The Argentine parrot, also called the monk parrot, Myiopsitta monachus, is an exotic bird in all the countries through which it is is expanding (in fact it is listed as an invasive species), except in its homeland, Argentina. But even in Argentina it is colonizing territories where it did not exist before. In fact, its original area was south of the province of Córdoba. The deforestation of their primitive habitat forced the parrots to move to other places.
However, its enormous capacity for proliferation, its intelligence, the adaptability of the species and the circumstance that it has become popular as a pet in many parts of the world, has achieved a vertiginous expansion throughout the South American continent first, and then for the rest of the world.
For people who decide to adopt an Argentine parrot as a pet, in this article on our site we will explain the essential care of an Argentine parrot.
Legal Adoption
The first requirement that must be observed with Argentine parrots is whether their ownership is legal in the country where you reside.
In Spain, for example, its trade, breeding, possession, transport, and introduction into nature, are prohibited. Lacking natural predators, they are expanding through the main urban areas, competing with the native fauna. Mainly with the blackbird, Turdus merula, and the magpie, Pica pica. Since they are granivorous birds, they wreak havoc on cereal crops. In some U. S. A. states, the keeping of monk parrots is also prohibited.
The Argentine parrot as a pet
In Argentina the possession of the monk parrot is legal, and the people who adopt them enjoy their skills, although it is also true that they sometimes suffer problems as a result of strong character of the Argentine parrot.
This is not an easy pet The fact that they are taken from the wild, since there are so many of them, raising them in hatcheries is not it is "palatable" as a business; It makes it a lottery that the adopted dog is friendly and interacts well with its caregiver. This problem is common among birds taken from the wild and not imprinted.
The imprint
Imprinting is a typical phenomenon among birds When any bird hatches from the egg, it takes the first living being it sees for its mother. If he sees a dog, he will mentally consider himself a dog for life. If it sees a human, the bird will always consider itself a person and it will be easier for it to get along with people.
Unfortunately, the usual way to get parrot chicks is to knock down the large community nests during the summer, potentially damaging the 30 or more birds that live in the nest. Then it is about getting the chicks as soon as possible, since the younger they are, the easier it will be to train them.
These parrots will always, to a greater or lesser extent, see their keepers as potential predators because their imprint will be that of their own species. With hatchery birds, being imprinted by the humans who attend the incubators, they will not consider the keeper who adopts them as their mother, but they will consider themselves people and will not fear their keeper. With which their training will be much easier and they will be friendly with the people who feed and care for them.
Image from loromania.mforos.com:
The Argentine parrot and its learning
The Argentinian parrot is very intelligent, and if it feels like it, it learns words, noises (from the telephone, or barking, etc.), songs or hymns (of football teams). But if it doesn't feel like it, it is mute and only emits the loud croaks typical of its species.
Therefore, never adopt an Argentine parrot with the conviction that she will talk the hell out of you, since your intuition may or may not fail you. The more you interact with the parrot, the easier it will be to train.
On the other hand, it is a pet with character; which means that if your approach to play or clean the cage seems inappropriate, it will not hesitate to give you a painful peck This is one of the reasons why they are released in the wild or abandoned in animal shelters.
Basic care of the Argentine parrot
The main care will be to have a veterinarian experienced in treating this species and who can give you good advice about it. Then you must have a large cage of at least 100x50x50 cm. Inside the cage there should be perches for the parrot to perch, toys (which sooner or later will be destroyed), and a mesh on the floor, to a few centimeters from the floor, which prevents the parrot from ingesting its feces and getting sick. Fresh water should never be lacking.
You must place a sterilized cuttlefish bone for the parrot to peck at. It serves to sharpen and wear down the growth of its strong beak. The calcium that it ingests through the cuttlefish bone will make its bones much stronger, its pretty feathers will look shinier, and the shell of its eggs (if you breed them) will be more solid. You must also ingest minerals. Mineral blocks for birds are sold in pet stores, as trace minerals are essential for their he alth.
It is important that the parrot can enter and leave the cage. Therefore, a room should be set up for the parrot to roam around for a few hours a day. Don't forget to be careful with open windows.
Feeding of the Argentine parrot
The Argentine parrot is eminently granivorous (it consumes grain), for which it can be offered any type of whole grain (not refined). In the bird shops they sell containers with different types of grain mixed in a correct balance.
Occasionally they can be given fruit and even vegetables, but not in excess as it softens their stools. Parrots appreciate the change in diet, because if they always eat the same thing they get sad. In the wild they also feed on insect protein, so snacking on a cricket from time to time, they will appreciate it.
Parrots are gregarious
Monk parrots are gregarious, that is, They like to live in groups, so the ideal is for a pair of parrots It is a delicate matter, because they are also very territorial and jealous. Therefore, it is preferable to pair them very young to avoid fights in which they can seriously injure themselves. If they accept each other, and they are male and female, they will mate for life, since they are monogamous.
Argentine parrots need to live with company, be it their own species or others. For this reason, it sometimes chases cats or dogs that also live in the same household, which often ends badly. They are jealous, and if they see their handler taking care of another pet they easily sulk.
Longevity
Monk parrots are very long-lived since They can live up to 30 years This, unfortunately, is another reason for abandonment, because if they are elderly people who take care of the parrot and both die; often the heirs do not want to carry the animal. It also happens that on many occasions the inherited parrots do not adapt well to the new home and their keepers, being very aggressive and destructive with the furniture.
Funny Habits
Argentine parrots are kleptomaniacs, as they seize small objects: pens, coins, glasses…, etc. The reason is that they consider these objects useful to form their nests, and they accumulate them inside their cage. They are also artists in the art of escape, which is why they often escape despite being well cared for.
