User:Rebekahloyd/sandbox

Food
Birds need a combination of a healthy, balanced pellet food and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Bird owners frequently feed their bird pellet food in the mornings and produce in the evenings.

Not all produce is good for birds, so be sure to look up items before handing them over. Never feed a bird:
 * Potatoes, onions, or other roots and tubers
 * Avocados
 * Anything with salt or sugar

Always ensure your parrot has fresh water, especially if she likes to soften food in her water bowl.

Environment
Your bird needs quite a bit of space in comparison to his size. For medium to large parrots, expect to invest in a cage at least 5 or 6 feet tall. The more birds in one cage, the larger it needs to be.

Put plenty of perches and a variety of brightly colored toys in the cage. Parrots need regular stimulation, so toys are essential. Without them, your parrot may start engaging in self-destructive feather plucking or screaming (Companion Parrots).

Keep the cage clean! Birds are extremely messy pets, but they should not be allowed to live in the messes they make. Change the cage liner at least once a week, and periodically wipe down the cage bars to clean up any spilled food or other waste.