Meyer's parrot is a small, calm, and quiet African parrot prized as an apartment-friendly companion. Its even temperament and modest noise level make it a good intermediate-level pet.
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Small parrot, about 21-24 cm (8-9.5 in) long, weighing 100-135 g.
Lifespan
20–35 years
Social needs
pair
Native region
Central, eastern, and southern Africa (savanna woodland)
Origin
Old World
Climate
⛅ Subtropical
Family
Psittacidae
Genus
Poicephalus
Part of the Small & Medium Parrots
Compact New World and African parrots prized as companion birds for their manageable size, character, and (often) quieter temperaments compared with macaws and large amazons. They still require daily interaction, enrichment, and species-appropriate diets.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Cage + daily out-of-cage time
≈ 30 × 20 × 36 in, ⅝ in bar spacing
Meyer's Parrots are small African Poicephalus parrots, quieter than New World parrots but still highly social. A welfare minimum is a 30 × 20 × 36 in cage with ⅝ in bar spacing, varied natural perches, foraging toys, a bath dish, and several hours of supervised out-of-cage time daily.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Flight cage + play area
36 × 24 × 36 in flight cage
A 36 × 24 × 36 in flight cage with rotating foraging puzzles, destructible toys, a bath, and daily supervised out-of-cage time keeps Meyer's content. They are gentle, quieter than amazons or conures, but still need rich enrichment and either pair-housing or strong human bonding.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Walk-in aviary / bird room
Walk-in aviary or dedicated bird room
A walk-in aviary or bird-safe room with branches, foraging substrate, and bathing is the welfare ideal. A bonded pair with rich enrichment delivers best welfare for this clever African species — long-lived (35+ yr) and emotionally consistent if well-housed.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Birds develop inside a hard-shelled egg incubated by the parent(s). Egg size, shell color, and clutch size vary by species; the embryo develops over days to weeks before hatching.
Photo coming soon
Hatchling / Chick
Hatchlings are either altricial — naked, blind, and dependent on parents (typical of parrots and songbirds) — or precocial — downy, mobile, and self-feeding soon after hatching (typical of poultry and waterfowl). Down gives way to the first feathers.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile / Fledgling
Fledglings grow in their juvenile plumage and begin to fly and feed themselves, though they may still beg from parents at first. Juvenile feathering is often duller than the adult and is replaced as the bird matures.
Adult
Adults attain full body size and mature plumage, and are capable of breeding. Many species show distinct adult coloration, and in sexually dimorphic birds males and females differ in plumage, size, or markings.
Habitat & enclosure
House in a cage at least 24 x 24 x 36 in (60 x 60 x 90 cm) with horizontal bars for climbing; bigger is always better for an active small parrot. Provide daily out-of-cage time on a stand or play gym. Comfortable at normal room temperatures of 18-29 C (65-85 F); avoid drafts, sudden chills, and exposure to kitchen fumes (PTFE/Teflon is lethal). A varied perch set of natural-wood branches of differing diameters supports foot health.
Substrate
Use a removable cage tray lined with plain paper, newspaper, or paper-based bedding for easy daily cleaning and droppings monitoring. Avoid loose, dusty, or scented litters and walnut-shell substrate, which can hide soiling and harbor mold.
Equipment & setup
No heat lamp or UVB is strictly required indoors, though a few hours of natural sunlight or a low-level full-spectrum bird lamp supports vitamin D and wellbeing. Essentials include stainless-steel food and water bowls, a variety of natural perches, foraging and destructible toys rotated regularly, and a sturdy escape-proof cage with secure latches.
Diet
Feed a base of high-quality formulated pellets (roughly 60-70% of intake) supplemented with fresh vegetables, leafy greens, and limited fruit. Offer sprouted seeds and a modest seed/nut portion as enrichment and training treats. Poicephalus are prone to obesity and fatty liver disease, so limit high-fat sunflower seeds and nuts. Avoid avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and salty foods, all of which are toxic.
Behavior & temperament
Meyer's parrots are typically gentle, playful, and notably quiet for a parrot, making them suited to flats and shared housing. They bond strongly, can become one-person birds if under-socialized, and may go through nippy phases. They are intelligent and enjoy foraging toys and gentle handling but are not big talkers, learning only a few words. Independent play is a strength; they tolerate being left alone better than many larger parrots.
Health
Generally hardy. Watch for obesity and fatty liver disease from seed-heavy diets, aspergillosis (a fungal respiratory infection), feather-destructive behavior from boredom or stress, and psittacosis (chlamydiosis), which is zoonotic. Annual checkups with an avian vet, a balanced diet, and ample enrichment are the best preventives.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Train with positive reinforcement and short daily sessions to keep a Meyer's confident and well-socialized. Provide plenty of shreddable foraging toys to channel its busy beak. Rotate toys weekly to prevent boredom, and weigh your bird periodically with a gram scale to catch weight gain or loss early.
