Posts

The Problem with Bird Mills

Know the Source of Your Bird to Avoid Life-Long Issues Most of us have seen the sad videos of puppy mills. Hundreds of wretched creatures huddle in too-small cages. Their only purpose in life is to breed, breed, breed with little regard for…

Lovebirds Can Be Lovable!

Time and time again I hear from disgruntled lovebird owners. They bought a hand-fed baby lovebird from a pet store and the bird bites, refuses to come out of the cage, and acts as if it is being murdered when you finally catch it. These experiences…

When a Bird Escapes

How to Prevent It - How Best to Find a Lost Bird There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when a pet bird suddenly takes off, flying into the wild blue yonder, while you watch helplessly from the ground below. The first time this happened…

Quinoa: A Nutritious Grain for Birds

Quinoa (pronounced "kee-nwa") is a South American grain that looks somewhat like millet, but has a lighter, more golden color. It was the favored grain of the Incas of Peru before the Conquistadors arrived in the 16th century. It was "re-discovered"…

Are you ready to buy a Parrot? (Test)

Use these numbers to find your Parrot-Parent Score: 0=not true at all; 1=sort of true; 2=true a lot of the time; 3=pretty much the case!; 4=you bet, absolutely positively true! 1. I really love birds/pets and could easily make a lifetime…

Children and Birds

One of the most common questions parents ask is, "When is my child old enough to take on the responsibility of having a bird as a pet?"    There are a number of things you should consider before purchasing a bird when you have young children…

Why Quarantine?

Over the past two decades aviculturists and pet bird owners have become increasingly aware of just how many deadly diseases can lurk in aviaries, bird marts, and pet shops. Thus, the concept of quarantine has become more important, even in homes…

Playing it Safe with Bird Toys

We love to give our birds toys. They are intelligent, curious creatures. Add a toy to their cage, and they will amuse and delight us. Toys keep them happy and involved.  Behaviorists often advise owners with a bird who plucks his feathers to…

The Story of Boo Boo

How a Special-Needs Bird Survived the Odds! Boo-Boo (pronounced like the name of Yogi Bear's friend Boo-Boo) was a special bird from the beginning. He was smaller than his clutchmates, but he seemed very healthy. While it took him longer to…

Common Household Hazards

Unclipped birds are at most risk when it comes to certain household hazards, such as open doors, open toilets, pots and pans on the stove (burned/boiled/drowned/covered in oil), deep water in kitchen sinks or pails, ceiling fans, electrical…