Your bird’s cage is his/her home and should bring your bird a feeling of comfort and security. It is also the largest expense, after the initial purchase of the bird, that you will need to make. Great care should be taken when selecting a cage, especially, when you consider the amount of time that a … Read more
As parrot owner’s we know how special parrots are. They are the only creatures on earth that have feathers. Feathers are not only used for the magnificent and wondrous voyage of flight, but insulate and protect our feathered friends. Psittacine feathers consist of four types: down feathers, semiplumes, bristles, and the contour feathers.Down and semiplume … Read more
Relatively new to the avian pet trade, caiques (pronounced “ki-eeks”) are quickly making their mark in the world of aviculture and are gaining much-deserved popularity with their bright, festive coloring and playful, active personalities. These cocky yet clownish little birds are as friendly and outgoing as they are curious, their talking ability has proven to be … Read more
One of the most important things a bird owner does is select a veterinarian. After all, this will be the person to whom you turn when your bird is ill or hurt or needs any number of special things to be done. You must have confidence in your veterinarian’s knowledge and techniques. And you want … Read more
Now that you have found a breeder or pet store to purchase a bird from, your next decision is to find that special bird for you and your family. There are many factors to consider that will help you determine which species of bird is right for you. Your level of experience, budget, time commitments, … Read more
The wild housecat slinks across the living room, eyes bright and tail twitching. Across the room, she sees her prey, a pair of parakeets in a cage. Slowly, she moves into position, raises up to place her paws against a cage, then abruptly jumps away as the parakeet nips her whiskers. She backs away to … Read more
“Let your food be your medicine” said Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, who compiled a list of over four hundred herbs and their uses. Herbs, spices and other nutritional substances are the oldest form of medicine known to man. While modern or “allopathic” medicine is barely a century old, the practice of natural medicine using … Read more
Many bird owners have wondered about building their own cage at one time or another. I’m writing this to share the knowledge I’ve gained about zinc and the process of galvanizing. Galvanized means iron (steel) coated with zinc. If it is coated with something else then it is anodized or plated. Galvanized implies zinc. The … Read more
Zinc is extremely toxic to birds. Although a bird requires a certain amount of zinc to remain healthy, too much zinc is very dangerous and can cause degeneration in the liver, kidney and pancreas and even death. Unfortunately, zinc is all around us, and given the opportunity, our “inquisitive” and “unceasingly exploring” charges will be … Read more
Proper and adequate avian nutrition combined with good husbandry is probably the single most important factor in insuring that your pet bird lives a long and healthy life. The good husbandry aspect is very straightforward; supply your companion with a roomy, clean environment with full spectrum lighting, plenty of toys, quality time with you, regular … Read more