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Meyer's ParrotFamily: PsittacidaeTribe: Psittacini 
"Draven"
Photo courtesy: Shawna Ellis
"Draven is a rather quiet bird, never screaming but finding other ways in which to get treats and attention. He is very clever!"...Shawna Latest Reader Comment - See More It all started when I bought a bronze-winged Pionus parrot from a breeder; a little rambunctious parrot who got more unruly as time went on; I tried everything, but ... (more) Dave 2008-08-09
The Meyer's Parrot is a small bird that is very attractive and intelligent!'Draven' makes strong associations with household noises which he mimics (such as beeping like the microwave when you open the refrigerator door, or squeaking like the front door when you put on your shoes to go out). While he doesn't talk very clearly, he knows a few words and often chatters to himself in an indecipherable robot tongue, sounding rather like the android R2D2 from Star Wars. He does not enjoy cuddling as do some parrots, but I can not say if this is typical of Meyer's or not. 'Draven' is still very pleasant company and a fun pet, even if he can be aloof at times. Information by: Shawna Ellis...
Shawna Rules
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Description:
Meyer's Parrots are related to the more popular Senegal parrots,
and I find them to be attractive and intelligent little birds. They are
from central and eastern Africa.
There are several subspecies of Meyer's with varying degrees
of yellow coloration on the crown and wings, with some types even having
none. All have a grayish brown upper body with a bluish green chest, with
green under-parts and blue on the topside of the rump. While these birds
may appear drab at first glance, their colors upon closer inspection are
astounding and beautiful, especially the chest and rump which have a lovely
iridescence. Eyes in the mature birds are orange-red, with a grayish black
beak. Length is just under 9 inches.
Housing:
Provide a roomy cage with the minimum dimensions of: 20"
long x 12" deep x 18" high. The ideal size is: 40" long
x 20" deep x 32" high. Preferably a cage with horizontal bars
to make climbing easier. You can also attach a perch/play area on top
of the cage. In the cage have about three perches of different diameters
(or branches with some angling) without the sandpaper guards. A swing
and mirror among other toys are available but be sure to leave enough
room for flying! Food and water dishes, preferably automatic dispensing,
or if not, ones with guards to prevent waste contamination. Clips to hold
spray millet and fresh food. A bath house with a textured bottom is a
favorite, or a slow running faucet will do. Provide a breeding box if
breeding is what you have in mind.
Care and feeding:
In the wild the Meyer's parrot eats seeds, nuts, berries
and fruit. For your pet, ready made staple seed mixes are usually available
at your local pet store or super market which contain a mixture of canary
grass seed, white millet, yellow millet, oats and groats and red millet,
niger seed and linseed. Some higher quality seed mixtures come with thistle,
anise, rape, sesame, and safflower seed. Vitamin pellets with iodine in
them are sometimes present to prevent thyroid problems. Store seed in
a dark but airy place. Not in plastic bags but in a clothes bag in a closet.
Offer fresh foods such as eggplant, green peas, cucumber, young dandelion
greens, sweet corn, beet greens, carrots, unsprayed lettuce, green peppers,
sorrel, spinach leaves, tomatoes and zucchini. Fruits that are suitable
are: Pineapples, apples, apricots, bananas, most other fruits.
Availability: Meyer's parrots are readily available and moderately expensive.
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| Latest Comments |
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| It all started when I bought a bronze-winged Pionus parrot from a breeder; a little rambunctious parrot who got more unruly as time went on; I tried everything, but the bird just drove me crazy. I tried to sell him; no takers, but a guy who rescues parrots contacted me and said he had a little Meyers Parrot that he'd trade me. Don't get me wrong; I loved the little Pi, but after a while, I couldn't stand to be in the same room with him. A true 'type-A personality' Pionus.
The little female Meyers I got, 'Jill', is 5 years old. She doesn't really like to be head-scratched a lot (which is just as well; big ol' me is afraid of accidentally hurting her)...she can ride on my shoulder all day; she likes to preen my lower lip when she's on my shoulder, she loves mixed veggies, especially carrots, and I now have full bird-food dishes in 3 different locations here in my small house. Jill sat on my shoulder almost the entire way during the 100-miles of highway I drove to get her home.
Before I got her, Jill was paired with another Meyers named 'Jack'...Jill made herself available to him, but Jack didn't have a clue; later on, the pet-rescue guy adopted Jack out, leaving Jill alone in a big room full of birds. I think that Jill almost sees me as her mate...she'll look at me, bow down, and extend her wings, driven by the forces of nature, and I feel sad for her...so then I'll put her on my shoulder and stroke her back gently, try to make her feel loved...and she'll emit little chirps when I do that.
Compared to the Pionus I had, Little Jill is fastidious, almost dainty. The Pi could screech loudly, but all Jill does is emit little chirps and the occasional high-pitched whistle if she's wondering where I'm at. And even her whistle is delicate and sweet. Jill doesn't throw seeds and other food around with reckless abandon; she's very demure, ladylike, and really is just a sweetheart. She doesn't talk; I don't care about that...I just want her to be happy.
I bought the Pionus because I'd heard Pi's were mellow. But Jill is everything I thot the Pionus would be. If you've ever seen a picture of a Pionus, you'll marvel at their large eyes...I fell hard for those Pi-eyes. In contrast, there's nothing flashy about Little Jill...dark-grayish in the front, little yellow spots on her head and wing-shoulders. But, she's stealing my heart. She's really a dear. We're getting to know each other, and she's a very enjoyable little creature.
I can take her for walks around the neighborhood...I took her inside a little grocery store and she calmly sat on my shoulder as I made the rounds; the clerks and other customers didn't startle her at all. I find it amazing that little creatures such as this tiny bird can trust us big, huge humans. That's pretty amazing.
2008-08-09 |
| I have a Meyers and for the last year she has been very loving to me, she didn't realy like anyone else though. About 3 weeks ago she started acting very aggresive. Now I can't even put my hand in the cage, she goes crazy and if my hand is close I get bit. The only time she will come to the edge of the cage is if I have food for her. I wonder if anyone has any idea what whould cause her to go crazy. No one in the house was mean to her, she just lost her mind. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Thanks
2008-07-21 |
| Your website is great. My 15 year old Meyers Parrot Ziggy, is cuddly, loveable and talks a little bit. The bird was very thin when I took it home. The vet said to keep Ziggy on species specific (African) Pretty Bird pellets and minimal amounts of vegetables and fruits and add Prime vitamins and calciquid liquid to the drinking water, and now Ziggy is thriving. Ziggy is a bit of a feather plucker when the seasons change. I take Ziggy out of the cage almost every day and sit and talk and listen to music for about 20-30 minutes. I enjoy Ziggy's company. The only thing that puzzles me is that I don't know if Ziggy is a female or male, I wonder if there is any way of telling. I also thought that sexually dimorphic meant that both males and females of the species are very similar, and had to be sexed by blood testing, and wonder if that is that correct. If anyone knows about these two things I would appreciate it. thanks, Bob
2008-07-20 |
| I have a beautiful Myers Parrot named Joshua. He loves me immensely. If he climbs out of his cage after I've left the door open, he will waddle all around until he finds me, climb onto my foot and up my pant leg, up my shirt and onto my shoulder! He does however hate my husband and will actually chase him away from me! I don't know if anyone else has a Myers Parrot that has turned completely yellow over his head and down to his back but it seems as though my bird is becoming more yellow all the time. His chest is the seafoam color and his tail under his wings is turquoise. He is about 6 years old now and has never spoken one word. I'm not sure why, but apparently he is very content not to. I didn't want a noisy bird but I was hoping he would speak alittle. I enjoy his temperment and the way he is so mischevious! He loves to go out and has traveled to so many places with me! He's a great bird!
2008-07-19 |
| My female Meyers parrot practically lives on me when I'm home. She is 6 years old, and if she could kiss at least 23 hours of the day she would. She makes very loud human kiss sounds, laughs, and a few robotic sounds. She only says one word "jerry" because I left the TV on and she heard the audience say his name. She waves, dances and just loves loving and to be loved. I can't wait to see her at the end of each day. She's my baby.
2008-04-03 |
| Some of the coolest comments: |
| Almost three years ago I adopted Kokiya (long story how he got such a crazy name) from a pet store that claimed he couldn't be sold. All his chest feathers were plucked and he had a rather nasty biting habit. Watch out fingers! Yet, I fell in love with him anyway. I have a soft spot for the under dog I guess. So, I brought him home and spent the first few weeks forcing love on him. He bonded with me immediately. Men however are another story. He really has to know your face or he'll nip rather hard at your hands and ears. It must be something with the deeper voice. I wonder often if he was mistreated. He's my love though. He's a frisky little bugger. Doors and almond shells are his favorite things to shred. In fact come fall, he'll sneaky steal almonds from the nut dish. I try so hard each year to keep him from eating to many. They're fatty, but this little bugger will sneaky steal them if I turn my back for an instant. His chest is fully feathered again, and his biting habit is down to a minimum. He has become a real lover. A fearless lover. He lives with 5 rescued cats, and all of them respect him like part of the pack. I guess it has something to do with him chasing them! It's so funny to watch. As far as talking, Kokiya hasn't mastered any words. I don't think he'll ever be a talker, but he has learned many whistles, and loves to mimic the train, my laugh, and any sound the TV beeps out. At night he goes, night-night, getting up to his perch and yawning with his wings. So smart! He'll greet anyone coming in the door and always beeps to say goodbye when they leave. He loves to take walks in the summer (or drives), loves his head petted, and will make it known if he feels shunned. I never thought he would grow into the lover he has, but now he demands attention, seemingly never getting enough. And holy crap, just try to shower without him! Shower time is one of his favorite daily rituals. If he hears the water turn on, he knows it's time to get clean-clean and will ring his bell or cluck/beep until I bring him into the bathroom . . . I could just go on and on. I'm so thankful I didn't turn away from his bare chest three years ago. By looking at him you could never tell at one time he was a scared, bare chested, little guy that spent his first two years living in a pet store attacking anyone that tried to bring him out of his cage. Every day it's a new adventure with him. What a great friend he's become, seriously. I highly recommend this breed to anyone that's looking for a smaller parrot to become part of their family. They make the dearest of friends, and will lighten up the gloomiest of afternoons. 2008-03-22 |
| My husband and I adopted a Mayers parrot 2 years ago when she was 6 months old. We named her Lolita, she is the Queen of the house. I will say she is my princess and a Miracle bird. This bird survived twice from a Hawk.
Well, one day at the beginning of spring my husband put Lolita outside in her favorite tree just to hang up while he was going to his shed to look for some utensils. He heard Lolita making noises and screaming, so he came out and saw a huge hawk trying to get her. Lolita, at that time, had her wings a little longer than usual so she tried to fly inside the house. But our sliding glass door to the kitchen was closed, so she crashed into it. Then my husband scared the Hawk and saved her. She was very scared that day, probably after 5 hours she came herself. Another time we decide it not to clip her wings for one year, that way she can fly inside the house. Bad idea. It was winter this time, but this day it wasn’t too cold outside, so my husband put Lolita in his shoulder trying to go to the shed with her. Suddenly Lolita recognize the Hawk from the distance in the sky so she freak out and flew to the tallest tree in our yard. We were calling her to come down but she was so scared she didn’t know what to do. She was still in the tree and at the same time my husband and I were trying to get her attention with food that she likes, so that way she will come down, but didn’t work. At this moment we had not only one hawk, but at least 3 hawks flying around the neighborhood. They saw Lolita in the tree, but my husband and I were trying to scared them with stones and noises. Lolita got scared of the noises and the stones so she flew to another tree. In that moment a hawk was flying low and fast behind Lolita with myself behind making noises trying to scare the hawk. Making it short, we found Lolita after almost 4 hours later on the neighbors porch waiting for us. Sometimes I think we should change her name to LUCKY instead of LOLITA.
At this time, Lolita (Lucky) remains with her wings clipped and having a good time with us. She is the perfect bird for us.
2008-02-27 |
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