Expense

One of the first things you need to consider when buying a pet bird is expense. Some birds are high-maintenance, and require a lot of costly pet care. On the other hand, some birds are low-maintenance, and won’t be expensive to keep. In addition to this, some pet birds require a large initial investment.  For example, a Hyacinth Macaw usually costs around $10,000 USD. It’s important that you have extra money saved for your bird as well, to cover emergency veterinary visits. If you are truly committed to taking care of your pet bird, you need to manage your finances responsibly.

Housing

Before purchasing a pet bird, it’s important that you make sure to choose the right type of cage for your bird. If you plan to keep your bird in an aviary, be sure that it will be compatible with any other birds you currently own. If you want to purchase a bird cage, be sure that it is made of a non-toxic material, since some birds may bite at any plastic portions of their cage.

Type of Bird

Deciding which type of bird is best for you is also extremely important. It’s best to plan out your average week, factoring in any extra time you have to devote to socializing and caring for your bird. Depending on how much time you want to spend with your bird, you may choose a type that fits your schedule. For example, a Canary bird is relatively low maintenance, and does not require constant interaction with humans in order to be content.

BIRD FOOD

Many bird food mixes are designed to be colorful and visually appealing. However, it’s best to choose a mix that includes a variety of ingredients that are required in your bird’s natural diet. For example, some birds thrive on a seed-based diet, while others prefer a diet that is fruit-based. Depending on your type of bird, you may have to use caution when selecting the proper bird food formula.

CHOOSING A BIRD CAGE

Your bird’s cage should be fairly large, with enough room for three or four perches. It’s important to remember that your bird does need regular exercise, and enough space in their cage to fly comfortably between perches. Your bird’s cage can be either metal or plastic, though metal cages are much safer for many birds. Be sure that your metal cage isn’t coated in a potentially toxic paint, since many birds may chew at the bars of their cage.

TOYS

There are many fun and interactive toys that you can use to help entertain your bird. Toys can keep your bird occupied, which can prevent high stress levels and destructive behavior. Try to choose bird toys that have movable beads, mirrors and colorful attachments. However, it’s important to make sure that your bird’s toys are made of non-toxic material, and don’t present a choking hazard if accidentally swallowed.

TREATS

There are many different types of bird treats available for your bird, which come with a variety of flavors, ingredients and recipes. Commercial treats are the most popular for bird owners, due to their convenience and relatively low mess. When choosing a commercial treat, try to avoid any treats that include high fructose corn syrup or sugar as one of their top ingredients. Stick to treats that have whole grains, seeds, fruits and nutrient supplements. If you wish, you can also make your own bird treats from ingredients right in your own home. This can be a fun project, especially for young children.

WHY BUY BIRD INSURANCE?

Many people think of birds as being a low-cost pet, and may not recognize bird insurance as being economically feasible. However, purchasing an insurance plan for your bird may actually save you a lot of money. Aside from taking care of a portion of your bird’s medical expenses, many bird insurance policies may also cover theft of your bird. Some species of birds are extremely valuable, and may be a target for thieves.

CHOOSING A COMPANY

Due to increasing demand, there are now more options for purchasing pet bird insurance. When choosing a company, it’s important to obtain a list of veterinary hospitals where your bird’s insurance will be accepted. Some insurance companies will only cover procedures performed at specific hospitals, which may limit your options. Try to choose an insurance company that will give you the maximum amount of flexibility. It’s important to research the veterinary hospitals covered under your insurance plan for credibility as well, which can further aid you in choosing the right insurance company for your bird.

CHOOSING A POLICY

Once you have chosen a company to purchase bird insurance from, you will need to select a policy. Depending on your financial situation, you will need to decide carefully. Factor in the cost of your bird’s insurance policy to your monthly budget, and be sure that you can comfortably cover it as an extra expense.

Another thing to factor into choosing a policy is the breed of bird you are purchasing insurance for. Some birds are at  high risk for developing health problems, and may benefit more from a complete coverage plan. On the other hand, some birds tend not to require constant veterinary attention, and may benefit more from a “catastrophic” bird insurance policy that only covers serious medical procedures. If you have a bird species that is particularly long-lived, such as a large cockatoo, you need to make sure that your policy doesn’t expire after a set number of years.

Cockatiels are currently one of the most popular birds to be kept by pet bird owners. They are native to the outback regions of Australia, though primarily thrive in brushland, wetland and scrubland areas. Cockatiels are the only member of the genus “Nymphicus”, being previously considered to be a crested parrot variation. Cockatiels belong to the Cockatoo subfamily, and are classified as the smallest bird in that family. Cockatiels are sometimes called “Quarrion” or “Weiro” birds, though this is not very common. They were first described the the Scottish writer Robert Kerr, back in 1792. The “nymph” prefix in the Cockatiel genus is reflective of the habit of the early Europeans to name birds after beautiful ‘nymphs’, which are mythological creatures.

APPEARANCE

Cockatiels have a relatively dramatic appearance, which is mostly due to the crest of yellow feathers that is usually present on the top of their head. Cockatiels have primarily yellow heads, with reddish ‘blush’ marks around the cheeks. The feathers of the cockatiel are generally a bluish slate gray, with most of the notable blue accents being present in the wings and tail feathers. The wings often have yellow feather stripes,

BEHAVIOR

Cockatiels are one of the most popular species of bird for good reason – they are extremely sociable, friendly and easy to train. Cockatiels are able to comprehend both simple and complicated commands, as long as they are properly trained. However, if a cockatiel is not hand-raised from birth, it becomes much more difficult to encourage them to interact with humans. Most pet care supply stores have entire libraries dedicated to the behavior traits of hand-raised cockatiels, which are usually located in the bird care section. If you are trying to breed a cockatiel, it becomes slightly more complicated to understand their breeding behavior.

FEEDING

Cockatiels are most content when fed a varied diet that is based on a highly nutritious seed mix. There are some formulas that are designed specifically to meet the nutritional needs of cockatiels, though this doesn’t mean that you can’t add additional supplements to their diet. Most cockatiels will thrive off of a diet that includes seed mix, as well as fresh fruits or vegetables. If you choose to make your own bird food, it is essential that you ensure that it has all of the proper ingredients to keep your cockatiel healthy. For example, cockatiels need a high percentage of seeds, though seeds alone are not enough for them to gain proper nutrition.

HOUSING

Most cockatiels shouldn’t spend an extensive amount of time in their cages, due to their characteristic love of human interaction. However, it is still important that you provide your cockatiel with a spacious cage that enables them to have enough room to comfortably move from perch to perch. In addition to this, you should place your cockatiel’s cage in an area that is free of drafts or frequent cold air. Though cockatiels are relatively hardy, they may have negative health effects that result from being kept in a drafty area.

When making bird food for pet birds, it is best that you first research the specific nutritional requirements that your bird has. This is extremely important, since it will prevent you from constructing a diet that is not adequate for your bird. Even though some commercial bird food formulas market themselves as being “formulated” for specific types of birds, this does not necessarily mean that you can follow their ingredients as a guideline. Different birds may need different types of food ingredients in order to stay healthy, which can usually be found by researching your specific species of bird.

STEP 2 – GATHER YOUR INGREDIENTS

After you have figured out what types of ingredients need to be included in your bird’s diet, you can start carefully selecting your ingredients. It is always best to go organic, because the pesticides and chemicals in many inorganic food materials can be harmful to a bird’s health. It’s usually discouraged to use any type of fruit or vegetable that is not certified as being organic. Try to only select specific ingredients that are cited as being an essential part of your specific bird’s diet. For example, if your bird is not a seed-eating type of bird, refrain from using seeds in your homemade bird food formula. In addition to this, it is also advised that you use a powder-based bird food nutritional formula as the base for your homemade bird food formula. These formulas are usually very basic, and are meant to be used in conjunction with other food ingredients.

STEP 3 – MAKE YOUR FORMULA

Once you have decided on the proper ingredients to include in your bird’s diet, it’s time to compose your formula. Try to add each ingredient in the portions that are recommended for your pet bird’s optimum nutrition. For example, one popular recipe among some pet care specialists is made with applesauce, chopped organic fruit, cooked vegetables, organic eggs and cornmeal. The ingredients are baked in the oven until most of the moisture is removed, and then given as a food supplement to certain birds. If you are in doubt that your formula is able to provide proper nutrition for your pet bird, you can also include some high-quality commercial bird food in your bird’s diet. Most bird care experts agree that it is also important to give your bird special vitamin supplements in order for them to maintain optimum health.

STEP 4 – ADD VARIETY

The best way to ensure that your bird will receive proper nutrition is to create a comfortable range of variety in their diet. It’s essential that this variety be kept within the foods that your bird will be able to digest, since some birds have trouble digesting some high-sugar or high-fat food ingredients. Try supplementing your bird’s regular food formula with occasional treats of fresh nuts, chopped fruit or fresh vegetables. As every bird’s taste is different, you may have to do some experimenting in order to figure out which types of foods your bird will eat.

LETHARGY

In some cases, your bird may be sitting at the bottom of their cage while also exhibiting signs of lethargy. This can include inactivity, loss of focus, laying to one side and refusal of food or water. This is an extremely serious sign, and can be an indication that you need to seek the attention of a veterinarian immediately. Most birds only progress to this state of lethargy when they are in the advanced stages of an illness that inhibits their ability to function normally. As soon as you see your bird exhibiting signs of lethargy while sitting on the bottom of the cage, schedule an emergency veterinarian visit as soon as possible.

LEG OR FOOT INJURY

In some cases, a bird will sit on the bottom of their cage due to an inability to perch. This can sometimes be caused by a painful injury to their feet or legs. Try taking your bird out of their cage in order to inspect the condition of their legs, feet, toes and joints. Note any swollen areas, skin discolorations or visible injuries. Some of these injuries will heal with proper care, while others will require the intervention of a bird care specialist. If you notice any visible injuries on your bird’s joints, toes, feet or legs, it is best to see a veterinarian immediately.

NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER

Occasionally, a neurological disorder will cause a bird to sit on the bottom of their cage. This can be accompanied by complete or partial paralysis, flapping, laying to one side, or a crooked appearance of your bird’s head. It’s best to note any of these symptoms if they are present, and try to bring your bird to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Unfortunately, neurological disorders are often not treatable in birds, unless they respond to therapy or medication. Some types of birds are more prone to developing certain types of neurological disorders, which puts them at increased risk for exhibiting the symptoms noted above. If you are currently keeping a type of bird that has a known susceptibility to neurological disorders, seeing your bird sitting on the bottom of their cage should always be cause for concern.

PET BIRD FOOD INGREDIENTS

Even if you are purchasing a pet bird food formula that is designed for your specific species of bird (for example, parakeet food), it is still important for you to read the ingredients. Just because a formula says that it is adequate for a specific kind of bird does not mean that it will meet all of your bird’s special nutritional requirements. It’s recommended by most bird care experts that you research the dietary needs of the specific species of bird that you have, and use this as a guideline when reading the ingredients of commercial bird food formulas. In general, you want to avoid any bird food formulas that list ingredients such as artificial colors, artificial flavors or chemical preservatives. These ingredients can have potentially negative effects on your bird’s health.

PET BIRD DIET

In some cases, you may decide that it is best for you to use a variety of ingredients in order to meet your bird’s nutritional needs. In addition to feeding your bird a commercial bird food formula, you may opt to add fresh fruits, vegetables, sprouted grains and other ingredients. It’s very important to remember to thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables that you plan to feed your bird, in order for them to be free of pesticides or chemicals. If you wish, you can also add vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements in order to ensure that your bird is receiving proper nutrition.

USING POWDERED BIRD FOOD FORMULAS

Some types of bird food formulas are available as a mixable powder. These formulas do require some preparation in order to be fed to your bird, and are often mixed with other nutritious ingredients. It’s important to remember that most powdered formulas are meant to be used in conjunction with additional ingredients, and can not necessarily be used as a stand-alone diet. Because of this, most pet bird owners choose to use supplemental bird food powdered formulas as a base for homemade bird food. Homemade bird food is a great way to ensure that your bird is receiving highly nutritious, organic ingredients that are free from chemical contaminants.

RESPIRATORY ILLNESS

Open mouth breathing in pet birds is most commonly caused by a type of respiratory illness. These illnesses can be extremely serious, and can cause the death of the bird if veterinary pet care is not immediately given. A common respiratory disease seen in many pet birds is pneumonia, which can either be caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. This causes a bird’s airway passages to constrict, which results in labored breathing. In addition to exhibiting open-mouth breathing, a bird with pneumonia will often sneeze, wheeze or have noisy breathing.

ASPERGILLOSIS

The condition known as aspirgillosis is actually a reference to a category of diseases caused by a specific fungus. This fungus is classified in the genus “Aspergillus”, and is responsible for causing diseases that inhibit proper respiratory functions. In most cases, a fungus “ball” will accumulate in a bird’s lung area, which is not detectable unless the bird has a chest x-ray. Aside from open-mouth breathing, aspergillosis can also cause symptoms such as coughing up blood, fever, and severe difficulty breathing. This infection is usually fatal if not immediately treated with medications. There are certain anti-fungal drugs for birds that may be effective against aspirgillosis, though most birds are unable to survive this condition.

AIRBORNE TOXIC SUBSTANCES

According to some bird care experts, inhalation of airborne toxins can cause some birds to exhibit open-mouth breathing. This is because birds are often caged in indoor areas where they are exposed to air fresheners, incense, household cleaners, secondhand cigarette smoke, kerosene heaters and other household toxins. Birds can be especially sensitive to the inhalation of airborne toxins, so it is essential that you indentify the substance that is causing the respiratory distress and remove it immediately from your bird’s environment. Treatment for inhalation of airborne toxins is extremely difficult, since most birds will die soon after exhibiting the symptoms of respiratory distress.

PREVENTION OF RESPIRATORY DISTRESS

To ensure that your bird does not suffer from respiratory distress, it is best for you to choose carefully about the placement of your bird’s cage. Do not keep your bird in a room that is frequently contaminated by cigarette smoke or air fresheners. Try to avoid using powerful household cleaners in a close proximity to your bird’s cage, as the airborne inhalation of toxic cleaners can cause severe respiratory problems. In addition to this, it is not recommended that you use household cleaners to disinfect your bird’s cage. While it is important to keep your bird’s living space clean, you also need to ensure that they will not have adverse reactions from the cleaning substances that you use.

Cockatiels are a very commonly kept pet bird, due to their many positive characteristics. Cockatiels are generally very intelligent, and can learn to obey both simple and complicated commands. Most cockatiels can also learn to speak, sometimes imitating common phrases that people speak around their cage. Cockatiels do require a significant investment in time, due to their need for constant interaction. It’s best to keep a cockatiel in an environment where they will have constant access to new experiences, such as the living room or kitchen. Most cockatiels need to be taken out of their cages on a regular basis, and can be trained to be very well-behaved. If you choose to adopt a hand-raised cockatiel, proper training will help them to be a gentle, affectionate and playful companion.

PARAKEETS

The parakeet is one of the most popular species of bird selected by pet owners worldwide. This is because parakeets are relatively inexpensive, easy to care for, and respond well to training. However, an improperly trained parakeet can be slightly difficult to deal with, so it is usually best to start training a parakeet as soon as they become a member of your household. Parakeets are often cited as being one of the best birds to interact with children, due to their tame behavior when properly trained. When keeping a parakeet, it is best if you do not keep two birds at once. This can cause parakeets to reject human bonding, and to instead focus on interacting with the other parakeet.

CANARIES AND FINCHES

Both canaries and finches make great pet birds, though are usually chosen for their relatively low-maintenance bird care needs. Because finches and canaries are generally low-maintenance birds, they tend not to care too much for interacting with humans. If you are looking to keep a species of bird that does not require constant attention, either a finch or a canary would probably be your best choice. Most of these birds are also well-known for their upbeat vocal music, which can brighten the mood in any type of household. However, if you are looking to keep a bird that will be affectionate towards humans, you may want to choose a different type of bird.

AFRICAN GREY PARROTS

African grey parrots are said to be the most intelligent species of bird, and are one of the favorites among many pet bird owners. They have specialized pet care needs, mostly due to their need for constant intellectual interaction. African grey parrots are usually very affectionate, and have the ability to form a strong bond with their human owners. Most reports of bad-tempered or destructive behavior in African gray parrots are a direct result of a lack of attention. If you are looking for a bird that will thrive off of a deep emotional bond with humans, African grey parrots are usually the best choice. However, if you do not have a sufficient amount of time to devote to spending with your bird, then you may want to select a type of bird that requires less attention.

STEP 1

Prepare your clipping tools. It’s best to use a small nail clipper that is designed for small animals such as cats, birds or dogs. If you have access to an electronic filer, this can also be used to make the trimming process slightly easier. It’s highly recommended that you also have a styptic powder available while trimming your bird’s nails, since this is an effective tool for stopping any bleeding that may occur.

STEP 2

Get your bird ready for the trimming process. It’s best to wrap your bird’s entire body in a soft towel, and have an assistant that is responsible for keeping the bird still during the clipping process. The towel should not be excessively long, and should be just long enough to overlap when wrapped around the bird’s body. It’s essential that you do not apply any pressure to your bird’s body, as this can cause your bird to suffocate. Have your assistant keep one finger securely under your bird’s beak, as this helps to prevent biting. Expose your bird’s feet through the towel.

STEP 3

Have your assistant take their other hand and gently extend your bird’s feet, one toe at a time, in order to be clipped. Try to keep your bird as still as possible, in order to prevent any mistakes in clipping. Try not to pull too much on your bird’s toes, since the bones in a bird’s feet are extremely delicate.

STEP 4

Using your clippers, start clipping very small pieces off the end of your bird’s nail. If your bird has white or pink nails, you can usually see where the blood supply (also called the “quick) is located. Try to cut within a safe distance of this blood supply, in order to prevent bleeding.

STEP 5

In some cases, you may accidentally cut into the blood supply of your bird’s nail. If this occurs, don’t panic. Using the styptic powder, wet your finger and dip it into your powder supply. Gently dab the bleeding portion of your bird’s nail until the blood flow stops. If necessary, try sprinkling the powder directly onto the bleeding toe. However, try to avoid getting any of the powder on your bird’s skin, since it can cause irritation.

STEP 6

After the clipping is done, spend some time to gently caress and soothe your bird. Most pet birds will be scared and uncomfortable during the clipping process, so it is best to reassure them after it’s all over. Even though clipping your bird’s nails is a very important part of pet care, it’s essential that you do it with extreme caution.