As we move forward into the 21st Century, the lives of our birds are understood better than at any time before. Consider that just a scant 20 years ago, avian medicine was so poorly understood that many vets refused to treat parrots and other large birds. We have seen the advent of the pellet diet, … Read more
Crop Stasis Crop stasis occurs when the normal mobility of the crop is impaired, causing food to remain in the crop. The crop may appear enlarged orit may be hidden by feathers. Food, fluid and mucus or foreign bodies may be present in the crop. Crop stasis is most common in baby psittaciines (parrots) and … Read more
We just moved our six pet birds and one human (me) from New Jersey to San Diego, CA in one move. In as much as the birds and the human survived, we thought to share what we learned about carriers.Once it was decided that we were going to move our birds (four umbrella cockatoos and … Read more
Do you avoid feeding nuts to your birds because they are nothing more than fat-laden treats? If so, it is time to rethink this popular myth. Because of the recent trend toward fat-free diets, nuts have gotten a bad reputation which is both undeserved and inaccurate. Recently, two major scientific conferences have extolled the virtue … Read more
I have not been a bird owner and breeder for a large number of years, but I discovered early on that giving my birds a good diet could be expensive. By taking advantage of nature’s bounty, I have found that there are many ways to reduce my bird food bill without sacrificing the quality of … Read more
Starting a bird club in your area can be a very rewarding project. Making new friends, learning about birds and sharing experiences are just a few of the benefits a club can provide. For those of you thinking of starting a bird club, here are some of the things we had to do and some … Read more
There are as many light-colored mutations of the zebra finch as there are dark. Most of these birds are some shade of white, light tan, or cream, lacking some of the vibrant markings of the darker zebra finch mutations. I enjoy the light mutations of the zebra finch, for a light bird with an orange … Read more
Parrots are fun-loving. When you interact with them one-on-one each day you can expect a happier, better-adjusted companion parrot. One of the ways to have a parrot bond to you is to play interactively with the parrot.You can help keep a mature parrot more mentally and physically active as they get older by playing fun … Read more
“Happy Halloween!” said his Mom as she uncovered Conner Conure’s cage. “Today is special, Conner. A day set aside to have fun. We will share sweet treats today and make sweet memories.” Hmmmmm”, thought Conner in reply, cocking his head and white rimmed eye at Mom.Conner watched with big eyes as Mom got down his … Read more
Birdkeeper’s are caught in a dilemma – if you disinfect aviaries and cages you put your birds at risk from chemical poisoning, or if you don’t thoroughly disinfect you put your birds at risk from disease. The problem is serious. Avian veterinarians tell us that at least 75% of all bird deaths are premature and … Read more