Old Magazine

When Sam and I bought Ariel, our golden-capped conure, Sam already had a bird, I already had a bird, and we had promised ourselves (and our children) that we were not getting any more birds. Additionally, I had privately resolved that if we ever did get another bird, it was certainly not going to be … Read more

Occasionally, we find it necessary to medicate our feathered friends. Here are some pointers to help you with this task. FIRST APPLICATION: Retrieve the bird from the cage. Set the bird on a table and hold its head by carefully grasping the neck where it joins the lower jaw, or mandible. With your other hand, … Read more

Our pet conure, Woodgie, had become a super-biter, but with only me. I even decided that he was a Daddy’s boy and had chosen my hubby as his pal, and was almost resigned to a life with limited Woodgie contact. But….he always wanted to be with me, even biting. So I decided to look at … Read more

Herbal medicine was early man’s first line of defense against the many ills and accidents that plagued him. Ancient humans learned from the observation of animals, including birds, how to use leaves, earth, mud and water to make soothing applications. Although the methods were crude, several of today’s medicines are based upon sources as simple … Read more

Grooming is an important aspect of daily care that is necessary to maintain optimum health. Bathing is included in this category. Routine bathing will not only enhance your bird’s appearance, but is necessary to keep feathers in prime condition.Most birds will eagerly enjoy a shower or bath. In colder climates it is best to bathe … Read more

After contemplating all the pros and cons of owning a parrot (or rather, allowing one to own you!), you may decide that a parrot is the perfect companion for you and your family. After this first major hurdle is accomplished, deciding on a species is the next logical step. This may seem like a confusing … Read more

You may be surprised at how affordably we can feed pesticide-free foods to our parrots. It is much easier now to select foods that promote health and longevity by minimizing the exposure of our birds to toxic pesticide residues, thanks to a report by the Environmental Working Group on the toxicity of produce. This report … Read more

Imagine for a moment, the perfect species of pet bird. This special companion would need to have personality, be easy to care for, be reasonably quiet, be affordable, and be colorful enough to please almost everybody. I’m sure many people are thinking of cockatoos, parakeets, or other members of the Psittacideae family. But there’s one … Read more

With a scientific name like Nymphicus hollandicus, it’s hard to imagine the wonderful personalities these little characters called Cockatiels possess. They can rival the antics of parrots much larger than themselves, including their larger cousins, the cockatoos. They can smoothly charm you into almost anything if the mood so strikes them. And…. breeders of these … Read more