Grooming

In the wild, a parrot's beak and nails are maintained naturally in the course of chewing, nut cracking, nest building, climbing, tearing apart fruits and vegetables, landing and walking on rough branches, and swiping beaks frequently on hard, rough surfaces. All this “parrot work” assists in manicuring their beaks and nails. Domestic parrots don't have as varied an environment or activity level. Therefore, some level of human intervention is required to achieve what is accomplished naturally by their wild counterparts. Overgrown nails can prevent proper toe alignment and, in turn, make it difficult to grip food and perches properly. In extreme cases, seriously overgrown nails can cause lameness.

Feathers are a key indicator of a bird's health status. Poor feather condition, in many cases, is simply the result of poor hygiene and the lack of bathing opportunities. In the wild, all birds bathe regularly to ensure their feathers are maintained in tip-top flight condition. Bathing stimulates preening which removes dirt, dander and unwanted visitors from feathers. Providing your bird with daily bathing opportunities is another essential ingredient in keeping your bird healthy and beautiful.