Kindness and compassion toward all living things is the mark of a civilized society. - Cesar Chavez
Avian Care for Your Pet Bird
Pet birds are beautiful, intelligent, and entertaining creatures, and they offer a wide variety of size, color, and capability for those who wish to raise an avian pet. They require regular care and attention, however, and they generally do not like to be left alone for long periods of time.
Birds are not low-maintenance pets! They drop feathers, food, and excrement from their cages, are sometimes quite noisy, require a constant source of water and food, and their cages need to be kept clean of food waste and droppings. A variety of the more social birds will also require daily attention and handling to be happy. All pet birds need a balanced diet, clean water, appropriate caging, proper sanitation, and regular veterinary check-ups.
Many birds have a long lifespan — some species can live up to 100 years — and may require advanced planning on your part. Should anything happen to you and you are unable to care for them, you will need a back-up plan such as a relative or friend who is willing and able to take on your feathered companion for life.
When adopting a pet bird, creating your aviary or habitat is very important. An appropriate cage for your specific type, size, and number of birds is essential. Large birds require large cages and often your own housing arrangements will determine the size and type of avian pet you are able to keep.
Set up the cage with appropriate food and water in advance of bringing the bird home. Your cage should be big enough so the bird is able to comfortably walk around, climb, and fly. The cage you choose should be designed for easy removal of dishes and droppings, free from hazards such as cleaning fumes or cooking odors, and placed away from drafts at eye level so your bird will feel more secure.
Dr. Powers at Ten West Bird and Animal Hospital is uniquely skilled and trained to advise you about the right type of pet to choose and the health requirements of your new bird, such as proper immunizations, grooming, parasite control, and nutrition. Call us to schedule your first wellness visit and learn about all the fun you can have with your new feathered companion.
A must-have for bird owners are the Avian Studios videos, Expert Companion Bird Care Series: Volume 1 (M. Scott Echols, & DVM & Brian L. Speer, DVM), and Captive Foraging, The Next Best Thing To Being Free (M. Scott Echols, DVM), available for sale at our office or at the Avian Studios website.
For more information, read this AVMA brochure titled What You Should Know About Selecting a Bird.
Visit The Birdbrain, retail “Wing” of The Gabriel Foundation®. By shopping here for all of your parrot needs, you will be purchasing the safest, highest quality products for your birds and supporting so many other birds in need — 100% of proceeds from The Birdbrain directly support animal welfare!.
Join the companion parrot community at the Good Bird Inc. website for many resources and information about training your parrot.
Read this great article, Balancing Your Parrot’s Lifestyle, by the experts at Veterinary Partner.
Find information on training and handling behavioral issues in pet birds at the About.com website.
Find facts and information that will aid you in getting the right pet bird, caging, feeding, and keeping it healthy, as well as articles about bird watching and more.
The Parrot Pages is a great website that provides information and a source for avian products, breeders, clubs, and organizations.