Many of us want to take our parrot out with us on an adventure. The thought comes to us easily, but in reality, if we simply jumped at our urges you would see even more lost parrots on the lists and in the newspapers. You could pop your pal into a carrier and be off, … Read more
Ten years ago, not many people knew about, let alone wanted, an African Timneh Grey. Today potential grey purchasers are doing their homework and researching which type of grey would be the best bird for them. Why the turn-around? The answer lies in the bird itself, and the pleasure of their owners. For a long … Read more
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
What is a healthy diet for my birds? Are pellets, seeds, and/or other foods the answer? The controversy rages. Knowledge of nutritional requirements for companion birds is still in its infancy, but there is no question that many vitamins and minerals are required to maintain both health and life. Too much of a nutrient can … Read more
Late one evening, my telephone rang and several of my birds answered “hello”, as I picked up the phone. The caller said “I have an African Grey that I want to sell for $100.00 and if you don’t come and get him, I am going to let him out the door”. I asked the caller … Read more
One advantage to breeding cockatiels is that they aren’t extremely hard to pair up and get results. But, if you are breeding for real quality (large, well shaped, well marked, good natured) birds, it’s a bit more of a challenge. Anyone can just place a nestbox on a cage, place two cockatiels of the opposite … Read more
Many current bird owners are faced with the dilemma of whether they should purchase or adopt another bird. There are several aspects that should be taken into account before you make the final decision. Even though parrots have their own unique personalities and individual preferences, they are still flock creatures. In their natural habitats they … Read more
Of all the pets available in the world today, the most colorful, intelligent and exotic are parrots. Many people consider them to be the ultimate companion pet. Shimmering in iridescent, kaleidoscopic rainbows of color, parrots are by far the most beautiful of any commonly kept pet. They are also considered to be the most amusing … Read more
Zoonotic diseases are diseases that are transmissable from animals to humans. Young children, elderly adults and immunocompromised individuals are at the greatest risk of being infected by a zoonotic disease. Immunocompromised individuals include those infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS Virus), patients taking immunosuppressive drugs, cancer patients, and the unborn fetus. Although the list … Read more