No matter how experienced we are, or how much effort we put into giving our birds what they need, there is always more we can do to enrich their lives even further. we’ve compiled some things we believe all of us can do right now to instantly improve our bird’s quality of life. We invite you to try at least one! 

Teach Them Something New

Even if we provide the best home possible for our birds, those that are kept in captivity rarely get to express the normal behaviors that they would be able to if they were in their native environment. The most obvious behavior that is greatly restricted is flight, but there are other things like foraging, choosing their own mate, and generally being able to choose what they will do in a given day. The lack of that freedom of choice has a big effect on an animal’s wellbeing that is as intelligent as parrots. Think about it, we choose their food, their cage, when they come out, when they go to bed, and every other aspect of their day. 

One way that we can give them some choice in their day is through training. When a bird engages in training, it is given the ability to make choices. For example, they can be offered an opportunity to earn their favorite snack if they perform a certain task. By choosing to perform that task, they are making a choice that will result in their desired outcome - getting the reinforcement such as a treat. Training is teaching, and learning is of great benefit to a bird’s wellbeing. Research has shown that the most effective, healthy method of training is by using positive reinforcement. In the references list at the end of this post, I'll include some information for you to read if you'd like to learn more about it.

So, what should you teach your parrot? There are many things you can train them to do. What you teach them isn’t as important as the process of doing so and the benefits of learning something new. Many people like to teach their parrot simple tricks like doing a little spin or engaging with a toy in a specific way. Some also decide to teach their parrot recall training, that is when you train them to come to you on demand. Whatever you decide - have fun! Training encourages a healthy bond between human and bird. They’ll love spending time with you and they will also be enriched in the process.

Offer Them New Food

They say that variety is the spice of life. That saying also applies to parrots! Not only is eating different kinds of healthy food good for a bird’s body, it is also enriching to their mind. In general, a parrot should be on a pellet-based diet. In addition to their pellets, we should also aim to provide them with lots of fresh veggies, some fruit and grains, and a little seed and nuts. The percentage of their diet that should consist of pellets vs other foods depends on the bird’s species, as does how much of what kind of produce is best for them. We have many ways that we can introduce new, exciting flavors to our birds. 

One way is by trying a new kind of fruit or vegetable. I recently decided to give mango a try with my flock, and they cleared out their bowls very quickly. You can also try a new type or vegetable with the normal fresh food you offer them. Remember that avocado is deadly to birds, so it should not be on your list of things to try. There are more foods to avoid, so whatever you decide to test out, be sure to look up if it is safe first.

Here are some fun new fresh foods that you can offer! 

Fruit:
The occasional fruit makes for a delicious treat for birds. They’re generally sweet and rewarding and also have some health benefits. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started. Always remember to remove the pit from fruits as they are harmful to birds.

• Starfruit - A nice, ripe star fruit is irresistible to many birds! It grows on the Averrhoa carambola tree in sunny, humid climates and creates a star shape when you cut into it. It has a rich source of nutrients and lots of vitamin C and fiber. 
• Papaya - Papaya (Carica papaya), originally from Central America, is high in fiber and vitamin C. The pulp of the fruit contains vitamins A, C, and E, B complex vitamins.The seeds are considered safe for parrots, though some owners prefer to remove them because they say they can be a little bitter. 

Vegetables:
Veggies are very healthy for birds and should make up the largest percentage of fresh food offered for most parrots. They aren’t as sweet and stimulating as fruit in general, but most also contain less sugar. Giving your bird a new kind of veggie might entice them to eat more! Here are a couple of examples to get you started. 

• Sweet Potato - A little sweet potato is a delicious food and a favorite of many birds. It’s a sweet, starchy root vegetable high in vitamin C, A, and other vitamins and minerals as well as being a good source of fiber. Not everyone thinks to offer it to their bird despite many of us having it in our homes, especially around the holidays. Most birds prefer it peeled and cooked. 
• Radish - Radish is low in calories and carbohydrates and a great source of fiber, calcium, and more. The tops of the radish are very good for our birds as is the bulb.  

Another fun way to add some variety into your bird’s diet is by trying one of Bird Street Bistro’s exciting foods. Don’t know where to start? Try our sample pack and see which flavor is your bird’s favorite!

Improve Their Environment

As someone that also has parrots, I know how easy it can be to become complacent with our birds. For them, we likely have the same cage and perches that we have had for a while. Many people also tend to buy their birds toys from the same location with the same general mechanisms of play. However, a simple change in their environment can often improve their lives more than we realize. 

Cages and accessories are important to get right. These are what our birds interact with the most and where they spend most of their time physically. I’ve seen many parrot owners with perches and toys placed in a cage in ways that aren’t ideal. They should be placed so that they aren’t directly above food and water bowls to prevent poop and pieces of toy from falling in them. We should also make sure to keep our bird’s area clean. 

Cleanliness: 
In no way am I here to lecture or judge anyone, as none among us are perfect. However, unfortunately, many of the cages I’ve seen both in person and online are not being cleaned properly. Many of us, especially those of us that are new to having birds or are very busy might not realize how dirty a cage and play area can get and how quickly it can happen. Taking a moment to look at our bird’s cage and removing anything that might be unhealthy by replacing it with something new or cleaning it can instantly improve a bird’s health and comfort. They aren't able to tell us when something isn’t right, so it’s on us to check every day and make sure their environment is safe. 

Allowing poop and old food to accumulate increases a bird's risk for infection and disease. I recently watched a fantastic presentation on The Budgie Academy’s YouTube channel where Dr. David Phalen, a world-renowned avian veterinarian presented information about an infectious disease called avian gastric yeast, or macrorhabdus ornithogaster. It affects many birds, especially budgies. One of the greatest risks for this disease is allowing birds to eat, drink, and live in cages where feces are not cleaned out properly. Having bowls above where a bird is pooping and not maintaining proper cleanliness puts birds at risk for diseases like this and others.

Toys, Perches, and Accessories:
It’s easy to get into a routine of where we buy products for our bird and how we offer them. Many pet stores offer the same generic toys and perches. However, if you know where to look, you can find new ways to keep your parrot comfortable and entertained. 

Toy parts can be purchased and put together for a customized way to get your bird interacting with their environment. It’s a fun way for your and your bird to figure out what really makes them tick. There are lots of different materials you can choose from and many different ways to put them together. For example, I have discovered that my conures love balsa wood and mahogany pods, while my budgies really seem to enjoy anything made from sola or yucca. So, I always make sure to add those to the toys I make. You can even just offer them the plain toy parts to pick up, toss, and chew. 

When it comes to accessories like perches, more variety is always better. Choosing a few new types of perches can be really exciting and healthy for your bird. Having a variety of safe types of wood is good for a parrot’s feet. In general, you want to avoid anything made of sandpaper or other harsh surfaces as these can cause damage to a bird’s feet. If you look at new vendors like small businesses and those on websites such as Etsy, you can find some great options for places for your parrot to stand, lay, and swing.

Cages:
Having an appropriately sized cage with the correct dimensions and bar spacing is very important to a bird’s safety and comfort. If you’ve been thinking of upgrading their cage, or you haven’t considered it but decide it might be a good idea, then know that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to do so. There are many quality cages available for a fair price if you take the time to find and research. Creating a roomier environment will allow your bird to use more of its energy and make them more comfortable. 

Places to Station:

When a bird is stationing, it is staying in a designated area that is just for them. Providing different areas where they can do so helps keep them from developing an unhealthy pair bond with the humans in the house by being on top of them all the time and encourages them to be more independent. Remember, in a flock, parrots perform activities parallel to one another unless they are with their mate and in that case they spend a lot of close, physical time with one another.

You can provide different areas to station in a house by placing perches, small cage tops, and other things where a bird can stand. I personally bought some very small cages, removed the bottoms, and hung them on the wall by their side with some command hooks. I then added some perches to them and that created a fun, high up place for them to perch and observe everything. Some people like to buy tree stands and other things made specifically for stationing, but those can be costly and hard to get if you don’t have the money to spend. Thankfully, with some creativity, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to give your bird a fun place to spend time.

For a bird to choose to stay in an area, it has to be reinforcing. In other words, create an area that your bird will want to spend time in. You can do so by putting up things for them to chew on and some places where you can offer food and water. It can also help to choose areas in the house where they can watch you carry out your day. An interesting enough location might be good enough to simply stand on and observe. Some birds like being by a window, but some birds will display less desirable behaviors like excess vocalization and excitability if they are by a window where a lot of activity is taking place such as birds flying by and people walking. Every bird is different, so find what works for yours and use it to encourage some independence!

As you can see, improving our bird’s life doesn’t have to be complicated. The examples and topics I put forth today are only a few ways that we can do so right away with minimal effort. 

References:

Heidenreich, Barbara. “An introduction to positive reinforcement training and its benefits.” Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, vol. 16, no. 1, Jan. 2007, pp. 19–23, https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2006.11.005.