Posts
The New Baby
Bringing home your new baby parrot is very similar to bringing home a human baby. There really isn't anything difficult about the process but it has a tendency to make people nervous and apprehensive. What I would like to give you here is a…
The "Up" Command
There is one thing you can train your parrot to do that will improve and help maintain your relationship, it is to step up on command. This can be done with a simple two word command, "Step up" or as I use with my birds, "UP". The command…
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…
Birds and Antibiotics
Many people fear antibiotics. They believe they are inherently "bad" for them and for their birds. This belief is unfortunately based on the misuse and abuse of antibiotics, and has nothing to do with their true value. Before antibiotics millions…
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…
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…