Hyacinth Macaw

In the wild, parrots, with the help and guidance of their parents and other flock members, learn their way around the plant life in their native lands.  The day may begin with a visit to their local clay lick to help them ward off the toxins produced by the plants they forage on.  They manage to provide themselves with a healthy and well balanced diet without human intervention.

In a captive setting, I always make sure to vary fruits, vegetables and the other foods I serve to my parrots ...

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Congo African Grey Parrot

Have you ever noticed how dry your hands get in the winter?  Or how the  texture of your hair changes?  Sometimes your throat and nasal passages can become dry and sore. This is due to the low humidity in the air, often during the winter months when our heaters are in use.

Underneath all of those beautiful feathers, a parrot has skin that needs care just as ours does.  When skin becomes dry, it gets itchy – when we’re itchy, we scratch.  Skin conditions are sometimes the underlying ...

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Military Macaw

Of all of the things you thoughtfully do for your parrot, your first consideration must be for its diet.  I can’t stress this enough.  Without well balanced nutrition, a parrot’s general health will gradually decline, vitamin deficiencies will leave it susceptible to illness and disease and its life span will be decreased.  An unhealthy parrot is temperamental and may not want to be a part of family activities. If your parrot doesn’t feel well and energized, no amount of love, enrichment or interaction will do him much good.  A ...

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Blue and Gold Macaws

We have all fallen victim to the unforeseen parrot bite at one time or another.  Usually, our feelings are hurt worse than our flesh.  The only thing you can think to say at the time is: “What the…?!”  Here are some common scenarios that are typical of the “unexpected” or “unprovoked” bite:

1) You’re enjoying some quiet out of cage time with the eclectus and a good book.  You are stretched out on the couch and your sweet little bird is preening at your shoulder.  Out of ...

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Blue throated macaw

The picture above is of me with my blue throated macaw, Jinx, in Illuscination’s All Access Pre-Show. The pre-show is one hour before the main show and lets people get up close and personal with not only the circus performers but also the circus animals, and this includes our parrots!

Because of this crazy chaotic environment we’re in with our birds in this pre-show, our birds have to be social to everyone! Sure makes the problem with your friend or spouse seem small now, huh? Try socializing your bird ...

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Blue and Gold Macaw

Parrots are very self-serving creatures.  Mostly, they are in it for themselves.  We’d like to think they are appreciative for the new toys, the clean cage and the fabulous food, but they aren’t any more than a young child would be.  While they might enjoy and take advantage of all of these creature comforts, the fact is that they don’t really care how these things got there, just that they are there.  It is unrealistic for us to expect them to be grateful for what they’ve got.  ...

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