Friday, February 23, 2018

PECULIARITIES in breeding CANARIES

busy birds
Photo by erix! 
Incubation 

After the time of incubation, which proceeds for 13 – 14 days, the baby – birds start hatching. The knock the shell from inside with the help of “ the egg – tooth ”, which is a small chalk tentacle on the upper side of the beak and with its help baby – birds manage to make a hole, which they broaden gradually. At last, they are able to get out of the egg, breaking its obtuse end. According to some people, the just – born birds look like “touching beasts " – nestlings with some fluffs, big raised shut eyes and wide open hungry beaks. 


Family life 

Only the female bird warms babies and just on the next day, it starts feeding them. On the day of hatching, they do not need any food – the yolk that it still in their abdominal cavity as a reserve is enough. The male canary takes care of providing food – it often feeds the babies by pouring grounded food into their beaks. The female bird looks after the cleanness into the nest – she either eats alone or takes out of the nest the excrements of the babies that are covered in mucus. In about 7 – 8 days the mucous membrane stops forming and small birds sit on the nest ' sedge alone, put their posteriors out and shoot their excrements away. Cares in the nest take about 16 days. After that young birds leave the nest, but their parents continue to feed them additionally for a certain time. 

ADVICE: If the birdcage is big enough, leave the family together. But if the female bird starts pulling its feathers out to build a new nest you should separate the young birds from their parents. 

Controlling the nest 

You can quietly look in the nest until the 14. days. Then it is better to leave everything in peace. If small canaries stay deeply crouched and cuddle into each other into the nest, it is very dangerous if you put your hand inside. They can get freighted and to go out of the nest and thus to hurt themselves.


ADVICE: If it happens so that a small canary falls out of the nest, take it into your palms and hold it at least for half an hour near the radiator. Only then return it back to the nest. 

Feeding 

During the time of incubation and breeding the small birds : 

Give calcium to the female birds. Generation of eggs spends calcium in great amounts from its body. 

Add additional nourishing mixtures for the growth of small birds (they can be found in a zoo – shops ). They should be at disposal of parent birds all the time while they feed the baby – birds. Besides, often control these mixtures to be fresh. They should be loose and easy to break them to pieces. 

Growth of baby – birds 

1st – 5th day... Baby – canaries are still with eyes shut and take up embryonic position; they lie down with their bellies up without stretching their necks. 

6th day. They open their eyes. The tubules on feathers can be clearly seen 

7th – 8th day. The canaries start shooting alone their excrements out of the nest. 

12th day. The tubules covering the feathers now get torn and feathers grow. 

17th – 18th. Yong canaries leave the nest, but they are still additionally fed by their parents. 

30th day. Young birds are fully independent. 

2nd – 6th month. Languishing because of “ youth change ". All feathers are changed except for the flying ones. All feathers get the same full color that old birds have and now the young ones are sexually mature.





Thursday, February 22, 2018

More PARROT FACTS for Fun

Psittacus erithacus Galego: Loro gris do Congo...
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Potential parrot owners need to do plenty of research about parrot facts before taking that final plunge. Of course, because there is so much to know about these beautiful pets, lots of it is just plain fun. Be careful not to get so caught up in the fun, though, that you ignore the serious aspects. 

1. Parrots have to be parented, especially the larger, smarter ones. They require as much attention and care as a three-year-old human child. They need love, persistence, and patience, too.

2. Parrots need huge amounts of exercise. In the wild, they forage for more than 50 miles every day, so in captivity, they have tons of energy that must be burned. If they don't get it, the owner will be more than a little sorry.

3. Parrots need a lot of entertainment and stimulus to their intellect. The larger ones can be almost brilliant, among the smartest of all the animals, along with magpies, ravens, and jays. They can copy sounds, and everyone knows that many can imitate the human voice. African Grays have even been taught simple sentences and how to answer simple questions. To keep them entertained when you can't, make sure they have several parrot toys in their cages at all times, and rotate them every week or so.

4. The larger birds whose beaks are huge, strong and sharp, and who have talons as well, are not good pets for young children who don't realize the bird might not be friendly. You should supervise them with guests, as well.

5. They can live a long, long time. Macaws and other larger parrots can sometimes live for up to 80 years. Even little parakeets, lovebirds, and cockatiels can live from ten to fifteen years, longer than many breeds of dogs. Even small birds need a significant commitment from prospective owners.

6. Parrots' beaks are curved and they have 4 talons, two pointing back and two pointing forward. This is known as zygodactylism. Obviously, parrots need strong feet that can grasp since their only physical position is sitting on a branch.

7. Of all the parrots, most people think the African Gray is the smartest. Two, in particular, Einstein and Alex, were able to speak as many as 1000 vocabulary words.

8. In order to breed parrots, all you need is a cage big enough for two and a nesting box. They pretty much take care of the rest themselves.

There are a lot more parrot facts to be learned.




Wednesday, February 21, 2018

PARROT FACTS to Entertain

Parrots - Photo: Pixabay
There is so much to know about parrots, but you must know the parrot facts from fiction. Maybe you know some things about those famous African Greys you've seen on television, but there is so much more to know about the parrot family in general. Coming in amazingly different sizes, shapes, colors, and intelligence levels, they still share some things in common.

1. Those beautiful birds known as parrots that come in green, blue, red, yellow, orange, even hyacinth, are made up of 350 species.

2. Almost all parrots are monogamous. This is somewhat unusual in the bird world. Even birds that mate for a season is known to be "promiscuous." Laying white eggs, parrots like nesting in tree holes or cliff cavities when in the wild. When living with people they must be provided with nesting boxes.

3. They are some of the most intelligent creatures in the animal kingdom, and the most brilliant of birds, in addition to ravens, crows, and jays. African Grays, particularly one bird known as Alex, can associate words with meanings and speak in simple sentences. They can calculate and answer brief questions with up to 80% accuracy. Experts disagree whether this comes from the bird's understanding or not. Some think the trainer, consciously or not, signals the bird in some way to give the desired response.

4. Without the vocal chords that mammals have, they make their sounds by blowing air over their tracheas that have 2 halves.

5. Strangely enough, their beaks are unhinged. This is not the case with any other kind of bird.

6. At least one parrot, the New Zealand Kea, is able to skillfully work with tools.

7. Parrots in the wild spend huge amounts of their day foraging, requiring large amounts of energy, and for this reason, they require an enormous amount of stimulation when kept in captivity. They require as much attention as a three-year-old human child, more than many pet owners are prepared to offer.

8. Almost all parrots, except Lorikeets, eat nuts, fruits, seeds, and small insects. Lorikeets, on the other hand, eat only fruit and fruit nectar.

9. They can live a very long time, with some of the larger birds living up to 80 years. Even the small budgies and lovebirds can live for 10 or 15. Many of these birds outlive their owners, making it necessary for more and more bird rescues to take place.

10. Almost half are endangered because of poaching, pest control, or capture for sale. In so many places in the world parrots are slaughtered because of destruction to crops.
Now that you know some parrot facts, have fun getting to know a real parrot.





Sunday, February 18, 2018

Before You Raise TURKEYS - Terminologies and Interesting Facts You Should Know

Wild Turkey - Photo: Pixabay
Ideally, before you raise turkeys, it is helpful that you know the terminologies and interesting facts about turkeys so that you wouldn't be thrown off guard when you read any related materials about turkeys. Raising turkeys on a small farm can be fun and profitable because they can be rotated like any other cash crop on your property. If you have a few acres that you could rotate pastured turkeys on, this could be a good side business for the small farmer.

Here are some terminologies to broaden your horizon when you raise turkeys:

Tom
Adult male turkey

Hen
Adult female turkey

Poult
Young one of turkey

Snood or Dew bill
The fleshy protuberance near the base of the beck

Caruncles
The fleshy protuberance on the head and neck usually pink or red in color which appears from about 5th week of age

Dewlap
A large flap skin is seen immediately below the chin

Bread
A tuft of hair attached to the skin of the upper chest region

Strut
Mating behavior of male turkey

Shooting the red
The development of caruncles and this is supposed to indicate the most difficult time in the life of young turkey

Debeaking
Poults should be debeaked to control feather picking and cannibalism. Debeaking can be done at day old or 3-5 weeks of age. Remove the beak at about one half the distance from nostril to the tip of the beak.

Desnooding
Removal of the snood or dewbill is to prevent the head injuries from picking and fighting. At the day old the snood can be removed by thumbnail or finger pressure. At 3 weeks of age, it can be cut off close to the head with sharp scissors.

Detoeing or toe clipping
Clipping is done at a day old by removing the tip of the toe just to the inside of the outer most toe pad including the entire toenail.

When most people think of a turkey they think of Thanksgiving dinner. While most who raise turkeys raise them for eating, some keep turkeys as a pet. And some do both, keep some as a pet while eating the others. There are many different breeds of turkeys, however, there are two varieties, domestic and wild. The wild turkey lives and breeds in the wild and some are kept as pets. It can fly and is said to be smarter than the domestic.

The domestic turkey is the type eaten on Thanksgiving and they cannot fly. The domestic and wild turkeys are physically different. Domestic turkeys are much larger than the wild turkeys. Wild turkeys have brown tipped tails, while the domestic is white. A wild turkey is much faster than the domestic turkey. The fastest wild turkey can run up to 35 mph, while a full grown domestic turkeys pace is a slow walk (females are a little faster because they weigh less than the male). Wild Turkeys have better eyesight and hearing than domestic turkeys. Only male turkeys gobble, female turkeys make a clucking sound but cannot gobble. Only the male turkey can fan his tail feathers, females cannot.

The turkey's crop is also called the craw. When turkeys feed they swallow lots of food which is stored in their crop. They then go to a safe place to loaf and process the food. Before you raise turkeys too, you need to know that turkeys don't have teeth, but they grind their food (even hard seeds and nuts like acorns) in their second stomach, the gizzard. This is the muscular stomach below the crop which is the glandular stomach. Look for the gizzard in the giblet bag.

All commercial turkeys produced today are the white broad breasted turkey breed. This breed was first used for commercial turkey production in the late 1950's. By the late 1960's the majority of the industry used this turkey breed.

The cost of raising a turkey is affected by many factors, including buildings, equipment, labor, feed costs, and interest on loans. Feed costs amount to almost two-thirds of the cost of raising a turkey. Geographic location, degree of automation, and size of the farm all contribute to differences in the costs of raising turkeys.

    By Andrew Grey
    Andrew Grey is the author of "The Essential Beginners Guide To Raising Turkeys". If you would like to learn more tips on how to raise turkeys and avoid the costly mistakes. Learning the right path to start to raising turkeys is vital for new turkey owners.
    Don't forget to claim your FREE "Fast-Start Guide: What You Need To Know Before Raising Turkeys" eReport!
    Article Source: EzineArticles


Saturday, February 17, 2018

Fact Sheet: RED-TAILED HAWK - Buteo jamaicensis

(Original Title: Red-Tailed Hawk)

Female Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) eat...
Female Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) eating a squirrel. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Red-tailed Hawk is the most common hawk in North America. It soars over the open country in search of its prey or perches in a tree at the edge of a field or meadow. With its sharp eyes peeled, it watches for the slightest movement signaling the presence of prey.

Description
The Red-tailed Hawk is a large bird measuring 18 to 25 inches in length and has a wingspan of 37 to 52 inches. Its back, head, and throat are reddish-brown, and its chest and belly are white with brown streaks. Both the adult and immature birds have a prominent brown belly band that can be seen from a distance.

When perched, the coloration on the wings blends with the back, but when in flight, the pale underside is exposed. The wings have a dark bar at the leading edge and dark tips. Its broad tail is reddish-brown or rust colored on the top and pink below. The legs and feet are yellow.
The Red-tailed Hawk's coloration is variable depending on the subspecies, age, and habitat. The shape and color of the tail and the belly band are the best identification markers to look for in an adult.

Habitat
The Red-tailed Hawk tolerates a wide range of habitats. It can be found in deserts, grasslands, deciduous and coniferous forests as well as tropical rainforests. Its preferred habitat is mixed forests and fields with cliffs or trees that can be used as perches. The Red-tailed Hawk can be found throughout North America except the arctic region.

Mating and Nesting Habits
The Red-tailed Hawk reaches sexual maturity at three years of age. Once he finds a mate, he will stay with her year after year only taking a new mate when the first one dies. The courtship ritual consists of aerial maneuvers with both flying in circles and shrilling loudly. The male will break off and shoot upward only to dive back down again. After climbing and diving several times, the male approaches the female from behind. He grabs her talons and the fight begins.

The pair uses and defends the same nesting area year after year. They build the nest together usually placing at least 12 feet off the ground. It's not uncommon for the Red-tailed Hawk to build its nest on a cliff ledge 35 or more feet in the air.

The nest is huge, sometimes 35 inches in diameter and can be up to 3 feet tall. It is built of twigs and lined with pine needles and other soft plant matter. The nest is kept clean with fresh plant matter throughout the breeding season.

The Red-tailed Hawk competes with several different birds, including the Great Horned Owl for nesting sites. It is not uncommon for one species to destroy the eggs and kill the young in a hostile takeover.

The female starts laying her eggs in April, producing one every other day. The eggs are a bluish-white and the clutch is composed of 1 to 5 eggs. Both the male and the female Red-tailed Hawk incubate the eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the female tends the hatchlings and the male hunts. He provides food for the chicks as well as his mate. After 42 to 46 days, the chicks begin leaving the nest for short flights. For the following 10 weeks, they continue to depend on their parents while they learn to fly and to hunt.

Feeding Habits
The Red-tailed Hawk is carnivorous. Its diet is mainly composed of small mammals such as rabbits and rodents. It will also prey on snakes, lizards, birds, and fish. It is an opportunistic feeder and feed on whatever is available. It usually hunts from an elevated perch. Once its spotted prey, it swoops down and seizes it. It will even snatch a bird right out of the air.

Flight
The Red-tailed Hawk soars rather than continuously flapping its wings. The strokes are deep and slow. During the regular flight they average 20 to 40 mph, but when diving after prey it can reach speeds of close to 120 mph.

Voice
The Red-tailed Hawk's harsh kk-eee-er is often described as a scream.

Conservation Status
It is protected in the United States, Mexico, and Canada by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Interesting Trivia
o The Red-tailed Hawk displays sexual dimorphism. The female is 25% larger than the male.
o The Red-tailed Hawk is a popular bird in falconry.
o The feathers of the Red-tailed Hawk are considered sacred by some Native American tribes.
o Their eyes are keen. The Red-tailed Hawk can spot a mouse a mile away.
o The Red-tailed Hawk can live up to 20 years in the wild.




Friday, February 16, 2018

8 Basic Guides To TRAINING Your PET BIRD

Bailey Bird
Photo by Jen’s Art&Soul

You brought home with you a beautiful Macaw, you’ve done your research and got it what it needs to be a happy bird. Now its time to train your pet bird to do all the neat tricks you’ve adorned from a distance in envy. Where to start? Here are some basic training tips for those of you who recently brought in a feathered friend.

The more you spend time with your pet bird the more you will become familiar with their unique personality. Like humans, these birds possess unique personalities that tell you how they feel in their own special ways.

1. Have you ever had trouble concentrating during long class hours or business meetings? Like people birds get bored too, so keep the training session short. 10 minutes are about the ideal length in retaining your bird’s attention.

2. Comfort and familiarity are important to birds too if you’re using props to train your bird then leave them near the cage and let the bird warm up to those items.

3. Once again, birds are like people in that they can’t concentrate very well with distractions. Turn the TV and your stereo off when you’re training your pet and try to find a quiet place away from the cage. If the bird, however, has some insecurities or is frightened you should probably keep the bird near the cage to let it feel secure.

4. We all remember things better when there’s a reward involved. (Remember that gold star you got for turning the homework in on time back in elementary school?) Find a treat that your feathered friend will be rewarded with if it performs a trick correctly. The treat doesn’t necessarily have to be food but if you do choose to give your pet something to eat, make sure it’s small and something that is easily consumed. Though praises or a good head scratch is always preferred.



5. Consistency is the key to success. Try to train your bird same time every day. That way your bird has something to look forward to and can get used to the routine.

6. Try to avoid your pet from developing bad habits. Biting can be avoided by keeping your hands out of beak range when training your bird. That way your bird won’t be as tempted to take a bite out of your finger.

7. If your bird starts to misbehave don’t get intimidated, remain calm and stay close until the bird calms down. You can leave when the bird has stopped stirring, this way it teaches your pet that acting out won’t get it what it wants.

8. Remember that each bird behaves differently and all birds require patience and commitment. Don’t expect for your bird to behave like a Harvard student after one or two training sessions. With abundant affection and consistent training, your bird will learn to build bonds with you and perform tricks.


By Roy Tanaka - Article Source: EzineArticles



Thursday, February 15, 2018

The Red Throated Conure - A Guide For Care and Health

natureparrots
Red Throated Conure - Photo by crazyanimal 
If you have a Red Throated Parrot, you have a very rare and beautiful pet bird. To raise and enjoy your bird, you must be willing to be patient, work hard, and dedicate a lot of your time. But you will be rewarded with the affection of an incredibly colorful and personable companion.

Here is a guide for its care and health that will help you enjoy a long and wonderful life together.

Diet

The Red-Throated Conure will thrive on fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Supplement this with a high-quality pellet mix. Table food is also good including eggs, pasta, bread, crackers. Nuts make an excellent treat when given occasionally.

Don’t forget to vary their diets to keep their interest high. And try to make their food as visually appealing as possible by mixing different colors and textures.

One of the most nutritious food sources is sprouted seeds. They are low in fat as they sprout and offer a different set of nutrients daily as they continue to grow. They are truly a food that keeps on giving. You can buy seeds that are already sprouted, or you can opt to do it yourself. But they are a wonderful investment in the health of your Conure.

Avoid avocado, peanuts, caffeine, chocolate, rhubarb and foods that are high in sugar and salt. These can prove to be fatal.

Living Quarters

The bigger the cage, the happier your Red Throated beauty will be. The cage should be large enough for your bird to spread its wings fully in any direction that it faces. A variety of horizontal perches at different levels will allow for climbing, but they must not cramp your Conure’s ability to spread its wings inside the cage.

They also need to spend several hours a day outside the cage. Providing your bird with play areas and perches outside the cage in an area that is bird safe is an excellent way to keep your bird fit, engaged, socialized, and healthy.

Human Interaction

Making a happy home for this parrot means dedicating several hours of your day each day to interact with your bird. This can include talking, petting, training, or just hanging out together as you read, pay bills, watch TV, or work on your laptop.


Scheduling this time every day will increase the level of trust between bird and owner and will help your bird remain tame and relaxed around you and other family members.



Because they are members of a flock in the wild, they need and expect this social interaction. By spending this time with your bird, you are more likely to avoid behavioral issues such as aggression, feather plucking, and screaming.

If you are unable to dedicate at least this amount of time with your Conure, choose another bird as its companion, or rethink your choice of bird.

Disease Prevention

Red Throated Conures are subject to a number of diseases. And even though there is no guarantee, there are many things that you can do to lessen the chance that disease and infection will cut your Red Throated Conure‘s life short.

Schedule an appointment at least every 6 months with an avian vet. Remove fresh food from the cage after an hour to reduce the chance of your bird ingesting mold and mildew that has grown on the food. Clean the cage daily to eliminate small pieces of dried droppings from becoming an airborne and potentially spreading disease.

Filter your bird’s air to keep its air passages clear by removing a large number of airborne pollutants that are present with a bird in captivity. Filtering the air continuously will help your Red Throated Conure avoid respiratory infections that can be so deadly.



Author: Debbie Davis - Source: GoArticles.com



Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Raising TURKEYS

Ugly(?) turkeyThe turkey is a large bird, native to North America. It is distinguished by its white plumage and a bare wattled neck and head. The name turkey was first applied to the guinea fowl that was thought to have originated in Turkey. However, the American turkey is a quite different species from the guinea fowl, though the name remained. In fact, the wild turkey was a staple food in the North American diet. It was known as a "Peru" in the 18th century. Some common breeds of turkey are Narragansett, Bronze, White Holland, and Bourbon Red.

There are three stages in Raising Turkeys: the breeder farm, the hatchery, and the turkey farm. The breeder farm is the place where the hen lays the eggs. These eggs are collected and sent to the hatchery. In the hatchery, the eggs are kept in special incubators after cleaning. These incubators provide the right temperature and humidity levels for allowing the eggs to hatch. Generally, turkey eggs take 28 days to hatch. The baby turkeys, also known as poults, are kept in the hatchery until they are moved to the turkey farms. 

In the turkey farms, the hen turkeys and the tom turkeys are reared separately. The poults should be fed properly and watched carefully, at least until they shed their down feathers and get the outer feathers. For this, they are put in climate-controlled barns that have soft flooring covered with straw or wood chips. They are fed on a soft powdered mixture of soybean, corn, and wheat. Other nutrients like barley, milk powder, meat meal, limestone, salt, vitamin premix, methionine, lysine and insoluble grit can also be added. Adequate water should also be provided.

Today, many advances have been made in the genetics of turkeys. This has helped to increase the size of the bird with lesser feed and in lesser time. The white broad-breasted turkey has been the most common commercially raised turkey breed, since the 1960s. There are also different strains of the white broad-breasted turkey that are reared in different parts of North America. Turkeys are bred specially to have more meat in the breast and thighs. White feathered turkeys are generally preferred since they do not leave any ugly pigment spots when plucked.

Turkeys take around 4-5 months to grow to full size. Birds less than 8 months of age are known as young turkeys. The hen turkeys take 16 weeks to mature completely and average around 8 to 16 lbs in weight. The tom turkey takes around 19 weeks and weighs anywhere between 16 and 24 lbs. Larger tom turkeys may weigh up to 40 lbs. These take a few more weeks to mature. A breeder tom turkey can generate up to 1,500 poults in a hen's six-month laying cycle.

Turkeys are given a balanced diet comprising mainly of soybean and corn. This is also supplemented with minerals and vitamins. A 30-pound tom turkey (male) needs around 84 lbs of feed on an average. The cost of the feed is generally 2/3 of the total cost. Use of growth hormones for Raising Turkeys is banned. Sometimes, antibiotics are also given to turkeys to prevent diseases and to increase feed efficiency. The quantity of antibiotics to be given and the withdrawal period are determined by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service). 

The turkey's health is inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or other state systems, and it may also be graded for quality. Turkeys that have been on antibiotics are not allowed to be processed for some time until the residue of the medicine has cleared from the body. Turkey farms are generally comfortable, providing shelter from harsh weather, predators, and disease.




Tuesday, February 13, 2018

6 things that we have to consider before buying a BIRD

P1170560 2
Pet Birds - Photo by fresnel_chick 
What to start with? 

First, we have to consider the following : 

What can I afford? 

The price of on parrot varies in large bounds independence with the species. You can buy for example a budgie for less than 10 $. The price of the cockatiel varies between 25 and 35 $. An Amazonian parrot and grey parrot can be purchased for about 300 – 400$, cockatoo for 1,000 $...... and the price of some parrots reaches $15,000! This is one of the initial questions which you have to answer. 

How much space will the bird need? 

Larger birds and even some of the small ones are very active physically and need big cages and space in which to play. 

Is there any free time for the bird? 

Probably this is the most important question. Birds are intelligent, playful and mostly “ social ” creatures. Will you have time to play with your bird? To care properly of it? Will it have the chance to be a part of your family? Consider the fact that birds live fairly long. A small parrot cockatiel lives for 20 years and more! Amazona or African grey parrot can live for 50, 60 and there are documented cases of birds that lived up to the respectable age of 100 years! Can you devote to this? It is not unusual to inherit birds for previous generations. Don't buy a bird if you think that you will soon get bored of it. 

How noisy is the bird? Will the neighbors murmur? 

Budgies and cockatiel are comparatively quiet. They are suitable to look after in a flat. Moluxco cockatoo could live in flat just if you have neighbors around you and six floors above / below you that like listening screams to cracking their eardrums. The African grey parrot tends to be one of the comparatively non-noisy parrots. Certainly, there are individual differences between birds. Somewhere there could be cockatoo, that don ' t make noisy to heaven. If really there could be found such, an enterprising person could make a fortune off it. Remember that noise is a subjective and relative sensation. A bird can be considered as “ non-noisy ” only at the background of another one, considered as noisy. 

How “ destructive ” could a bird be? 

Do you possess peerless old furniture? Rare books? Remember that these birds have strong beaks,. Some of them are less inclined to “ nibbling ” than others, but nibbling is completely natural behavior for them. 

Does the parrot need special food? 

Lory parrots, for example, need a specialized diet. Do you have an opportunity and means to provide it? Once you have made a preliminary investigation and have decided what kind of parrot you want, you can go looking for it and buy it. NEVER, NEVER BUY A PARROT IMPULSIVELY!




Monday, February 12, 2018

Things You Must Never FEED Your PET BIRD

Bulk Pet Food in Cape Cod
Photo  by Shannon At Zeer 
This article offers certain foods that you, being a bird owner, should never feed to your pet bird. If you have questions concerning a particular type of bird seed or fruit, consult your veterinarian. Buy your bird seed from a reputable producer like ABBA or Kaytee and read about the native diets of your bird species and supply a diet that features birdseed, fruit, and vegetables that closely resembles the natural food source of your particular bird species.

Before purchasing a bird as a pet, read and collect information on certain things to do and not to do. There are many species of bird that, if cared for properly, will be lifetime companions and family members.

Every responsible bird owner should know that there are certain foods and specific ingredients that must never be fed to a pet bird. Here is a list of six (6) food items that should never be fed to a bird or caution must be taken in the preparation of the food.

1. Chocolate, unfortunately, is not for the birds. That wonderful candy bar will mean disastrous consequences for your bird. Chocolate is incredibly harmful to a bird's digestive system. Initially, chocolate will cause vomiting and diarrhea. It can then impact the central nervous system resulting in seizures and eventual death. Chocolate and food containing chocolate ought to remain well out of reach of your feathered friend.

2. Though fruits are without a doubt good for birds, there are types that should by no means be given to birds. These include apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, and pears. The reason is rather stunning. These fruits contain minute amounts of cyanide within their seeds which is an incredibly dangerous and a likely lethal substance even in trace quantities. Birds can eat portions of these types of fruit so long as it is cut away from the seeds or core. Also, always clean fruit prior to giving to your pets, children or yourself. Damaging chemicals present in pesticides are often detrimental to small animals such as birds.

Avocado is one fruit that should never be given to your pet bird. Skin of the avocado may cause cardiac distress and heart failure in certain bird species. Better safe than sorry with the avocado so don't even bother letting them try it.

3. Certain types of vegetables are often harmful. Onions may cause acute digestive problems and mushroom, which is really not a vegetable but a fungus can lead to respiratory distress, kidney failure, and death. While some veterinarians and pet owners are worried about giving pet birds particular vegetables like potatoes and tomatoes, these vegetables are not unsafe if they are cleaned and sliced prior to offering it to your pet. Remember, check with your veterinarian when you have concerns about any food source, including fruits, vegetables, and bird seed.

4. Even if you like to have a few, never ask your pet bird if he or she wish to join you for a drink. Alcohol depresses a bird's organs which, in some cases, is fatal. Caffeine is incredibly harmful to birds also. It causes a cardiac malfunction in birds and, in some cases, can cause arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, hyperactivity, and increased heartbeat. Keep alcoholic and caffeinated drinks well from reach and out of areas where your bird can access them. Aside from water, natural fruit or vegetable juice is good. It can provide the additional nutrition your bird needs.

5. Salt or products containing salt should never be given to birds. Like in humans, excess salt often leads to dehydration, kidney dysfunction, thirst, and death. Due to their small size, it does not require a great deal of salt to have negative effects.

6. Finally, never offer your pet bird dry or raw beans. Dry or uncooked beans contain a poison called hemagglutinin. Hemaglutinin is no longer a concern after the beans are cooked so if you desire to offer beans to your bird, cook them first.

These are 6 food items that you need to avoid feeding your feathered friend. Knowing and avoiding these and other damaging food items will help ensure they will live for a long time. Pet birds can be very expensive. Don't take a chance with your bird's health by feeding it food that can be dangerous. So what should you feed your pet bird to keep it healthy and happy? To play it safe, provide a good quality seed and pellet diet and supplement with approved fruits and vegetables if desired. This way you will keep the bird healthy and happy.




Saturday, February 10, 2018

Hey PARROTS Train Your Parents To Start Training You

now roll over
Photo  by zappowbang 
Happy parrots enjoy training every day. Parrot potty training is one of the easiest things that we can learn.

If you want to be a happy bird like me you have to train your parents to spend time and invest in training you.  Let's face it we don’t like to be stuck in a cage or on our stands all day screaming our heads off.  We are going to live a long time so we might as well be happy.   Read on to learn how I was parrot potty trained.

If you’re not a happy bird like a lot of us are or were at one time, tell your parents to just start spending time with you.  One of my favorite things to do is to sing with my parents.  They’re not that talented so I enjoy training them how to sing.

For you parrots out there who like to come out once and while but you get put right back because of you poop on the floor or the furniture, tell your parents to start parrot potty training you.  It’s very easy to learn.  Here is how my Papa taught me.  He waits for me to poop in my cage while saying to me "sit" because sit sounds nicer than go poop.  

Then when I do he takes me out and plays and cuddles with me for a short time.  Then he puts me back in my cage and tells me to "sit again" and when I do (so to speak) he takes me out and plays and cuddles with me again.  After a short time the only place that I want to "sit" is in my cage or on my play stand.  Tell your parents potty training parrots is much easier than potty training dogs, cats or even children.




Thursday, February 8, 2018

COCKATIELS Are People Too

Klara Cockatiel, 2004
Photo  by wÅ‚odi 
Owning a cockatiel is not something that I ever thought would interest me. I am a dog lover. In fact, I will go out of my way to pet a dog. But not a cockatiel. Until...

A time came when I moved into an apartment that did not allow dogs, which was fine because I didn't have one at the time. But, it just so happened that a friend of mine had a cockatiel that he needs to give to someone who had time to take care of it. So I graciously took my new companion just to have some kind of a pet. Was I ever in for a surprise.

I didn't really know much about them, but I figured that a bird was a bird. Not at all true. There are some, like cockatiels, that are very drawn to human beings and make excellent pets, as well as friends. They are so full of personality that you can actually develop a personal relationship with them.

My cockatiel's name is Miss Birdie. I know, not really original, but if you knew her you would agree it fits. She is very much a "miss priss". She thinks she is the cat's meow (oops, bad choice of words).

She likes to ask a lot of questions. When I'm doing something she is not used to seeing, she will start to inquire as to what's going on. When I go into a different room she will call out to see where I am. If she sees me eating, she figures it's time for her to eat, too. If I turn off my computer, she knows it must be time for bed, so she will station herself on the appropriate nighttime perch and give me her little goodnight talk.

If I sneak up on her in the dark, she will hiss at me as a warning. She loves to 'duke it out' when I playfully thump her beak. She fights back as if she has a chance to take me. She will lower her head, step back and forth on her feet and flare out her wings to make herself look bigger. After a little tussle like that, we make amends while I lightly stroke the side of her head (over the ear coverlets) or flick her crown. They seem to find that very stimulating.

She loves to sit on my shoulder while I'm working at my computer. She makes this little purring sound like a kitten (oops, I did it again - good thing she's not here now). Occasionally I will secure the room and let her fly around. She loves a good workout. If I don't do that for a while, she will flap her wings briskly in her cage to work up a good heart rate. My bird gets more exercise than I do. I guess she's smarter than me.

I do have a couple dogs now and they find her to be as interesting as I do and vice-versa. When she goes to flapping her wings for exercise, they will bark and cheer her on. When they start barking because they want to go outside, she will jump in and cheer them on.

Cockatiels can live nearly 20 years. I hope mine outlives me because I couldn't imagine life without my bird. She is family.




Wednesday, February 7, 2018

SUN CONURE Owner's Guide

Sun Parakeet (also known as Sun Conure) perchi...
Sun Parakeet (also known as Sun Conure) perching on a branch and eating white flowers at Hamilton Zoo, New Zealand. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The sun conure is a small bird from the parrot family. It is known for its remarkable color patterns and its intelligence. This bird can be a great addition to your family if you learn what it needs and how to care for it.

The sun conure is only about twelve inches long from head to tail. They have a large head and beak with very striking colors. They usually have lots of yellow, orange and green on them. Their beak is black and their feet are gray. This bird originates from the eastern parts of South America, mostly by the Amazon River. It isn't found in as many places as it used to be found because people came and took the birds to sell them. They used to be found in Southeast Venezuela, Northeast Brazil, Northern Amazon, Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana.

One of the best things about this bird besides its beauty is how affectionate it is. They are extremely social and absolutely love to interact with their owners. They will just sit on your shoulder for hours and even like to be held! If you get this bird you will have to spend plenty of time with it. This definitely isn't a shy bird.

Because of how smart this bird is, it is even capable of doing tricks! Some can even be potty trained. They do have the capability to talk but they use a somewhat squeaky voice. The sun conure loves to perform for people and play. They also love to take baths so you should provide a bathing dish. If you don't put a bathing dish in their cage then they will splash around in their water bowl. You can also mist them with a water bottle because they truly enjoy this.

The minimum cage size for this bird is 20 inches long by 20 inches wide by 24 inches tall. You should put several perches in the cage of various sizes. Sun conures also love toys so make sure you get some for their cage. Try to get lots of toys so they will have something to do. They even like to play with things like toilet paper rolls!

You should feed your sun conure a base diet of pellet formula. You can also feed fortified parrot seed. These birds will need to be fed fruits and vegetables in addition to this base diet. You can't just feed them seeds and expect them to be healthy. Also, don't leave any fresh foods in their cage for more than a few hours though. Also make sure they have fresh water at all times. Make sure you never feed your bird avocado, cabbage, parsley and iceberg lettuce.

Sun conures do make really fun, fascinating pets, but you should be aware that they can be very noisy birds. They usually will start to scream in the mornings and evenings. It is an extremely loud scream. You have to be prepared for this. You also have to remember that they require lots of attention. If you take good care of your bird it can live to be about thirty years old.