Disclaimer: Petinfo4u.com is provided as a free pet care resource and
is not intended to
replace veterinary care, advice or treatment. Your first resource should
always be your veterinarian.
Below
is our care sheet for all birds. If you would like general information on
a our growing species list click on the links below.
Cockatoos
Toucanet
Cockatiel
Chickens/Ducks
Parrotlets
Parakeet/Budgie
Conures
Caring For Your
New Bird
Essential Care Items:
Bird Food
Cage
Perch
Food & Water Holders
Lining
Beak Conditioner
Toys
Vitamins
Feeding -
Feed your bird fortified seed mixes that are supplemented
with vitamins and minerals.
Birds
are considered nibblers and should be fed enough seed to pick at all day. Fruits and
vegetables are also important dietary supplements to be fed daily. Try apples, corn, peas,
carrots, oranges, and bananas. Do not leave spoiled food in the cage!
The key to a healthy diet is variety. Sunflower seeds
should be avoided since these are addictive to birds and very high in fat. Try to buy seed
mixes without sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds can be given in small quantities as a
treat. Clean fresh water is a must for a healthy bird. Most birds try to bathe
in their water bowls. Therefore, be sure that you clean it often.
Popular now is to use a water bottle...please be sure you check the ball daily
to make sure it is not stuck and change the water ever other day.
Never feed your bird chocolate,
caffeine or avocados as these are
poisonous to birds.
Cage -
Be sure to buy the largest cage
you can afford and suitable for your bird type.
Your bird will spend most of its time there and will need to stretch its wings and climb
from perch to perch. Your bird's cage should be placed in a sunny room away from drafts.
Birds prefer to be high up and against a wall. Birds are social creatures and do
best when placed in a room with lots of family activity. Your cage can be lined with
either newspaper or corn cob bedding. It should be cleaned daily of droppings by replacing
the bedding. If you are providing a nesting box, eucalyptus leaves make
great nesting material.
Perches -
Perches are important for exercise. Your
cage should have at least two perches of different thickness and textures allowing for
your bird to exercise its feet. The perches should be cleaned monthly with warm water and
soap. We recommend hardwood perches such as guavawood and manzanita.
Other common woods used for perches include eucalyptus and
pine.
Toys -
Birds love to chew! Plenty of toys is a must for your
bird's entertainment. Wood, acrylic, rope and leather toys are all suitable, as long as
the parts are not small enough to swallow. Wood toys should be untreated and
chemical free. Wood used in toys should be manzanita, guavawood,
eucalyptus, cholla, ribbonwood, and pine. Rope toys should be made out of supreme cotton or sisal. To prevent boredom when
you are away, provide toys that can be changed regularly. You can also leave a T.V.
or radio on or just leave the cage near a window away from direct sunlight.
Bathing -
Birds love to take a bath! Fill a spray
bottle with warm water and spritz your bird at least weekly. Use fresh water each time you
spritz your bird. Why not join in the fun and take your bird into the shower
with you!
Feather Clipping -
We recommend you have your bird
's wings clipped for the safety of your
bird. Please clip both sides so that your bird is balanced...if only one
side is clipped your bird may fly out of control and get hurt. A
bird can still fly with both clipped, however, cannot get much lift or much
distance. This can prevent the escape of your bird and protects from free flight into
fans, stoves, and other dangers. The first time you have your bird's wings clipped,
we recommend you have it done by your veterinarian so you can be shown how to clip the
wings properly. Check our Advanced Tips Page
for tips on feather clipping. Some birds also need to have their
beaks trimmed if they become to long. This should always be done by your
veterinarian.
Grooming -
A great way to bond with your bird is to help them preen
their feathers. Birds have pin feathers which are new feathers that are covered by a thin
sheath. These pin feathers need help coming loose from their sheath. This is what birds
are doing when they preen each other. A bird is able to preen most of its feathers by
itself, however, when a bird is without a partner, it will need help preening the feathers
on its head and neck. This is done by gently squeezing the sheath and rubbing it between
your fingers. Do not do this on a pin feather which is a blood feather not fully
developed. Your bird's nails must also be trimmed regularly. Using a bird nail trimmer,
gently wrap your bird in a towel and lay the bird on its back in your lap. Be sure to only
trim the tips of the nail or bleeding will occur. If it does bleed, apply pressure. If the
bleeding continues, contact your veterinarian.
DANGERS: :
Stoves, ceiling fans, standing water and other pets.
Your birds droppings are a good indicator of whether
or not your bird is healthy. Get to know what is normal for your bird. If they are off
color (not green but whitish) or watery, contact your vet.
If your bird is picking its
feathers, this is an indication of medical and nutritional problems or boredom. Check with your
veterinarian to make sure there are no health problems. For tips on feather picking, check out our page on Advanced Tips