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
A parrot’s beak is made of keratin, just like human fingernails. It has two basic parts: the upper and lower mandible. The mandibles are hinged to a parrot’s skull which gives the upper and lower mandible separate vertical movement. Their beaks grow continuously so parrots need constant sources for chewing to help wear down their … Read more
Several weeks ago, the lower part of my state, Michigan, was hit hard by severe storms. The storms were from the west and were moving east across the state. The storms brought high winds, hail, lightening, and tornados. I has been watching the weather reports all day. The storms had brought tornados in every county … Read more
At one time or another all of us have pondered the question of what is best to use to line the bottom of our bird’s cage. Although there are a variety of products which can be used, some of them are very dangerous for your birds. Learn all you can before making your choice. The … Read more
Birds have established protective mechanisms to hide or mask symptoms of disease until they are very ill. In order to survive in the wild birds must keep a normal appearance or they will be preyed upon. As bird owners we must be able to recognize early symptoms of illness. Any change in appetite, vocalization, activity … Read more