They have a tendency to shift from side to side and needless to say require room to completely stretch their wings to exercise. Parrot cages ought to be broader than the total extended wing span of your parrot. To give an example it's advised that to have an African Grey Parrot (that is one of the more popular parrots you can own) the minimum dimensions ought to be 121cm high by 91cm wide and 60cm deep. The bird has to clamber around, hang upside down as well as flap his wings.

Spacing : It is vital to consider the space between the bars. This ought to be the correct sizing for the bird, for instance, a small Conure shouldn't be kept in a bird cage designed for a big macaw as the space between the bars could well be sufficient for the smaller sized bird to either escape or get caught in between the bars. There have also been stories in which a parrot has been kept in a cage in which the space between the bars is way too small and it has trapped its beak or toes in the bars.

Shape : There are various varieties of shape that you can consider, but think about what it is going to be like for the bird - would you want to live in a house that is round? It's believed that circular cages have an effect on the birds psychologically and thus bird cages which have got different angles to them like those found in the latest rectangular and square cages tend to be the better option.

Stimulation : This is extremely important. Imagine if you lived inside a cage with nothing at all to help you exercise or to have fun with. Parrots with substantial intelligence may start to pluck out their own feathers if they're ignored or are lacking stimulation. Make sure you have a selection of toys in the cage and even think about a cage which has a play top which often includes a flat top with food cups on it along with a perch for additional exercise and a change of scenery.

Suitability : This segment contains things we have already touched on like shape, size and spacing and also includes issues such as how straightforward and safe is it to clean and where is it going to fit in your house. The cage tray in the bottom will be pulled out to clean so is there a grate at the bottom to stop your bird from escaping, is there an integrated metallic apron round the cage to catch scattered seed and feathers? Where will you be placing the cage? There are bird cages suitable for placing in a corner but remember to place it in an area that is not secluded because it is important for your bird to develop sociably.

365 Pet Products offer a range of Bird cages and Parrot Cages at Great Prices ready for UK Wide Delivery.

Written by Carol Cadman using tags: Bird Cages, Parrots, Pets

I've always loved parrots. An aunt of mine used to have one many years ago, I remember it from my childhood, it was very talkative and great fun. Since my husband died I have been quite lonely. Looking at some photographs the other day, sure enough there was one of me as a little girl next to the parrot in its cage. It brought back happy memories, so I decided to buy one.

I must admit I didn't really know how to care and look after a parrot. I do remember my aunt telling me time and patience were needed. Patience, me? Thought I would go to the library to read up on parrots before visiting the pet shop. I knew a parrot would make a wonderful pet if cared for properly. In return the bird would give me companionship and enjoyment, just what I needed right now.

The library book was ideal, packed with information. It advised buying a big enough cage to allow the parrot to move around comfortably, to spread its wings. The bottom of the cage would need to be lined with paper, changed and cleaned daily to stop food and bird mess falling onto the floor. This wouldn't be a problem, I always have the hoover on standby. The book suggested buying toys to keep the bird amused, a perch, food and a water bowl.

The parrot would have to be washed at least once a week with water and dried with a towel. Its nails needed to be clipped to stop them from growing too long. A parrot requires a balanced diet, fruit, vegetables, meat and grains are preferable, including having fresh water every day.

The penny dropped, keeping a pet parrot would be hard work. This didn't put me off buying one though, especially when I found out I needed to talk to it every day. Apparently vocal contact is extremely important, that was ok with me as sometimes I never shut up.

The following day I visited the pet shop. Had a chat to the shop assistant, he had just what I was looking for, a magnificent green and yellow Macaw, I was thrilled. He offered good advice too, like not cleaning out the cage with harmful chemicals, only warm water. I bought everything for a fabulous price, the parrot, cage and accessories.

I couldn't ask for a better companion than Dolly, my pet parrot. A mutual bond formed very quickly, I would simply be lost without her now. The internet too, has fantastic tips and advice all about parrots. How to train them, teach them to talk and keep them occupied can all be read about online, extremely useful.

Even for old ladies like me, websites that specialise in pet parrots are absolutely ideal. My house is now alive again with chit-chat and fun. For a wonderful companion buy yourself a parrot.

Learn more about Parrot Care. Stop by this site where you can find out all about Parrot Training as well.

categories: hobbies,pets, birds, parrots, family,hobby,animals

Written by John Gray using tags: animals, Birds, family, hobbies, hobby, Parrots, Pets

It takes time, effort in training a pet parrot. But the correct training will result in parrot that is a pleasant companion.

Statistics show that there are about sixteen million pet birds in the United States. A few million of these are pet parrots. The most popular pets in the US and Canada are cats, then dogs, then fish, and then birds.

There are about 372 species of parrots. Most originate in warm tropical climates and the largest most diverse populations of parrots are in Australasia and South America. Some of the most common parrots kept as pets include the Macaws, Amazons, African Greys, eclectus, and conures. You may not have realized it, but budgies, lovebirds, cockatoos and cockatiels are parrots and are very popular.

The majority of parrots are multi-colored with various bright shades of green, red, blue and yellow. There is a lorikeet that is so colorful that it is called the Rainbow Lorikeet. The plumage of some parrots, such as the cockatoo, is mainly a solid color.

Parrots have strong legs for facilitating an upright stance. They have very strong bills for cracking nuts and large claws for climbing and for holding food while eating.

Most parrot species eat seeds and nuts. Some prefer fruit while others include worms, snails and insects in their diet.

Parrots make great pets, especially if well trained. They have been kept as pets since ancient Egyptian and Roman times. Their popularity stems from their exotic, beautiful colored plumage, their playfulness and engaging personalities, and of course their ability to speak and imitate human and other sounds.

Before buying a parrot you should study up on the characteristics of the different breeds to learn which type may be best suitable for you. Parrots for the most part require lots of training and companionship.

The intelligent African Grey can easily learn to talk. But they crave attention and stimulating activities. If denied this the African Grey is prone to stress.

Other parrots breeds that are excellent talkers and very smart are the Macaws and the Amazons. In order to be happy and healthy, their owners should provide them with activities and parrot training to keep them active. Otherwise they may turn assertive and destructive.

Cockatoos, like the other large parrots previously mentioned, are sociable, active parrots that demand lots of time from their owners. Without this interaction, cockatoos can become neurotic. Some of them can talk, but all possess a very loud shrill cry.

Budgies are the most popular pet parrots. These small, smart birds are easily trained and are extremely affectionate and playful. They are much less demanding than their large parrot cousins, Budgies, most often the males can be trained to talk.

The second most popular pet parrot is the cockatiel. They are a species of cockatoo, but unlike the larger cockatoos, they are easy -going and less needy. Cockatiels are a lot like budgies in personality.

As has been emphasized, all pet parrots need proper parrot training and attention. There are several training books and training DVDs with lots of great tips. With time and patience you will form a loving bond with your well-adjusted pet parrot.

Learn more about pet parrots. Stop by Sebastiian Day's site where you can find out all aboutparrot training and what it can do for you.

Written by Sebastiian Day using tags: caring for parrots, family pets, parrot behavior, parrot behavior modification, parrot breeds, parrot care, parrot species, parrot training, parrot types, Parrots, pet birds, Pet Parrots, Pets, urns-for-pet-parrots

Whether in homes, pet stores, breeding facilities or rescue shelters, parrot care is often times not up to the proper level of excellence needed for happy, healthy parrots. Often times, parrot attention, cage care, nutrition, and grooming care are not up to proper standards. Parrots with potential, but without suitable care, are frequently abandoned because of a lack of commitment on the part of the owner. Parrot behavioral problems (which are the main reason for abandonment) can be remedied when proper care, love, attention, and time are spent with even the most troubled parrot.

Different species of parrots require different care but, for all parr
ots, proper nutrition is vital in maintaining a good quality of life. Most parrot diets are very similar. In general, parrot diets consist of fresh fruits and vegetables, parrot pellets, and a high quality of vitamin enriched parrot seed mix. Owners also need to change their parrots water everyday.

Although birds are typically considered a "dirty" pet to own, it is very important to keep parrots' cages clean. Perches, dishes and other surfaces of the cage should be cleaned daily with water and mild soap. Cleaning products like ammonia, mold and mildew cleaner, and bleach can irritate or burn a parrot's skin, eyes and reparatory tract. The bird's cages themselves also need to be inspected for unsafe situations like sharp points in the metal. Cleanliness is also important when it comes to handling your parrot. Owners need to wash their hands frequently when they are working with birds, handling their dishes, and preparing their meals in order to prevent bacterial infections. Human saliva also contains bacteria that are harmful to parrots so owners should never allow their birds to place its beak in their owner's mouths or noses. The size of the cage is vital to a parrot's well-being. The parrot should be able to spread its wings within its cage. There should also be room enough to hand two to four safe parrot toys.

Parrot cage care is an important aspect of parrot ownership. Because the cage is the main area in which a parrot pet will be spending a majority of its time, it is essential that the cage be the proper size and sanitary. Parrots are larger birds and need plenty of room to move, climb, and stretch their wings. A cage that is too small may cause stress and upset to a parrot. Again, researching ahead of time what the proper sized cage for a specific breed and having open communication with a parrot's breeder, will aid in making a parrot as happy as possible. Parrot's cages should be wiped down, daily, and they should be taken apart and washed thoroughly, monthly.

Grooming a parrot friend is also important for their personal care as well as owner safety. A parrot's beak and claws can become very sharp if not properly cared for. A parrot's beak and claws must be trimmed on a routine basis to ensure that harm does not come to parrot or owner. Because most parrots prefer tropical, rainforest type weather, showering them with a slow showerhead or spray bottle can help to simulate baths they would take in the wild. Bathing a parrot daily can be a form of entertainment for both parrot an owner, and it is also a vital part of parrot care.

Parrots are playful, affectionate, and super smart. Owners need to understand the extreme importance of their needs and how to meet each one. With proper care parrots will thrive in a home environment.

Learn more about parrot care. Stop by Stacey Watkins's site where you can find out all about parrots and what they can do for you.

Written by Stacey Watkins using tags: african grey parrot, parrot care, Parrots, Pets

We're going to get to the training process in this last of our series of teaching your bird to talk.If at all possible, teach your bird to talk when the bird is right out of its nest. Training while your bird is still on formula is the best to start. They bond much easier with people, when birds are this young. It will respond well if you practice with patience with your bird.A young parrot does not talk right away. Exposing them to words at this young an age will prepare them for when they are ready to talk.

Even though they are too young to talk, they will recognize words at this age.Bigger parrots speak between 6 and 12 months while smaller parrots begin to speak between 4 and 6 months.After a year most parrots will not learn any new words. Still others will learn a new word from time to time but for the most part their learning days are over. Therefore picking an older bird that is also afraid of people gives you almost no chance of coming away with a talker. As for the sex of the bird, males are much better talkers than females. Most of the time it is impossible to tell the sex of a bird just by looking at it. A blood test is often required.

Early in the morning or late at night is the best time of day to teach your bird. When birds gather to eat and congregate with other birds, this corresponds with the times. In these times parrots are very noisy. Try not to quiet them. Just let it.In order to make learning easier, positive reinforcement is a great tool. Reward it with food, when your bird begins to talk. Your parrot will more look forward to the training sessions as this reinforcement continues. Turn off all TV sets and radios when teaching your bird to talk. Quiet is absolutely good. Sunlight is needed. You need to be the center of the bird's attention. It will notice you when you speak.

Repeat the words slowly and say the words you are teaching to the bird.The word must be with action. Birds learn quicker this way.While teaching the bird use objects that is small and bright in color. If the bird gets the word reward it by giving the bird the object.Some easy words for parrots to learn are grape, paper, box, corn, carrot, nail, water, treat, bean, and rock.So try starting with these words.The first words are the hardest for the parrots to learn.

After that they will begin to come easier.Teaching your bird to talk can be a very fun and rewarding experience. You should find that your parrot develops quite a vocabulary if you have patience and follow the above guidelines. Though you may have a lot of trouble getting him to be quiet.

Interested to How To Teach A Parrot To Talk.

categories: parrots,how to train parrots

Written by Dot Stewart using tags: Birds, how to train parrots, Parrots

The mistake of recording your voice over and over again as if your voice is stuck on a broken record do not ever make. Not at all this is the communication of the parrot's point of view. Parrots may learn the sound but the meaning is gone already.

From this observation, it might be a good idea to place the parrot's cage in the kitchen or in the dining area where the family and some friends and visitors are most likely to congregate. Parrot will be exposed to different sounds and have lots of opportunity to learn from interacting human beings.

Tips are-

. Parrot, say, "Hello, (name of parrot)!" when entering the room. The parrot will recognize the greeting and know its name in this way.

. The parrot, say, "Bye, (name of parrot)!" leaving the room. The parrot will soon learn to react when it hears its name?. Talk like "Hmmm...delicious! (Or something similar)" when feeding them.

When cleaning their homes, say, "Dirty house!!! (Or something similar)"

The short phrases with the actions being done, it will learn. Often associate use short phrases and actions that are done daily-like eating, cleaning, etc.

Repetition is the key. Mindless repetitions like a taped recording, do not do. It will never learn even if the phrases used are short.

Better not overwhelm the parrot, like little children.Good idea is rewarding your parrot (like when training a dog). To learn the words you taught the parrot to say, the parrot will continue doing what you like.

If the parrot did something bad, do not give it any food. Do not spoil with praises or words using soft tones. Let it know that you are not happy. Do not show aggression as the parrot will return the favor!

Equally bad response from the pet owner, bad behavior is not corrected. The parrot may learn to rebel instead.Keep in mind that young parrots are like children too.

You might have heard of parenting tips saying that making baby talk to babies does not teach them how to really talk. Same as parrots. Use your regular voice.

It can learn just after a few days or weeks. Just be patient and keep on following the above techniques and the results will soon show.

And oh yeah, be patient always. Be patient it will learn how to talk soon. Too good so as to tell away your secrets!

Interested to Bird Toys.

Written by Bill Ingvall using tags: Birds, how to train parrots, Parrots

What I've Learned from Years of Parrot Training You will take something away from this training parrots regardless of your experience level. It seems like I can't leave the house these days without someone stopping and asking me about the art of parrot training. I always find it surprising that talking parrots is such a common conversational topic these days. It used to be far more obscure, almost rarely talked about. My life really took a turn when I was featured in a popular Parrot Trainer's magazine. Since then my mailbox has been flooded with inquieries. So I guess you could call me a bit of a local celebrity, on the subject, but I don't let the attention get to my head.

People ask me how I got my start and how I got to where I am today, so I always refer them to Guide to Well-Behaved Parrot by Mattie Sue Athan. Until you have have read every single page of the Guide to a Well Behaved Parrot you are not ready to teach parrots anything. Fortunately, its a lot easier today for those that want to get started than it was in my day. Back in my day you had to learn the bird's signs and gain its trust before you could even take a crack at it. Today, all you have to do is hop online and all of the information you could ever dream of about parrots is available at your finger tips.

Frankly, today's parrot trainers are just not the same because they lack the dedication we had. The cadets joining these days are eager beavers, that's for sure but they are searching for all the wrong things in all the wrong places. Here's what they ask me every day. "-What is the cheapest place to buy parrots?

-What is the best book about talking parrots?

-What can I do to train parrots better?

And the list goes on and on."

Look, as someone who has been in the game for a while, I'll be the first to tell you, parrot training isn't about being the best animal trainer on day one, but about getting your hands dirty and actually learning from your experience. When I first started learning to converse with my parrot, I was awful. My friends who got me into it in the first place wished they never had because I was constantly asking for advice. My epiphany came eventually but it would take a long time. It happened when I finally put down parrottraining.com and started concentrating on the fundamentals. I lost interest in the best birdcage and instead focused my efforts on talking to parrots in the simplest way possible.

Practically overnight, I saw my insecurities disappear, and I started seeing the results that I wanted to see. Although I coach people to train parrots professionally, only 23% of my job is actually teaching them about parroting. The other 77 is just hard work on the part of the client. They really have to give it their all. Always keep in mind that there are worse things that can happen than if you fail to give polly a cracker. You can give polly something worse for example, so keep aiming for the stars and you'll hit the moon on your path toward glory.

Interested to Train My Parrot To Talk.

Written by Aron Digirolomo using tags: Birds, how to train parrots, Parrots

How Long Does A Parrot Learns to Talk?

The next morning everyone wishes to see their bird talking asks the same question: training a parrot to talk, how long? It can be answered easily if you know the factors that affect the ability of a bird to mimic sounds. To get a parrot talking, it's highly preferable to buy young and hand-raised feathered specie ranging from three to six months.

Since young ones have already predetermined sounds in their minds it's essential to keep in mind that older birds do not learn as effortless. You need to have a lot of staying power, patience, and persistence to get it talking, if the bird you are planning to train is an adult already.Although parrots are known as talking birds, the aptitude of your bird to imitate the spoken words of human hugely depends on the parrot species that you have, the attitude of your pet, the strategies and techniques you're going to utilize and how you particularly tame your pet.

Building its trust in you as his trainer and taming your parrot is the start of the training. You will know if the pet is ready to be taught to utter words if it's relaxed and confident in your presence. One of the most efficient talking birds is known as the African Grey parrots. It is easy to teach and proficient in their actions. The qualities are some of the factors to recognize how long does it take to train a parrot to talk.

As you broaden the vocabulary of your pet parrot as well as its tonal quality, it will grant you the companionship and joy you will never experience with non-talking birds. Note that parrots can retain information of more words and phrases because of their strong memory than other flying species.Prior to taking its cage cover off, begin the training session each morning.Make it a ritual reiterating a phrase or words several times. Birds will contemplate more sounds in the dark and will attempt to act in response to what you say by repeating what it hears. Do this everyday right after you feed it.

It will speak the same phrase to call your attention if you are not anywhere near it or when it needs attention or it is very hungry, when your parrot gets accustomed to the sound that you use to make it responds. Answer back with similar sound but don't go near the cage.Knowing how long does it take to train a parrot to talk is highly influenced by your perseverance in teaching your pet. During weekdays you can use a recording to train your pet.

Enthusiastic about Train My Parrot To Talk.

categories: parrots,how to train parrots

Written by Jerri Rauls using tags: Birds, how to train parrots, mimicing-parrot-online, Parrots