As an exotic bird trainer, I use different tools to help keep training easy and fun for the birds and myself. One of the most basic tools is “the target” which is an object we teach the bird to touch. Once he learns to touch it, we then use the target to lead or direct … Read more

The moon was a sliver of platinum against a midnight sky and long shadows were cast on the ground from the shining orb. After an early dinner, the little Moluccan Cockatoo heard the sound of popping popcorn coming from the kitchen and he smelled the rich smell of its delicious aroma. Being closest to the … Read more

There are a number of diseases and disorders which can affect birds skin and feathers. Some may be inherited, while others, such as parasites, can be contracted. Knowing which are serious and what to do if they occur can greatly improve a bird’s comfort and even save its life. Some of the more common skin … Read more

Wild parrots spend their lives in the greenery of the rain forest canopy. Not only do they use green trees and plants for camouflage and bathing, their colorful, lofty home contains a huge variety of edible green plants. Greenery provides leaves, buds, sprouts, shoots, blossoms, and stems, as well as nuts, seeds, fruits and berries. … Read more

Weaning is an exciting but stressful time in a baby birds life. They are learning to explore and do things on their own at this age. They are also having to take in a lot of changes in a very short period of time. They’ve gone from you feeding them to having to eat on … Read more

It didn’t start out as an addiction, but then, addicts are never addicts at the outset. No, addictions creep up on you, a little at a time, through curtains of self-denial. Part of overcoming an addiction is acknowledging and confessing it, so this is the story of my addiction to parrots…It started innocently enough. Wally … Read more

West Nile encephalitis is an infection of the brain caused by the West Nile virus (WNV), a flavivirus commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. It is closely related to St. Louis encephalitis virus found in the United States. This virus is of special concern to bird lovers because birds are not … Read more

There are nine different species of lovebirds from the genus Agapornis. All but one, the Madagascar, originate in Africa. The Madagascar is indigenous to the same. The species are listed below: COMMON Peachfaced – Agapornis roseicollis Masked – Agapornis personata personata Fischer’s – Agapornis personata fischeri Peachfaced Masked Fischers RARE Nyasa Agapornis – lilianae Madagascar … Read more

5:10 The alarm goes off. I awake in my mom’s arms. Each night we sleep together on the couch. Mom bought some wood floor pieces to put by the couch for me to poop on. After I pooped on the carpet a few times, she wisened up. A few times during the evening when she … Read more

This seems to be a subject that comes up a lot and has been for years. Hopefully this information will help some of you in making the decision to use or not use grit as a part of your cockatiel’s diet.Cockatiels and other parrot type birds don’t need grit in their diet. In fact if … Read more