“Toe tapping” is the common name given to a condition characterized by repetitive muscular extending and contracting of the toes of a bird. In most circumstances, this condition is seen in the Eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus), and has been observed by many pet bird owners and breeders for over a dozen years. “Toe Tapping” is … Read more
Megabacteria is a large gram positive rod shaped organism that causes severe debilitating disease in numerous species of psittacines and passerines in captivity and in the wild. (Note the large rod-shaped organisms in the photo.) Megabacteriosis or Avian Gastric Yeast is most common in budgies. Cases have also been reported in parrotlets, lovebirds, King parrots, … Read more
Seven years ago, I told my husband Steve I needed a pet to keep me company while he worked and that I wanted a baby parrot! We attended a local bird fair, where we stopped to see 3 darling 8 week old patagonian conures being hand fed. Steve put his hand in the cage and … Read more
Fledglings can confuse a breeder as they prepare for their first solo flight. Inexperienced breeders may take the preparation for flying as a sign that the chick is weaning. This article is all about cockatiel chicks who are getting ready for flight. There are many aspects involved in fledging, so we are going to cover … Read more
Perhaps this is a crisis particular to NY (the 3rd most litigious state in the nation) residents only, but I fear that this will spread quickly to all states. Let a word to the wise be sufficient, as the saying goes.If you are moving and need new homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, or if you have … Read more
One of the most common digestive problems of cockatiel neonates is sour crop. There are a number of reasons why sour crop occurs and it might be helpful to look at them in order to understand why sour crop happens to chicks. This is a picture of a Cockatiel chick with a very full crop.One … Read more
It is important to know why you are handfeeding and what you hope to accomplish through the handfeeding process. In this article we will look at the many factors that are needed to consider when choosing to hand feed. We will take a look at parent fed versus hand fed cockatiels. Is a rigid feeding … Read more
Since the horrible tragedies of September 11th, we have all been informed of the extra-ordinary but much needed changes in security regarding flying. For those of us who have the occasion to fly with our bird, these have certainly been interesting times. We all acknowledge the need for the searches and screenings and as someone … Read more
We want a macaw, but which one, how do we find the right one, and what do we look for in a bird? These are the questions we most frequently get asked on the Macaw Talk message forum.Selecting a macaw as your new life long companion and family member is a very important decision to … Read more
No, MY bird did not die, but this is what we need to do if we find one of our flock dead. There are several reasons to do a necropsy. We will want to protect the rest of of flock, and ensure it is safe to bring a replacement bird into the area. We may … Read more