Most parrot owners are well aware of the common hazards that endanger our parrots, such as overheated Teflon, forbidden foods, poisonous plants, toxic metals, and others. There are many lists of poisonous plants and many articles about the various hazards to be avoided.Two other means of frequent exposure to toxins that have not been covered … Read more

Ever since my Avian Veterinarian, Dr. Rolfe, returned from a seminar, I’ve been on a personal mission. My goal is to find more information on an avian behavior referred to as “anting”. Very few people have ever heard of “anting” or may have seen it without being aware of what their birds were really doing. … Read more

This is the third in a series of articles on avian reproduction. The first two articles addressed The Incredible Female Bird Reproductive System and The Male Bird Reproductive System. This article discusses some of the factors which trigger and stimulate reproduction and as well as some of the resulting hormonal and reproductive system changes. Some birds, such as … Read more

This is the second in a series of articles I have written on breeding Greys. The first article Breeding African Greys – Part I covered setting up, mating and breeding through the hatching of baby chicks. Part II addresses brooders, handfeeding and caring for the baby chicks. Additional articles on hatching, weaning, fledging and socializing babies will … Read more

So you’ve decided to get a canary, perhaps as a result of reading my previous article, Canaries as Pets. I will assume that you’ve already decided that a canary is the right pet for you and you understand their basic nature and requirements. First, you need to decide how many birds you will get and what … Read more

As a rule injuries to wild birds happen in two ways, the most common being the impact of the bird with a window or some other immovable object. The second is a predator/prey situation usually involving a cat or dog. Some injuries are quite evident and others are impossible to determine by observation.The bird should … Read more

The avian male reproductive tract is very unique and different from that of humans and mammals.Male birds have two functional bean-shaped testes located within the body, just above the kidneys. This is in contrast to many female birds in which the right ovary regresses, leaving just one functional left ovary. The testes grow in size … Read more

Breeding African Greys can be a very rewarding and learning experience, but it also requires an uncommon dedication. The breeding pairs, the babies, and your clients deserve an informed, committed, ethical, responsible, and knowledgeable breeder.Breeding Greys is not just a matter of buying two birds, putting them together and letting nature take its course. Healthy … Read more

When I first became interested in birds, my idea of the perfect bird was a gleaming white cockatoo or a brilliant blue and gold macaw. The romantic images of these birds lingered in my mind. Despite the fact that my “little birds” (parakeets and later, a parrotlet) kept me entertained for hours, I longed for … Read more

Long before my husband Ken and I started Birds n Ways, we were pet owners. Over a period of seven years we had added two conures and four umbrella cockatoos to our family. We owned a book or two about birds and subscribed to a popular bird magazine, but we really knew very little about … Read more