Parrot Wizard FAQ

Is a parrot a good pet?
Whether or not a parrot makes a good pet depends. It really depends on what you are looking for in a pet. If you are looking for a pet that you can get your hands on, is friendly with kids, is easy to take care of, inexpensive, and simple, a parrot definitely is not it! Honestly. I want to save you the disappointment getting a parrot from a "pet store" and then discovering that it is hardly a pet.

Parrots are highly intelligent and have potential that can be developed into becoming a great pet. However, nobody can do this for you. It is a relationship that you have to work for. The satisfaction of befriending a wild bird that is not naturally inclined to be your pet is more what parrot keeping is all about. Parrots do make a good pet when you appreciate a flying animal, want a challenge to work on, are ready for the high level of noise, expenses, mess, and effort that will be required. Parrots have incredible qualities that make them unlike any other pet. If you are willing to exercise those potentials, you can discover what an amazing pet a parrot can be. Learn more what parrots are like throughout this site.


What do I need if I just got a parrot? Getting a new parrot is both exciting and challenging. To make it easier for you and to help you get the things you need most to get started, here is a page with essentials for a new parrot.


Do all parrots talk?
Often the number one thing associated with parrots is talking, however, not all parrots talk. Many do, but not all. Learn how to choose a parrot for better talking potential and how to teach your parrot to talk with the help of these videos:

Getting a Parrot that Talks
3 Tips on Getting Your Parrot to Talk


Why do parrots bite?
There are many reasons why parrots bite. The most common reason why parrots bite is out of fear. Parrots are prey animals so they bite out of self defense. Usually their main way to avoid danger is to fly away. However, if their wings are clipped or when cornered (such as hands approaching in the cage) they will revert to biting. There are other reasons parrots bite. All of those reasons and solutions to them are explained in great detail in Chapter 8 of The Parrot Wizard's Guide to Well-Behaved Parrots




How can I train my parrot?
Checkout the free articles, videos, and my book for all the information you need on parrot training.


What treat do you give your parrot?
This is a question I get all the time. People think I have some magic treats that make parrots obey my every whim. If only it were that easy! In reality, "treats" are more of a concept than a specific food item. Treats will vary between parrot species and even between individual birds. Also, treats are relative to everything else you feed your parrot. When someone feeds their parrot a seed mix in the cage all the time, it is difficult to find a treat the parrot likes better than what it already gets all the time. However, when you focus on feeding your parrot a healthy diet, "junk food" makes for better treats.

It is not just the "treats" that make my parrot training so effective. It is a combination of sleep, routine, schedule, healthy feeding, repetition, and so much more. You can learn my complete approach to parrot keeping that will make your parrot happy, healthy, and a good student from my book The Parrot Wizard's Guide to Well-Behaved Parrots. A Training Perch Kit also makes parrot training so much more effective.


What is the difference between a parrot and a parakeet?
Parakeets are a subset of parrots. Parakeets encompass all small long-tailed parrots. The best known parakeet is the budgie. However, there are many other parakeets including ringneck, conure, cockatiel, quaker, and others.


What is better a parrot or a parakeet?
That really depends! It depends on your budget, space, and interests. Generally speaking, parakeets tend to be smaller, less expensive, and higher paced than parrots. Parakeets are less likely to talk, but they are great at training. Bigger parrots are a bit slower paced and often more intelligent. However, this does not necessarily mean they are easier. Here is a video about small vs large parrots.


How can I stop my parrot from biting?
Parrots often do not turn out quite how you picture them. They are not domesticated and unfortunately are not ready to go pets. It takes a greater level of understanding and effort to be able to befriend a parrot than a cat or a dog. The quickest way to stop biting is to keep your hands to yourself. Stop trying to touch or pick up the parrot and over 90% of the biting problem will be solved on the spot. Once the parrot is no longer biting, use positive reinforcement to teach the parrot to cooperate and volunteer to step up. If the parrot chooses to be on your hand, it has little reason to bite. Learn more about parrot biting and solutions from the following resources:

Guaranteed Solution to Stop Parrot Biting
Learn how to teach cooperation through training




Are Hardwood Perches better for my parrot?
Standard Parrot Wizard NU Perches are made from a mid-hardness wood that is neither hardwood nor softwood. This provides the optimal balance of comfort and durability. These perches are softer on the feet and less likely to cause foot sores than hardwood. They are easier to grip and the bird's claws can dig in a little. The wood is safe to chew and some parrots entertain themselves by chewing on their perches. Some parrots chew through their perches very quickly, so a Hardwood version of NU Perches is available. The hardwood perches are made from a very hard wood that is resistant to chewing. Generally, I only recommend hardwood perches when required. The birds really do better on the regular perches when possible.

Parrot Wizard NU Perch Tree stands are made the same as the cage perches. To make the tree stand last, it is very important to provide an abundance of easy to chew wooden toys on the stand. It is a parrot's natural instinct to chew through wood and especially when it is shaped like a tree. No matter how hard the wood on the tree is, the parrot may try to chew it so it is best to provide toys on the stand to chew instead. However, if your parrot continues to ignore toys and chew the tree, hardwood replacement perches and canopies are available at the bottom of the tree products pages.

Hardwood Training Perches and Replacement Perches are available to keep parrots from getting distracted chewing their stand during training.


Where are you located?
Parrot Wizard is based in New York City.


Do you sell birds?
We do not sell birds or any live animals.


How much does a parrot cost?
Prices of parrots can vary quite a bit depending on size, species, age, color mutation, condition, and location. However one thing is for sure, parrots are expensive. Not only are parrots expensive to acquire but also expensive to maintain. They require specialized diet, abundant perches and toys, veterinary care, cage, and supplies. Since parrots are highly exotic and not very common, everything from buying the bird to veterinary care will be more expensive than with most other pets.





Learn the prices for different parrots in your area by visiting a local bird store, rescue, or breeder. Prices are likely to change year to year. Don't expect the price of a parrot now to be anywhere near what it was 10 years ago. Keep in mind that "you get what you pay for." Often times a lower priced parrot received lower quality care, so there may be long term health or behavioral consequences. Evaluate any purchase decision based on the collective experience and not solely based on price.

Use extreme caution when referring to internet prices for birds as the vast majority of parrot listings on the internet are scams. Parrot scams are sellers pretending to sell parrots that they do not have, collecting money and sending nothing. Scams can easily mislead you into believing that parrots are less expensive and more affordable than they really are. Since scammers are selling a non-existent bird, they can list any price they imagine. Low prices are more likely to find victims so most scams list cheap parrots. Learn more about avoiding parrot scams from this video/article.


Parrot Wizard, can you help me!?
Absolutely! My goal is to help you solve your parrot problems and develop a magical relationship with your bird. To help you accomplish this, I have free articles, hundreds of free videos, behavior improving parrot supplies, and my book. Most parrot problems can be resolved between following the methodology outlined in the book, articles, and videos combined with using some of the supplies such as a clicker & target stick and Parrot Training Perches. If you could not find a solution to your problem or would like more personalized coaching, you can apply for a private parrot training consultations here.

Can I pay by credit card?
Yes. During checkout, you will enter your shipping information where the order is to be sent. Then, you will be taken to PayPal where you can enter your credit card or debit card for payment. If you have a PayPal account, you can log in for quick and convenient payment using your saved information. What credit cards can be used? Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.

When will I get my order?
Most orders ship within 2 business days. Orders for a lot of items can sometimes take a few days longer. Bulky items such as trees can also take a few days longer as well. Custom perches can take up to 3 weeks to produce and the entire order will ship once they are ready. That said, we strive to ship most orders by the next business day!

How long it will take to receive your order will primarily depend on shipping time. Parrot Wizard ships from NYC so shipping duration is roughly proportionate to distance from NYC. Most orders to the northeast take 2-3 days, southeast 3-4 days, 5-7 days to the west coast. Check your tracking for a more accurate estimate.

Shipping duration for orders outside the US is unpredictable. It varies by country and depends on the processing time at the customs office.


Will I receive a tracking number?
Yes. You should receive an email from Paypal with a tracking number once your order is packed to ship. If you do not receive this email within a few days, be sure to check your spam/junk email. You can also see your order status updates and tracking once shipped by logging in here.


Is this website secure?
For your privacy and protection, https://ParrotWizard.com uses 256 bit SSL encryption for all pages. This website is verified by Godaddy Premium EV SSL. We do not store any of your credit card information and in fact never handle it in the first place. At checkout, you will be redirected to PayPal (a well known financial institution) to complete payment.


I don't have a DVD player, can I stream the video instead?
Yes! Many Parrot Wizard products come with a DVD or instructional video. You can access videos included with any orders you have placed by going to the My Videos section of your account dashboard. View online on your computer or phone at any time in quality up to 4K.


What is your environmental policy?
Parrot Wizard not only loves parrots, but all animals. We strive to bring you the best parrot supplies while also minimizing our environmental impact. We try to use sustainable natural materials whenever possible both for your parrot's enjoyment and for the sake of the environment. Whenever possible we use recycled cardboard and paper for packing/shipping materials. We minimize our use of plastics both in the products and for packaging. However, your parrot's safety is our top priority so we do use thin plastic packaging to preserve perches and toys for your parrot's enjoyment. We entirely stopped using foam packing peanuts years ago. We almost entirely replaced them with recycled paper, but in the rare occasion that peanuts are required, we use biodegradable starch based packing peanuts instead. We reuse or recycle cardboard and packaging materials for anything we receive. We have been converting our lighting to LED to reduce energy use and keep the lights turned off or down when not required. Together we can all make a difference in our companion parrot's life at home and help preserve our planet for the wild birds and animals as well.


Do you ship outside the US?
Yes! Parrot Wizard ships worldwide with some exceptions. For international orders, any country outside the US, add all items you want to cart and select "Orders to any country besides USA" at checkout. Please allow a few days to calculate a shipping quote as shipping costs are different to each country. You will receive an email with a Paypal invoice with your items and shipping cost. You should be able to view this in your preferred language and currency through Paypal. If you wish to purchase, complete payment through Paypal. If you do no longer wish to purchase, just ignore the invoice and you will not be charged. Shipping is included in the final price. Local taxes, duties, VAT, or tariffs by your country are not included if they apply. Check with your customs office if or how much tax you should expect to be charged.

*We do not ship or sell live birds outside US

This page provides brief answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. For more in depth information, please refer to The Parrot Wizard's Guide to Well-Behaved Parrots, Articles, and Videos.

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