Bird Care Tips

Bird Care Tips

This section of the site is aimed mainly at teenagers who are considering a bird(of any kind) for a pet.

Yes, I know you know all about what proper care entails, but please consider the following before committing to a bird:

First thing, and this is to all those well meaning relatives and friends out there:NEVER GIVE A BIRD AS A GIFT!!!! In fact, never give any animal as a gift. A gift certificate for a pet store is a better option, or consult with the child and the child's parents, make sure they're aware of all the time and costs involved, and take them WITH YOU when the actual purchase is made.

Speaking of parents, if you are not old enough to have a job or just plain don't have one, will your parents be willing to provide vet care for your bird should she become ill or injured? Will they be willing to buy a proper diet for her? Proper toys? A large cage? Or will they take the "I'm not paying for a vet visit for a $20 bird" attitude? That attitude is cruel to the bird care, which depends on you for its well being. If you cannot afford these things, and your parents are not willing to front the costs for you, please wait in purchasing a bird until YOU are able to pay for these things.

Along the same lines: Are your parents dead set against you having a bird? Even if their reasons seem stupid to you, please remember that they are your parents, and that you live in their house. If, after discussing it with them, they still say no, or say they will not help you with any of the costs, or make it clear that they will not like the bird PLEASE do NOT bring one into your home. Birds pick up on when someone doesn't like them, and it makes it very stressful for the bird care. You also don't know how your parents will act towards the bird when you are away. Will your parents be able to handle it if the bird calls for you during the day? What if she calls for you for hours and hours without stopping?

Handling

It is important to train your bird to be handled, especially to permit examination for signs of ill-health. Begin by letting them become accustomed to being handled in the cage. Soon they will become finger-tame, and then they may be removed from the cage whilst still perched on the finger. It will require a good deal of patience, and gentleness with finger pressures when actually handling the bird care. Caution should be exercised when handling canaries.

Feeding

The caged bird's basic diet should consist of the specially prepared seed mixtures available in pet shops. This diet should be supplemented with green foods and fruit. Cuttlefish bone should be available in every cage to provide many trace minerals required by birds. Fresh water is essential to a bird's life and must be replenished frequently in hot weather or if it becomes fouled.

Scalyface

A grey encrustation caused by a mite, which gradually spreads around the beak, eyes, feet and legs. Scalyface is contagious. Special insecticidal solutions are necessary to treat this condition and a pest strip hung just outside the cage will help kill the mites.

General grooming

Water is required in the cage for bathing and should be provided in a separate, shallow saucer, particularly on warm days.

More info about bird care, please visit Budgies Ubergoth.