# Parrot Care in the UK: Complete Guide — Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/parrot-care-uk): Parrot Care in the UK: Complete Guide — Quick answer. Parrots need space to fly daily, a diet of about three-quarters pellets and one-quarter fresh food, hours of social interaction and constant mental enrichment. Some species live over 50 years, so a parrot is a lifetime commitment. Register with a UK avian vet before you need one.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/parrot-care-uk): Parrot Care in the UK: Complete Guide — A lifetime commitment. According to the RSPCA, some parrots can live for over 50 years. Before buying, think about who will care for the bird in 10, 20 or 40 years — parrots frequently outlive owners or are passed between homes, which causes them real distress. The RSPCA also highlights welfare concerns in the parrot trade, including birds taken from the wild. African grey parrots are endangered in the wild, so always buy from a reputable UK breeder with closed-ringed, captive-bred birds and paperwork for CITES-listed species.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/parrot-care-uk): Parrot Care in the UK: Complete Guide — Housing — RSPCA rules of thumb. An aviary is ideal; an indoor cage must be paired with generous free flight. According to the RSPCA: | Setup | Key requirement | |-------|-----------------| | Aviary | Height, width and depth at least 4× the largest bird's flying wingspan; add 20% per extra bird | | Cage, bird mostly out | Each dimension at least 1.5× the wingspan | | Cage, bird mostly in | Each dimension at least 2× the wingspan | | Aviary shelter | Draught-proof, insulated; tropical species need roughly 12–26°C | - Keep cages away from radiators, draughts and kitchens (non-stick fumes are lethal) - One large non-colony parrot (African grey, Amazon, cockatoo, macaw) per cage — even breeding pairs may injure each other in confinement

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/parrot-care-uk): Parrot Care in the UK: Complete Guide — Flight and exercise. Wild parrots fly miles every day. According to the RSPCA, a bird without an aviary needs space to fly freely indoors for at least six hours a day. Bird-proof the room: closed windows and doors, covered mirrors, no ceiling fans, no other pets, and no non-stick cookware in use anywhere nearby.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/parrot-care-uk): Parrot Care in the UK: Complete Guide — Feeding — the RSPCA ratios. According to the RSPCA, the best parrot diet is: - About three-quarters pellets — nutritionally complete, made for parrots - About one-quarter washed fruit and vegetables — carrots, broccoli, peas, de-seeded apples, grapes, blueberries, pomegranate - Seeds and nuts — small amounts only, as treats or training rewards; seed mixes are high in fat and low in calcium and vitamins, and seed-only diets cause obesity, fatty liver and vitamin A deficiency - Never feed avocado — highly poisonous to parrots. See Pet bird diet UK for the full safe and toxic lists

Source: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/parrot-care-uk