How to Care for the Malaysian Parrot

Consider whether a Malaysian Parrot is the right pet for you. These birds require daily care and attention, and they can be quite noisy and messy. If well cared for, they can live for more than twenty years! Before getting a Malaysian Parrot, you should think about the following (and discuss them with others in your household):

• How much money will I need to spend? Malaysian Parrots are not too expensive (around 1.5 million to 2 million or more), but they do require a spacious cage, plenty of toys, and other amenities. Also, you’ll need to take them to the vet for annual health check-ups.
• How much time can I dedicate to my parrot? Unless someone is at home regularly, the Malaysian Parrot may feel lonely when left alone. If kept in pairs, they tend to demand less attention, but you still need to care for them daily.
• Am I sensitive to noise and mess? While Malaysian Parrots are not extremely loud, they do make noise in the morning and evening. They can get messy and dirty. If you're a neat freak or dislike being woken up early, a Malaysian Parrot may not be the best choice for you.
• How long will I care for my parrot? Malaysian Parrots can live up to twenty years, so you need to carefully consider how much time you can dedicate to caring for your parrot before purchasing. If you’re younger, think about who will look after your parrot when you go off to university and are no longer able to care for it.

Buy a Bird Cage. The cage should be at least 60 cm tall, 50 cm long, and 40 cm wide, but it's better to opt for a larger one. The bars of the cage should not be spaced more than 2 cm apart. Stainless steel cages are generally recommended. Avoid cages made of materials like zinc and lead, as these are toxic to birds. Additionally, the cage should have at least a few horizontal bars since Malaysian Parrots enjoy climbing around.

Purchase Other Essential Items. Like all pet birds, Malaysian Parrots need certain amenities in their cage. You will need to buy:

• Two food bowls and one water bowl. One bowl is for dry food, and the other is for wet food (such as fruits, cooked beans, etc.).
• A fabric wrap to prevent food from spilling.
• Multiple perches inside the cage. Malaysian Parrots love to climb and play, so they will enjoy having various perches. You'll likely see your parrot select one as its 'home' (where it rests while sleeping).
• Several toys for the parrot. You should buy a variety of toys and rotate them weekly to keep your parrot entertained. Malaysian Parrots enjoy chewing and gnawing, so toys like woven twig balls or palm leaf strands are ideal.

Purchase Additional Items (Optional). Although not required, buying cleaning supplies like bird waste cleaners and a handheld vacuum is a good idea. You should also get a cuttlebone to provide calcium for the bird. This is especially important for female parrots, as they may encounter egg-laying issues (females will lay eggs even without a male, but the eggs will not be fertilized).

Learn More About Malaysian Parrots. Before purchasing a Malaysian Parrot, you should research this parrot species and how to care for it if needed. This article covers the basics, but you should delve deeper. Sources of information include the internet, libraries, and pet stores, where you'll find books and other resources on caring for Malaysian Parrots. Additionally, you should interact with Malaysian Parrots and talk to experienced owners to gain insights into their care.

Buy a Malaysian Parrot. You might be tempted to buy the cheapest parrot you can find, but purchasing a Malaysian Parrot from a pet store is not advisable. This is because birds sold in pet stores may not be healthy and are often not used to human interaction (making taming more difficult). It's better to buy a young parrot, around 3 months old or a bit older, from a specialized bird shop or breeder. If you're a beginner, avoid hand-feeding a young parrot.

• Adopt a Malaysian Parrot from an animal rescue center. Before buying a bird, it's worth considering adoption. While many Malaysian Parrots in rescue groups make excellent pets, beginners should avoid adopting from these places since the birds may not be in good health or could have behavioral issues.
• Purchase a Malaysian Parrot from a previous owner. Sometimes, life circumstances require owners to part with their pets. If you're certain the bird's previous owner is not rehoming due to behavioral problems and you're provided with its health records, this could be a great option for new bird owners.

Tame the Bird. If your Malaysian Parrot is already tame, you can move on to the next step. One of the key steps in taming a parrot is to get it accustomed to your presence. When you bring the bird home, place the cage where the family typically gathers. Each day, sit next to the cage and gently talk or whistle to the parrot for about 10 minutes. This will help the bird get familiar with your voice and presence.

• When the bird in the cage approaches you and seems comfortable seeing you, reward it with a treat (see step 1 in the next section for treat suggestions). After about a week, open the cage door and hold out the treat to encourage the parrot to perch on the cage door. The next step is to offer food on your palm so the bird can eat from your hand.

Train the Parrot to 'Step Up.' After taming and feeding the parrot from your palm, it's time to teach it to step up onto your hand. The technique you use will depend on whether your parrot tends to bite. Don't force the bird or try to grab it to step onto your hand, as this may lead to bites.

• For biting parrots: Gently slide your finger toward the bird's leg as though you're gliding it over a candle. The parrot will automatically step up. Reward and praise the bird immediately. If the bird starts to bite aggressively, stop training and try again later.
• For less aggressive parrots: Position your finger close to the bird's belly above its leg. Gently press on its belly, and it will likely step up. Reward and praise it when this happens. The next time you train, say 'step up' while pressing its belly. Over time, the bird will associate the command with the action of stepping up.

Give the Parrot Time to Adjust After Bringing It Home. If your parrot still requires hand-feeding, the adjustment period will take only a few hours. However, young birds that aren't accustomed to handling may need two to three days to get used to the new environment. During this adjustment period, avoid handling the parrot but focus on cleaning, feeding, and speaking gently to it.

Feed Your Malaysian Parrot a Healthy Diet. Pellet food should make up about 40% of your parrot's diet. Nuts can be used as treats, but avoid overfeeding as they are high in fat. You should also offer your Malaysian Parrot plenty of healthy vegetables (these should form the largest portion of its diet) and occasional fruits. Cooked beans and pasta can be used as tasty rewards for your parrot. When selecting fruits and vegetables for your bird, opt for organic produce and wash them thoroughly before offering them.

• Do not feed your Malaysian Parrot avocado, chocolate, alcohol, onions, mushrooms, tomato leaves, caffeine, or raw beans as these are toxic to birds. Foods like candy, which are high in sugar or fat, should also be avoided as they are unhealthy for your parrot.
• Remove any uneaten fresh food after four hours to avoid attracting harmful bacteria (and to prevent mess).

Ensure Your Parrot Always Has Fresh Water. Change your bird's water bowl daily, or whenever food or droppings fall into the water. You should never offer your bird water you wouldn’t drink yourself.

• When washing the bird's water bowl, be sure to use hot water and a small amount of soap, then rinse thoroughly to remove any soap residue. This helps prevent harmful fungi or algae from growing.

Handle Your Malaysian Parrot. If your parrot has been tamed (or you've tamed and trained it – see section 2), you'll need to spend at least four hours a day, or more, interacting with it to maintain its friendly nature. Unless you’ve purchased a bird diaper, it’s probably best to play with your parrot on a couch covered with a cloth or in a room that's easy to clean up afterward.

Understand Why Your Parrot Might Bite. You might feel hurt or frustrated when your parrot bites you, but remember that biting is often a bird’s response to stress, not aggression. Parrots bite to show they're frightened or anxious, so don’t take it personally. Try to reflect on what you were doing when the bite occurred and consider the situation from the bird's perspective. For example, a Malaysian Parrot may bite when you're trying to grab it or if you're rough or careless when handling it. Additionally, many Malaysian Parrots have territorial tendencies and may act aggressively if you reach into their cage.

• If your parrot bites you outside the cage, place it back in the cage and wait for it to calm down before letting it out again.
• If the parrot acts aggressively inside its cage, teach it to step onto a perch or stick instead of your hand. This way, you can have the bird step onto the perch when you want to remove it from the cage.

Teach Your Malaysian Parrot to Talk and Whistle. Male parrots are better at talking and whistling, but female parrots can still learn to whistle and occasionally pick up a few words. It’s best to teach your Malaysian Parrot to speak before teaching it to whistle, as teaching whistling first may make it more difficult. To teach your parrot to speak, talk to it regularly and use the words you want it to learn – for instance, say "Mama!" every time you approach the bird. When you hear the parrot repeat a word or phrase, reward it immediately and show your enthusiasm.

• Teaching your parrot to whistle works the same way – whistle often in front of the bird and reward it when it starts to whistle.

Recognize Signs of Illness in Your Malaysian Parrot. Malaysian Parrots often hide signs of illness until it becomes quite severe, so it's important to stay alert and watch for symptoms. A sick parrot will fluff its feathers and sit at the bottom of its cage. Bleeding is also a clear sign that the bird has been injured. Common signs that your parrot might be ill include:

• Irritability or frequent biting; excessive sleep; weight loss or poor appetite; refusal to eat or drink; coughing, sneezing, or irregular breathing; limping, swelling, or lumps; inflamed eyes or discharge around the eyes and nostrils; cloudy eyes, dirty vents, drooping head, spread wings, or drooping tail.

Take Your Parrot for Regular Vet Checkups. It's recommended to take your Malaysian Parrot to an avian vet for an annual health checkup. Additionally, contact your vet immediately if you notice any of the symptoms listed above. While vet costs may be high, parrot species are often very delicate and can become seriously ill in a short amount of time. It’s not wise to wait and see, as Malaysian Parrots are particularly fragile.

Be Aware That Malaysian Parrots Can Get Scared at Night. Some Malaysian Parrots are afraid of the dark and experience "night terrors", causing them to panic. To help prevent this, keep a nightlight on in the room where the parrot is housed and avoid covering the bird's cage at night.

• Once you know where your parrot prefers to sleep, avoid placing toys around that area. The bird might panic and if it gets tangled in a toy, it could get seriously hurt.