Some Hints on Par rot-Keeping.



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SOME HINTS ON PARROT-KEEPING.


By The Marquis of Tavistock.


There are three ways of keeping parrots,—using the term

“ parrot ” in its widest sense to include everything from a Budgerigar

to a Bed and Yellow Macaw. They may be kept in close confine¬

ment in cages or on stands ; they may be kept in aviaries ; and they

may be kept at complete liberty. The first method is the commonest

and the most simple ; the second is the most satisfactory and the

most lucrative; the third is the most attractive and the most

exasperating.


It must be borne in mind that all parrots do not bear close

confinement equally well, and many even of those which will

survive for some years in cages are in reality quite unsuited to cage

life. Anyone, therefore, who desires a parrot as an indoor pet

should make sure of getting a bird which is at least likely to turn

out long-lived, contented and affectionate, even if there is not much

hope of its ever possessing remarkable linguistic talents. Grey

Parrots, Senegals, Amazons, Yasas, Cockatoos, Caiques, some

Conures, Quaker Parrakeets, Brotogerys Parrakeets, and Bud¬

gerigars are all more or less suited to cage life. Some Palceornis

Parrakeets (Bing-necks and their allies) also become very talented

and amusing, but with this family the cocks only should be selected

as pets. A hen Palceornis in close confinement is usually the

dullest bird imaginable.


A parrot cage should be rectangular ; a bell-shaped cage is

apt to spoil the bird’s plumage, as it is always rubbing and pressing

its feathers against the bars whenever it climbs about. Most parrot

cages are provided with a swing, hanging from the top, and a kind of

metal grating at the bottom. The swing may amuse the bird, but as

often as not it only irritates it and gets in its way, in which case it

is best removed. The grating is a senseless contrivance which

serves no useful purpose whatever. It in no way adds to the bird’s

comfort, and greatly increases the difficulty of keeping the cage

clean. A sliding metal tray well covered with grit and sand is all

that is required, and it is important to use enough sand to absorb

the moisture from the droppings before it reaches the tray itself.



