Birds

Caring For Birds

The most commonly kept pet birds are budgies, canaries, and cockatiels. Many people also keep finches and lovebirds. Budgies and cockatiels will live happily together, as will canaries and finches, while lovebirds are best kept in pairs.

Budgies and cockatiels can be trained to talk and tamed to be friendly. You will have most success at this if they are bought as young as possible and kept alone, as if you keep the birds in pairs they will bond to the other bird rather than to the person.

To tame a bird, handle it regularly for short periods taking care not to stress the bird too much. Once the bird is used to your hand in its cage, it will feel comfortable enough to hop onto your hand. When the bird is confident with this, bring it out of its cage for short periods.

To teach a bird to talk, choose one short word and repeat it continuously. Concentrate on one word at a time, and the bird will soon mimic you.

Toys

Cage types

Food and nutrition Health

Toys

Budgies and cockatiels love interactive toys. There is a great variety of brightly colored toys with parts for birds to chew, pick, explore, and rattle.

Rope toys are great for discouraging birds from over preening their own feathers (this can lead to a ratty appearance). Wooden parts keep beaks and claws trim and are designed to be gradually destroyed, while acrylic toys with moving parts keep inquisitive minds busy and prevent boredom.

A cage must not be too cluttered with different toys, but they can be changed frequently to keep things exciting for your bird.

A cage should also be equipped with different sized perches to properly exercise and condition the bird’s feet.

Cage types

It is important to have a cage of ample size for your bird. Cages with open-able tops are great for tamed birds.

Food and nutrition

In addition to their seed diet, birds should be given some fresh fruit and vegetables every few days, particularly carrot tops, apple, corn. They also need shell grit as a dietary supplement to aid digestion and keep their beaks in good condition. Premium seeds such as the Living world premium mixes contain all the supplements required and are made from high quality ingredients with extra treats included like hazelnuts, banana chips and dried fruit that birds love.

Health

Birds and their cages should be sprayed fortnightly with Aristopet mite and lice spray to keep at bay these insects which make birds itch. They also need Aristopet bird worming mixture added to their water monthly to prevent intestinal worms.

Budgies sometimes get ‘scaley face’. This has a scabby appearance around the face and feet, and is treated by isolating the bird and applying Aristopet scaley face treatment with a cotton bud twice a day until the sores clear up.

Birds Molt (shed their feathers) a few times a year. During molting, birds are often quiet and lethargic. They can be given Sulphadim to perk them up during this time.

Try not to disturb your pet at night, this can stress them out as birds sleep in the dark.