Parrot Taming and Training for Beginners

By Debbie Noble

Debbie Noble has years of experience as a personal pet trainer and has successfully trained many household animals, from guinea pigs to dogs, from parrots to horses, and many, many more.

Using her own personal methods and techniques, Debbie is known to help people work with new or troublesome pets to say hello to the best behaved and happiest personal pets around.

With her new range of books, you can say goodbye to expensive pet trainers that could cost you thousands of dollars and use Debbie’s wealth of knowledge to train your companions quickly, simply and easily.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shaharm Publications
• Release date: Jun 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533761804

Debbie Noble

Debbie Noble has years of experience as a personal pet trainer and has successfully trained many household animals, from guinea pigs to dogs, from parrots to horses, and many, many more. Using her own personal methods and techniques, Debbie is known to help people work with new or troublesome pets to say hello to the best behaved and happiest personal pets around. With her new range of books, you can say goodbye to expensive pet trainers that could cost you thousands of dollars and use Debbie’s wealth of knowledge to train your companions quickly, simply and easily.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Having a pet parrot is a great joy that carries unique responsibilities. These avian delights are among the most popular pet choices, in part because of the diverse number of species the term entails. These birds are highly intelligent and can be trained to perform many tasks, the most popular of which is their ability to imitate human speech.

In order to keep these birds happy, care should be taken to make certain they have appropriate housing and the right socialization. A well-rounded diet and appropriate toys are also essential to maintain their physical and emotional health.

Parrots that have all of their needs met are more easily tamed, and become more trainable once that is done. Before purchasing a parrot, prospective owners need to research their options to determine which breed of parrot is most appropriate for their home. These birds have an incredibly long life span so, it is important that a good connection be made with those who will be their lifetime caregivers.

UNDERSTANDING THE VARIOUS PARROT BREEDS

Parrot is a broad term that includes more than three hundred different avian species. One of the qualities they have in common, that people generally think of, is the brightly colored plumage that marks this diverse group of birds. Most species can mimic the vocalizations of humans and other animals, giving them the ability to talk. This is an endearing and admired aspect, which has increased their popularity as pets throughout history.

In the wild, parrots live in warm climates with dense foliage. They are found in Australia, southern Asia, South America, and Africa. Though from the Southern Hemisphere, many domesticated species have learned to adapt and thrive in the Northern Hemisphere as well. However, responsible owners take steps to ensure that their birds do not accidentally become part of the local wild ecosystem.

The scientific name for the parrot family is Psittacidae. The smallest member of the family is the pygmy parrot, which is native to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. At maturity, it is only about the length of the average human finger. These lovely birds do not react well to captivity, presumably because of how the stress resulting from domestication, affects their tiny bodies.

At the other end of the size spectrum is the Hyacinth Macaw, found naturally in South American jungles. These majestic birds can reach an adult height of more than a meter, and are a popular choice for avian lovers to keep as pets. The diversity of species in between these extremes includes some well-known birds, such as the lovebird and cockatoo.

In addition to their attractive vocalizations, one of the reasons for parrots being such a beloved pet is their high level of intelligence. They are very charismatic and enjoy communicating with those around them. It is generally believed that the African grey parrot is the most intelligent because it has the greatest ability to mimic non-avian speech patterns. One of these birds is on record as having a vocabulary in excess of eight hundred words!

The lifespan of healthy domesticated parrots can range from ten to one hundred years, depending upon the