Posts

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"…

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…

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…