Parrot family birds
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PLANTING GREENS IN THE AVIARY With most Psittacine Birds it is a waste of time to plant shrubbery in their aviary. Certain species of Australian Par-rakeets such as Bourke's, would never destroy plants but most of them do. Psittacines do need greens and it would be a good idea to make a two-foot square space in the sunny end of the enclosure with wooden forms before setting the concrete floor. Plant mixed grass and grain seeds in this space, making a raised cement border around so it won't be flooded every time you hose down the floor. They will eat some of this growth, and when it's long enough and you spray it on a sunny morning, Psittacines who don't bathe in a water pan will greatly enjoy rolling in the wet grass. INSTALLING WIRE NETTING When building the flight sides, it is unnecessary to use the small 1/4 inch mesh netting used for mouse-proofing un- 16 Parrot Family Birds d Some Psittacine Birds, especially if closely related, will have fierce fights through the wires if one strip of netting makes a wall for two cages. Although one wall between two cages is more economical in constructing a row of breeding pens, it may be to the fancier's advantage to put up a separate netting wall for each pen; spaced 6 inches apart, which allows for cleaning feathers, leaves, etc., between them. I've known of my own Hill Mynahs, kept next door to a flock of Canaries, pulling off a leg and a wing from them. It was thought that somehow mice did the damage, till the Mynahs were caught in the act. The Canaries did not realize the danger of hanging onto the netting.
A narrow full-length door should be made between the inside shelter and the flight cage. This may be left open all the time in mild weather, and closed with the birds inside the shelter on cold nights. When open it permits the birds to fly the length of the whole enclosure. At one corner of the outside flight, double doors should be installed for your entrance to the aviary. This is necessary to prevent the escape of your birds which could other-
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 wise get by you. Instead of making a porch entrance for this purpose, space and material will be saved if you build a door at one corner. Across, at an angle inside this doorway, install an inner door. A closing spring on the outside door will further make your enclosure escape-proof. This double door section can be used as a trap for catching up your birds. (See illustration below.)
Windows may be placed on the three sides of the inside shelter. If you wish, a window may be put in the wall separating the shelter from flight. Cello-Glass, Vita-Glass and ordinary glazing lights, if used, should have netting over them as the larger birds might go through. A better material in every way, made by two companies is "Plexiglass" (Roehm & Haas) and "Lucite" (duPont), obtainable in 50 inch by 20 inch sheets, and in sheets 3 feet by 4 feet—1/16 inch in diameter. This plastic glazing permits a greater percentage of the ultra-violet rays of the sun to penetrate. The 1/16 inch thickness is sufficient to hold your birds, as wire netting over it is not required. This plastic has strong resiliency, and a bird will bounce back when flying against it, with less chance of having a broken neck than when flying against glass. 
 Layout of a breeding or flight enclosure.
NESTS
Hollow logs or large barrels make the most satisfactory nests for the larger Psittacines. They may be hung upright or horizontally. Some birds prefer them to be hung in the open flight, while others prefer the inside shelter. In the upright 18 Parrot Family Birds p Among Psittacine Birds signs of breeding condition appear when one or both birds become more active than usual, are attentive to each other, and fly back and forth a great deal in the aviary. The cock will also be seen feeding the hen with food regurgitated from his crop. Attempts to breed birds in cold winter weather should not be made, as the hens are liable to egg-binding.
Parrots, Macaws and Cockatoos, may be tethered to stands, or confined in large enough cages or outdoor aviaries. Stands should have wooden perches, the ends of which should have metal caps to protect them from the bird's gnawing. A block of wood or a piece of branch may be tied near the perch, as these birds all like to whittle away on something. This exercises their constantly growing bills, trimming them; and helps to prevent feather-picking. FEEDING OF PARROTS, MACAWS AND COCKATOOS I don't know the circumstances under which you, the Parrot Fancier, live or where, but the following wide variety of suitable foods for large Psittacines are given so your bird may have a well balanced and varied diet. The staple diet of Parrots, Macaws and Cockatoos should consist of equal parts of seeds, greens and fruits. The seed part should be composed of the following: Giant Russian Sunflower, Hulled Oats, Canary Seed, and large Red or Yellow Millet. Other seeds may be added for variety such as: Wheat
 (soaked overnight in water), Cracked Corn (dry or soaked), Buckwheat, a small quantity of Hemp Seed, Peanuts (raw or roasted). If you don't care to make your own seed mixture, Parrot Seed may be purchased ready mixed in package form from any Pet Shop or supply house. A few of the larger nuts (Walnut, Almond, Brazil Nut, Cashew, Hazel, etc.) may be supplied every day. They can easily crack the hard shells
Sacred Temple Parrot. (Cornelius Eclectus.) Age not known. Very rare. Their ancestry dates back to a pre-historic age. Found in the Mollucca Islands which were once mountain tops of the Lemurian Continent which sunk in the Pacific ocean. They are worshiped by Buddhists and are kept in religious temples. Owned by Mrs. E. G. Schary, San Francisco, California. 20 Parrot Family Birds a No more than a third of a large Psittacine Bird's diet should consist of cut up fruit, cherries, grapes or berries. Citrus fruits may be given but not too often and only a few small pieces, as oranges do not agree too well with these birds and they, like all other birds, are able to synthesize their own Vitamin C requirements, not needing it in their food like we humans do. Another way in which we differ from them is that birds, dogs and cats do not perspire as they lack the sweat glands and pores that we have. They pant and we don't. Cod liver oil should be given in cold weather by letting 1 teaspoonful of the oil soak in 1 pint of seed overnight, mixing it in well. It may be given also by putting 3-4 drops every other day on soft food. As a change in diet, beneficial treats may be supplied frequently such as buttered WHOLE WHEAT BREAD, or given bread soaked in milk and squeezed dry. Other excellent items ar« grated hard boiled egg yolk, dried dates or figs, a dry dog biscuit, corn and brown or wild rice (paddy rice) boiled in milk or water, and sprouted grain. Grain and seeds will sprout if placed in a pan or box of damp peatmoss in the sun. When three inches tall, sections of this may be separated, thus Jurnishing fresh tender vitamin-filled greens. On the above soft food, you could add a pinch of vitamin-mineral feeding supplement every other day, especially when moulting or when breeding. Although it is always advisable to vary your Parrot, Macaw or Cockatoo's diet for health, long life and to help prevent the bad habit of feather plucking, do not give it candy, cake (except fruit cake), coffee, beer or table scraps. Certain table scraps not too greasy or starchy may form part of a
C Some fanciers, by experimenting, think that a little raw beef or liver helps prevent feather plucking by supplying extra protein. This idea is worth trying if you have such a bird. A piece of rock salt is beneficial also and will keep your bird out of mischief.
AFRICAN GREY PARROT (Psittacus e. erithacus) This species, one of the best known Parrots, is said to be the best talker among Psittacine Birds. In the United States, they were very popular in the "Eighties" and in the first quarter of this century. Because of the grossly exaggerated "Parrot Fever" scare which was given much adverse publicity, it is more difficult to get these birds into the United States and the prices for them are higher in consequence. The different varieties of African Greys inhabit the Congo Region, Gold Coast, and throughout Western and Central Africa. One place where Grey Parrots were found particularly abundant was on Prince's Island off the Gold Coast. On this island there is a 1200 foot mountain called Pico de Papagaio (Peak of the Parrot) which, although not very high as mountains go, is covered with a dense forest of trees of great size on its slopes. It is difficult to penetrate this forest due to the masses of lianas and other jungle growth. At sunset, great numbers of African Greys fly in from the lowlands where they feed and roost for the night in the security of the mountain's jungle. There are other mountains on Prince's Island, but this one is the preferred location for night roosting and for raising the young in the breeding season. Most fanciers don't know it, but there are a few different varieties of African Greys with some differences in size and in coloring. Size may vary from 12 to 15 3/4 inches depending 22 Parrot Family Birds u DESCRIPTION: Cock: Body pearl-grey, having the feathers of the head, neck and abdomen margined with whitish-grey. Tail scarlet, square and short. Bill is black. Skin patch around the eyes, lores and above bill greyish-white. Feet greyish with black claws. Eyes with a clear yellow iris. Hen: Similar to the cock but smaller, with shorter neck and smaller, rounder head. To tell the sexes apart, look at the bare skin at the back of the eye, which you will find to be less extensive, more rounded, and less elliptical in shape in the hen than in the cock. She is of a darker shade of grey, and the light edgings of the feathers are less distinct than those of the cock. A look at the head also helps to differentiate between the sexes. The cock's head is more arched, longer, with a smaller bill having more of a hook than the hen's. She has a broader, flatter head, with a stouter bill, thicker at the base than the cock's. By carefully comparing the above differences, you will be able to determine the sex of your birds, as they are otherwise very similar. Immature birds have the tail dark red at the tips, and the under tail-coverts dark red tinged with grey. Young birds may be easily ascertained by the eye coloring, which is first black or very dark-greyish in a very young bird, changing in five to six months to light grey, and at one year of age to a clear yellow. At full maturity, 3.5 to 4 years, the irises are clear yellowish-white. In a young bird, the cheeks and forehead are not as light colored as in the adults. FEEDING: Complete feeding instructions in captivity are given in a previous chapter applying to all Parrots. It is interesting to the fancier, however, to know what African Greys feed on in the wild. These Parrots, like Crows and Parrots 23 m BREEDING: African Greys require a breeding pen 25 to 30 feet long, by 6 to 8 feet wide and high. Length is the most important dimension. More explicit details in properly building an enclosure are given in a previous chapter. Both parents take turns in incubating and feeding the young. While one parent is setting on the eggs, the other will come up and feed it. In the wild, Grey Parrots nest in colonies, one tree having two or more families in its hollow limbs or trunk which are used year after year. In captivity, no more than one pair should be bred in an enclosure. The young will be cared for by the parents for quite some weeks, but if they show signs of wanting to nest again, remove the young. It may be necessary to feed your young Parrot by hand, in which case an inexpensive mixture of the following may be made up: Chicken or Turkey Growing Mash—5 lbs., Dried Buttermilk or Whey—1 lb., Oatmeal or Pablum—2 lbs. Two or three drops of Cod Liver Oil should be given in the food per day. If available, you may add to the above a pound of any of the following: Alfalfa Leaf Meal — Dried Egg — Whole Milk Powder — Pea or Bean Meal — Grated Hard-boiled Egg and Raw Carrot. When the young are older, whether hand-fed or not, they may be weaned from soft food by giving them seeds which were soaked overnight in water (Parrot Mixture) and eventually they will eat the dry seeds. Parrots have the unusual ability of being able to retain their breeding condition even though kept for years on a stand or in a cage. One peculiarity about Parrots so kept, is that it requires some time for the bird to fully recover the use of its wings when placed in a 25-30 foot breeding pen. 24 Parrot Family Birds A The African Greys, together with the Panama and Mexican Double Yellow Head are the best talkers among Parrots. TIMNEH GREY PARROT (Psittacus e. timneh) This is a distinct subspecies of the common African Grey Parrot, and is smaller and of a darker grey, size 12 inches. The body above is dark grey, abdomen and rump light grey. Tail dark red. Bill pale yellow at the base, black towards the tip. Its range is farther north in West Africa than the common species, and includes Liberia and lower Sierra Leone. Amazon Parrots are exclusively Tropical American birds, and all have the ability to repeat words, whistles or sounds. They are easy to care for, hardy and affectionate. Their life-span is well over 50 years. Among the many species, the best talkers are: MEXICAN DOUBLE YELLOW-HEAD (or LEVEL-LI-ANT'S AMAZON) (Amazona ochrocephala oratrix) Habitat: Mexico to British Honduras. 15 inches. This gentle and affectionate bird is said to be the best talker among the Amazons. The body is a lovely shade of green, and when fully mature (at 3 years old), the entire head and upper neck are yellow. There are a few red spots on shoulders and wings. Young birds have only a small amount of yellow in the front part of the head, which increases in area up to 3 years of age. It spreads very gradually and slowly. YELLOW-FRONTED or SINGLE YELLOW-HEADED AMAZON (Amazona o. ochrocephala) Habitat: Northern South America. This species, all green with a yellow forehead and dark bill, makes a nice talker.
 
Double Yellow-Headed Amazon Parrot (Amazona o. oratrix) Some fanciers claim this bird to be the best talker. Before the Psittacine Regulation (1933), it was imported in large numbers from its habitat from Mexico to British Honduras. PANAMA AMAZON (Amazona o. panamensis) Habitat: Panama to Colombia. 15 inches. Similar to the preceding, with a paler green body and yellow forehead. The bill in this species is white. As this bird grows older, it develops a small yellow patch at the back of the head. Said to be the second-best talker among Amazons. BLUE-FRONTED AMAZON (Amazona a. aestiva) Habitat: Brazil. This species has the same nice shade of green as the others, but it has a blue forehead, yellow throat and cheeks. The patch on the wings is scarlet, and the bill is black. CUBAN AMAZON (Amazona L. leucccephala) Habitat: Cuba and Isle of Pines. 10-11 inches. This species is one of the most beautiful of the Amazons. The body is green, with white forehead, red throat and cheeks. The wings and tail have feathers of blue, red and green. This Parrot, though prettier than the others, is not as good a talker. 26 Parrot Family Birds I i An odd thing about Parrots is that, like many cats, the male prefers a woman for a mistress, while the female Parrot likes a man. Parrots are usually taken from the nest, and hand fed by the natives to tame them. The Bronx Park Zoo of New York has a beautiful rare mutation -of an Amazon Parrot, which is a lovely iridescent blue all over. Over 100 species of Amazon Parrots are known. HILL MYN AH S These birds, the size of a Pigeon, are of the Grackle Family. They are mostly shiny black, with an overlay of metallic purple and green on the back and rump. The wings have a white bar in the center. The bill is orange, and in mature individuals the legs, wattles, and cheek patches of naked skin are deep yellow. Immature birds are very pale in these parts, with the wattles undeveloped. These are strong stocky birds for their size. Several; races exist, all inhabiting southeast Asia and neighboring islands, with one race in the Philippines. The largest and also the best talker is the JAVAN HILL MYNAH (Gracula religiosa religiosa) of Malaya, Java and the Sunda Islands. This race is about twice the size of the Greater Indian or of a common Pigeon, and has large head wattles.
N The other two races in India, differing in size and in head wattles, are the central race (Gracula religiosa peninsularis) of the Southeast Central Provinces, and the smallest of all, the LESSER INDIAN HILL MYNAH, also known as Southern Indian and Malabar Hill Mynah (Gracula religiosa in-dica). This latter is only 2/3 the size of the Greater Indian (about that of a Dove), with large head wattles, and is not as good a talker although often imported. Its habitat in India is from Bombay, south to Cape Comorin and in Ceylon. Two other nearby races exist in Tenasserim (Burma) and in the Andaman Islands. The PHILIPPINE or PALAWAN HILL MYNAH (Gracula religiosa palawanensis) is in the most easterly range of the species. It is found very commonly throughout the Palawan group of islands in the Philippines. It is a very good talker and 11 inches in length. Not often imported. Two other larger races are found on groups of small islands. (Gracula r. robusta) Length 15 inches. Habitat: Islands of Nias, Babi, Tuangku and Bangkaru. The other is (Gracula r. batuensis) Length 13 inches. Habitat: Islands of Tambelan, Tello, Siberut, Sipora, Pagi, Tioman and Anamba. Wherever their habitats are, these Hill Mynahs are widely kept as talking cage birds. The Malays call them Beo. In |
erground. A larger mesh used may be 1/2 inch for small birds such as Loriquets, Parrotlets and small Grass Parra-keets, Starlings and Love Birds. For Hill Mynahs and larger Parrakeets one inch mesh will suffice. A very heavy gauge 2 or 3 inch mesh will hold Parrots, Cockatoos, Crows and Macaws. The regular 2x4 board may be used in framing the roof and sides as studs. The netting may be fastened to the wood 
nd this will keep them pleasantly occupied. Seeds do not contain all the elements required in a Parrot's diet. Supply them daily with fresh greens such as beet tops, celery stalks, fresh peas in pod, raw carrot, and uncooked corn on the cob.
row or Magpie's diet, but never should be given to Psitta-cine Birds.
pon subspecies, age and sex. Some races have red feathers in the wings, others have many red feathers mixed throughout the grey body feathers. Still others have pink feathers mixed in the grey plumage. There are even partial albinos, albinos with red tails and, very rarely, completely white birds, and grey ones with white tails instead of the normal scarlet.
any other birds, go out foraging during the day to preferred feeding grounds, and at dusk wing their way back to favorite roosting trees for the night. 
s a family pet, African Grey Parrots may be recommended for their docility, gentleness and wonderful talking powers. You and your friends will be well entertained with unexpected remarks from its gift of gab. They are easy to care for like the Amazon Parrots, also live over 50 years (some reaching 80 to 100), and will be a companion to you if you are alone. A bird may even outlive you, and they have often been willed to another generation as a family heirloom.
wish to mention an extremely desirable Amazon with friendly ways and which makes a nice talker. It is a smaller bird, about 10y2 inches. It is the SPECTACLED or WHITE-BROWED AMAZON (Amazona albifrons). Habitat: 
ext in size, and an excellent talker is the GREATER INDIAN HILL MYNAH (Gracula religiosa intermedia), whose range is from Northern India to Cochin-China. This is by far the species most commonly imported for the fancier. Its size is about that of a common Pigeon and has a head wattle, although a cock of this species I owned didn't have this much developed. Hill Mynahs of this race have been used on Radio, Television and have been trained to talk for the movies. A pair, "Acee and Decee," owned