Choosing The Right Toys To Keep Your Pet Bird Happy And Healthy

Many birds become very unhappy rather quickly due to the boredom of sitting in an empty cage. Birds have very active minds and strong beaks they need to work out in order to help keep them occupied and happy. Boredom is one of the reasons why many birds become pluckers and pull out their own feathers. This is why it is important to choose the right toys for your new pet bird.

When choosing a toy for your pet bird it is important to make sure that you choose a toy that is the right size. Some toys are specifically designed for smaller birds and are not always safe if you have a large pet bird. Larger birds have much stronger beaks and can easily break apart toys that were designed for smaller birds. This can be a potential choking hazard.

An extremely popular toy for many smaller birds are swing sets and Olympic rings. Many birds get so much enjoyment out of these two types of toys that they will in fact try to swing on both of them at the same time. Some larger birds also enjoy playing on swing sets, but the majority of bigger birds are not as fond of them as their smaller brethren. Toy ladders are a favorite of birds of all sizes but you have to make sure that you have adequate room in your pet bird’s cage.

If you have a bird that has tendencies to pluck a lot, it would be in you and your birds best interest to buy toys which can be preened. Keeping your little buddy busy preening their toys means they are much less likely to spend time pulling out their own feathers. If you purchase a toy that has been made with cotton preening strips you need to pay close attention for any threads that begin to fray. A loose thread could easily tangle around your bird’s neck or foot. Preening toys composed of feathers are significantly safer since you do not have the dangers of any loose threads.

Toy play gyms for pet birds are a lot like the gyms in which children play, and many birds get almost the same amount of enjoyment from their play gyms as children do theres. Most bird play gyms include climbing ropes, perches, ladders, seesaws as well as swings and a small bowl for treats.

There are certain toys you should think twice about giving your pet bird. Any toy that has a mirror or highly reflective surface may cause your bird to become bonded with its own reflection. Also toys with flimsy parts with tiny attachments that are not securely fastened such a small bells can also be a bad idea. If your bird manages to pull off any tiny part from one of its toys it may end up swallowing it, and the results could be fatal.

Lastly worth pointing out is the fact that many birds, just like children are quite happy playing with simple objects rather than expensive toys. For example, a paper towel tube or something like a wooden tongue depressor can be quite a joy for many birds. As always be sure to supervise and watch your pet bird closely to make sure they do not injure themselves with whatever it is that they are playing with.


- Stacy Richford

Parrots Of The World

Many parrots of the world have become popular as house pets. To some new owners, their particular parrot is the most beautiful. To other new owners, all the parrots of the world are gorgeous, with flashing colors of red, blue, green, and yellow.

Most of the parrots of the world come from warm climates such as West Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Australasia, South and Central America.

Parrot Families

All parrots of the world belong to the order Psittaciformes. In that order there are two different families: Cacatuidas and Psittacidae. Cockatoos belong in the first family, while the second includes all the true parrots of the world.

Each family of parrots has subfamilies within it, and subspecies within that. Macaws, for example, belong to the Psittacidae family. Macaws are a subfamily group. Among macaws, there are at least 17 members:

* Hyacinth

* Glaucous Macaw

* Lear’s Macaw

* Spix’s Macaw

* Blue and Yellow Macaw, or Blue and Gold Macaw

* Caninde Macaw

* Military Macaw

* Buffon’s Macaw

* Scarlet Macaw

* Green-winged Macaw

* Red-fronted Macaw

* Yellow-collared Macaw

* Chestnut-fronted Macaw, or Severe Macaw

* Red-bellied Macaw

* Illiger’s Macaw

* Blue-headed Macaw

* Red-shouldered Macaw

Most Popular

People differ in their opinions of which parrots are more well-liked. Some look at the trendy parrots. Others consider the most prevalent in the pet stores. Some speak of which is more popular in this country or that, but of all the parrots of the world, the 5 most often dubbed popular are these.

1. Parakeets: The common Parakeet, Budgerigar to be more precise, is from Australia, and is often chosen as a pet for children or those who are beginners at bird care, partly due to its low price. Colorful little “Budgies” are hardy, require little space, and are much lower maintenance than larger birds. They are very intelligent, and although content to whistle or sing quietly, some do learn a few words. The name “Budgerigar” comes from the Australian Aboriginal name for the parrot. It means “good eating” but most “Budgie” owners would be horrified to hear you say so. Among the many parrots of the world, this is probably the least expensive in both initial and upkeep costs.

2. Cockatiels: Another Australian species, these medium sized parrots are known for sophisticated whistling and singing. While they can be taught to speak, many people find that the birds would rather whistle, and mimic random sounds, such as a ringing cell phone. A disadvantage to the cockatiel is that it uses a powdery substance to keep its wings water-proof, so owners often find their fingers dusty after handling the bird.

3. Sun Conures: Among the parrots of the world, Sun Conures are one of the brightest. Their plumage is red, orange, yellow, blue, and green. Sun Conures have been known to talk well, but beware! These parrots often screech and scream rather than talk. Their 12 inch length means they will require a smaller cage than larger parrots, but you and your family may require earplugs. If you train your Sunnie to lower its voice, you will enjoy its antics, as these parrots tend to be playful.

4. Parrotlets: Parrotlets, especially Pacific Parrotlets, are one of the smallest known parrots of the world - about 4 inches in length! They are also one of the most pernicious and spunky of all the parrots of the world. These tiny parrots learn to talk in a voice that sounds like that of a robot. This tiny voice, their size, and the fact that they do not scream, make them ideal for those who need a quiet companion.

5. African Greys: African Grey Parrots are probably the most intelligent of the parrots of the world, and indeed, of all birds. These parrots are not as colorful as some. They are mainly grey, as the name implies. They do have a bright red or maroon tail, though, depending on the subspecies. African Greys excel at mimicry, sometimes learning as many as 1-2000 words. They learn other sounds, too, and may quickly learn to imitate a jet engine if you walk through an airport with them. Among the many parrots of the world, these may be the most demanding. Just like your toddler, these birds get bored and want their owners to provide entertainment. If you are looking for an intellectual, loyal, and affectionate parrot, the African Grey is probably a good choice.

How Many Different Parrots Are There?

All told, parrots of the world number more than 350 different species and subspecies! Due to loss of habitat, climate changes, hunting, and the trade in live birds as pets, some parrots have become extinct. Others are listed as threatened, or are on the “endangered species” list.

Life Expectancy

People who purchase a parrot, purchase a commitment that is likely to continue throughout their lives and beyond. Most parrot owners are already 20 years old or more, and parrots themselves often have a life expectancy of more than 50 years. Some live to be nearly 100 years old. Added to that long life expectancy, many parrots of the world tend to bond with a single person. If that person breaks the bond in some way, the parrot may die.

Before you ask a parrot to be your companion, think it through carefully. The bird may outlive you.


- Anna Hart

Teaching Birds to Talk

With some time and perseverance, it is not such a difficult job to teach a bird to talk.

Whichever species of bird is selected for training, it is preferable to buy young and if possible, hand-raised birds, between 2 and 6 months old. A bird’s learning ability is not as rapid, the older it becomes. It is much more difficult to teach a wild or untrained adult bird, as its own calls or whistles will have been firmly implanted in its memory.

However, a grown bird still can learn, but the owner will have to use more patience in teaching words to it.

There is much variation in their ability to imitate the human voice, whether hand-raised or wild, young or adult. This faculty depends on the species selected, the owner’s teaching technique and patience, and most important, tameness of the bird itself. Half the success is assured with a bird which is calm and gives you a bold look when you approach it.

The different species of Amazon Parrots from the American Tropics are good talkers, some better than others. Cockatoos can also be taught to talk. Ravens, which are really big black Crows, will talk. Young ones are sold very reasonably. Less proficient talkers are: Macaws, Cockatiels, Conures, Magpies, the Lesser or Malabar Hill Mynah, Grass Parakeet, English Starlings, Love Birds and the larger species of Parakeets.

To teach a bird to talk, constant repetition of a word or short phrase is necessary. This can be done at different times, such as before removing the cover from the cage in the morning. In the dark with no distractions, a bird will concentrate on listening and answering back. Repeating words at feeding time, or when giving it a preferred tidbit helps also.

At times, when you may be out of sight, you may hear your bird trying to enunciate some word or phrase. This is a good opportunity to repeat what you want it to learn, or if the bird seems to be attempting a different expression from what you are teaching it, fit in words or a short phrase to go with the bird’s vocal efforts and make them clear. Meanwhile keep out of sight and don’t approach the cage.

Still another excellent method of teaching your bird to talk, whistle or sing a tune, is by having a phonograph record made with a few words or short phrase on it. If your own voice isn’t clear and distinct, some friend of yours could oblige by repeating in the recording machine for you. The clearest voice is that of a child, next a woman’s and lastly a man’s.

When the record is made it should be played at different times during the day, and it will surely drill the lesson into your bird. Let’s hope that you can stand hearing the sound of your own voice frequently. It is important when making a record, to limit it to a few words or a phrase only. If you change over to different words or sentences, your time and money are wasted. Birds have a small brain capacity and cannot assimilate too much at one time.

If you wish to teach it more make another record. The second record can have the previous lesson partly incorporated into it; however, emphasis should be placed on the new vocabulary. A criticism of some records sold ready-made is that they contain far too many words or sayings, which makes them worthless for teaching purposes.

Therefore, to build up a good vocabulary in a bird through the use of records, have a new one made for each lesson. The previous sayings may be repeated in parts of each successive record, till the last one contains everything the bird has been taught to say or whistle.

Using the above method, it will be no time at all before the bird you are training is able to talk.


- Jimmy Cox

How To Choose The Right Bird Toys To Keep Your Pet Bird From Getting Bored

Birds are intelligent creatures with active minds and they can soon become bored if they had not kept entertained. Birds that are bored and start to exhibit a desirable behavior such as squawking a lot and pulling out all the feathers. One way to keep your bird amused even when you’re not around is to make sure that you provide him with a variety of bird toys.

One thing to think about when picking out toys for your bird is whether or not the toys match with your bird size. Toys designed for small bird like a parakeet might not be safe for a large parrot because the powerful beaks of the bigger birds can easily break the toys into pieces which can be dangerous for your pet.

Different sized birds do seem to enjoy different types of toys but one toy that all birds seem to like is the ladder. you want to be careful, however, that you choose the right side letter for your bird obviously smaller birds will meet once with wrongs that are closer together.

Swings and hanging ring seemed to be a bit more popular for the smaller pet birds. That’s not to say that larger birds don’t enjoy them as some do but in general the smaller birds seem to have a lot more fun. Hang a couple in your pets cage and you soon see him swinging around and hanging from them and just having a heck of a time.

The bigger birds seem to like maize toys and puzzles especially if you can put some of their favorite treats inside the toy. They also like ropes that have leather knots which they can unknot with their beaks. This gives them something to work out of their mind instead of hanging around doing nothing.

Birds have the mentality of small child and just like children birds can really get enjoyment out of a play gym. you can find these In all shapes and sizes, but typically they either sit on a table on top of the birds cage and when he is out of the cage they provide him with a variety of interesting things to play on including ladders seesaws and swings. Not only will your bird entertain himself on these though probably entertain you as well!

When you are shopping for bird toys there are some you might want to think twice about buying. Although most birds love mirrors and love to look at themselves, it does might not serve the purpose you want if they actually think it’s another bird they may bond with their own reflection and not care so much about bonding with people.

Always evaluated toy for safety purposes toys that are not well made and can come apart and harm your bird should be avoided. Also toys that have little areas that might pinch your bird’s toes or that he can get his head caught and should be avoided. Remember, your bird can get his little beak into just about anything so you want and make sure the toys are tough enough so that he can’t break anything off and swallow it which could be disastrous and possibly even fatal.

Your pet bird doesn’t necessarily need expensive toys to play with, many birds love things like paper towel tubes and tongue depressors. Just be sure that if you do you keep your bird toy like that that you make sure he doesn’t rip apart and start eating it - it might not be a bad idea to stay around and watch them whenever you give him any new toy.

Because your pet bird gets bored easily you want to rotate his toys. Put a few toys in his cage and then hide the others away where he can’t see them. After a week or two remove the toys that are in his cage and replace them with the ones you hid away. You can take this opportunity to clean the toys that he has already played with, then hide them away for a week or two. When you bring them out again he’ll think he’s got new toys to play with!


- Lee Dobbins

Choosing a Bird Cage - Size Does Matter

Having a pet bird certainly provides a great deal of enjoyment in our daily lives. Listening to them chirp and sing is a lot of fun for those who love birds. Along with having a pet bird comes the need in having a good quality bird cage.

While you will find all types of bird cages made from everything from plastic to bamboo, the most important aspect will always be having the right size of cage for your pet bird. Here are some tips to help in selecting the best bird cage.

1. Where will you keep the bird cage?

Knowing where you will be keeping the cage in your home will help in knowing how big it should be. You shouldn’t keep it in direct sunlight throughout the day or right next to an ac/heating vent.

2. What size is your bird?

Knowing where your bird cage will be in your home will let you know how big it can be. Now you can select a pet bird. Parakeets, finches and canary’s can all be housed in smaller bird cages without concern over space.

Larger birds such as parrots will require much larger cages to have the extra room they need to move around.

Why is size so important? Birds do not like to be in small, restricted spaces. They become unhappy when they can not at least be able to spread their wings out and walk around. No different than how you would feel being cooped up.

3. Buy a good quality bird cage

Instead of cheap plastic, buy a good steel or wooden bird cage. Keep in mind that steel is much easier to maintain than wood, but both can provide durability and life.

Add some toys in the cage to let your bird play and have fun. Don’t forget perches and food trays.

Keep these tips in mind when purchasing your bird cage and you both will be very happy with the results.

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- Terry Edwards

Buying A Parakeet

Parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus) are one of the most common birds purchased as a pet bird. These delightful pets are usually friendly and relativly easy to handle. Although they can sometimes be difficult to understand, with a little hard work they have been known to mimic our sounds.

Parakeet Facts:

Life span: 10-15 years (up to 20).Origin: Australia. Colors: the normal wild coloration is green with black bars on the wings, back and head.

Determing Sex: The area around the nostirls is called the cere. You can use this as a way to distinguish between males and females. Mature females will have a beige colored cere. Males will have a blue tint to their cere.

Temperment: Known for being a very doscile and friendly bird, they are easily tamed if you aquire them while young. I’ve found that having more than one parakeet resulted in the parakeets being hard to handle and less vocal. When I have just one parakeet, the bird looked to me for interaction and was much easier to handle and actually could say a few words. I placed a parakeet mirror in the bird cage and was amazed at how much my parakeet played with his own image in the mirror.

Choosing a Parakeet

I highly recommend you choose a young bird that has been handled regularly and has been hand fed. The extra costs you experience buying a hand raised bird will be worth it in the long run. While their is nothing wrong with a store bought parakeet, my experiences have taught me that they are slower to adjust to being handled.

Use the same techniques you would use when buying a pet dog or pet cat. Look for a parakeet that is active and has shining and smooth feathers. A bird that is inactive and its feathers are puffed up may be a sign it is sick. Take note of the birds feet. Make sure the scales are smooth and the nails are in good shape. Don’t forget to inspect the birds beak for any problems.

Parakeets are playful and active and do well in large cages. We always kept our parakeets on top of our refrigerator. We bought a cage that would fill the entire top of the frig. Add a couple of rod perches and maybe a bird swing along with your water and feed bowls. Even with a large cage, parakeets need a little time outside of the cage as well. Letting them out once in a while to stretch their wings is a good idea. The exercise is very benefical for your pet bird.


- Bart LeToad

Tips for Your Pet Birds First Month Home

For any new pet moving to a new home can be a very traumatic experience and in some cases even more so for a pet bird. Many times if bird was hand fed as a baby it may have stronger attachments then other birds. However if you take the time setting up your birds new environment properly with some extra care, it will a bit easier for your pet bird to make the adjustment to it’s new home.

One of the most important things you should first do when you bring your new bird home is to place its cage in an area that does not have an over abundance of activity or confusion. Even though we are trying to make sure our new friend doesn’t feel like he is caught up in the middle of all the household action. We also want to make sure that he does not feel all alone by putting him in some unused room by him self. Ideally you want to find a spot in your home where he can still interact with you, but there won’t be constant loud noises or lots of sudden movements that can continually startle him.

In situations where you already have another bird in your home, it would be best to segregate your new arrival for about thirty days. The reason you want to do this is to help ensure that if your new bird has an infectious disease, you won’t infect your original bird. When creating a quarantine for your bird, it would be best to keep him on floor in a completely different room of the house. Also make sure to keep their food and water dishes apart and do not interchange them even after washing. If your home has a central air conditioning system, you may have difficulty being able to ensure a true quarantine. Since these kinds of air conditioning system employ air duct systems which carry the air from one room to other rooms in the house. Regardless it is still a good idea to quarantine the new bird than immediately putting exposing him to your original pet even if you have air ducts.

You should also make sure that any new bird you bring home is in good health. So be sure to take him to your local avian veterinarian for a general check up. Your veterinarian will be able to check and make sure that your new pet bird is free of any contagious diseases, worms or bacterial infections. This is even more important in cases were you have a hand fed baby bird, the reason being is that if the bird wasn’t properly hand fed it is at a higher risk for having a bacterial infection.

When ever you bring a new bird home you should closely monitor their eating habits during their initial adjustment period. If you notice that your bird doesn’t seem to be eating at all during the initial twenty four hours, you should try and offer him some spray millet. Spray millet is pretty much a dessert for birds. Another option is to offer him a whole grain cereal which may coax a frightened bird into eating. If you just brought home a newly weaned baby bird and he is not eating and is also making various squalling noises, your new bird may have regressed some and will need to be hand fed slightly longer. In these situations call your breeder for assistance.

If for some reason you cannot get in contact with your breeder, odds are you can buy some hand feeding formula from your local pet shop. To use the formula simply mix up a tiny quantity of the hand feeding formula until it reaches a consistency close to that of pudding. Then offer some of the mixture to your bird by putting some of the formula on a plastic spoon. If all is well he should eat it right off the spoon.

Lastly, you should not be afraid to interact with your new pet bird, just make sure you don’t get out of hand and overdo it. At first you should only try to work with him for 10 minutes at a time and no more. If he continually flies away and you notice your self having to chase and catch him, Just put him away back in his cage for a bit until he starts to calm down. Every time you chase and catch your bird it cause him some stress, which is something we are trying to minimize for our new friend.


- Stacy Richford

How To Keep Your Pet Bird Safe In A World Of Hidden Dangers

Regardless of the fact that many birds can potentially outlive their owners, We need to remember just how fragile birds are when compared to many of the other types of pets we could own. An interesting fact that demonstrates the fragility level of birds is how miners used to actually exploit this weakness in order to insure their safety while underground. They would often bring a canary down into the mines with them since they knew that the birds were extremely sensitive to potential dangers and the canary would die if the air in the tunnel was becoming toxic.

Most pet birds also have this same sensitivity to toxic fumes. Even common every day items such as aerosol sprays, Teflon pans and even household furniture polish can be potentially lethal to most birds. It’s highly advisable that when you use anything that has a strong odor or gives off fumes that you do so in a well ventilated area that is a good distance away from where your birds are kept.

Another dangerous hazard for your new pet bird is their natural attraction to chew on objects. Many birds like to bite and chew on items that are welded which may cause them to develop lead poisoning from the soldered joints on the object they were chewing. Birds also enjoy nibbling on potted plants and flowers. Make sure that if you keep any plants close to your birds cage that they are edible or at the very least non toxic. In cases were you are not really sure, it would be best to keep them safe distance away just to be on the safe side. Despite all the stories regarding poinsettia plants being poisonous, in reality they are pretty harmless. Another good idea would be to provide an alternative that is inherently safe, such as a small pot of an herb like parsley which may help your birds avoid the temptation to nibble in the first place.

If you tend to feed your birds different kinds of fresh foods, you are doing a good service for your birds health in most cases. However, it is very important to note that there are indeed some things you should never feed your birds. For example, items like avocado, coffee and chocolate are natural toxins to many birds.

When the holiday season begins to approach, chances are you will want to bring a tree into your home. A common misconception many people have when they bring a tree home is the assumption that their birds can make good use and get enjoyment out of climbing it. In reality many types of Christmas trees are pretty toxic to birds. Many times they have been treated with some form of chemical preservative to help them last longer during the holidays. In addition, many of the ornaments and the electric lights that we traditionally hang on our trees can also pose a safety hazard.

If your bird does not have it’s wings clipped, there are additional safety concerns you should prepare for. First, you need to make sure that all of the windows in your home have shades or curtains so that if you let your bird fly around abit you can cover them while your bird is out so he wont just fly through any old opening. If your home also has glass doors, you should cover them as well. If you decide not to use any curtains or shades, in the very least you should attach some form of safety decals on the glass itself so that your bird can tell the glass is there. It is not unheard of to hear stories where a bird has flown into a glass window it could not see and broken it’s neck. Any type of mirror or other reflective surfaces pose the same type of problem.

You should also be sure you don’t have any kind of standing water that is easily accessible when your bird is out of it’s cage. It’s very easy for a bird to drown in a toilet or the kitchen sink in just a few seconds. Cooking while allowing your bird to fly around the house is also not the best idea, especially if you have any pots on your stove uncovered.

Lastly, more than one bird owner has over looked the fact that his bird was perched on their shoulder just as he rushed to answer the front door. You should never carry your bird with you to an open door, regardless wither or not their wings are clipped. Even a bird with clipped wings will still be able to glide fairly far if they happen to catch an updraft.

Some of these things may seem highly unlikely to occur but when you love your pet, any potential danger is worth being prepared for.


- Stacy Richford

How To Know What Your Pet Bird Is Saying To You Even If He Can’t Talk

One of the unique aspects of having a bird for a pet is that this is one of the few pets that may actually be trained to talk. Many people feel that they’ll be able to communicate and have conversations with their pet birds but this may not be true in all cases. Even if a bird can talk fluently you must remember that even the smartest birds only have the intelligence of a toddler and therefore may not be able to tell you how they are feeling.

Whether your bird can talk or not, understanding what your pet is feeling is important to both you and your bird. One way to be able to do this is to be able to interpret his body language as this is a sure giveaway to his state of mind.

One good reason for understanding the body language of birds is that you can often avoid being bitten whether by your own pet or another exotic bird if you know when he is scared and when you should back off. If a bird is very scared, he will often try to make himself as thin as possible you will notice him standing very tall and looking very thin. His eyes may be dilated but they are not moving back and forth at all. In a way the bird is trying to make himself invisible - he thinks that if he makes himself as thin as possible and doesn’t move that the creature that is scaring him will overlook him.

If you try to reach into the cage to do pet or pick up a bird that is acting like this he may lash out with you in terror and you may get a nasty peck. The best thing to do is to squat down so that the bird is higher than you and look right at them with your eyes closed. Speak to him in a soft soothing tone and slowly open your eyes. This should help to relax the bird as they feel most comfortable when they higher than anyone else. The closing of your eyes is important because they consider blinking a sign of trust. Once you’ve got your pet bird into this state it doesn’t mean that he’s a can automatically let you reach in and pick them up you still want to use caution until you have him fully tamed.

If you bird is angry you will notice that his head is weaving back and forth and his eyes are dilated. He may be squawking loudly and leaning slightly forward for easy attack. His feathers will be puffed up. you might want to try distracting him with a millet sprayers favorite treat but you probably will want to get too close or you may experience a painful bite. When your bird is angry like this it’s best to let him come down before you try to approach him. Perhaps you might want to find out what made him angry so you can avoid this next time.

An excited bird might look similar to an angry bird with dilated pupils and he’ll be bobbing (not weaving) his head and have ruffled feathers. Depending on how excited he has his whole body to be moving around. He might be squawking and screeching sometimes loudly. An excited bird, even though he is happy, may also bite you because he’s too excited. It’s best to let him come down a little bit before handling.

A calm content bird will be sitting on his perch with one leg tucked up under him. He’ll be easy recognize due to his relaxed posture and he might groom oneself stretch out and even go to sleep. If you don’t make any sudden moves that startled her you can probably get them pop up when you finger and let you pet him easily when he is in a state of mind.

Knowing how your bird feels is important for training and ongoing companionship. Once your bird is very tame you probably won’t have to worry too much as he’ll welcome your attention, but in the beginning knowing whether he is frightened, angry or excited can help you gain his trust for easier training.


- Lee Dobbins

Birds make great pets and are relatively easy to take care of. There are many different types of birds. There are birds that sing and birds that have beautiful colors. Although there is some work and planning that goes into having a bird.

There are several types of birds that are bred in captivity. A few of the most popular birds are parakeets, canaries, finches, and cockatiels. These birds are comfortable in most homes and are usually pretty well behaved.

Your bird should have a safe secure cage. The cage should be large enough so that the bird can fully extend it’s wings. Finches and canaries need room to fly short distances. Parakeet and cockatiels need room to climb. The bars should be 3/8 to 1/2 of an inch apart. This way the bird cannot escape or get stuck. You should line the bottom with hard wood shaving.

Place the cage away from drafts and away from direct sunlight. Birds are very sensitive to noise, smoke and large activity, so the cage should go in a quiet room. You should also place the bird at eye level. If you have other pets, such as dogs and cats you should make sure you put the cage in a place safe from them.

You should also put all kinds of toys in your birds cage. This will keep your bird occupied and will also keep him active. Another thing that birds like are mirrors. They enjoy talking to their reflection. You need to place different levels of perches around your birds cage. This way the bird can fly from perch to perch and get some exercise.

Feeding your bird isn’t that complicated. You can get a high quality seed mixture that is made especially for your type of bird. These include all the vegetables and fruits your bird will need. You can find that at most pet stores and even some super markets.

You should probably get a cuttlebone for your bird. A cuttlebone is a type of bone that your bird can pick at. There is calcium in this bone. That way your bird will get all the calcium it needs. You will also need a bird grit to help digestion. Another thing your bird will need is a supply of fresh water. You can keep the water in a little dish in the cage at all times. Make sure that it is always available. It is a good idea to give your bird little amounts of fruits and vegetables sometimes.

Birds clean themselves, so you don’t need to worry about giving them a bath. But you do need to clean your bird’s cage about once a week. You should change the saw dust and clean all the toys to get the bad germs off.

Most birds are very sociable. Parakeets, finches, and cockatiels get along with other birds. It would be okay to keep them in the same cage with another bird. But make sure that the cage is big enough for both birds.

You should take your bird out at least once a day. Try to get the bird used to being with humans. Most birds enjoy climbing on your head and nestling in your hair. But if you are going to let your bird out of it’s cage be sure that its wings are clipped. You will know when it is time of a clipping when your bird can start to get some flight.

Birds like everything else get sick. Some signs of sickness are dull and limply feathers, discharge around the eyes and noise, and wet and dirty around the anus. If you notice any of these signs you should take your bird to the vet. The vet will probably put your bird on some kind of medication.

Birds are very enjoyable. They are not that much work, but do show affection. They can be very comical too. They can do some pretty weird stuff. You can also teach them to talk and sing. Birds are very fun.

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Please Help Hurricane Katrina Victoms below: Visit “RED CROSS” by using the link below… http://www.redcross.org/

Victims of Hurricane Katrina are attempting to recover from the massive storm that is still making its way across the Mid-Atlantic States. American Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the hardest hit areas of Katrina’s destruction, supplying hundreds of thousands victims left homeless with critical necessities. By making a financial gift to Hurricane 2005 Relief, the Red Cross can provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. http://www.redcross.org/


- Lance Groom

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