PROPER CARE OF BIRDS
Here are a few tips on buying a cage:
Let's
start by saying this: you cannot have a cage that is too big for your bird. Think of
it this way, Birds live completely unrestricted out in the wild. They can fly anywhere
they want for miles and miles if they wish. When they are in captivity, their freedom is
taken away from them. So the cage we choose for our pet should be as large as we can
afford and have room for.
There are some guidelines to follow: Your birds wings when fully spread, should
never touch the sides of the cage. If you find that they do, the cage is too small and
restrictive.
The bars of the cage must be spaced close enough that your bird can't get its head or
wings trapped between them.
If you buy a used cage, make very sure that the bars are not painted. Birds have had many
problems from chewing on paint from cage bars.
Let your bird go free from the cage and spend a lot of time socializing and playing and
looking around his environment. Don't keep your bird confined in his cage.
Feeding
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Training Treats:
Just like most pets, birds respond to treats. The only reward a bird will understand is food, If hunger is used together with with food in training the bird, You can get the right results you are looking for.
Medical Care:
Good medical care for birds is very hard to find!
You may have to look for a while before finding an appropriate veterinarian for your pet.
Is Medical Care Economical?
Birds that are ill respond very well to any kind of therapy. Believe it or not, they are very hearty animals, and the right care can work like a charm. Veterinarians have usually seen birds tolerating more than could be withstood by cats and dogs.
Care is not inexpensive but not too costly either. The cost of tests ranges about the same for any pet, but there is a quite a bit of money saved on the cost of medicines where only a small amount is required.
How will I know when my bird is ill?
Birds differ greatly from other animals. They respond different to sickness. They hide their problems and only show symptoms of sickness when the problem is pretty bad. By the time a bird looks sick, he/she may be dying. Early signs of sickness are very easily missed and often misinterpreted. You must get treatment as soon as possible once you know your bird is ill.
First Vet Visit
The most important vet visit for your bird is the first one! Birds can seem perfectly fine and still have problems. The pet store, breeder and you as the new owner should learn right away condition of the bird's health. Starting off with a good healthy bird is the most important thing you can do! You should at least be aware of any potential problems and how serious they might be.
Get To Know Your Vet
All animals will become sick and need the services of a vet at some time. It's really good to know an avian veterinarian who is familiar with your bird.
Also, if your bird is on file, you can freely then call the Vet for information. He/she will know your bird and have the background information that they require in order to answer your questions.
How Can I learn How To Take Good Care Of My Pet Bird?
Most pet stores and Vets can teach owners about pet bird care. Veterinarians, most of all, take on this job because teaching proper bird care can help prevent diseases.
Can I get a bird that won't bite?
No you cannot. Biting is a natural defense behavior for birds and they will do it when they are scared or startled. Trying to get a bird that won't bite is like trying to get a dog that won't bark, or a cat that won't scratch.
However, a hand-raised bird will not bite as often (or hard) as a wild bird. This is because they don't get scared nearly as easily .
Birds use their beak and tongue as a hand. They pick things up with their beak and they feel things with their tongues. Because of this, people often think of the bird pinching them with their beak as biting. This is not so. Because the bird can crack a walnut with his beak, you would certainly know if he was truly biting you. Usually they are just trying to climb on you, or "taste" you, or see if your finger may be food. Birds are very curious Occasionally as they feel about new things and try to determine if it is edible or not, they may apply a little too much pressure. Then we just say "no!", and they begin to learn what is acceptable to do and what is not acceptable
Discipline?
Young parrots are quite like young children. They must to be taught proper boundaries. Even though the training is hopefully started in the pet store, you will need to keep it up at home. Just like a child, when the bird comes home, he/she will test their boundaries to see what's allowed and what is not allowed. Rules need to be firmly set. If your bird is biting, use the word "No" in a firm way.
If that doesn't work, take their beak with your fingers and move it away from whatever it is biting. If that doesn't work, try blowing some air on them after saying no. It is a good distraction. Another method is ig you are standing and the bird is on your hand say no and simply drop your hand (quickly) a couple of inches. This will stop the bird from biting and he/she will hang on to catch his balance. Eventually it will learn what is acceptable and associate the word "no" with something they should not do.
Another thing you should know is that birds will do whatever it takes to get attention. Negative attention is better than none at all. Like children, the worst thing you could do if your bird is being "fresh" is to make a big deal over it and give it attention. This reinforces the bad behavior. Choose times when your bird is sitting quiet to pay attention to it. If the bird is out free and in the room with you and starts to act out, you can punish it by by putting it back in its cage or moving it to another room where no one is. Make sure that the bird is not always getting whatever it wants, but instead is getting something it doesn't not want as a result of bad behavior.
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