Each season brings with it different situations which affect our pet birds. Winter brings a number of these, but it also brings the holiday season with its own potential hazards. Being aware of the possible problems can be a great help in preventing a tragedy. WINTER HAZARDS Fires In The Fireplace Enjoy the warm glow … Read more
Ozone is one of those love/hate topics, with people polarized on both sides. We hear about the necessity of the ozone layer to keep harmful solar rays from reaching the earth. Then we read about a government study that says ozone is the major constituent of polluting smog and that prolonged exposure causes respiratory system … Read more
Planning a vacation also means that you have to plan for the care of your bird if you are unable to travel with your pet. There are several options available to most bird owners that include boarding your bird at a pet store or vet, take your bird to a friend or relatives house, have … Read more
Anyone ever seeing a hawk-headed (Deroptyus accipitrinus) parrot, in the flesh …..er……. feather, will always say, “they will take your breath away”. They surely do, there truly is none more magnificent, in the parrot family. The hawk-head is rather a small bird as far as parrots are concerned. There size is comparable to a blue … 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
Instinctually, birds will hide signs of illness to prevent from appearing weak. A weak bird is an easy target for predatory birds and animals. By the time you notice any signs of illness or disease, your bird is extremely ill and you need to seek veterinarian care from an avian vet immediately.No two birds behave … Read more
Sex and the M & M twins Mickie was sitting on her first egg after joining our family. It was reported that she laid eggs even before there was a male in her life. It was too early to tell if this egg is fertile, but she and Murphy had been doing the dance that … Read more
For birds in the wild, masking illness is a means of self preservation. A sick or injured bird is more vulnerable to predators and other birds in the flock. Hiding illness has become an important means of survival and an instinctive behavior in wild birds. Our captive birds retain this instinctive behavior. Unlike other animals … Read more
Siva was a relatively new member of the household when I purchased Jennifer Warshaw’s book, The Parrot Training Handbook. He already knew his basic commands of “up”, “down”, “it’s okay” and “no”. I began by carefully reading the book from cover to cover and decided to start with something simple. I had previously used the … Read more