Archive for the ‘Pet Birds’ Category

How to Choose the Right Doctor for Your Pet Bird

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding Pet Birds. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about Pet Birds.

Your pet bird should visit the vet on a regular basis. While you might think any doctor can best treat your bird, it is better to consult with someone who specializes in these creatures.

Such a person is called an avian veterinarian. When you go around looking for one, it is best that this person belongs to the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV).

Specialists who are members of this organization have 6 or more years of experience dealing with birds. In fact, there are only 100 certified avian veterinarians worldwide and you are lucky to have one who happens to be residing near where you live.

But what if you are not able to find a doctor who is certified by the AAV? When this happens, you have to consult with a veterinarian based on the recommendations of other bird owners or through word of mouth.

If you don’t have friends who own birds, try talking to bird breeders and organizations which are into owning and caring for birds just like you. Your other options will be to look through the phone directory or online and then set an appointment.

When you visit their clinic, discuss what you expect from them and pay attention to the answers they give you. It will be nice to know how long they have been working on birds, what equipment or training do they have and how your bird is behaving with them.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

It will also be very important to know if they can be contacted or consulted whenever there is an emergency. If they are not available, someone they know and trust should be able to give you and your bird the same amount of attention.

One other thing you should check before or after talking to a potential avian doctor is to see if the place is clean and if the people who work there are friendly. Naturally, you don’t want your bird to stay overnight for observation if the place is unsanitary as a disease from another bird could infect your own.

Once you have finished interviewing a list of potential candidates, it will be easy to choose which one will be the doctor for your pet bird.

A good bird doctor will not only talk to you whenever your pet has a problem but also offer tips so you can handle minor problems on your own. You might be taught how to sense if something is wrong and what to do until you are able to bring the bird over.

Part of that includes having the right avian first aid supply at home. This includes having a carrier large enough to carry the bird since the cage may not always fit in the car. Some cotton swabs, gauze tape, tubing, betadine and a host of other things are also needed so make sure you have a sufficient supply of these items at all times.

The veterinarian is your best friend whenever there is something wrong with your pet bird. Given that they know more about this creature, you just have to trust them and hope that everything works out for the best. While there are a lot of veterinarians around, you have to know how to choose the right one for your pet bird.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Pet Birds. Share your new understanding about Pet Birds with others. They’ll thank you for it.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, still letting you get the Automated Traffic Blueprints for cheap

Great Treats for Your Pet Bird

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Pet Birds? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Pet Birds.

Do you think that your pet bird is sick and tired of just eating pellets and seeds? It is possible and to spice up their diet, here are a few things you can give them on occasion.

Fruits are great because they have vitamins and minerals. Some examples which you can give your pet bird include bananas, grapes, melons and oranges. Just remember it is fresh and whatever they do not eat after an hour should thrown away to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

If fruits are good, there is no doubt that vegetables are also worth giving to your pet bird. Some examples are broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and peas. Just be sure to wash them first so any pesticides that were used in planting them are removed.

Beans are also good to give to your pet bird. Before you give it, make sure to cook it first because there are certain varieties of beans that are harmful if they happen to eat this raw.

We love pasta and your pet bird can enjoy that too. This is because pasta is rich in carbohydrates and it can go well with the fruits or vegetables that you are giving. Best of all, this can be eaten raw or cooked.

Your pet bird can also eat bread as this provides them with a good source fiber. It is best to give it to them in smell bites first rather than a whole piece if you are giving this for the very first time.

You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about Pet Birds. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?

Another ideal snack to give your pet bird is popcorn. If you decide to serve this unpopped, boil it first in plain water so you can soften the tough hull. If you are giving this cooked, make sure this is heated using the microwave because these are high in fat and salt that is harmful to their health.

Cereals and grains can also be given to your pet bird. Such treats contain carbohydrates and protein so just fill up their plate and then watch them munch it away.

Nuts are also a tasty treat that your pet bird will enjoy. If they don’t eat it, this can also be used to exercise their beaks. Just be sure the variety of nuts you give is both clean and unsalted.

Lastly, your pet birds can be given some pepper. This is because they can easily take it since they lack the taste receptors that we humans have. If you don’t believe it, try giving your pet bird either some fresh chili or banana pepper.

Birds need proper nutrition and in order for that to happen, it has to be ingested, digested and absorbed. You can get this from many products and if you want to know what else they can eat, ask your veterinarian or do some research. That way, you are sure that what you are giving them is safe and that they will not experience any side effects.

If they do not like what you have given, don’t force them and offer them something else. In time, you will figure out what treats they like and do not like so they can get to eat other stuff not only seeds and pellets.

To help your pet bird digest whatever they just ate, make sure that they have a sufficient amount of water inside the cage.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, still letting you get the Automated Traffic Blueprints for cheap

Your Pet Bird?s Toys And Accessories

Monday, June 29th, 2009

You cannot always entertain your pet bird, that is why your pet bird should have accessories and toys to entertain them. Actually bird toys and other cage accessories are not just there for boredom, they are also mental stimuli which help in the development of our avian companion. Birds are intelligent animals, the need an active environment to keep them active and healthy.

Birds without enough stimuli in their environment can lead to depression and behavioural issues. This is typical to caged birds who have stayed inside their cages for a long time. This is why bird owners are recommended to provide their birds enough time outside their cage. But it is unavoidable, let us say that pet owners are working from eight to ten hours a day. That is a long time for a bird to stay in a cage without other people to socialize with. This is where accessories and toys come in handy.

Challenging toys are great to enhance your bird’s intellect. This would include puzzle toys and other accessories which encourage problem-solving skills. Also choose toys which are very engaging, in loud and vibrant colors, toys with different kinds of textures, and toys that have sounds like bells.

When choosing bird toys, consider the size of your bird. Big birds can break small things with their beaks. While smaller birds can get overwhelmed by the accessories bigger than them.

There are also some necessary precautions that you need to know when getting toys for your birds. These items can also pose some danger to your animals. Your bird can get toxic substance poisoning from the toys. There are toys which have high zinc and lead content which can lead to heavy metal poisoning. Dyes and paints can also be sources o toxic materials.

Birds can also get entangled in some toys, while birds can chew and swallow some parts of it. Some toys which can cause entanglement are rope toys or hanging chain toys. Aside from being entangled with it, they can also get seriously injured by trying to get out of it on their own. Not only should you watch for ropes, chains and links, there are instances where toys have holes in them and your bird can get trapped in it.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and Pet Birds experts is time. If you’ll invest a little more time in reading, you’ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Pet Birds.

So, upon purchase of a new toy, it should only be tried with the complete supervision of the owner. This would ensure that the bird would not get tangled or swallow any part of the new toy. There are items which a bird can swallow some parts o it, like wood, plastic and fabric toys. Also, there are periods where a bird undergoes a ?teething stage? and tends to bite and eat anything that comes in contact. So, pet owners should be cautious during this period.

Here are some toys and accessories best avoided:

? Concrete perches claim that they were able to trim the bird’s nails authomticcalh. But the sad thing is that this product harms the birds feet and can leave nasty wounds and scratches.

? Mite protectors are said to help in shielding birds from parasites. This protectors emits fumes which can be bad to your bird’s health. When attacked by parasites you can help out the bird by bringing the, to vet or an avian professor immediately.

? There are some pet owners who choose to put a cover on the floor of the cage. It is best to avoid styro-coverings or similar to this. This kind of flooring may get into the digestive system of the bird once it starts picking and eating it.

Getting your pet bird accessories and toys are not just a treat, it is necessary to make sure that they are developing mentally and physically. But it is also important to take necessary precautions when choosing. We just don’t pick the one in bright red or green, we pick something since it is beneficial and safe for our avian family members.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Pet Birds. Share your new understanding about Pet Birds with others. They’ll thank you for it.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, still letting you get Free Adsense Websites – every month!

The Shrink: Understand Your Pet Bird?s Behaviour

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

The best course of action to take sometimes isn’t clear until you’ve listed and considered your alternatives. The following paragraphs should help clue you in to what the experts think is significant.

A pet and the owner relationship does not just evolve around feeding and cleaning the cage, it is companionship and friendship which is based on loyalty and trust. How can you build this kind of relationship, with your pet bird in this case, if your pet keeps on biting you?

The key here is to understand your pet bird’s behaviour and body language. Since we cannot understand what their vocalizations mean, we can understand what they want and they are feeling through their movements. Ability to communicate between owners and pets enable the owners to train, tame and care for them adequately.

Here are some bird movements and how we can interpret them:

? Flashing or dilating pupils can either mean aggression or excitement and pleasure. When pupils are dilated pay attention to other movements like tail fanning or raised feathers and some growling, these are aggressive signs. So beware of contact, you may get bitten.

? Purring, on the other hand, along with relaxed and puffed up feathers means that your bird is in a good mood.

? Beak clicking indicates the bird is feeling a threat while beak grinding can be a sign of contentment and good feeling.

? Biting reasons depend on the age. A young bird would most of the time bite anything especially during its ?teething age?. An older bird biting is a sign of displeasure or aggression.

You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about Pet Birds. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?

? Birds sneeze the same reasons human do, like exposure to dust, irritation, small bug and feathers on the nasal cavity. An abnormal sneeze, which typically includes nasal discharge should be consulted immediately to a vet.
? Head shaking is not associated with disbelief in cases of birds. This means excitement or just seeking out attention.

? Quivering wings would should fear or being nervous. Assurance is needed when talking to these kind of birds. They should know that there nothing to be nervous around with you.

? Tail bobbing sometimes can be a sign of sickness or just singing. When the tail bobs while the bird breathes, then that could be a sign of sickness and should be taken to the vet.

There would be instances when pet owners would be exasperated with their pets because of their bad behaviour. There are many reasons why birds would act the way they are. Hormones can be responsible if your bird is displaying negative characteristics.

Birds mature too! Just like people, they would undergo a stage where they would sexually mature. During the stage where they begin to be sexually mature, birds begin to be very sensitive. This stage differs on the bird size. Normally, big birds would have this on their fourth year. While, smaller birds would experience this on their twelfth month.

Also, observe your pet birds if something is bothering them. If there are some items in the house that are starting to bother them then remove it from the space. Birds are sensitive to routine, some changes on it can be stressful for them. Also, paying enough attention to your pet and letting them stretch their wings more through exercise are great ways of improving bird behaviour.

Pet birds are extremely rewarding and wonderful companion, it is important to display or show the understanding and patience. In every relationship, understanding is the key. So does in animal and human relationship.

Of course, it’s impossible to put everything about Pet Birds into just one article. But you can’t deny that you’ve just added to your understanding about Pet Birds, and that’s time well spent.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, still letting you get Unlimited Web Hosting from ONLY $1/month

How to Bathe a Pet Bird

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Pet birds just like us need to take a bath. This helps keep them clean and remove excess oil on their feathers. Doing this on a regular basis also promotes good health as they are also affected from household air conditioning and heating.

To do that, you first have to bring the pet bird to a room that is warm and has no drafts. It is also best to do this early during the day so the bird will be able to dry itself before bedtime.

The materials you will using will be a heavy dish filled with one or two inches of water. The reason for this is to create an artificial puddle which is what birds in the wild go when they feel the need to cleanse themselves.

The water used should be lukewarm or room temperature as cold water can chill them. Once inside the bowl, they can already bathe themselves.

Bigger birds cannot properly bathe themselves in a bowl. This is why it is a good idea to bring the bird out of its cage, let it stand on the perch and then you run the water lightly on them.

One of the most ideal places in the house to do this is the bathroom or the kitchen. With the hose is in your hand, never spray the water on their face. Do not also make the mistake of saturating your pet bird’s feathers. Doing so can lead to a loss of body heat and flight impairment.

I trust that what you’ve read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

While bathing them inside a bowl or on a perch, take note that it was never mentioned to use shampoo or soap on them because water is enough to cleanse them. Using any type of cleaning products is bad because it removes the bird’s natural oils.

After giving your pet bird a bath, you can let them dry on their own or wipe them gently using a towel. If you are going to do it, make sure that you only rub in the direction of the feather growth. Never use a hair dryer because you could burn them.

Don’t forget to clean the sink or the tub with water and mild unscented soap after giving your pet bird a bath. This will ensure protection for you and your family who also use it when they brush their teeth or do the dishes.

Before you put the pet bird back in the cage, don’t forget to change the cage bedding. Most of the time, this gets wet from the splashing as the bird washes itself and you wouldn’t want bacteria to grow there that could get your bird sick.

Bathing your bed bird should be done once or twice a week. You can do this more often especially during the molten season because it helps remove itching. You just have to observe your bird to figure out if they prefer to take a bath.

Some birds do not like taking a bath. If you happen to be in this situation, you should gradually introduce them to it so they can get to enjoy it. One way is to get yourself wet and since they trust you, in time they will understand that it is perfectly alright.

A bath is always a refreshing experience and your pet bird should also have one every so often.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, now giving away Free Adsense Sites for a limited time only

Pet Birds As The Star Of The Show

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Pet Birds? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Pet Birds.

Your birds not only served as feathered companions, for years they have played a great role in inspiring some of the most popular songs, movies, and even fashion. Pet birds do not just display their feathers for their owners and family but are also muses for works of art.

In the music industry, here are some popular songs about birds and what they were about:

? Three Little Birds – this song was by Bob Marley and is a very upbeat tune that you would surely love listening to.

? Blackbird ? the song popularized by Beatles defeated the usual misconception about blackbirds. Blackbirds are usually taken in a bad way but was used as a symbol of hope in this song.

? Rockin’ Robin ? who would not know this song by Bobby Day? This popular song can be both enjoyed by you and your feathered friend.

? Free as a Bird ? another Beatles song which refers to bird’s freedom.

? Yellow Bird ? this song by Chris Isaak is full of emotions and is about being free and flying away from problems.

If you don’t have accurate details regarding Pet Birds, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don’t let that happen: keep reading.

It seems that people cannot get enough out of birds, unsatisfied with songs about their flying ability and other characteristics, birds became subject of movies and documentaries.

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill was released in 2003. This movie directed by Judy Irving was a touching documentary of a rock musician who turned into a conure caretaker in San Francisco. This movie is great for bird and non-bird enthusiasts. In the documentary, not only did Mark Bittner help in preserving the flock of birds, these birds also helped him find his personal and professional path.

In 2005, the March of the Penguins guided us to a wonderful and educational world of emperor penguins. This documentary won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. In the original French version of the documentary, the penguins were dubbed as if they were talking themselves. In the American version, it was narrated by Morgan Freeman. The documentary revolves around the survival in extremely hard conditions of the emperor penguins.

Fictional bird movies would include Paulie (1998) and The Real Macaw (1997). Most of these fictional movies would be about the adventures and misadventures of birds and their pet owners, who are usually children.

Not only did our birds graced the silver screen but they were also features for some great photographs. Bird photography is one of the most popular kinds of nature photography. Bird photography, especially taking pictures of birds in the wild is very challenging. Bird photographers should not only know the technical aspect of taking pictures but should also be knowledgeable and understanding of bird behaviour.

But domesticated birds can also post as models. You just have to know how to set up your background and engage your bird so you can easily them pictures. Just make sure when taking pictures to take several snap shots so that you can choose the best one.

Speaking of bird models, our avian friends have also served inspiration for some interesting fashion. Designer Caroline Baker has shown bird- inspired clothing in the Charleston Fashion Week last March 2009. She have referred to her fashion line, the Plumage Collection, as ?eco couture.? The collection was consisted of 14 bird inspired outfits.

It looks like of feathered friends are not only pets after all. The next time we look at our pet bird, maybe they could serve as inspiration for us to make a work of art.

Is there really any information about Pet Birds that is nonessential? We all see things from different angles, so something relatively insignificant to one may be crucial to another.


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