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Have you ever wandered through a pet shop and wondered what it might be like to own a pet parrot? They are beautiful to be sure, and the idea of having someone to “talk” with can be really tempting. But did you know that parrots are some of the most high maintenance pets out there? Before you buy, learn more.

First of all, it should be noted that parrots are very expensive to buy, house, feed, and maintain over long periods of time. Even the little parotlet, the tiniest of all parrots will cost at least $150 to purchase. Macaws, the largest, can run up to $10,000. Most people buy something in between these two extremes, but the point is they don’t come cheap.

Parrots require specialized living habitats: even a medium sized parrot such as an Eclectus or African Grey needs a good sized cage along with play toys, climbing apparatus, and materials to chew on.

Unlike parakeets or canaries, parrots cannot live on seeds alone. In fact, a high fat diet of seeds will be greatly detrimental to a big bird’s health. They need to have a base diet of specially formulated high nutrition bird pellets (available at most pet stores) with appropriately sized nuggets for helping your particular breed of parrot to keep its beak healthy and strong.

In addition to pellets, parrots have other nutritional needs that can only be met with “real” food. Lories, for instance, require nectar to stay healthy. Eclectus parrots need to have fresh cooked legumes such as chick peas and beans as part of their diets.

All parrots have specific additional foods that will help them to have happy lives, and owners must be responsible enough to provide their pets with what they need. There are also foods that are toxic to certain breeds of parrots: responsible ownership means learning as much as possible about your bird.

Parrots are notoriously destructive: macaw owners often dedicate an entire room of a house as playpens for their pet. They will chew on wood windowsills, refrigerator cords, and just about anything else you can think of. If you want your parrot to have the run of the house, you will need to “bird proof” it and keep your bird’s wings clipped at all times. It is definitely possible to “housetrain” a parrot, but even if it only defecates in its cage, owning a bird means cleaning up messes.

If you are seriously considering making a parrot a part of your life, take the time to do plenty of research first. You’ll want to choose one that will fit your lifestyle and whose personality suits what you are looking for. Some parrots are better talkers than others, and some live so long that they have to be put in people’s wills. Are you ready for that kind of a commitment? Think it through before taking that big step!

Have you ever considered owning dairy goats for pets? These farm animals make great pets and are versatile too. Dairy goats and dairy production is one of the most historical, versatile and efficient forms of livestock production throughout the world. They are known for their milk production efficiencies. Their milk offers health benefits. Most owners of dairy goats will tell you that no animal is more cute and friendly than a dairy goat! Two types of dairy goats are the Alpine and Saanen goats. Each of these goats show distinct characteristics, differences and commonalities.

The Alpine goat originated in the Alps. The term “French Alpine” and “Alpine” are used synonymously. The female and male goats are mostly short-haired. The males, (bucks), show a long-haired beard with long hair usually along its spine too. Both sexes have a straight face with medium sized and fine textured ears. These goats are hearty, curious, friendly, and adaptable animals. They can thrive in most any climate while remaining healthy and maintaining excellent milk production. Alpines produce high volumes of milk. These goats do not have a distinct color but may range in colors from pure white to varying or combining shades of gray, brown, black, red, buff, fawn, and more.

The Saanen dairy goat originated in the Saanen Valley of Switzerland. Saanen female goats, (does), produce heavy amounts of milk. These goats are medium to large in size weighing approximately 145 pounds. They have tough bones and can show pep in their personality. Their temperament is mostly calm and mild mannered. Saanen goats are, generally, easy for children to handle and are popular in showmanship classes due to their calm nature. They are white or light cream in color and have spots on their skin. Breeders are known to refer to these goats as, “living marshmallows”. Their hair is generally short, with some having just a fringe of hair over their spine or thighs. They have a straight face with ears standing erect and pointing forward. The Saanen breed is sensitive to excessive sunlight. These goats perform much better in shady or cooler conditions.

What do the Alpine and Saanen goats have in common? Both of these goats can provide the milk used in various handmade goat milk bath and body products such as: goat milk soap, goat milk lotions, and much, much more! These natural bath and body products are healthful and nourishing for skin. Dairy goats are wonderful animals. Not only are they cute and friendly, they help to provide a multitude of beneficial bath and body products!

Find Alpine and Saanen dairy goats at: http://www.natural-goat-milk-soap.com/dairy-goats.html