Parrots For Dummies Book

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in This Book
	Where to Go from Here
Part 1 Introducing the Parrot — Your Wild Child
	Chapter 1 Meeting the Parrots, Just the Basics
		Introducing the Parrots
			From pet to companion
			A little bit of wilderness
		Home Tweet Home: Welcoming a Parrot into Your Home
			Making birdy comfortable
			Parrot paraphernalia
		Parrot Care 101: Taking Care of Your Bird
			Health care
			Nutrition
		Parrot Behavior: Checking How Your Bird Acts
			Normal behaviors
			The parrot monster
		Parrot Pals: Socializing with Your Bird
			Making friends with your parrot
			Breeding parrots: Use caution
		A Caveat to the Wise
	Chapter 2 Knowing What to Expect with Your Companion Parrot
		Defining a Companion Parrot
		Just Being Themselves
		Recognizing the Joys of Parrot Guardianship
		Pondering Important Points about Buying or Adopting a Parrot
			Recognizing who’s getting the parrot
			Answering why you want a parrot
			Factoring in the parrot’s personality
			Contemplating the parrot’s home
			Going on vacation
			Remembering parrots have a longer lifespan
			Dealing with allergies
			Estimating the costs of parrot ownership
			Being cognizant of the responsibilities of parrot guardianship
			Spending time with your parrot
			Preparing for mess and more mess
			Getting used to the noise (Sorry, I can’t hear over my screaming parrot)
		Understanding What a Companion Parrot Expects
			Tolerance
			Empathy
			Sense of humor
			Attentiveness
			Decisiveness and action
			Constant companionship
			A loyal friend
		Living with a Parrot around Nonbird People
	Chapter 3 Choosing the Right Companion
		Keeping Certain Considerations in Mind As You Choose a Species
			Parrots are individuals
			The chemistry between the two of you
			Not all species are created equal
			Noise: deafening or extremely deafening
			Space: Bigger is better
			Lifestyles of the neat and messy
			From easily affordable to taking out a loan
			Talking ability
			Child-friendliness
			One, two, or more
		Looking Closer at Species Profiles Commonly Kept As Companions
			African grey parrots
			Amazon parrots
			Brotogeris
			Budgies
			Caiques
			Cockatiels
			Cockatoos
			Conures
			Eclectus
			Hanging parrots
			Hawk-headed parrots
			Lories
			Lovebirds
			Macaws
			Other parakeets
			Parrotlets
			Pionus
			Poicephalus parrots
			Quaker parakeets
			Vasa parrots
	Chapter 4 Purchasing or Adopting a Parrot
		Considering Your Parrot Options
			Comparing handfed versus parent-raised birds
			Choosing an age
			Contemplating degrees of tameness
			The talker in the bunch
		Finding the Perfect Parrot for You
			Pet shops
			Bird shops
			Online classifieds
			Reputable breeders
			Flea markets
			Bird shows or expos
		Adopting a Rescue Parrot
			Identifying which birds are available for adoption
			Completing the rescue application
			Being prepared for the rescue home visit
		Looking for a Healthy Parrot
			Bright eyes
			Clear nose and nares
			Beak
			Shiny feathers
			Feet
			Vent
			Attitude and stance
		Requesting a Guarantee
		Knowing What to Ask Before You Buy or Adopt
Part 2 Bringing Home Your New Parrot
	Chapter 5 A House to Call Home: Choosing Proper Housing
		Matching the Housing to the Species
		Finding the Right Cage for Your Bird
			Cage shape
			Sturdiness and material
			Housing bottom
			Door types
			Cage dangers
		Building Your Own Cage
		Placing Your Cage to Ensure Your Parrot Is Comfortable
		Cleaning the Cage
			Simplifying your cage cleaning
			Choosing the right cleansers
		Considering an Aviary
			The flight cage
			The habitat
	Chapter 6 Going Shopping: Avian Supplies and Accessories
		Giving Your Parrot a Place to Stand: Perches
			Wooden perches
			Concrete and cement perches
			Rope perches
			Plastic perches
		Keeping the Food and Water Accessible: Coop Cups
		Entertaining Your Parrot: Toys
			Ensuring safety at all times
			Considering different types of toys
		Creating the Right Ambience: Bird Lighting
		Setting Up the Cage
		Considering Play Gyms and Stands
		Lining Your Cage: Litter and Bedding
		Covering the Cage: Nighttime Covers
		Preventing Mess
			Mess accessories
			Air filters
	Chapter 7 Bringing Home Birdy: Making Introductions and Parrot-Proofing Your Home
		Making the First Night Stress Free (As Much As Possible)
		Naming Your Bird
		Thriving on Routine with Your New Parrot
		Welcoming Your Parrot as a Family Member
			Being unafraid; being very unafraid
			Introducing people
			Introducing pets
			Introducing other birds
			Quarantining your parrot
		Understanding the Relationship between Parrots and Children
			Realizing the commitment to owning a bird
			Establishing some basic rules
		Familiarizing Houseguests to Your Parrot
		Parrot-Proofing Your Home
Part 3 Caring for Your Parrot
	Chapter 8 Eating Like a Bird: Proper Parrot Nutrition
		Starting with the Basics: Water
			Keeping everything clean
			Adding supplements to your water: Yay or nay?
		Recognizing a Parrot’s Dietary Requirements
			The digestive system
			Eating in the wild
		Identifying Nutrition-Related Disorders
			Vitamin A deficiency
			Calcium deficiency
		Comparing Seeds versus Pellets: The Big Debate
		Eyeing What the Cooked Base Diet Is
		Purchasing and Storing
		Knowing Which Vegetables to Feed Your Parrot
		Focusing on Fruit to Feed Your Feathered Friend
		Being Aware of Pesticides
		Giving Your Bird Snacks
		Adding Table Foods to Your Bird’s Diet
		Avoiding Toxic and Irritating Foods
		Considering Grit and Clay
		Contemplating Nutritional Supplements
		Feeding Nectar Eaters
		Getting a Parrot to Eat
		Making Some Easy Recipes
			Parrot muffins and bread
			Parrot mac and cheese
			Parrot omelet
			Parrot juice and smoothies
			Parrot pancakes
			Parrot grain
		Creating a Healthy Diet Routine
	Chapter 9 Pretty Bird! Grooming Your Companion
		Examining What Your Bird Fusses All about: Feathers
			Fluffing up: Your bird’s feather types
			Looking closer at feather anatomy
			Recognizing what you can do
		Clipping Your Parrot’s Wings
			To clip or not to clip
			Examining how flight effects parrot behavior
			Considering options in between
			Dealing with clipped and unclipped parrots
		Clipping Your Bird’s Wings Properly: The How-To
			Holding the parrot properly — Toweling
			Clipping the flight feathers
			Considering special circumstances
		Clipping Your Parrot’s Toenails
		Grooming the Beak
			Beak breaks
			The misaligned beak
		Bathing Your Parrot
		Caring for Molting Parrots
		Dealing With Blood Feathers
	Chapter 10 Taking Care of Your Parrot: In Sickness and in Health
		Taking a Closer Look at a Parrot’s Anatomy
			Eyes
			Ears
			Feathers
			Preen gland
			Feet
			Beak
			Cere
			Tongue
			Neck
			Skin
			Syrinx
			Skeletal system
			Muscles
			Respiratory system
			Digestive system
			Circulatory system
			Reproductive system
		Recognizing Indications of Illness
		Choosing an Avian Veterinarian
			Finding a qualified avian vet
			Knowing what to look for at the first visit
			Divulging important information
		Identifying Common Health Disorders
			Nutritional disorders
			Parasites
			Bacterial infections
			Viral infections
			Fungal infections
			Foot disorders
			Feather disorders
			Reproductive disorders
		Being Aware of and Preventing Common Dangers to Companion Parrots
			Predators and animal bites
			Standing water
			Nonstick cookware
			Household products
			Poisonous houseplants
			Ceiling fans
			Toxic foods
			Electrocution
			Feet and doors
			Lead and other heavy metals
			Mirrors and clean glass
			Night thrashing
			Temperature changes
			Frostbite
			Overheating
			Oil on feathers
			Broken blood feathers and bleeding nails
			Physical injuries and seizures
			Flying away
			Unsafe toys
			Humans
		Caring for an Older Parrot
		Handling an Emergency
		Medicating Your Parrot
		Creating a Hospital Cage
		Creating a Parrot First-Aid Kit
Part 4 Parrot Behavior Made Simple
	Chapter 11 Understanding Your Wild Child’s Instincts
		Looking At a Daily Life of Parrots in the Wild
		Appreciating the Plight of Wild-Caught Parrots
			Differentiating between wild caught and captive bred
			Getting involved: Conservation organizations
		Understanding Your Parrot’s Instincts
			Being the prey
			Finding a high spot
			Flocking
			Sleeping
			Vocalizing
			Making a mess
			Blending into the background — Camouflage
			Making eye contact
			Picking a mate — gender preference in parrots
	Chapter 12 Recognizing Normal Companion Parrot Behaviors
		Examining Your Parrot’s Most Natural Behavior — Flying
		Heading to the Heavens — Climbing
		Hanging Out on the Ground — Foraging
		Gnawing to His Heart’s Content — Chewing
		Staying Completely Still — Freezing
		Chatting Up a Storm — Vocalization
			Contact calling
			Screaming
			Hissing
			Growling
			Begging
		Differentiating between Beak Clicking and Clucking
		Getting Clean and Looking Pretty — Preening
		Clearing His Ears — Yawning
		Hearing Your Parrot — Beak Grinding
		Bobbing Up and Down to Say, “I Love You” — Regurgitation
		Cleaning His Face — Beak Wiping
		Considering Different Tail Behaviors
		Exhibiting Breeding Behavior
		Being Annoyed with Their Cage Mate — Bickering
		Identifying Eating Habits
		Rub a Dub Dub — Bathing
		Taking a Nap — Sleeping
		Getting Rid of Dirt and Itches — Scratching
		Achoo! Bless You — Sneezing
		Warning You to Back Off — Nipping
		Reading Body Language
			Flapping wings
			Crest position
			Fluffing and ruffling
			The please dance
			Head down
			The attack stance
			Stretching
			Bowing and bobbing
			Head shaking
			Leaning forward, wings shaking
			Quivering wings
			Beak language
			Potty language
			Chicken scratching
			Eye pinning (dilate/contract pupils)
			Wing drooping
			Wing flipping
			Blushing
			Back down, feet up
		Recognizing When Your Parrot Is Training You
			Training method 1: Noise
			Training method 2: Display
			Training method 3: Biting
			Training method 4: Plucking
	Chapter 13 Handling More Than One Bird: Multiple Parrot Households
		Keeping More Than One Parrot: The Pros and Cons
			The pros
			The cons
		Interpreting Different Parrot Interactions
			Parrot pals
			Parrot enemies
			Romeo and . . . Romeo
			One-sided love
			Keeping the peace
			Falling in love
		Introducing a New Parrot
		Wondering Why Everyone Just Can’t Get Along
		Changing Your Relationship
	Chapter 14 Addressing Behavior: When Good Birds Go Bad
		Figuring Out the Problem
		Understanding Dominance
			Height dominance
			Aggression
		Socializing One-Person Parrots
			Preventing possessiveness
			Reversing one person-ness
		Dealing With a Screaming Parrot
			Trying these strategies for a screaming bird
			Staying away from these remedies for a screamer
		Handling Bad Words and Sounds
		Taking a Chunk out of You: Biting
			Considering why birds bite
			Responding after your bird bites you
			Paying attention to your bird’s biting body language
		Addressing Fears and Phobias
			Considering the causes
			Trying these tactics with a fearful bird
		Identifying and Handling Hormonal Issues
		Pulling Out Her Plumes — Feather Plucking
			Figuring out why parrots pluck
			Helping your feathered friend stop plucking
		Figuring Out What’s Bugging Your Bird
			Maturity
			Other birds
			Environmental changes
			Cage placement
			Temperature
			Noise
			Sleep
		Helping or Hurting: Why Your Actions Are Important
		Hiring a Behavior Consultant
		Considering the Last Resort: Rescue and Adoption
Part 5 Taming, Training, and Beyond
	Chapter 15 Bird Brains: Understanding Parrot Intelligence
		Taking a Closer Look at Mr. Smarty Pants . . . er, Feathers
		Studying What Parrots Really Understand
		Introducing Alex the Amazing Grey
		Helping Your Bird Understand You
		Teaching Your Parrot to Converse
		Comprehending Why Parrots Talk
	Chapter 16 Taming and Training Your Parrot
		Beginning Training When Your Parrot Is Young
		Understanding the Importance of Socializing Your Parrot
			Seeing how socialization affects a parrot’s quality of life
			Socializing your parrot: The how-to
		Bonding with Your Parrot
			Building trust
			Creating the bond: The how-to
		Praising Your Bird: Positive Reinforcement Goes a Long Way
		Considering Different Training Strategies
			Finding your bird’s motivation
			Considering clicker training
		Teaching the Step-Up Command
			Training a tame or semi-tame parrot: The how-to
			Using stick training for this command
			Whittling down to teach this command
		Taming a Bronco Parrot
		Disciplining a Parrot
		Considering Some Simple Fun Behaviors You Can Teach
		Potty Training Your Parrot: Is It Even Possible?
		Teaching Your Parrot to Talk
			Recognizing what you need to get your bird to talk
			Focusing on breeds that are known for talking
			Getting your bird to stop talking
			Dealing with a bird that doesn’t talk
	Chapter 17 Taking Your Training to the Next Level: Advanced Techniques
		Determining Whether Your Bird Learn Advanced Skills
		Getting Started on the Right Foot
			Discovering your parrot’s favorite treats
			Giving praise
			Recognizing other items you need to begin
		Implementing Preference Training
		Incorporating a Target into Your Training
		Adding Colors to Your Training Regimen
		Differentiating between Yes and No
		Developing Your Bird’s Vocabulary
		Playing Games with Your Parrot
			Focusing on “more” or “less”
			Playing war
		Training How to Count
		Handling Wrong Answers
	Chapter 18 Breeding Parrots
		Taking Heed: A Warning Before You Begin
		Having Realistic Expectations When Breeding
			Realizing how much time and expense is required
			Considering the associated risks with breeding
			Finding homes for the babies
		Getting Started: Breeding with Paired Parrots
		Recognizing What Breeding Equipment You Need
		Meeting Nutritional Requirements When Breeding
		Understanding the Breeding Process: A Timeline
		Incubating Eggs When the Parent Parrots Aren’t Interested
			Hatching — Time to welcome the new peeper
			Making your own brooder
		Using Leg Bands — A Bird’s ID Tag
		Handfeeding Baby Parrots
			Recognizing the equipment you need
			Choosing a formula
			Handfeeding your birds: The how-to
			Being aware of handfeeding potential problems
		Weaning Baby Parrots
		Parrot Genetics 101 — Just the Basics
	Chapter 19 In the Ring: Showing Your Parrot
		Being Wary — Words of Warning for Showing
		Looking into Parrot Clubs and Societies
		Walking You Through How a Bird Show Works
		Knowing the Show Standard
		Looking at Different Show Equipment
		Conditioning Your Bird for a Show
		Preparing Your Bird: Show Training
		Helping Out at the Show
Part 6 The Part of Tens
	Chapter 20 Ten Things All Parrots Should Know
		Understand the Step-Up Command
		Comprehend Stick Training
		Know Her Carrier
		Identify Windows and Mirrors
		Say Her Name and Phone Number
		Recognize Her Cage As a Safety Zone
		Know How to Take Medicine
		Be Able to Trust You
		Eat Well
		Understand the Word “No!”
	Chapter 21 Ten Ways to Entertain Your Parrot
		Feeding Him — Food
		Entertaining Your Bird — You’re the Star
		Stimulating Your Parrot’s Mind — Parrot Toys
		Turning on the TV and Some Music
		Spending Time Outside — The Great Outdoors
		Letting Him Spread His Wings — Flying
		Shaking Your Groove Thang — Dancing
		Belting at the Top of Your Lungs — Singing
		Introducing a Friend — Parrot Pets
		Training Him Different Tricks
	Chapter 22 Ten (or So) Tips When Traveling with Your Parrot
		Being Prepared — Packing Your Parrot’s Suitcase
		Thinking Safety and Comfort — Bringing the Right Carrier
		Hitting the Friendly Skies — Traveling by Air
		Taking a Road Trip — Traveling by Car
		Keeping Your Bird Hydrated — Bringing Bottled Water
		Sleeping for the Night — Staying in a Hospitable Hotel
		Feeding Your Bird — Helpful Travel Tips
		Dealing with an Emergency — Finding an Avian Veterinarian on the Road
		Relying on Help — Using a Parrot Sitter
	Chapter 23 Ten Surprises for Parrot Guardians and How to Respond to Them
		Handling the Inevitable Mess
		Being Ready for the Noise
		Feeling Guilty
		Requiring Constant Supervision
		Preparing to Open Your Wallet — The Expense
		Bonding with You . . . to an Extreme
		Seeing How Funny Parrots Are around Mirrors
		Recognizing How Smart Parrots Are
		Figuring Out Who Inherits Your Parrot When You Die — Estate Planning
		Being Prepared for the Unexpected — When Your Parrot Dies
Index
Supplemental Images
EULA