Avian Information

Avian Information

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Each season brings with it different situations which affect our pet birds. Winter brings a number of these, but it also brings the holiday season with its own potential hazards. Being aware of the possible problems can be a great help in preventing a tragedy.

Holiday and Winter Hazards for Pet Birds

Here is a diagram of proper wing trimming. There are numerous websites out there that explain the different type of wing clips for various sized birds. Please keep in mind that you should NEVER clip a new feather that is sheathed and still has blood supply.

Clip Those Wings

Do you know the weight your bird should be? Here is a table of the average weights for many species. Remember these are averages, every bird is different—so just use this as a guideline.

Average Weights

Summer brings heat, vacations and the desire to spend more time outdoors. It is also the time for vacations. These seasonal changes in our lifestyles also affect our birds. Take a few moments to review some of the hazards which you should remember to watch out for.

Summer Hazards

Robert DiGregorio VMD of the Boot Road Veterinary Clinic advises on bird emergencies and how to prevent them…..

Pet Bird Emergency Care and Prevention

Decide which scrubable paint you want. We used Kid’s Room Paint by Dutch Boy; it has low fumes. Remove any birds from the area. [After painting, allow plenty of time for the paint to dry thoroughly and the room to be well ventilated before bringing any birds in.]

How To Paint A Bird Room Mural by Maria Rosenberger

Many products available on the market have been known to cause illness and/or death to many pet birds. Manufacturers quite often deny any knowledge of these incidents. The products listed on this page are listed to give you "heads up" in the event the accusations are true. The information printed is given as we received it and is not intended to boycott or otherwise prevent the sale of these products.

How to Kill Your Bird Without Trying

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Ever wonder how a bird does not fall of his perch during sleep? Read Sally Blancard’s article on Parrot Legs, Feet and Toes…

Parrot Legs Feet and Toes by Sally Blanchard

The following list of safety precautions does not cover every possible danger to birds, but the most common dangers are listed here. Add any precautions that might be unique to your home situation and print it for your bird sitter.

Safety Precautions for Bird Keepers by Carolyn Swicegood

"Toe tapping" is the common name given to a condition characterized by repetitive muscular extension and contraction 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...

Wing Flipping and Toe Tapping By Laurella Desborough and Brian L. Speer, DVM. Dip, ABVP, ECAMS

I know you have very high regards for the health and safety of your birds. What I don't know is, are you aware that you may be contributing to the death of large parrots? I recently had a Blue and Gold Macaw die of Aspergillosis. This led to researching this disease and I was in shock to learn that what I had been feeding him for nine years may have contributed greatly to his death.

Polly Wanna Peanut? Author Unknown

Safe and toxic woods are listed below, for trees or woody plants for making toys and perches in bird cages or flights. The lists below indicate wood to use for perches, or avoid using. This is a perch wood list that assumes the perches are stripped clean of fruit and leaves, and dried. Most information refers to wood in it's natural state with bark still attached.

Safe and Toxic Wood for Perches Author Unknown

Tips on how to get veggies into your birds diet...

Veggies, Veggies, Veggies Dianne Richards

It is a well-known fact that parrots are especially sensitive to environmental toxins. Chemicals that normally are only irritating to humans and other animals can be acutely toxic to parrots. The inhalation of carbon monoxide exhaust or fumes from overheated Teflon products, which would cause no apparent damage to humans or other animals, can be fatal to parrots.

Parrots, Produce & Pesticides by Carolyn Swicegood

In this age of ecological emergency, more people are seeing the need to recognize their connection with all living beings. Communication between humans and animals has taken on a deeper meaning and urgency. We can learn so much from the animals about how to live in harmony and balance on the Earth. For animal lovers, direct telepathic communication boosts the understanding, joy and richness possible in relationships with their animal companions and all of life.

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION: THE TELEPATHIC CONNECTION By Penelope Smith

Many aviculturists use the term “bird show” when they really mean a convention, symposium or bird mart. Conventions and symposiums are events where people go to learn about birds and their care, breeding, updates on veterinary research and to learn about various conservation activities. Bird marts, on the other hand, are places that bird owners can go to buy birds, cages, toys, food and a host of items specifically geared for birds. So then, what exactly constitutes a bird “show”?

WHEN IS A BIRD “SHOW” TRULY A “SHOW”?

By: Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S. from the Carolina Parakeet Newsletter of the Raleigh-Durham Cage Bird Society

Birds can be wonderful pets and lifelong companions. They are beautiful, entertaining, intelligent, can sing, and are the one and only creature, outside of ourselves, that is capable of human speech. Animal-intelligence researchers are now discovering: Parrots may not be simply repeating what they have been conditioned to say; many of these birds actually understand what they are saying.

SO YOU THINK YOU WANT A PARROT? By: CCBC

GET TO KNOW ABOUT PARROTS BEFORE YOU BRING ME HOME - I am not a domesticated pet like a dog or cat. I still have the spirit of the jungle in me. I have special needs, which you may find it hard to fill. Please don't learn these too late for my well-being. And please don't acquire one of my cousins wild from the jungle-it will jeopardize his survival and well being, and that won't be a party for you either!

PARROTS BILL OF RIGHTS? By: Stewart A. Metz. M.D.

As a parrot owner, in addition to knowing the proper care required of your bird, you are also required to be informed about laws pertaining to them both federal and state. In some states, certain species of parrots are illegal to possess, breed, release, import or export. While there seems to be quite a bit of confusion as to current laws by officials, there also seems to be a great amount of ignorance concerning parrots in general by the very same officials who would create these laws.

Your Bird and the Law

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175 pages of parrot related tips, advice, and information on parrot health, safety, well-being, nutrition, behavior, diseases and more! Arthurs such as Marilu Anderson, Gudrun Maybaum, Carolyn Swicegood, Bill Kiesselbach and Taylor Knight included.

Series of Articles

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Very good article every cockatiel owner should read...

Cockatiel Concerns and Syndromes

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Article on feather plucking.

Feather Plucking

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