PET BIRDS - The Popularity of Native AUSTRALIAN BIRDS in Aviculture

Australian Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata castanotis - pair, female on left. Capertee Valley,Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lots of popular pet bird species originate from Australia, most of the well-known pet birds are native to this country but not all of them. Many are from the Americas, Africa, and Asia, but the most popular by far and through the sheer numbers in captivity are the Australian species, which range from small finches, right through the range to large parrots.

Famous breeds like the budgerigar (know as the parakeet in some countries), cockatiel, zebra finch, lorikeet, and the cockatoo all became available throughout the world via importation from Australia.

When our ancestors first discovered the Australian continent they found many types of animals that were unique to this part of the globe, such as the now infamous 'duck-billed platypus' and the 'echidna' (egg-laying mammals! How strange must that have been?); marsupials such as the 'kangaroo', 'wallaby', 'Koala' and many new and unique bird species; many of which were very brightly coloured. So they desired specimens of these birds to take home, and in doing so boosted the fondness of exotic pet bird keeping.

Starting with the smaller breeds; Australian finches that are popular as pets include the 'star finch', 'Gouldian finch' and the well known and readily available at a low price 'zebra finch'. However, there are much more.

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Small to medium sized parrot-like species from Australia include the most popular small pet bird of all, the 'budgerigar' (or 'parakeet'). The almost as popular 'cockatiel' is also an Australian native, plus no end of other well-known pet birds. The list is almost endless: 'lories' and 'lorikeets' (several types of these), parakeets such as 'turquoise', 'Bourke', 'splendid' 'elegant' and 'red-rumped' to name a few, there's loads more. The medium sized 'Eclectus parrot' also hails from this part of the world.

The 'rosellas' are also medium parrot from Australia and about 6 different varieties are used as pets; 'Eastern', 'Northern', 'Western', 'Crimson', 'green', and 'pale-headed'. All are unique and different in their own way but are closely related. Rosella is known for their strikingly rich coloring, making them a very desirable pet.

Finally the big daddy of Australian pet birds, the 'cockatoo'. There are about 20 different species of cockatoo but not all are popular as pets, and believe it or not the famous 'cockatiel' mentioned earlier is a member of this bird family but of course nowhere near as large as some of its cockatoo cousins. All birds in the cockatoo family are distinguishable by the crest of feathers on the top of the head.

Many breeds of Australian birds live in massive flocks in the wild. The sight of hundreds of budgerigars, cockatiels, finches or lorikeets flocking together is an awe-inspiring sight, and very noisy.

To summarise there is a massive range of Australian birds available as pets all over the world. Many are very colorful, easy to keep, very hardy and all have unique and sometimes entertaining characteristics. The least costly of exotic pet birds are also native Aussies. Is it any wonder that these pet birds are so popular?

By Pete Etheridge - Article Source: EzineArticles

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GREAT TIT - Parus Major

GREAT TIT - Parus Major - Photo: Wikipedia

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What You Need To Know About FINCHES Before Bringing Them Home

A black-headed Gouldian Finch at Frankfurt Zoo, Germany. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Finches are colorful, energetic birds that can be found in many parts of the world. There are different species of finches and about sixteen of them are found in North America. Finches are small birds and their sizes range from 4 inches to 9 inches. Science journals and nature magazines will describe them as having bright feathers and a conical bill.

Colors and Determining Sex

What attracts many pet lovers to finches are their bright colors. Different species of finches have different colors. The American Goldfinch, for example, has predominantly golden feathers, as its name implies. The purple finch has a somewhat purple, reddish color with streaks of black on their wings. According to official finches information, most finches come in brown and green plumage, and you will notice a general lack of white colors. Some breeds of finches are dichromatic, which means you can distinguish the gender by studying their colors. The males usually have bright markings as opposed to the paler colors of the females.

Location

While finches are mostly native to the southern hemisphere, there are plenty of breeds that can be found in North America. In fact, there is a family called the American Rose finches, which includes the purple finch, Cassin's finch, and the House finch. There are finches that migrate to the continental United States at specific periods of the year because of food scarcity and extreme winters. These include the Redpoll and the Pine Grosbeak. You can check more finches information and geography on many authority sites on the internet.

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Feeding

Most finches feed on seeds, particularly the American Goldfinch. They love eating thistle seeds as well as the seeds of spruce and pine. Many aviary journals have complete finches information on specific diets for particular species of finches. Dandelion and chickweed make an excellent meal for tiny birds. You can also feed them eggshells and cuttlefish bone to increase their calcium intake. Make sure to heat the eggshells in order to kill fungi and bacteria. In most cases, your pet finches would be delighted on a simple meal of fruits and vegetables.

Health

Finches have a lifespan of 4 to 8 years. The best way to maximize their lifespan is by giving them the best possible care. It is important to spot signs of illness early on so that you can treat them accordingly. Finches information shows that common illnesses include, swollen eyes, fluffed out feathers, loss of appetite, general lack of energy, etc. Bring the birds to a veterinarian for proper care and attention.

Basic care of your finches includes giving them food and fresh water on a daily basis. It is also important to sanitize the cage at least once a week to avoid the birds catching diseases. You must also place a water bath inside the cage because these birds love dipping in water every now and then as a form of their bathing ritual. Breeding finches is an exciting endeavor but you must have complete finches information to do it successfully. All in all, finches are enjoyable creatures that can brighten up your home life.

By Kevin F. Green - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Things Everybody Should Know About Carrier PIGEONS

Carrier Pigeon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Homing pigeons have a natural ability to find their way home, even from very far away. People recognized this skill early on and used it to their advantage in communicating with others. This was common long before such conveniences as email, telephone, and even a reliable post service. When these homing pigeons were used to carrying objects they picked up the nickname of 'carrier pigeon.' 

You may picture them carrying messages between secret lovers and aiding in espionage, but this is not all they are used for. In the past, they have been used for some very important tasks such as sending orders for military officers, snapping aerial photographs, and even delivering fragile medical items between two hospitals. They even once made themselves useful by carrying the film from photographers in the field back to their photo labs to be developed when the time was of the essence.

When homing pigeons are used for sending messages, they are called 'messenger pigeons.' Since homing pigeons have the ability to find their way back home across incredible distances people developed a system called 'pigeon post.' This works by trading pigeons with each other so that the owner's pigeon can carry the message back to them.

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For example, two people might trade three pigeons with each other and go their separate ways. They then have the ability to send three messages to each other via pigeon post. Once they have sent three messages each, they would need to meet again to trade more pigeons. This minimized the amount of traveling they would need to do which was a very nice convenience when traveling was more costly and dangerous than it is today.

Along with the many wonderful stories about these birds come many misconceptions. For one, they are often thought to be extinct, but they are not. The passenger pigeon is the one that was driven into extinction. Yet another common misconception is that a carrier pigeon is a breed of pigeon. A homing pigeon is a breed that is mostly used as a carrier pigeon. Carrier pigeon is just the 'job title' of some homing pigeons. Similarly, someone wouldn't say that the breed of a guide dog was 'guide dog.' No, you would call the dog by its actual breed, such as golden retriever.

How to Train a Homing Pigeon

A Homing pigeon's instinct is to always fly back to where they live, especially if they have a mate or squabs. Using this knowledge, the first step to training a homing pigeon is to have it learn where its home is. To do this, the owners will keep the pet pigeons in their enclosures for several months. Usually from the time they are young until they are they are grown. This is more difficult with adult pigeons because they may already have a place they call home. During the months of keeping the birds in a cage, they should be kept well fed with a proper diet of pigeon feed. 

After their stay in the cage, they will know where their home is. From now on, most pigeons will always return to this spot and when let out to fly. A very small percentage of pigeons will leave and not return. They then go and live elsewhere, becoming feral pigeons. Once the pigeons home is established, they will slowly be able to find their way back home longer distances. This homing skill can make them useful as carrier pigeons.

By Zach Varnell - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Selecting a Breed of CHICKEN

The Belgian d'Everberg is a Belgian breed of bantam chicken. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They're Not Just Chickens

Chickens come in all shapes, color, sizes... and purposes. Did you know that selecting the type of chicken to raise in your backyard depends on what you want to get from them? There are basically three groups of chickens to select from according to purpose: the egg-laying variety, the meat-producers, and the dual purpose type. Each of these groups of chickens is bred according to a specific use. It is important to first determine what kind of product you want to get from your chickens and raise the variety that can best give you what you need.

A working knowledge about chicken breeds is going to be very helpful in for the beginner. A visit to a chicken raiser in your area to ask him about the different breeds, as well as their specific characteristics, will really pay off. Most of those who are raising chickens will be very happy to help beginners start their flock. If there is no one raising chickens in your area, there is a lot of information which you can get from your local library or the internet. In fact, if you read through this article you are going to get useful information about the different types of chickens and other chicken data such as the breeds of chicken for eggs and the best chickens for meat as you begin your foray into backyard poultry raising.

Sunny Side Up, Please: Breeds of chickens for eggs

If you can't live without your sunny side up for breakfast, then you'll want to get chickens of the egg-laying variety. The best breeds of chicken for eggs include the White Leghorns, Golden Comets, and Red Sex Links. White Leghorns are prolific producers of white eggs. White Leghorns can give you around 270- 290 eggs per year- that's the number of eggs per chicken or how many eggs a single White Leghorn hen can give! The Golden Comets and Red Sex Links are also excellent layers. They produce brown eggs.

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Here's a little trivia: Did you know that the color of the eggs that a chicken will produce can be determined by the color of its earlobes? A chicken with red earlobes will produce brown eggs and those with white earlobes will lay white eggs. Although there is no significant difference between these two kinds of eggs in terms of nutritional value, the brown eggs are generally larger than white eggs. The best egg layers come either small to medium size. Thus, they are only good for egg production but they are not the best to breed for meat.

I Want My Buffalo Wings, Baby: Best chickens for meat

Buffalo wings never fail to excite the taste buds and if you want this for lunch any time of the week, then you should be raising the meat producers. The best chickens for meat include such breeds as the Rhode Island Red, the Langshan, the Dorking and the Cornish. Most of the commercial breeders use these basic breeds to produce meat for large-scale commercial sale. These birds weigh from 8 to 10 pounds and are very docile. The meat variety is often a cross or blends of these large breeds. Aside from being able to easily adapt to open spaces as well as small coops and pens, these types of chickens also grow very fast. The Cornish, for instance, can reach 4 to 5 pounds in 6 weeks and 8 to10 pounds in 12 weeks. This makes it a very good foundation for other meat breeds.

The Best of Both Worlds: Chickens for Eggs and Meat

If you want the best of both worlds, there are chickens that produce both eggs and meat. These types of chickens are best represented by American breeds such as the Plymouth Rocks, Sussex, and the Wyandottes. Known as the dual purpose type, these chickens lay eggs reasonably well and are large enough for meat production. These varieties come in different colors and are generally docile. They have a generally tame temperament. Rhode Island Reds are known as one of the best breeds of chickens for eggs and meat production.

Feed Requirements

A lot of people shy away from raising chickens in their backyard because they mistakenly think that feeding them is hard work. However, feeding chickens in your backyard need not be complicated. This task can even be made simpler if you decide to free-range your chickens since all you need to do is to give them supplemental feeds like grains or the commercially-prepared chicken feeds. Free-ranged chickens will normally scratch their food around.

However, if you are confining your chickens in small coops or stalls then you have to make sure that you give them a well-balanced diet. There is a wide array of commercial feeds in your local poultry shop that you can choose from. These pre-packed feeds are usually a mixture of different grains and crumbles.

Just remember 3G's in feeding penned chickens: grains, grass and grit and you will surely do well. Vitamin supplements from time to time will help your cooped chickens get the essential nutrients that they would have gotten from bugs and other insects had they been ranged. Grit is also very important for them in digesting their food since these serve as their teeth. Chickens that are free-ranged will just fine grit in the ground but this needs to be given to cooped chickens on a regular basis.

Don't forget to give them fresh and clean water. Whether free-range or penned, chickens should always have a regular supply of clean water. Water needs to be changed and containers cleaned regularly. Pathogens that can cause different diseases in your chickens thrive well in dirty water containers.

Climate

Most of the chicken breeds are very adaptive to different climates. It cannot be denied, however, that changes in environmental temperature like sudden rain and season changes can be very stressful for them. And just like humans, their bodies will be prone to infection when they are under severe stress. There is nothing you can do about the climate in your area but you certainly can minimize its bad effects to your chickens by providing them with proper housing. You can help your chickens cope during the rainy season by building covered coops or putting up roofs above their pens. In areas where the temperature gets scorching during the summer, a roof or plants can give your chickens a comfortable hideout just in case the sun gets too punishing. And again, regardless of the climate, clean water should always be within your chicken's reach. Water helps them regulate environmental temperature.

A Final Word

If you are serious about raising chickens in your backyard, determine what you want to raise them for and get the type of chicken breed that best fits your purpose. This will result in a very rewarding experience raising your backyard flock.

By Jason Surratt I am just a man who loves to walk into my backyard and grab some breakfast. About a year ago, I took the leap and began raising chickens. I started this site to share the joy of keeping chickens. I work 55-60 hours per week, so the progress is slow. Best Breed of Chicken for Eggs Article Source: EzineArticles

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ECLECTUS PARROTS As Pets - 7 Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Eclectus Parrots

A pair of Eclectus Parrots (Eclectus roratus), the male (right - green color) and female (left - red color) of the same species at Singapore Zoo. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Eclectus Parrot is one of the most popular pet birds. They are colorful, fun loving, and intelligent companions that live upwards of 50 years. Making a commitment like this means doing your homework first so that you understand fully the challenges and rewards of having an Eclectus Parrot as part of the family. Here are 7 answers to frequently asked questions about the Eclectus Parrot.

What is the average size?

They vary in size from 12 to 14 inches in length with a wingspan of 2 to 2 1/2 feet. The male has a sleeker body build, and the female is more full-figured.

How much do they cost?

In the United States, they cost between $500 and $2500. Since the female is more colorful, they are often more expensive. The males are still beautiful but have fewer colors, and also tend to be more laid back personality wise. Male or female, not to worry, you'll come away with a stunningly beautiful bird.

How much noise do they make?

They are thought of as quiet birds when compared to the African Grey or the Macaw. But they do scream when frightened or threatened. And since each bird is different, the best way to determine how much noise it makes is to spend some time with it during different times of the day and in different situations, if possible-feeding time, play time, rest time.

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Where should I go to adopt one?

There are many shelters for birds in need of a good home. Be careful to find out all you can before taking a bird so that you can be fully aware of any emotional or medical problems before you commit. And unless you are an experienced bird owner this may not be the way to go. Taking a bird home and then finding out it is not the right fit for you and your family is devastating for all. There are probably also breeders in your area that can be found with a little searching on the internet. Make sure they are reliable and ask for references before you make the final decision to buy.

What kind of diet do they require?

They require a diet loaded with fresh fruit and vegetables, even more so than other parrots. They tend to have a Vitamin A deficiency so feeding them cooked carrots and sweet potatoes, peppers, and dark leafy vegetables provide a great natural source of Vitamin A. Fresh fruits should include apples, bananas, mango, watermelon, cantaloupe, pomegranate, and grapes. Go light on fats and proteins as this tends to make them gain weight, raise cholesterol levels, develop arterial sclerosis, and lower their lifespan. Avoid colored pellets as this makes it difficult for them to produce proper colors in their feathers and beaks. Sprouted and soaked seeds, as well as small amount of a quality pellet mix, will provide the nutrients your bird needs.

How long do they live? When they first came to the United States it was thought that these parrots only lived for 8 years or so. And many died prematurely because they were fed an incorrect diet. Now that there has been more research done, and a proper diet has been determined, these birds can live upwards of 50 years, even though there are still very few that are much older than this in the United States today.

How can I keep it healthy?

An Eclectus is a lifetime investment in time, love, and hard work so taking daily steps to protect your bird's health is one of the best things you can give your bird in return for the unselfish love and devotion you will receive through the years. Feeding a healthy diet, giving it human attention and affection, visiting an avian vet for regular check-ups, noticing any changes from your bird's norms, seeking professional help immediately when there is any question about its well-being, and keeping its air clean with a high efficiency particle air purifier are all steps that you can take that will go a long way towards having your bird live long and well.

By Debbie Davis An excellent HEPA air purifier that will help your Eclectus Parrot live long and well by removing airborne pollutants from its air is offered by PurerAir.com-- the Bird Dander Purifier See it now at http://purerair.com/bird_dander_air_purifier.html Article Source: EzineArticles

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Things to Know About a TOUCAN

Toco Toucan, head. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you are considering getting an exotic pet such as a toucan, there are many things that you need to know in order to be able to take the best care of your new exotic pet. You need to make sure that you are prepared will all the information to take care of your new member of the family.

Toucans are considered to be a tropical bird but can also be a great pet for your family to have. The first thing that you need to understand is that your toucan may be very pretty, but these are also very intelligent birds that can be taught a variety of tricks if you want to work with them. These types of birds can be a great companion for your family and are very playful pets. If you have children, this could be a good pet for you because these types of birds have large beaks so they cannot bite anything. They also have a hard time even squeezing a grape. Although these look like large birds, they will cuddle and play in your lap if you allow them the opportunity. They will also purr like a kitten when they are happy. Toucans can provide a healthy relationship like this with their owner.

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The next factor that you should be aware of is the type of diet that the toucan will require on an everyday basis. For most toucans, their basic diet is fruit and is required in order for these types of birds to survive as a pet. Bananas, berries, grapes, and papaya are great fruits to put as their diet for every day feedings. Fresh fruit is one of the most important parts of their diet and should always be on the menu. You should also consider avoiding fruits with a high citric acid content like lemons and oranges because they could end up hurting the digestive system of the toucan. There are also pellets that are made that can provide a source of iron to keep the toucan growing strong. You should make sure to use the pellets in conjunction with the fresh fruit that they should be getting on a daily basis.

Overall, these are a family friendly pet that is a great way to introduce your family to exotic pets such as a toucan. There are many responsibilities to this bird that can help you develop a great relationship between pet and owner.

Joseph Devine

Article Source: EzineArticles - Things to Know About a Toucan

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Interesting Facts on COCKATIEL Mutations

Our ruby-eyed Cockatiel (fallow mutation) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Over the past fifty years or so, breeders around the world have managed to make wonderful color mutations from normal grey cockatiels.

Some breeders spend their lives experimenting and trying to get the next beautiful color variation. Unlike some other bird species, cockatiels cannot be interbred. They are unique birds and only breed within their own species.

The most common varieties of cockatiel include normal, cinnamon, white-faced, Lutino, Albino, dominant silver and Pearl. There is no record of a color mutation in a cockatiel every occurring in the wild. This art was developed by breeders of the bird.

The Normal Grey

This is the natural form of a cockatiel and is the most common variety that we all know today.

Cinnamon

This mutation was established in Belgium in the late 1960's. Cinnamons can vary widely in their shade of color and the adult cocks tend to be darker. The legs and eyes are of a lighter shade than that of the normal grey cockatiel. Cinnamon cockatiels are recognized by a warm brownish tinge in their plumage.

Fallow

The fallow cockatiel made its first appearance in Florida in 1971. Fallows have red eyes and a grayish yellow body coloration that distinguishes them from cinnamon. The depth of color does vary and the cocks are darker than the hens.

Dominant Silver

The dominant silver is the most recent cockatiel mutation and emerged from the UK. The first one recorded was seen in a pet shop in 1979. This mutation was successfully developed more with careful inbreeding.

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Pearl

The pearl cockatiel was first bred in 1967 in West Germany. These cockatiels have white markings on their backs and wings in various patterns. Some have more white than others. The markings are often scalloped and look like lace patterning on the cockatiel's back.

Lutino

The lutino cockatiel is the most popular cockatiel mutation. The lutino originated in 1958 with a Florida breeder. The early lutino's sold for a fortune, but nowadays they are almost as common as the greys. Lutino's often used to be referred to as albino, until the true albino emerged, which was pure white with no yellow coloration. A genetic flaw associated with the lutino is a bald patch on the top of its head. Breeders should not pair these together, or the bald patch will become widespread among their breeding cockatiels.

Pied

Pieds are the oldest of the cockatiel mutations. They were being bred in California as long ago as 1949. These cockatiels have a mixture of dark and light feathers. The variations are endless here, with the lighter mutations being the most attractive.

Recessive Silver

These cockatiels were first recorded in New Zealand in the early 1950's, but this strain was never established until the sixties. The eye coloration is red, and this is what distinguishes them from the dominant silver. In the earlier mutations, there was a problem with blindness which has since been overcome, but this species type remains rare.

White Faced

This mutation was first recorded in Holland in 1969. The yellow and orange faces are absent in this mutation, and this mutation paved the way for the albino mutation. Lots of different mutations have come out of the white-faced cockatiel, including the pearl and cinnamon forms.

Albino

This is the newest and most prized variation. They are pure white and are proving very popular.

Other Variations

Other variations have been recorded from time to time over the years, but none have been established. The next achievement will be a totally black cockatiel. No matter what, the popularity of owning cockatiels is only going to keep getting stronger in the future.

By Michel Maling Michel Maling has enjoyed owning cockatiels all her life. I have dedicated this blog to cover all you need to know about cockatiels. http://cockatielsaspets.com Article Source: EzineArticles

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DOWNY WOODPECKER - Picoides pubescens

DOWNY WOODPECKER - Picoides pubescens - Photo: Wikimedia

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The Wild Canary (AMERICAN GOLDFINCH)

Growing up in the Northeast and spending most of my time in the country it was always a big deal to spot certain wildlife. We would drive through the country and try to spot groundhogs, turkeys, and deer. We also looked for hawks and woodpeckers and our favorite types of birds. I was always partial to the Wild Canary which is also known as the American Goldfinch.

American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis,  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Wild Canary is a very pretty bright yellow with a touch of black on their face and wings. However, not all of them display such a splendid yellow hue. Many of them are more of a greenish tint with a hint of brown. We didn't see them all that often so it was a real treat when we did.

This small bird is part of the finch family. In bird terms, it is a 'passerine' bird. The passerines are perching birds and belong to the order of the Passeriformes. This means they have 4 toes with 3 pointed forwards and one backward for gripping and perching.

Passerines make up around 60% of all bird species. The Passerine species are very extensive and very diverse.

Wild Canary Breeding And Diet

The Wild Canaries are monogamous breeders. They breed mostly in cultivated fields full of weeds and in deciduous woodland areas. The number of broods per season is 2.

They feed on berries, floral buds, grass, and the seeds from deciduous trees. They are ground gleaners. The chicks are fed a diet of insects and regurgitated milky seed pulp.

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Nesting And Eggs

The Wild Canary usually makes its nest in the fork of a tree branch. They weave their nests to tightly they will repel water. They build their nests out of pliable vegetation and then line them with plant down. They will make use of spider silk or caterpillar webbing to bind up the nest's outer rim.

While nest construction is going on the males will many times gather nesting materials and bring them to the female who applies them to her home. They prefer to build their nests near water sources. The male will also bring food to the female while she sits the nest. Females might sit on the nest up to 95% of the time being dependent on the male for their food supply.

The males display 'nest-site' tenacity and will defend their nests fervently.

The eggs are of a bluish-white or pale blue color and are unmarked. They measure about 16mm in diameter. The incubation period lasts from 10 to 12 days. The chicks are born Altricial which means no feathers, blind, and totally helpless.

The hatching of the eggs is asynchronous. The older birds tend to nest earlier than the younger.

Wintering For The Wild Canary

These little beauties head south for the winter to Northern Mexico. You can find them all along the coast of Veracruz. They commonly join in with flocks of up to 300 birds during winter migrations.

The Wild Canary has always been, and will always be, something I look forward to seeing and enjoying each and every year.

By Jack C Arnett My name is Jack Arnett. I am a Kentucky native and an avid bird watcher. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Dealing With a Bleeding PARROT

Blood can be well, disgusting to deal with. Nothing is more heart-wrenching or perhaps nerve-wracking to find your bird suddenly has an injury that is bleeding and needs to be dealt with immediately. If your bird started bleeding right now, would you know what to do? Because birds are small, a seemingly low amount of blood loss to us can mean a major loss to them.

Photo  by  DearPioneer 

When handling a bird to control bleeding, a good restraint technique is important to ensure that the bird is being immobilized, while not getting overheated. Holding the bird in a towel or small blanket will help immobilize and calm the bird.

Bleeding from broken blood feathers:

Breaking a blood feather is not uncommon, especially in the species that tend to be rough, like caiques. Feathers are delicate when growing in, and because a new feather does have a blood supply, can bleed quite badly. When trying to stop bleeding on a blood feather, do not apply silver nitrate or commercial aids like kwik stop, as these products can actually damage the feather follicle. Apply pressure to the area and wait. If the bleeding stops, observe the bird carefully. Depending on the location of the feather, you may want to pull the feather to prevent future issues. If you are not comfortable with pulling the feather yourself, take the bird to your local avian vet so they can show you the proper procedure.

Bleeding from nails:

You can apply a commercial aid such as silver nitrate stick, or kwik stop to the area with pressure until bleeding has subsided. Silver nitrate and kwik stop are clotting agents that will help slow the blood flow. If you don't have these products on hand, you can also apply cornstarch or flour to the area, as these home remedies also will help clot.

Bleeding from beak

It does happen. On more than one occasion my clumsy caique has bonked his beak on something, cracked the very tip, and caused some blood flow. In this case, you want to apply pressure, corn starch, or flour. Avoid agents like kwik stop, as they will cause a burning sensation, and a bird's beak is very sensitive. Once the bleeding has stopped, apply something like Nu Skin, or another form of liquid bandage over the area to help protect and seal the wound.

Once the bleeding has stopped and the bird is stable, the bird should be assessed by your avian vet to see if other precautionary measures need to be taken. Beak injuries are painful, so offer your bird a soft diet alternative until the injury has healed and the bird is able to resume a normal diet.

Bleeding from the vent:

In the situation that your bird is bleeding from the vent, rush to your local vent immediately. Bleeding from the vent can stem from a number of causes including egg binding, polyp, and ulcer. Keep your bird warm and quiet until you can see your local veterinarian.

By Emily McNair - Article Source: EzineArticles

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BUDGERIGARS - Small Wonderful Parrots

Budgerigars have quite a few different names: Melopsittacus undulates is the scientific name, and they are also known as budgies, parakeets, shell parakeets, and common pet parakeets. In terms of taxonomy these birds are small parrots from the Platycercini - a tribe of broad-tailed parrots:

Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• Kingdom - Animalia
• Phylum - Chordata
• Class - Aves
• Order - Psittaciformes
• Family - Psittacidae
• Subfamily - Psittacinae
• Tribe - Platycercini

This hardy little bird has been around for five million years and is native to the harsh arid climate of the Australian bush. Budgies have been bred in captivity in an array of attractive colors, and some of the best known are:

• Crested opaline cobalt budgerigar
• Grey budgerigar
• Grey-winged sky blue budgerigar
• Light green budgerigar
• Lutino budgerigar
• Opaline dominant pied budgerigar

The light green budgerigar is the original native specimen and the others result from selective breeding of mutations. There are now thousands of possible color variations.

The crested opaline cobalt budgerigar is one of the budgies with a crested mutation - this crest of feathers on top of the head is quite distinctive and looks like a flat-top haircut. The cobalt coloring is very impressive and is enhanced by the opaline pattern of the plumage. This parrot lives to around seven years and grows to around seven inches.

The gray budgerigar has not only gray plumage but also gray feet. Like most other budgies it grows to seven inches and lives for around seven years. It has a white head and a series of notable black spots between the head and gray body.

The gray-winged sky blue budgerigar's mutation of gray wings was first identified in 1918, and the way these blend with a sky blue breast make a very attractive bird. The birds face is white or yellow. You can identify the female by the brown cere.

The light green budgerigar with its yellow head and green body is the classic budgie which you can see in is a native habitat of Australia.

The lutino budgerigar's bright yellow plumage capture's many an owner's hearts. It is the absence of melanin that means that there are no black spots. Looking closely you will note that the wing feathers are lighter than the rest of the bright yellow body.

The impressively named opaline dominant pied budgerigar (melopsittacus undulatus) can have a variety of different markings from light through to dark green. It first emerged in 1935, and you will often see three distinctive markings on the side of their face.

By Danny Oakes Danny Oakes writes about all different types of parrots such as the Meyers Parrot and all aspects of parrot behavior such as parrots talking. Article Source: EzineArticles

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3 Tricks to Teach Your YELLOW HEADED AMAZON PARROT

One of the more popular parrots breeds to own and train as pets are the Yellow Headed Amazon Parrot. They have become so popular because of their beautiful feather coloration. If you've attempted to train your Yellow Headed Amazon Parrot, it likely proved to be a very frustrating endeavor.

Although training and teaching your parrot tricks can be a bit challenging, there are steps you can take to help your parrot successfully learn new tricks.

Yellow-headed Amazon (also known as the Yellow-headed Parrot and the Double Yellow-headed Amazon). Two captive. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Speaking

First, it's important to realize that although all members of this parrot family have the ability to speak, some will just choose not to speak at all and there is nothing you can do to change their minds. Fortunately, most Amazon parrots do enjoy talking and the mental stimulation associated with speaking, so this shouldn't be much of an issue.

There are other methods available to encourage your parrot to speak. Using classical conditioning, meaning offering a bribe such as food or treats when a specific task or trick is completed, is often a successful method to train your Yellow Headed Amazon Parrot. After a word or phrase is successfully uttered, immediately give a treat or piece of fruit as a reward for the action. Your parrot will learn very quickly.

You can begin with a very simple word that has only one or two syllables such as the word "hello." Continue to repeat the word over and over again until your Amazon parrot responds with any sound. At first, any response to you, even if it's gibberish, is successful, and you'll want to offer a piece of food as an incentive to continue the training. Continue the process until your parrot begins to repeat the word in a more clear tone.

Once your Amazon parrot is able to clearly say the first word, move on to a different but easy word and repeat these steps. This speaking and training technique has been regarded as most successful, but it could take a bit of time before your Amazon parrot is successful, so it's best to show a bit of patience in the process.

Step Up Trick

The "step up" trick is another popular training trick for your Yellow Headed Amazon Parrot and is easy to teach. This trick requires your parrot to step up on either a branch or your fingers. Using the words "step up" and gently pushing your index and middle finger into your parrot's breast above their legs. They will begin to step up onto the branch or your fingers and repeat until there is no need to gently push, but rather your parrot steps upon command. Be sure to keep gentle when pushing into your parrot's chest and not poke them.

Turnaround Trick

The turnaround trick is another pretty easy trick to start with your Amazon parrot. Simply take a treat or piece of food and let your parrot smell it. Then using the words "turn around," rotate the food around their body slowly so your parrot is able to follow it, and once a complete circle has been made, offer the treat as a reward to your parrot. Your parrot should be able to turn around in a complete circle after a bit of training without the encouragement of food around their body, but be sure to give them a reward after successful completion of the trick.

Caring for and teaching your Yellow Headed Amazon Parrot can be very fun and rewarding. As mentioned, be sure to keep your patience, as these are smart birds but they will require a bit of time to master these fun tricks.

By Jessica Peloski - Jessica Peloski is a parrot enthusiast and author of pet parrot care books. Article Source: EzineArticles

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