Parakeets, macaws, parrots or cockatoos. Do they ring a bell? They are some of the exotic birds belonging to the psittacine family and all of them have common characteristics: a wide and curved beak, grasping feet with four fingers (two arranged forwards and two backwards), very colorful plumage in strong tones, a thick and meaty tongue with which they can imitate human sounds and a lot of intelligence. What’s more, psittacines need to be stimulated intellectually, their learning capacity is amazing.
The vast majority of these birds come from tropical America, but there are also some from sub-Saharan Africa and Australia. And, like all families, they have their own characteristics and need a series of specific care that we must be aware of if we consider sharing our lives with these popular pets.
Your bird’s aviary should be wide so that it can comfortably open its wings whenever it wants. It is best to put the cage in a place where there are no drafts or direct sunlight. This should include feeders and drinkers placed in high areas (to prevent droppings from falling on them), as well as perches or perches of different textures and thicknesses to avoid problems on plantar surfaces (ideally, use natural fruit tree branches). so that it can perch from time to time and rest. It is equally important to maintain hygienic conditions to avoid diseases, so the cage must have a grid so that droppings and food remains accumulate. If this bottom is covered by paper, corn granules or pressed shavings, the better, since it allows easy control of the appearance of feces and urine.
Inside the cage and also outside. It is important that our pet leaves the cage daily, yes, always under surveillance to avoid poisoning. And never put chains or rings on your exotic bird’s legs. Their bones are very thin and brittle and this could lead to bills.
Food is a key factor in achieving the well-being of our pet. What’s more, the color of their plumage, the good condition of their skin and even their mood depend on it. That is why it is necessary to procure a diet that is as similar to what it would have in the middle of nature. Very important: always remember to consult your veterinarian to choose the most suitable for your pet.
The diet of our parrots should be based on fruits and vegetables, but also on a good percentage of seeds. Each bird will need a feed based on its species, age and size. Canaries, for example, are another type of exotic bird belonging to the finches family, much loved and common in homes, and they also require adequate food for them.
The pet section of El Corte Inglés has a wide range of quality feed, from the best brands, that will take care of the well-being of your bird. In addition, you will be able to find specialized products for each species and accessories so that they can play, swing and take a bath on the hottest days. Here is a selection of the best feed, porridge and seeds:
Based on birdseed, rapeseed, oats, flaxseed, hempseed, black and extruded food for canaries with mineral and vitamin corrector, this food is a varied mixture of balanced composition that guarantees a healthy and complete diet. San Dimas Canarina is enriched with vitamins A and D3.
This complete and balanced food for exotic birds offers a premium mix of seeds for a delicious and varied composition. Hamiform Yummi Mix consists of red panis, yellow panis, birdseed, white millet, red millet, extruded (with maize, maize starch, red beetroot and turmeric), clover and niger. Pure pleasure for your exotic bird. Two daily tablespoons of this product will be enough.
This follow-on porridge can also be used from an early age. It is formulated for small-sized species (Nymphicus, Eolophus, Platycercus or Aratinga genera) that in nature consume mostly seeds with low levels of fat. This Psittacus Papilla Mini bird food is formulated to make up 100% of our parrot’s diet. Other foods such as fruit and vegetables can be added to provide variety, as long as the proportion of Mini is not less than 70% of the total.
Formed by a varied mixture of balanced composition that guarantees a healthy and complete diet, enriched with vitamin A and D3, this food for San Dimas Agapornis and Carolinas birds is made up of a good number of ingredients: yellow millet, white millet, red millet, sunflower seeds, oats, safflower, birdseed, corn, rice, wheat, hemp seed and extruded food for lovebirds and carolinas with mineral and vitamin corrector.
Especially suitable as an initiation feed for young parrots, this food for young Psittacus Omega parrots can be supplied exclusively or in addition to many different species of medium-sized or large parrots. It can be used with macaws, gray parrots and poicephalus.
It is a maintenance feed for small species, such as lovebirds, forpus, kakarikis and pyrrhura, which in nature consume a wide variety of foods: seeds, fruits, berries, leaves, shoots and even some invertebrates. This food for small birds Psittacus Formula Minor is formulated for the stage of reproductive inactivity and its composition allows to comfortably cover the nutritional needs in these periods.
