Gave a parrot or decided to purchase it yourself? Have you already decided on the breed of bird, color and gender, but have you chosen a cage? And there is a cage, and bought food, and even the bottom for the cage. Is there a feeder in the cage? Which one? External or internal? What is it made of? Is it convenient to mount?
How many questions ... But it would seem that the question is trifling - a feeder for parrots. Set and forget. It is not that simple. This article is dedicated to a short review on this topic.
How to choose a feeding trough?
First of all, focusing on the breed of his feathered. It is clear that the feeders for budgies are significantly different in appearance and size from the feeders for large members of the family.
The second point worth paying attention to is the material. What is the feeder made of? Plastic, iron or ceramic.
The third feature is mounting methods. Is it convenient to remove and put it on the cage? The fourth point is the external or internal feeder. External ones are convenient in the sense that it is easier to pour food there without disturbing the bird. But they are very difficult to pick up according to the size of the cell.
About feeders for parrots, their types, materials of manufacture and methods of attachment will be discussed below.
Views
As already mentioned, the feeders are internal and external. Internal are fixed inside the cell, respectively, external outside.
Internal are divided into mounted and floor.
Mounted
It is advisable to fix this parrot feeder near the lowest pole or a little lower. But not under her. If you fix the feeder near the door, the bird will be calmer.
Floor
Such feeders are suitable for large birds with a strong beak. They will carry a hinged plastic at the moment. Iron will constantly try to get it or turn it over. According to bird owners, floor-mounted parrot feeders are good because they are heavy. It is difficult to turn such a feeding trough. It is convenient to get it from the aviary.
Materials
Domestic feeders for parrots are plastic, metal, ceramic and decorative.
What is the advantage of plastic feeders? They are relatively cheap, made of non-toxic plastic and easy to clean. On the back wall of such feeders are two metal hooks. Hang by hooks on horizontal bars of the cage.
The disadvantages are, according to bird owners:
plastic feeders are afraid of hot water, they need to be washed very quickly;
not suitable for large birds and parrots with a vague disposition, these comrades will surely find a way to turn their "bowl" over, scatter all the food in the cage and may try to spoil the plastic with enviable persistence.
How to install a metal parrot feeder? Everything is simple. Like plastic, they have a ring with hooks. A feeder is inserted into the ring and fixed on hooks to the horizontal bars of the cage.
Some metal feeders have clips instead of hooks. This provides a more secure fit, but the clips themselves are uncomfortable, as noted in many reviews.
The advantages of such "reservoirs" for bird food are as follows:
- they are reliable, have a longer service life compared to plastic, metal feeders are easy to wash, you can boil.
Disadvantages:
- should be made only of stainless steel - brass, copper or zinc are quickly oxidized, this will lead to poisoning of the bird.
Ceramic feeding troughs belong to floor. They are beautiful, quite heavy, easy to clean. But suitable for large birds. Small representatives of the family are better to buy mounted.
Decorative are good in their appearance. Now in pet stores you can buy feeders for every taste. Starting from small bowls in the form of an orange and ending with feeding troughs in the form of a tank or an airplane. This ends the benefits.
There is only one drawback of a decorative parrot feeder, according to most. But very serious. They are covered with paint, which gradually disappears. And it is not known how the bird's health will be affected if he tastes the paint.
External feeders
They are plastic, attached to the outside of the cage. Now many of them are equipped with a rotary mechanism, which is very convenient. No need to lower your hand into the cage and disturb the feathered. Such feeders do not take up much space. The owners really like it.
But external feeders have a number of significant drawbacks:
Each manufacturer produces feeders according to their standards. She will have to pick up a cage. In addition, not all cells are equipped with “windows” for external feeders.
Parrots easily open the locks on them and go to "walk" around the room.
If it was necessary to wash the feeder, it is removed. The formed "window" must be closed, otherwise the bird will calmly leave the cage.
The worst drawback of such feeders is that the parrot can climb into it completely. If the feeder is small and with a narrow entrance, then the bird will not be able to turn around and get out of it. The feathered simply suffocates if the owner does not intervene in time.
Do it yourself
Making a do-it-yourself feeder for a parrot is easy. Its quality is an open small glass jar from pasta or caviar, for example. Around the neck is wound a metal wire, and fasteners are made by analogy with mounted plastic feeders. You can fit a small coffee cup under the "plate" for the feathered one. Her ear is fixed between the vertical bars of the cage.
To automatism
The most convenient parrot feeder is automatic. So many owners of these birds are considered. Its principle of operation is based on the effect of gravity. It is a closed container and feeder. As the bird eats the feed, the grain enters the feed through a small hole.
What is its advantage according to the owners? It is very convenient if you need to leave for a few days. The disadvantage is that the feed intake consumed by the parrot is difficult to control.
We accustom to the feeding trough
How to teach a parrot to a feeder? In principle, there are no instructions in this regard. Feed is poured into it, and the bird itself will figure out how to get it. If the feathered bird refuses grain feed, then put something tasty in the feeder.
In general, the main diet of poultry is feed. But you need to treat the feathered one with vegetables and fruits, give tasty branches of currant, dandelion leaves and greens.
Allowed vegetables: lettuce, cabbage, zucchini, carrots, cucumber.
Allowed fruits: apple, pear, kiwi, banana, some melon.
In season, you can give your pet a small amount of berries. Of fruits, citruses are forbidden, all "overseas" type mangoes. Potato, avocado, beetroot should not be given from vegetables.
Conclusion
Choosing a parrot feeder is not so difficult if you focus on reviews. Many parrot owners claim that in order to make the right choice, one should rely on the main aspects:
feeders are internal and external;
choosing internal, it is better to give preference to metal;
external feeders have a number of significant drawbacks;
for large birds, floor feeders are suitable, for small birds - mounted;
You can make a feeder yourself.
Bunker feeders (automatic) are gaining popularity. They are convenient if you need to leave the bird alone for several days.