HER hands are scrubbed clean, the fine surgical needle and tiny forceps she uses have been sterilised. Small ampoules of sterilised water have been heated to the same temperature as the inside of the incubator and Megan is now ready to help a baby scarlet macaw to leave the egg. Her work as a hospital … Read more
Egg binding is the inability of an egg to pass out of the reproductive tract. Numerous causes contribute to egg binding and include a high fat diet resulting in obesity, a diet too low in calcium resulting in soft shelled eggs and impaired nerve impulse conduction, and excessive egg laying resulting in fatigue of the … Read more
Home made bird toys are becoming increasingly important to parrot keepers and their parrots. You don’t have to be an organized person to make great toys at home. All you need is a designated place to accumulate new parts, washed re-usable parts, scissors, and stringing rope. Set aside a budgeted sum to buy new parts … Read more
It is quite common to walk into a pet store and see many smaller bird cages made from plastic or thin metal. Such cages are quite inexpensive and give a potential new bird owner the idea that purchasing a cage is not a major investment. That may be true for smaller birds. But such cages … Read more
A frequent concern heard from bird owners is the inability to get birds interested in eating vegetables. Because vegetables contain vitamins and nutrients considered essential to a bird’s health, refusal to eat such foods can be very frustrating for bird owners. I had never had to deal with such a situation until this last spring, … Read more
Lead intoxication, also known as plumbism, is still the most commonly reported heavy metal toxicity in both companion and free ranging birds. Companion birds have a curious nature and are attracted by shiny objects, often exploring and examining their environments by chewing. Because lead is soft, it can be chewed and easily ingested. Waterfowl and … Read more
What is weaning? and what does this mean to the chick and to you the handfeeder? Weaning is Independence. The chick now eats enough on his own that he no longer requires handfeeding formula to maintain his body weight. As a responsible handfeeder your ultimate goal is to have chicks who are independent and able … Read more
Most of us know that parrots need toys to keep them entertained, safe from boredom and to help keep their beaks trimmed. But how many of us have considered using edible toys?Edible toys are a good way to teach our birds to eat new foods, are a good way to present large pieces of food, … Read more
The name Eclectus is derived from the word eclectic because of the sexually dimorphic coloration. Some pronounce the name E-klek-tus and others prefer Eck-lec-tus. Eclectus parrots are blessed with physical features that make them uniquely beautiful. Their head and breast feathers look like silky hair. Eclectus females are heavy bodied birds with a compact, rounded look. … Read more
Once a bird is diagnosed with Psittacosis, certain essential steps must be taken.If one bird in a group is found to be infected, it is reasonable to assume that all birds in the same air space have been exposed. Even though all exposed birds will develop chlamydiosis, it is strongly recommended that they be treated. … Read more