Use this parrot cage and pet food checklist to prepare a home and keep everyday care organized. Print the page using your browser’s Print command, then tick completed items by hand. Review it for your individual bird: Amazon parrots, African greys and large macaws can have different housing and dietary needs.

Bird’s name: ____________________   Date: ____________________
Species: ____________________   Caregiver: ____________________

Before your parrot arrives

  • ☐ Confirm the exact species and ask an avian veterinarian about suitable enclosure dimensions and bar spacing.
  • ☐ Choose secure housing with room for normal movement and wing extension without striking furnishings; allow clearance for the tail.
  • ☐ Check that bars, doors, locks and bowl fittings are secure and suitable for the bird’s beak strength.
  • ☐ Provide stable, bird-safe perches of appropriate sizes and textures; leave clear movement routes.
  • ☐ Place food and water within easy reach and away from droppings falling from perches.
  • ☐ Choose a location away from cooking fumes, smoke, aerosols and direct heat, with a quiet resting area.
  • ☐ Prepare a secure travel carrier and record your avian veterinarian’s contact details.
  • ☐ Obtain familiar food and feeding instructions from the previous keeper before making changes.

Every day

  • ☐ Provide fresh, clean drinking water; wash bowls rather than simply topping them up.
  • ☐ Observe what the bird actually eats and note unexpected changes in appetite or droppings.
  • ☐ Offer the agreed species-appropriate diet and account for treats within the feeding plan.
  • ☐ Wash fresh produce and remove uneaten perishable food promptly; remove cooked food within one hour, sooner in warm conditions.
  • ☐ Keep avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and heavily salted foods out of reach.
  • ☐ Replace soiled cage liners and clean obvious food debris.
  • ☐ Check doors and latches, and inspect toys for damage, loose parts or entanglement hazards.
  • ☐ Provide supervised movement and suitable enrichment in a secured space.

Every week

  • ☐ Clean the cage, perches and accessories using appropriate products according to their instructions; rinse and dry before returning the bird.
  • ☐ Keep the bird away from cleaning fumes and never mix cleaning chemicals.
  • ☐ Examine bars, finishes, welds and fasteners for corrosion, peeling or damage.
  • ☐ Review whether toys crowd the enclosure or block access to bowls and resting perches.
  • ☐ Inspect food supplies for pests, moisture, mold or contamination and discard questionable food.
  • ☐ Check packaging dates and storage instructions, and use older suitable stock first.

Every month and whenever needs change

  • ☐ Reassess cage layout if the bird’s mobility, size or confidence has changed.
  • ☐ Review food labels, quantities and actual intake with your avian veterinarian as needed.
  • ☐ Check your replacement list for worn toys, perches, bowls and cage parts.
  • ☐ Keep veterinary records, identification information and emergency contacts together.
  • ☐ Review the care plan with anyone who looks after your parrot.

Food changes: a careful transition

Do not abruptly remove a familiar diet to force acceptance of new food. Work with an avian veterinarian on an appropriate transition and monitor intake. Seed mixes alone are generally unsuitable as a complete diet for many companion parrots, but requirements vary by species. Hyacinth macaws and other birds with specialized needs require individual feeding advice.

When the checklist is not enough

Seek prompt avian veterinary advice for sudden appetite changes, unusual droppings or marked behavioral changes. Breathing difficulty, collapse or significant bleeding needs urgent veterinary attention. This checklist supports routine care and does not replace examination or a species-specific care plan.

Actions to follow up

Repair or replace: ____________________________________________________

Food or storage change: ______________________________________________

Question for the veterinarian: ________________________________________

Next review date: ____________________________________________________

Related guides and independent resources

Share this resource: Bird clubs, educators and parrot lovers are welcome to link to this checklist at https://higginsgreyparrots.com/parrot-cage-pet-food-checklist/.