The Parrotlet Handbook
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The Parrotlet Handbook - By Sandee L. Molenda Published By: Barrons


Table Of Contents
Preface 
Chapter I - Meet the Parrotlet 

  Introduction 
  Parrotlets and their Special People 
  History In Captivity 
  What Are Parrotlets? 
  Frequently Asked Questions 
  Are There Differences in Personalities Between Subspecies? 
  What is a Parrotlet’s Average Life Span? 
Chapter II - Parrotlet Identification 
  Basic Classifications 
  Identification Terms 
  Pacific Parrotlets 
  Color Mutation Parrotlets 
  Pacific Color Mutation Descriptions 
  Green Rumped Parrotlets 
  Spectacled Parrotlets 
  Rare Species Of Parrotlets 
  Blue Winged Parrotlets 
  Mexican Parrotlets 
  Sclater's Parrotlets 
  Yellow Faced Parrotlets 
Chapter III - Choosing A Parrotlet 
  Are You the Right Person for a Parrotlet? 
  Considerations When Picking A Parrotlet 
  Which Species? 
  What Sex? 
  One Parrotlet or More? 
  Where to Buy a Parrotlet 
  Purchasing from a Breeder 
  Shipping Parrotlets 
  Purchasing From a Pet Shop 
  Bird Marts 
  Purchasing Checklist 
  Picking the Perfect Parrotlet 
  Healthy Parrotlet Checklist 
  Unweaned Parrotlets 
  Tips For Purchasing Parrotlets 
Chapter IV - Housing The Parrotlet 
  Cage 
  Perches 
  Food Dishes 
  Watering Devices 
  Mite Protectors 
  Floor Covering 
  Cage Location 
  Covering the Cage 
  Cleaning the Cage 
  Finding Safe, Fun Toys 
  Birdie Buddies™ and Happy Huts™ 
  Mirrors 
  "People" Toys 
  Playpens and Baskets 
  Other Equipment 
  Air Filters 
  Humidifier
  Scale 
  Water Filter 
Chapter V - Feeding The Parrotlet 
  Seeds 
  Pellets 
  Pellets and Color Mutation Parrotlets 
  Other Necessary Foods 
  Fresh Fruit For Your Parrotlet 
  Fresh Vegetables and Greens – Fed Raw Unless Noted 
  Organic and Homegrown Produce 
  Legumes 
  Nuts, Seeds, Legumes and Non-Animal Proteins 
  Legumes and Other Non-Animal Proteins 
  Animal Proteins 
  Hot Cooked Diets 
  Sprouted Seed 
  Vitamins and Supplements 
  Petamine™ 
  Lory Powder 
  Bee Pollen 
  Spirulina™ and Wheat Grass Powder 
  Cuttlebone and Mineral Blocks 
  Mineral Blocks 
  Grit and Oyster Shell 
  Healthful Treats 
  Healthful Recipes for Parrotlets 
  Daily Fresh Food Mix 
  Birdie Corn Muffins 
  Brown Rice Recipe 
  Basic Bird Bread 
  Corn/Bean/Rice Recipe 
  Parrotlet Ranch Beans 
  Is Your Parrotlet Eating? 
  Picky Eaters 
  Wasteful Parrotlets 
Chapter VI - Bringing The Parrotlet Home 
  New Home Checklist 
  Cage 
  Food 
  Feeding 
  Handling
  Stress 
  New-Parrotlet Check Up 
  New Bird Examination Procedure 
  Leg Bands 
  Patience and Understanding 
  Quarantine 
  Temperature 
  Wings 
Chapter VII - Behavior and Training 
  The Spoiled Parrotlet 
  Parrotlet Behavior 
  Cage Aggression 
  Egg-Laying Pet Females 
  Feather Mutilation 
  Regurgitation 
  The "Teenage Years" 
  Training Basics 
  The "No" Command 
  The "Step Up" Command 
  Playing "Ladders" 
  Time Out 
  Biting 
  Teaching Parrotlets to Talk 
  Pepper the Wonder Parrotlet 
  Teaching The Parrotlet Tricks 
  Fetch 
  Get the Bell 
  Night-Night 
  Playing Dead 
  Potty training 
  Riding on a Toy
  Shaking Hands 
  Standing on Head 
Chapter VIII – Grooming The Parrotlet 
 
Wing Clipping 
  Toenails 
  Beak Trimming 
  Green Rumped Parrotlet Beak Problems 
  Bathing 
  Molting 
  Preening and Pinfeathers 
Chapter IX – Breeding Parrotlets 
  Housing Breeding Pairs 
  Nutrition for Breeding Parrotlets 
  Breeding Parrotlets 
  Hand-Feeding and Socializing 
  Weaning 
  Parent-Raised Chicks 
  Record Keeping 
  Proper Equipment & Disinfection & Hygiene 
  Hand Feeding Equipment Guide 
  Color Mutation Parrotlets 
  Pellet Diets and Color Mutation Parrotlets 
  Breeding Parrotlet Mutations 
  Inheritance Modes and Color Combinations 
  Recessive Color Mutation Chart – Single Factor 
  Recessive Color Mutation Chart – Combination Colors 
Chapter X - Traveling with Your Parrotlet 
 
Basic Travel Tips 
  Car 
  Traveling by Air 
  Health Certificates 
Chapter XI - Hazards and Disaster Preparedness 
 
Around the House 
  Airborne Toxins 
  List of Common Household Airborne Toxins 
  Cigarette Smoke 
  Paint and Pesticides 
  Stored Dangers 
  Teflon™ and Other Non-Stick Surfaces 
  Dangerous Foods 
  The Avocado Controversy 
  Houseplants 
  Dangerous houseplants 
  Safe Houseplants 
  Over-Medication 
  Other Birds and Animals 
  People 
  Toys and Cages 
  Zinc and Lead 
  Common Household Sources of Lead 
  Disaster Preparedness 
  Emergency Bird Supply Kit 
Chapter XII - Illness and Diseases 
 
Know What to Look For 
  Signs of Illness 
  Emergency Situations 
  First Aid 
  Bird First Aid Kit 
  Hospital Cage 
  Cuts and Abrasions 
  Bleeding Feathers 
  Broken Beak Tip 
  Broken Toenail 
  Shock 
  Working With Your Veterinarian 
  Holistic Medicine 
  Bacteria 
  Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis, Parrot Fever) 
  E. coli 
  Klebsiella 
  Mycobacteria (Avian Tuberculosis) 
  Mycoplasma 
  Pasteurella 
  Psuedomonas 
  Salmonella 
  Fungal Infections 
  Aspergillosis 
  Avian Gastric Yeast 
  Candida 
  Mycotoxins 
  Parasites 
  Ectoparasites 
  Lice 
  Mites 
  Protozoal Parasites 
  Cryptosporidium 
  Giardia 
  Microsporidium 
  Viral Infections 
  Beak and Feather Disease (P.B.F.D.) 
  Herpesvirus 
  Pacheco's Disease 
  Polyoma Virus 
  To Vaccinate or Not? 
  Pox 
  Proventricular Dilatation Disease (P.D.D.) 
  Further Education 
  Books and Magazines 
  Bird Clubs 
  Online 
  Death of a Parrotlet 
  Necropsy 
Chapter XIII – Showing A Parrotlet 
 
What is a Bird Show? 
  Societies and Specialty Clubs 
  Great American and National Cage Bird Shows 
  Other Benefits 
  General Parrot Standards 
  International Parrotlet Society Standards 
  Preparing A Parrotlet For A Show 
  Bands 
  Conditioning 
  Show Cages 
  Show Cage Training 
  Before the Show 
  Night of the Show 
  Attending the Show 
  Divisions 
  Show Tag and Registration Form 
  Judging Procedure 
  Accumulating Points 
  Banquet and Raffles 
Chapter XIV - Beyond the Basics 
 
Further Information 
  International Parrotlet Society 
  Avicultural Organizations 
  American Federation of Aviculture 
  National Cage Bird Show 
  Society of Parrot Breeders and Exhibitors 
  Books 
  Conservation Organizations 
  American Bird Conservancy 
  RARE Center for Tropical Conservation 
  Magazines and Periodicals 
  Bird Talk Magazine 
  Parrot Life 
  Veterinary References 
  American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Inc. 
  ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 
  Association of Avian Veterinarians 
Chapter XV - Glossary of Terms 
Chapter XVI- Appendix 
 
Classifications of Forpus Parrotlets 
  References 
  Biography 


Send mail to Sandee@ParrotletRanch.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: July 10, 2010