How To: Care For a hookbill bird

Hook-billed birds are the ones in the parrot family—from petite parakeets to massive macaws. Here's some stuff you should know if there's going to be a hookbill in the house.

You Will Need
* A hook-billed bird
* A birdcage
* Bowls or dishes
* Toys
* Perches
* At least one bird swing
* A spray bottle for water
* A "play gym"(optional)

Step 1
Before bringing your bird home, do your hookbill homework! What are you looking for in a bird? Consult bird books and magazines. Look online for hookbill websites, too.

Step 2
Different breeds have different needs. Research them carefully—you may be in for more than you expected!

Step 3
Make sure your hookbill's cage is the biggest you can afford.

Step 4
Different hookbills need different cage accessories. A swing will be fun for a parakeet; a rope perch will make a nice change for a parrot.

Step 5
Feed your bird the correct diet—again, after doing your homework. Some hookbills, like lories, need fruit. Cockatiels eat a lot of seeds but also need fresh veggies. And many parrots can be offered small amounts of almost any healthy "people foods."

Step 6
Your feathered friend will need fresh water daily—both for drinking and bathing. Rinse and refill food and water bowls every day, and mist her with lukewarm water from a plant mister.

Step 7
Give your hookbill the vitamin-mineral supplement that's best for her. Most hookbills prefer having supplements added to their food, not their water.

Step 8
Change the lining of your hookbill's cage every day if possible, and give the whole cage a thorough cleaning once a week. Better cage hygiene equals better health for your bird.

Step 9
Hookbills thrive on company! Spend as much time with your bird as you can. Take her out of the cage and handle her as much as possible—but at least once a day. Talk to her a lot, even if she says nothing back.

Step 10
With these basics under your belt, your home will be a hookbill haven. Your bird will be lucky