Parrots in captivity do not get nearly as much opportunity for physical activity as those living in their natural habitat. Every day of a wild parrot involves traveling long miles, foraging for food, and escaping predators.
In contrast, captive parrots often have limited space and mostly rely on their owners for food and stimulation. This often leads to unhealthy weight gain and prevents them from being as fit as they can be.
Parrots need regular exercise in order to stay healthy. A good 10-15-minute session twice a day can be enough to keep your parrot fit and also develop its muscles. This can include activities like climbing, flying, walking, and playing games.
Benefits Of Regular Exercise For Parrots
When it comes to keeping your parrot fit and healthy, a balanced diet in conjunction with a workout routine can be beneficial. Below are the benefits of exercise for parrots:
Weight Management
Certain species of parrots are at a higher risk of obesity and increased cholesterol levels, which makes regular exercise an even more integral part of their daily routine. According to a study published by BioOne exercise can help parrots in a way similar to how it helps humans.
In this study, researchers looked at how regular exercise could help lower cholesterol in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots. They split the parrots into two groups.
One group was exercised with 30 min of aviary flight and 30 min walking on a rotating perch, while the other group was housed in cages with no exercise. The two group’s weight, size, and cholesterol levels were checked at the beginning and after 61 and 105 days.
The parrots that exercised regularly weighed less and had smaller chests than the ones that didn’t. Their good cholesterol (HDL-C) levels also increased after two months but went back to normal after three months.
Muscle Development
When a parrot is overweight its muscles will be shrouded in a layer of fat over the breastbone. This area will usually feel soft and it will be hard to feel the muscles. But when the parrot engages in flight training every day, it will work the breast muscles and help them grow.
Consequently, exercise also gets rid of excess body fat and makes the pectoral muscles more prominent. The development of pectoral muscles makes flight easier for the parrot, especially the take-off.
How Much Exercise Do Parrots Need Everyday?
Parrots have incredible endurance and can fly for long periods without breaks. However, you should exercise your parrot in short bouts as flying indoors is much different and energy-intensive than in the wild.
You can have 2 brief sessions for 5-10 minutes daily. Also, note that larger parrots tend to tire quicker because they have more mass, requiring more energy to generate the necessary lift.
5 Ways To Exercise Your Parrot
Parrots are so full of energy and they need to let it out. If they are kept cooped up in one place. , it can have undesirable effects on them mentally and physically.
Parrots are not used to sitting around, so providing them with means to be active can just be the motivation needed for them to exercise. Here are some tips that you can use to get your parrot sufficient exercise every day:
Flight Training
Flying is the most natural form of exercise for parrots. Short flights from one point to another are tough and quite intensive as they require the parrot to take off repeatedly.
The wing-flapping motion to lift the body off from a stationary position involves overcoming gravity and inertia, which means it uses more energy.
Practicing recall and stationing in a large open room can be a good start with your parrot. Recall is when asking your parrot to fly towards you and stationing means to fly away and perch at a specific location.
Exercise Toys
Even if you live in a small apartment, there are plenty of ways to get your parrot to exercise. You can encourage your parrot to exercise on its own with the help of different types of toys.
Some of the types of toys you can use include:
Floor toys
Parrots can have a lot of fun playing on the floor as well. If your parrot’s wings are clipped, floor toys can be a great way to provide them with enrichment and exercise. They can also have treats in them, which the parrot has to work for in order to pick them out.
Climbing ropes
Different types of ropes and large toys can provide your parrot the opportunity to climb and engage more muscles. You hang them at the center of their cages for them to climb and explore all day.
Also, as a rule of thumb, rotate your parrot’s toys every month so they do not get bored. You can also add new toys, which can make them feel more pumped for the exercise.
Teach Them Tricks
Teaching your parrot new tricks can be a great way to bond with them as well as get them to exercise more.
There are various easy tricks that you can start with and then move on to more difficult ones. while training them, choose tricks that require more physical effort so that your parrot can exercise its muscles.
Games
There are many games you can play with your parrot and help them burn more calories while also keeping them mentally stimulated. Some simple games you can begin with include peek-a-boo, fetch and retrieve, and hide-and-seek.
Dancing
Most parrots like the sound of music and start grooving to the beats automatically. Some common dance moves parrots perform are bobbing their head, swaying side to side, rotating, and jumping up and down.
Studies show that parrots even have their own genre preferences in music, so you should try different soundtracks with your parrot to see what gets them going.
Things To Keep In Mind When Exercising Your Parrot
Whenever you’re in a training session with your parrot, or taking them out of their cage in general, keep the following things in mind:
Fans Off
Ceiling fans should be turned off when your parrot is out of the cage. Parrots can get severely injured or even die if they fly into the blades of a fan.
No Mirrors In The Room
Parrots do not recognize mirrors and may perceive them as an extension of the space causing them to fly directly into it. This is why you should cover all mirrors in the room where your parrot is flying in. Injuries from collisions can be severe and sometimes lead to internal bleeding.
Comfortable Tempratures
While your bird is exercising, it’s essential to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room to avoid the risk of overheating. During exercise, their heart rate and body temperature can go up. So, make sure the room is adequately ventilated and not too hot.
Also, pay close attention to your parrot’s breathing during exercise. If you notice your parrot panting, it’s a sign that they may be getting too hot and need to take a break.
