AFRICAN GREY PARROTS' Food

African Grey Parrot - Psittacus erithacus - macro
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When you invite an African Grey parrot to share your home, you are taking on a long-term responsibility to provide a good diet for that parrot for 50 years or more. Many owners fail to do this, even for a few months. Believing that bird seed is enough, they purchase a large bag of mixed seed, and feed their African Grey. Seeds are cheap, so bird food companies push them.

African Grey parrots' food must not be only seed, however. Such an incomplete, imbalanced diet is likely to cause illness. Seeds are high in fat and carbohydrates, and your African Grey will probably pick out its favorite seeds, making the diet even less balanced.

Most parrot experts agree that an African Grey parrots' food needs can only be met with a formula diet supplemented with a variety of other foods.

Organic Pellets

What is a formula diet for an African Grey? Organic pellets. I say "organic" pellets because many of the conventional pellets have unhealthy ingredients. Some have even been noted as containing potentially toxic ingredients.

African Grey parrots' food should never contain menadione. If the pellets you are considering for your African Grey list menadione as an ingredient, read on. The FDA requires a warning on every bag of food that contains it. That warning must read, "Person who handles needs to wear protective outfit, gloves, mask, and glasses."

Menadione may be added to give your African Grey additional vitamin K. A better option is to provide full-spectrum light for your parrot. An African Grey will get vitamin K from the light, just as it would if living outdoors.

Organic pellets also let your African Grey avoid the high quantities of sugar in colored pellets. Most African Grey parrot owners care enough about the bird in which they've invested so much money, that they don't want to give it a diet that is high in sugar.

African Grey parrots' food that is based on organic pellets will be free of contaminants that might be found in other pellets. In the U.S., government regulations force companies making organic parrot food not to use pesticides or other contaminants.

In addition to a basic, formulated pellet food, African Greys need many of the same food you eat.

1. Fresh vegetables: Offer your African Grey a wide variety of vegetables, raw or cooked. Think bright, deep colors for the most nutrition. Most vegetables that offer high nutrition to you and your family will be good for your parrot as well. Cooked legumes such as beans and lentils are good. Sprouted seeds are also good. Your African Grey will love them. To avoid contaminants such as pesticides, you may want to use organic vegetables for African Grey parrots' food.

2. Fresh fruits: In the wild, African Greys eat fruit freely. The trick is to keep your parrot from filling up on its favorite food and neglecting pellets and vegetables. As with vegetables, choose bright, rich colors in fruit for the most nutrition. Also, purchase organic if possible.

3. Other supplemental foods: African Grey parrots enjoy cooked eggs and small amounts of yogurt now and then. African Greys are more prone than some parrots to calcium deficiency, so you may leave the egg shell on the hard boiled egg, if you wish. You should not need to give your parrot calcium supplements if you are using a good organic pellet food. You may give a few seeds as a treat, but go easy on them.

No, Thank You

African Grey parrots' food dishes should never contain avocado, chocolate, or rhubarb. They should not contain any human junk foods or processed meats either. It should go without saying, but your African Grey should never be given anything containing caffeine or alcohol.

Water, Please

Remember, when thinking of your African Grey's dietary needs, that it should have fresh, clean water in its cage at all times.

Helpful Tip

For healthy African Greys, be sure you clean the food and water dishes every day. If your parrot decides on an impromptu bath, wait until it is done, wash the water dish, and give it a fresh supply of water.

By Anna Hart (C)2007 An avid reader and researcher, Anna explores many parrot breeds and offers more information about African Grey Parrots and their care at http://www.parrots-of-the-world.com. If you are interested in learning about parrot food made at home, you won't want to miss the information Anna shares on that subject. Article Source: EzineArticles

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Black-capped CHICKADEE - Poecile atricapillus

Black-capped CHICKADEE - Poecile atricapillus - Photo: Wikimedia/Flickr

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SUN CONURE Parrots - Analyzing the Exotic Sun Conure Parrot

Sun Parakeet (also known as Sun Conure) in a zoo.
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you look in a book of birds it's amazing at how many beautiful birds there are. There are small birds, ones that are great pets and ones that are just breathtaking. When you're flipping through there and find the parrots, one that will catch your eye is the sun conure parrot. These parrots are a lot smaller than the large blue or green macaws but are just as beautiful. If you want a parrot but don't want something too big or too expensive, a sun conure parrot might be the bird for you.

The sun conure parrots can be found all over the world in pet stores, but to find them in their natural habitat you would need to travel to Central and South America, Mexico or even into the West Indies. This is where these parrots reside in large flocks of up to twenty or more birds all year round, even during the mating season. When you see a large flock of conure parrots flying overhead towards the horizon they look like a beautiful sunset themselves. Actually, that is how they got their name. The bright iridescent colors of orange, red, yellow and green that cover their bodies are the same colors that you would experience when watching a beautiful sunset over the horizon. When a sun conure parrot is young there are far more green feathers that cover their bodies than anything. It isn't until they reach approximately six to eight months of age that they begin to molt and acquire the vibrant adult colors.

One of the noticeable differences between a conure and some of other parrots is that they don't have a very large speech capability. Their voices are far more screechy and birdlike than many of the other parrots. Now don't think that the sun conure parrots don't like to entertain you with sound though. They love to imitate noises such a doorbell or microwave. These parrots are able to learn some language, just not very much and the voice that they possess isn't one that most would love to listen to. Like I said, the sun conure parrots have a very screechy voice which they love to use to let you know what they're thinking. If your sun conure is happy, it'll screech to let you know. Unfortunately, it will also screech if it is mad, annoyed, bored or just trying to tell you good morning. For this reason, a conure might not be the best pet for someone who lives close to people that don't like to hear birds.

A sun conure parrot would be a wonderful bird to own because they do really love to be around people. Some parrots are just as content to be alone or with another parrot but the sun conure parrots love human companionship. Their lifespan is about twenty-five to thirty years if taken care of properly and so could be a good pet to have for many years.

By Laura Belle - Article Source: EzineArticles

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CANARY BIRD - Serinus canaria

Canary Bird - Serinus canaria

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Keeping A CANARY

Lavinia, like her canaries, is imprisoned. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is said while creating the canary, God had taken the same utmost care as he did when creating the earth so as to make it one of its finest creations.

The brightest semblance that a canary exerts is that it is both a wonderful pet to view and wonderful to hear sing. It is always in motion, cheering on its own and seems to have a keen interest in things that it comes across.

Truly speaking, canaries form that breed of bird that has been with men for centuries and its selective breeding has led to various shades and colors. The original wild canaries are mostly a drab greenish-brown color whereas it is well-known that canaries tend to be yellow. But yellowness has been developed by selective breeding. Generally, people want canaries mainly for their singing ability. Male canaries are the best singers.

It is nice to see, but to keep a canary there are several steps that should be taken essentially for its safe and secure livelihood. As is applicable in cases of other pets, certain conditions are also required so as to make the canary's life more comfortable.

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To begin with, care must be taken over of all its basic needs like food dishes and water that ought to be provided in a good state. Dishes tend to absorb moisture and that in turn can promote bacterial growth and cause all kinds of health problems and thus endanger the lives of these tiny species. They should also be provided with canary seed mixture and cuttlebone for calcium.

The canary's cage needs a couple of good perches. Therefore due concern should be paid to style, size, and materials to keep the birds healthy and content.

Generally, these birds remain happy in those cages that are large enough so as to enable them to fly at ease from one perch to another. Simply hopping from place to place fails to provide sufficient exercise. To enrich their lifestyle the cages should be at least 24" long by 15" deep by 18" tall. This is the benchmark that is expected and should be maintained before proceeding in any venture to keep canaries. Moreover, some people to let them loose at least once a day.

There are also limitations that should be stringently observed. Since these canaries are one of the most delicate species, care should be taken with windows and mirrors irrespective of their sizes - ensure there is no chance of injury.

There are also chances of harm from other pets. Since nowadays we are accustomed to having multiple pets, care should be taken that other animals are kept at bay. There is a possibility of losing the little creatures if they are allowed to fly free out of their cages without taking precautions. Try to make it a habit to clean the bird's cage thoroughly once a week including the seed (or pellet) cups, the water container, and the perches.

By Dr. Mark Clayson - Article Source: EzineArticles

Common DISEASES in PET BIRDS and How to Detect Them

Photo  by stefanwesteneng 

Often we are unable to detect illness in our pet birds because they are genetically programmed to hide them. This is because in jungles and the wild if they display illness and disease they will be killed at once. It is survival of the fittest in the wild. Some commonly displayed symptoms are listed below and what they mean in terms of bird illness.

Diarrhea- If your bird has an infection in the intestinal tract, because of bacteria or virus, there will be additional fluids in the stool. You must take the bird to a vet because if the food is moving too quickly in the digestive tract, nutrients are not being absorbed. Moreover, if the diarrhea is greenish colored, it is a symptom of metal poisoning or Psittacosis.

Eye Discharge- Eye discharge is very dangerous and can lead to the death of the bird. This symptom normally occurs in cases of Psittacosis. Psittacosis is highly infectious and can affect human beings too. Rush your bird to the vet and get other pets and members of the family checked too. If caught in time, it can be cured by antibiotics.

Lethargy- Is your bird not eating properly or is inactive? There can be many causes for this and none of them good. The bird might be suffering some serious ailment like infection, the heart of kidney disease or even cancer. Get your bird tested and treated at once.

Loss of Appetite- This again is an outward manifestation of some serious internal problem. Birds are fragile and neglect of these symptoms can lead to death. Consult your vet, and follow his advice.

Nasal Discharge- Commonly caused by dust, bacteria and even feather dust. Certain species like Cockatoos, Macaws etc produce a large amount of it. In case the discharge is colored and abnormal it is a normal clearing of respiratory passages. If it is colored, take the bird to a vet.

Puffed Up Feathers- This is a normal reaction of birds when they feel insecure or threatened. But if the feathers are puffed up even when the bird is asleep it is an outward symptom of an internal disease. Take the bird to a vet.

Vomiting- Birds often throw up during the mating season. Even so, check with your vet, just to play safe.

Prevention is better than cure, so clean the cage regularly and monitor the bird's feed and other habits. Use an efficient air purifier. Birds are a pleasure to keep, but as with other pets, they come with a set of responsibilities. Ensure that your pet is healthy and clean. This will prevent infections to the bird and to you and your family.

By Anika Woods - Article Source: EzineArticles

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Are you sure that you need a BUDGIE?

Budgerigars, Melopsittacus undulatus.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Before buying a budgie think about the following questions :

One or two budgies?

Budgies in natural conditions live in flights and it will be boring for one budgie to live in a cage.His friend, who can replace the company of other bird, could be a person but only in the case that he spends lots of time with his feathery friend, speaks to it and lets it fly. If the bird is alone most of the time it becomes sad and very often gets sick. If you are unable to spare enough time for the budgie or if the family is absent for a long time, it is better to start breeding a couple of birds. Many people think that when living in a couple budgies do not become domestic because they do not need human presence anymore.But if you're patient enough and if you have enough time you may breed budgies separately while they grow up until they become domestic and start perching on your arm and only then to bring them together into one cage.

Will anybody help you?

It can happen that on some days you can be very busy and to be unable to care about the birds It is very important someone of the family take care of them. And will it be possible for the bird to move around your home?

Home budgies do not need to look for food alone and to fly kilometers away but they also have to “exercise” their wings. These feathery ones will not be vital and healthy if they do not fly daily around the room at least for an hour. But is very difficult to keep the cage in one room with a cat–it instinctively chases birds and the is no trouble in catching the flying budgie. But an obedient dog very soon realizes that the bird is a member of the family and that it must not be disturbed.

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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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• ECLECTUS PARROT - General Health

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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