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…
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"…
Protect Your Birds from Theft
The rise in popularity of exotic birds has led to an increase in popularity of another activity: theft of exotic birds. Some large breeders have been devastated by large-scale thefts by professionals. In some states, such as Florida, the increase…
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…
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…
Dangers of Hand Feeding Baby Birds
Possibly you have heard the myth: if you want a parrot to truly bond to you, then you should handfeed the bird yourself. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many relationships between bird and human are damaged by improper handfeeding and…