If everything feels like you're doing it right, yet you wonder if you've covered it all ... Here's a checklist that will help you to see if you've done all you can to give your a parrot the best home it deserves. Is he or she getting the following:

A large cage as its primary cage (where it spends the most time). Several different style perches & toys in cages, rotated regularly. Playpens around the living areas of your home to share in the activities of your home life. Cage is located in a spot where the bird is secure. Nutritious food and a varied diet. A clean & well-ventilated living environment. Sunlight several hours a day. A Smoke-Free household environment. Daily exercise. Showers a few times a week. Lots of different types of toys to amuse itself with. Lots of interactive toys to stimulate their minds. Quality interactive time with humans, several hours a day. Regular outdoor adventures - for walks, car rides, meeting people, and seeing new things. Protection from their trusted humans, against other predators, pets, and strangers. Well socialized with all members of the household. Trained to love and accept humans as their flock. A daily routine & schedule that they can count on. A bedtime schedule that's consistent everyday. 10-12 hours of dark, uninterrupted sleep every night. Consistent commands & praises from every human in their life - including household members & petsitters.

Do Zachary and our two other birds receive all of the above, consistently? Yes, they do. We only preach what we do ourselves and from results we have personally witnessed over the years. We abide by them because of how loving, happy, and sociable all our three birds are, and how beautiful they have become.

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