Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal and flower remedies frequently are chosen over traditional Western medicine. Today, Americans make an estimated 425 million annual visits to providers of alternative medical therapy versus 338 million visits to U.S. primary-care physicians. This change in attitude is prevalent in the care of pets too, including parrots. People … Read more
In this month’s column, I would like to discuss some emergencies that may arise with your bird. Some emergencies such as landing on a hot stove or eating lead solder from a planter can be prevented. Many, however, occur at the worst possible time. In many cases, a veterinarian needs to evaluate and care for … Read more
Zoonotic diseases are diseases that are transmissable from animals to humans. Young children, elderly adults and individuals with poorly functioning immune systems are at the greatest risk of being infected by a zoonotic disease. While there are a number of diseases which can be transmitted by companion birds, many are more likely to be transmitted … Read more
Considered by many to be the most beautiful of the commonly available conures, the sun conure has enjoyed an elevated popularity status in the world of companion birds for many years — and with good reason. Their multi-faceted personalities will delight even the most experienced of bird lovers, and their breath-taking coloring will attract the … Read more
Clipping a bird’s wings is done mainly for their own safety. Birds can fly into windows, doors, ceiling fans, hot cooking foods and any number of places in the home where they can injure themselves. Wing clipping is also a protection against birds escaping into the out-of-doors. Once outside, an indoor flightless bird can easily … Read more
This is the method which I use to switch birds from seeds to pellets: Give the bird the usual ration of seeds and soft foods in the morning; remove the soft foods and seeds in the early afternoon. The primary pellet and very small quantities of several of the samples mixed together should be available … Read more
Having an aviary in your home provides a unique opportunity to witness birds in an fairly natural setting. While any type of bird can be placed in an aviary, probably the most popular are finches. Finch aviaries are inexpensive to create, take up little space, and provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of these … Read more
Citricidal is the active ingredient in NUTRIBIOTIC grapefruit seed extract. It is referred to by several different names, such as Citricidal, Nutribiotic, Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE), and by the name of a similar product named Agrisept. It is a liquid concentrate that can be purchased at health food stores, and it has been used for … Read more
Zoonotic diseases are diseases that are transmissable from animals to humans. Young children, elderly adults and individuals with poorly functioning immune systems are at the greatest risk of being infected by a zoonotic disease. While there are a number of diseases which can be transmitted by companion birds, many are more likely to be transmitted … Read more
So many myths surround this sensitive and intelligent companion bird. Some of these myths have assumed the status of fact by virtue of repetition, but repetition does not make them true. Some of the most common myths are “Greys are clumsy”, “Greys need more calcium”, “Greys pluck”, “Greys are one person birds” and “Greys are … Read more