How To Care For a Hookbill Bird
- August 26, 2009
- 1,607 Views
Voice Over Artist:
Mario Bueno
Writer
Ann_Hodgman
Music
Edison Music Corp
Hook-billed birds are the ones in the parrot family—from petite parakeets to massive macaws. Here’s some stuff you should know if there’s going to be a hookbill in the house.
You Will Need
- A hook-billed bird in search of a great owner
- A birdcage
- Bird bowls or dishes
- Bird toys
- A variety of bird perches
- At least one bird swing
- A spray bottle for water
- A “play gym” for the top of your bird’s cage (optional)
Step 1
Before bringing your bird home, do your hookbill homework! What are you looking for in a bird? Consult bird books and magazines at your library, bookstore, and pet store. Look online for hookbill websites, too.
Although hookbills are generally considered “talking birds,” not all hookbill species can talk.
Step 2
Different breeds have different needs. Research them carefully—you may be in for more than you expected!
Some of the larger hookbills, such as parrots and macaws, can live for decades. Be prepared to write Polly into your will if necessary.
Step 3
Make sure your hookbill’s cage is the biggest you can afford. For some parrots, a walk-in cage is best.
Most hookbills should spend part of every day outside their cages—with clipped wings, of course. A “play gym” on top of the cage makes a great playground for your bird buddy.
Step 4
Different hookbills need different cage accessories. A swing will be fun for a parakeet; a rope perch will make a nice change for a parrot. A pet store or website can direct you to perches and toys for your particular bird.
Step 5
Feed your bird the correct diet—again, after doing your homework. Some hookbills, like lories, need fruit. Cockatiels eat a lot of seeds but also need fresh veggies. And many parrots can be offered small amounts of almost any healthy “people foods.”
Steer clear of junk food for any bird. “Bird treats” are mostly empty calories, and just because a hookbill can eat “people food” doesn’t mean it should.
Step 6
Your feathered friend will need fresh water daily—both for drinking and bathing. Rinse and refill food and water bowls every day, and mist her with lukewarm water from a plant mister.
Make sure your bird mister has never held anything but water.
Step 7
Give your hookbill the vitamin-mineral supplement that’s best for her. Most hookbills prefer having supplements added to their food, not their water.
Step 8
Change the lining of your hookbill’s cage every day if possible, and give the whole cage a thorough cleaning once a week. Better cage hygiene equals better health for your bird.
Step 9
Hookbills thrive on company! Spend as much time with your bird as you can. Take her out of the cage and handle her as much as possible—but at least once a day. Talk to her a lot, even if she says nothing back.
Step 10
With these basics under your belt, your home will be a hookbill haven. Your bird will be lucky to have you—and vice versa!
Alex, a famous African grey parrot, could hold real conversations, label colors, and count up to six objects.
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