Hello ParrotForum,
I have been absorbing your forum and many other parrot related books and websites for ~9 months now, and have recently procured a beautiful 10-week old male Red-Bellied Parrot (Ralph!) from a breeder in a nearby city, and would like to know if I'm doing a passable job keeping it.
Disclaimer: I have kept birds in the past (my parents owned an Alexandrine and 2 cockatiels).
I have no pictures available currently, but I swear I will post some soon. My setup is as follows:
An 18"x24"x33" 5/8" spacing powdered cage purchased used, pressure washed, bleached (1:10), went over with a toothbrush, and pressure washed again. This cage is kept in a 15x15 room (1 of 2 guest rooms) that is very warm throughout the day, has a large south facing window (the cage is ~5 feet from the window, not in the direct light). Ralph spends the hours of 12 AM to 5 PM M-F and 12 AM to 7 AM Sat-Sun in this cage. I am planning on getting a larger cage for the daytime as he grows. It has a door to keep out our two cats.
A 24"x"24"x39" 3/4" spacing powdered cage with playtop purchased used, pressure washed, bleached (1:10), went over with a toothbrush, and pressure washed again. This cage is kept in the rec/nerdspace I custom built (draft sealed, 2 small windows) in my basement earlier this year. It is where me and my wife spend 90% of our time not sleeping at home. Ralph spends 5 PM to 12 AM in this cage M-F and 7 AM - 12 PM (unless we leave the house) Sat-Sun.
We have 2 perches along with the playstand for out of cage play in the basement.
Is there anything I should be doing different/purchasing?