Pet Birds 101: How to Care for a Pet Bird
A study was done that revealed over 5 million households within the United States have some type of pet bird. Birds are the perfect pet, as they come in a wide variety of different colors, personalities, and shapes. However, it is very important for you to find the perfect bird that is going to match your individual personality and lifestyle as well. There are some breeds of birds that are going to require an extra amount of work and attention, this including breeds of birds that include larger parrots, and even some smaller types of birds who will require a lot of handling and love if you want them to stay friendly and happy.
Before you do decide that you are going to keep a bird as a pet, there is actually a lot that you will need to do. Before you are able to settle on the exact type of bird that you are going to get, you must first factor in things such as the lifespan of that breed of bird, how large the cage size that it requires is going to be, they types of foods that they will need, how much noise the bird is going to make, and even the amount of attention and time that you are going to need to give your bird. With that being said, here is everything that you will need to know about birds.
Needy Birds That Will Require Much More Work
While there are many people that are naturally drawn to parrots that include Amazons, cockatoos, macaws, and African greys as they are one of the more beautiful breeds of birds and can be easily trained, each of these breeds is also going to have their individual needs filled. For example, Amazons and Greys are well-known for their ability to talk. While these breeds of birds are very trainable, they are also going to be on the more challenging side of things, as well as more demanding than other breeds of birds. If you are thinking about a parrot for a pet bird, you are going to be required to reflect on how motivated you are to take care of this bird, as they can live up to 60 years. This means that you will have a lot of hard work and commitment coming your way over the long haul.
The Best Species of Birds for Beginners
If you are a beginner or do not have a ton of time to spend with your bird, you should seriously consider a breed of bird that will not require as much attention as others. For example, birds such as finches and canaries do not require a whole lot of work on your part. But if you do have some more time to spend with your pet bird, you may want to consider getting a parrot, in particular a parakeet or a cockatiel. These are some of the smaller members when it comes to the parrot family, but are extremely friendly, not very noisy, and are very easy to tame if you get them when they are on the younger side.
Some of the other members who belong to the parrot family that you are going to want to consider if you are looking for your very first pet bird, will be lovebirds, poicephalus parrots, pionus parrots, Quaker parrots, grey-cheeked parakeet, and parrotlets. On top of those particular breeds of birds, you may also want to consider getting a pigeon or white dove. While they are often times overlooked as being a pet, they actually make great companions, as well as being very quiet and extremely sociable.
Care Considerations for Your Pet Bird
When it comes to your pet bird, there are actually several things you have sitting around your home that are considered to be very hazardous to your bird’s health. These include things that you are more than likely never going to think of, but include scented candles, cookware, and even deodorizers. You need to keep in mind that your bird’s respiratory system is going to be very delicate. So, if you are a regular smoker, having a pet bird may not be the very best fit for your particular lifestyle, no matter how bad you want one. On top of that, there are even certain plants that are able to kill your pet bird as well. This means that you will need to familiarize yourself with all of the household hazards that can potentially harm your pet bird.
Some birds are going to require extra stimulation, as they will need to keep their brains buy so that they do not start getting into negative behaviors that can include making an excess amount of noise, or even destroying their cage. Very similar to children, when you give your parrot a toy to help keep them entertained, this will be one of the best positive actions to do that will end up going a very long way. While there are many different types of toys available to your bird, the most popular ones include foot toys, vertical toys, and hanging toys. These can normally be hung onto the inside wall of your bird’s cage, acting like a sort of play board, but there are also bird puzzles that you can get for them as well.
On top of getting your pet bird toys to play with, you may also want to think about getting them some professional training as well. When you train your bird, you are going to also be strengthening your bond with them as well. In fact, most birds actually look forward to having some one-on-one time that they get when they are being professionally trained. Also, when your bird is able to be trained successfully, they will also get a lot of attention and praise as well, not including their favorite treats. On top of that, when you are able to teach your bird some simple commands, it will make keeping and handling your bird much easier than if they didn’t have any training at all.
Whenever you handle your pet bird, you are going to want to wash your hands before and after the handling, as this will help to keep both them and you healthy. Birds can potentially carry germs that can make you sick. These types of bird borne illnesses are very rare within the United States but can still happen. The simple solution to this bird sickness problem is to simply wash your hands as soon as you are done handling them. Parrot fever, also known as psittacosis, is one of the potentially more serious diseases that you can contract from your pet bird, as it is able to be transmitted to humans. While the chances of contracting this disease are essentially slim to none, it can still happen, and you need to be aware of it.
When you do have a pet bird, there are going to be many different things that you will need to know in order to take care of them. Here are some of the things that you will need to know if you are going to keep a pet bird.
Your Birds Activity
When it comes to pet birds, most of them are going to be very intelligent. On top of being smart, they are also going to be very active. This means that you are going to need to identify their psychological needs, and then address those needs. What this means, is that you should keep your pet birds cage near where all the family activity in your home occurs.
For some of the species of birds, they may find that they are able to exercise in the form of getting supervised periods of freedom from their cage or even flying around your house. If your pet bird is permitted to fly around outside of their cage, you will need to keep in mind some of the dangers, which include large windows, ceiling fans, any hot items on the stove, open doors, and even sticky fly strips. If you are able to ‘bird proof’ your home, you will have no problem letting your pet bird fly around your home and have some freedom.
Toys for Your Bird
When it comes to toys for your pet bird, they are an extremely useful mental diversion that will encourage your bird’s physical activity, as well as provide beak wear. However, the toys that you do end up selecting are going to need to have your bird’s safety in mind. Some of the ‘chewable’ bird items are going to include pinecones, branches, natural fiber rope, rawhide chews, and even some soft white pine.
Besides toys, there are also many different types of enhancements that are able to be provided to help occupy your bird’s particular situation. For example, some birds really enjoy tearing paper or even enjoy one of the cardboard rollers from a roll of toilet paper. Even something simple and left over from dinner, such as a piece of corn on the cob or leftover pomegranate is going to be very entertaining for your bird. On top of that, your bird may also enjoy the simple things such as a branch with leaves on It that has been placed on the outside of their cage. This will allow them to pull through the cage’s wire, also considered to be ‘occupational therapy’.
Some of the other enrichments that you can do for your pet bird include allowing them to forage, human interactions, and training them.
Housing Your Bird
When it comes to the size of the cage you will need for your pet bird, the largest cage that your house is able to accommodate is going to be the right answer. This is especially true if your bird is going to be confined to that cage for most of the time of the day. The cage that you ultimately decide to get for your pet bird is going to need to be strong enough so that it will not bend, as well as not being dismantled. You also want to be sure that the cage is made of nontoxic materials, with a design that is for safety and easy to clean. Normally, the cage that you get for your bird is going to need to be wider than taller, as it will need to accommodate for your bird’s outstretched wings. However, if you have a bird that is of a taller breed, you should also have a taller cage in order to accommodate them.
- Cage Perches
Perches are great and can even be purchased or made of pesticide-free, clean wood branches. Perches are important as they will provide an area for your bird to stand and are made to be destroyed by your bird, depending upon their breed. In fact, destroying perches is actually a form of entertainment to your bird. With that being said, you should replace the perches in your bird’s cage frequently, doing so when they become visibly worn, damaged, or soiled. If you have a breed of bird that is a flyer or a hopper, you are going to want to put the perch on the opposite side of the cage, examples being for toucans and finches. If your bird is a more agile climber, you can always add more perches for them to play on, which is especially true for most parrots. When you are placing your bird’s perches, you will want to be sure and place them in the cage so that any potential droppings will not land in their food and water dish. You will also want to make sure that the perch placement does not allow for your bird’s tail to rub on any part of the cage or fall into the water and food dishes.
- Your Bird’s Water and Food Bowls
When you decide to use a wide bowl as opposed to a deep cup, you are going to display their water and food much more attractively, which may even result in your bird eating new types of food. When your bird is healthy, they will be able to approach their water and food bowls, which means that it will not be necessary to place their bowls next to their perch, in most cases anyways. When it comes to birds, you will need to know that they often times will overeat or even chew up their food bowls as they become bored. When you put their food on the opposite side of the cage as their water, you will ensure that your bird is going to get some steps in, as their food and water are on opposite sides of their cage. It is actually recommended that you have at least two different sets of food and water dishes, allowing for one set to be cleaned while the other set is able to be used. Beside feeding your bird on a regular basis, you are also going to want to allow them to forage as well. If you are interested in getting your bird to forage, you should speak with your veterinarian, as they will be able to give you all the information on foraging for your specific breed of bird.
- Your Bird’s Hygiene
When it comes to birds, they are naturally a clean animal. This means that you will need to do a daily cleaning of their entire cage, including the floor, food and water bowls, and any toys that they may have. This will help to prevent any type of problems with their leftover food spoiling, as well as permit you to inspect their cage floor. If you ever discover any blood on the cage floor, or for that matter, any type of unusual or suspicious looking condition from their droppings, it is a sign of a potential illness. On top of daily inspections, a weekly deep cleaning is also highly recommended in order to maintain your pet bird’s health.
- Your Bird’s Cage Liners
When it comes to material to line your bird’s cage with, there are several different materials that are appropriate, as well as readily available. For example, materials such as paper towels, newspapers, or even some type of plain cage lining paper is going to be preferred over things such as chopped corn cobs, wood chips, sand, or even kitty litter. Why the substrate on the bottom of their cage is important, is because if the substrate is absorbent, it will soak up any kind of blood or droppings that would let you know about a potential health problem. Also, your bird should never have any type of direct access to whatever substrate that you decide to use. If they are able to access it, it can lead to bacteria and fungus infections.
When it comes to owning a bird, there are actually many different factors that will need to be incorporated. Just be sure that you do your research and choose a breed of bird that is ideal for you individual lifestyle.
