Monthly Archive for June, 2011

Common or Wild: What Bird Suits You

Published on June 27, 2011 in Birds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

A number of people find birds really relaxing and they enjoy looking at their colorful plumage.  Some take up the ability of several birds to adapt to human language.  That is why people take on board feathered friends for the mentioned reasons and more.

Birds have been widely accepted pets some four centuries ago.  Birds have been part of the courts and palaces of long ago before they became part of our household.

If you are considering on getting a pet bird, there are a few things that you need to take into account.  Among these are your ability to carry out added financial responsibilities and the task of taking care of a pet.  Birds are social creatures and cannot be deemed as a low maintenance pet like most people think.  They need interaction from their owners.  You will be surprised how long birds can live with proper care.

And if you have reached a decision of taking care of a bird or two, here are some of the most popular birds to take on as pets:

African Greys – said to be the cleverest among the birds.  With training, they can have a vast vocabulary.  And because of this cleverness it is essential to give them stimulating toys in their aviaries.  Their longevity can reach up to 50 to 70 years.

Canaries – require minimal attention from their owners.  They prefer living in small flocks.  Life span of canaries is about a decade.  What endears people to these birds is their beautiful singing voice.  The voices of male canaries are richer compared to the females.

Cockatiels – belongs to the parrot family thus they have the ability to learn human words.  Their singing and whistling capacities are pretty much complex.  They can mimic car other bird calls, ringing phone and car alarm.  They can live up to 15 to 20 years.

Lovebirds – are typically quiet birds.  So if you have neighbors close by who can easily get distracted by too much bird noise, these are ideal pet birds.  They are also part of the parrot family.  Although tagged as lovebird, some owners opt to have a single bird as opposed to usual pair so that there is a good bonding of human-bird tandem.

Parakeets – are also known as budgies or budgerigar.  Ideal for newbies in taking care of birds, these birds come small to medium and easier to care for.  These species are highly sociable and has the tendency to be boisterous and destructive.  They can live up from 12 to 14 years.

Friendly as these birds may be, some pet owners prefer exotic birds that usually originated from countries in Africa, Asia or Australia.  They would choose species from the parrot family because of their enchanting colors and the intelligence these birds exhibit.
Bear in mind that when brining in birds from other countries, one should follow the stipulations of the law for such procedures.  Illegal transfer of birds may upset the number of birds in their usual settings.  It could lead to endangerment or even affect health of humans and birds.

Grave illnesses can be brought in a country for failure to comply with the proper procedures for importing wild and exotic pets and the United States has been among the affected.  The exotic Newcastle Disease and avian flu could be among these diseases that can be passed on.

Ensure that the birds you import from other countries have been checked by vets and avian experts for diseases.  Appropriate government permits and health certificate from a veterinarian is required to ensure legality of taking in the bird.  Birds entering illegally are usually the carriers of most aviary diseases and outbreak.

There are a lot of alternatives for selecting the perfect bird for you.  The birds will be around for a while when you decide to take them in, regardless of its breed, appearance and size.  Select the bird that you can enjoy as they are not commodities you can easily discard when you no longer want them.

 

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Make Your Pet Birds Contented

Published on June 21, 2011 in Aviaries, Birds and Birds Aviaries. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

A number of people acquire bird as their pet because they think that birds are ‘low maintenance’ pets.  They thought wrong as birds are social creatures that need social and physical attention just like any other pets.  Studies show that neglected birds can develop behavioral problems.

So how do you make your bird in high spirits?

A healthy bird is a happy bird.  Caring for our birds needs attention to their diet, housing and social requirements.  Taking in a pet is a big responsibility so manage it well lest you give up and leave your bird unattended or they escape from us.

Below are few tips to make our feathered companions delighted.

Cage and Shelter

Consider that birds need ample room to move when you select their aviary.  Small birds ought to have perches where they can move about while larger birds have room to spread their winds without contact to the sides of the cage.  Perches provide mobility to the bird to prevent them injuring their feet for hanging about in a single stance.  This should also lead access to water and food.

Offer them toys suited for them.  Some bird toys are affordable and sometimes they are for free, just know where to look.  Also, try placing safe and edible plants and/or non-toxic wood inside the cage for a more ‘natural’ comfort for your pet.

When selecting for the appropriate place where you can put your bird’s cage, find one where your bird can be safe and has a quiet environment.  Never situate them in the kitchen as the cleaning and cooking smell could be hazardous to them.  Bear in mind that like humans, birds also need vitamin D from direct sunlight.

Daily cleaning of cages should be done to rid it of bacteria.  You may use water and a mild disinfectant.  As fumes can be harmful to your pet bird, move them to a safe place.

Grooming and Nutrition

Seeds are not the only food birds consume.  A bird purely feeding on seeds could die early.  Their diet should include dairy foods, fruits, grains and vegetables.  Do not give them processed food, especially those loaded with sugar.  Avocadoes and chocolates are high in sugar so better not offer these to your pet.  Fresh water should always be available for your bird.

Baths should be regularly done for your pet bird.  You can place a dish with an inch or two of water for smaller birds.  Or you may also shower spray them with water, especially for larger birds.  When your bird suffers molting, it is necessary to give them a bath.

Like any creature, birds need sleep.  Ensure that their cage is place in a quiet and dark area for your bird to sleep.

Socialization

You need to interact with your bird as they are social creatures.  Studies shows that neglected birds develop behavioral problems like plucking their birds.  Quality time should be spent with your pet birds to make them jovial.

Placing your bird’s cage in the family room is a good idea.  The bird will be able to interact with family members.  It is also beneficial for birds to be provided free flight opportunity for them to stretch and move about.  Having the bird in the family room with the rest of the family provides wonderful socialization time.

 

 

A Dip or a Shower: Find What Your Pet Bird Like

Published on June 9, 2011 in Birds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Just like us or any other pet, our pet birds also need a bath.  Bathing keep them clean and excess oil from their feathers are removed.  Done on a regular basis, it promotes good physical condition as household heating and air conditioning generally affect them, as well.

A Dip or a Shower: Find What Your Pet Bird Like If your pet bird is small or medium-sized, you will need a heavy dish or basin filled with an inch or two or lukewarm water or one that’s at room temperature.  Cold water can freeze them and not advisable to use.  The water mimics a puddle that is used by birds in the wild when they want to bathe.  Take them in a warm room where there is not draft.  And it is better to bathe them early in the day.  This gives them ample time to dry themselves prior to bedtime.

A dish is not sufficient for larger birds.  An alternative to bathing them is taking them out from their cage, place them on a perch and lightly run water on them.  An ideal place is the bathroom or the kitchen.  With hose in hand to bathe them, never squirt water directly on their face.  Also, it is not advisable to soak our pet bird’s feathers.  This can impair their flight and lead to loss of body heat.

A Dip or a Shower: Find What Your Pet Bird LikeEither way of bathing your pet – in a bowl or on a perch, water is enough to bathe them.  Shampoos or soap would be harmful for our bird as it strips them of their natural oils.

You can dry your bird using a towel or let them dry naturally.  When using a towel make sure to pat your bird following the direction of how the feather grows.

Clean out the aviary before putting your bird back in.  The bedding gets doused with water while your pet is washing there is a tendency for bacteria to grow on the damp bedding which can cause sickness to our birds.  Also, clean the sink or the basin used for your bird’s bath with mild soap and water to keep it sanitized and you’re assured of protection for everyone in your household.

Once or twice in a week is the recommended frequency for our pet birds.  However during hot season you can give them more than a couple baths in a week to help remove prickling and irritation.  Observe your pet how often they like taking a bath as some birds are against it.  When this occurs, introduce bathing little by little for them to take pleasure in it.  Perhaps a way to entice our picky birds to bathe is get ourselves wet together with them so eventually they’d figure out that it is perfectly fine.

As like any bath, it is a revitalizing episode and one that our pet birds should have more often.

 

Keeping Your Pet Bird Full Of Life

Published on June 3, 2011 in Aviaries and Birds. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

You’ve probably spend some hundred dollars to get your pet bird. And in order to not throw good money away, you must gain knowledge in how to keep you bird buzzing.

First on the list is food and water.  You can seeds or pellets from the pet shop for your bird.  You may also jazz up their diet once in a while however do not give them chocolates, some fruits and vegetables which are verified as toxic for their health.  Hydrate your pet with lots of water so they will not perish.  Regularly check the water bottle you have in their cage and see that it’s working properly.

Grooming of your bird is also essential.  They need to have their wings clipped for graceful landing and prevent erratic flight.  And apart from clipping of wings, your pet bird also has to have a regular bath.  This can be done by having them wash in a bowl that mimics a puddle or shower them with hose.  However, do not use shampoo or soap as this strip them of their natural oil and damage their feathers.  Dry them by patting towel over or simply let them do it naturally.  Do not use hair dryer to prevent burning them.

Someone may have mentioned never to keep your bird by the window or expose them to drafts but no explanation were provided.  This prevents the bird from inhaling toxic fumes if they are placed near the kitchen.  Drafts can also lead to loss of body heat leading to sickness.

Smoking or exposing them to fumes of household cleaning agents could affect your bird’s health.  It may lead to inflammation, respiratory problems and even their death.

Your pet bird requires room to spread their wings so you will need big cage for them. Getting them an aviary also prevents them from having internal injuries if they bump their heads on the sides of their cage.

There are some bird owners who happen to have other pets in the house.  If you have multiple pets, set your eye on your bird if you take them out of their cage.  If you have different species of birds, be sure to have them caged separately as some type could not exist side-by-side.

If you bring your bird wherever you go, never leave them in the car.  They can die of heat especially in humid temperatures.

Regularly take your pet bird to the vet for checkup.  Sensing that something is amiss with your bird, bring them to the clinic immediately for closer evaluation to prevent more serious complications.

Lastly, do not forget to take your bird back into the cage during bedtime.  Instead of risking what may happen to your pet bird as you are sleeping, as well, better put them back in their cage for safety.

Even though we cannot foretell what perils can meet your bird, their longevity depends on how you take care of them.  Consult your vet is you need assistance.