Caring for birds

Birds are amazing little buddies. Contrary to the expression, "birdbrain," birds are surprisingly smart, especially those of the parrot family. They can learn tricks, learn to imitate speech, and they develop attachments to their owners just as other domestic animals such as dogs or cats.

Caring for birds, however, can be a trickier business than these larger, domestic pets. Birds have delicate and fragile bodies, especially their cartilage and their lungs. When picking a room to place your new pet bird in, make sure you consider the following:

1. Is the room connected to the kitchen? This could be the #1 fatalistic mistake new bird owners make. A small amount of smoke or the vapors from TEFLON cookware could kill a bird in instants.

2. Is the cage close to a window? Drafts from cold weather or an open window could lead to sickness or escape. Birds may also fly into glass, not being able to see that it is there.

3. When letting the bird out of the cage, is the ceiling fan running? This could lead to serious injury or death. Other objects that the bird could potentially crash into, including candle flames should be noted.

Other things to consider that are very important to the health and well-being of your bird:

4. Make sure you get instructions from the breeder or your vet on how to clip wings. If done correctly, this will be painless and will keep your bird safe from indoor flying injuries.

5. Make sure you know the proper diet for your bird. Birds can die from eating certain foods that contain chocolate or caffeine. Check with your vet for other specific foods to avoid. A good diet includes a wide variety of grains, seeds, fruits, and green vegetables as well as adequate hydration.

6. Placement of the cage at a height that is higher than the humans standing in a room will cause your bird to think it owns you and it will get cocky and elusive. In order to bond well with your bird, place him at eye-level or lower.

7. If your bird has a partner, it is less likely to bond with you. If it is alone, however, you will have to invest time to prevent loneliness and depression. If you leave for extended periods of time each day, it is best to leave music or the television on softly in the background for the bird to feel as though there were company.

8. Making sure your bird's environment is safe and clean is very important. Make sure his cage is beg enough for him to spread his wings twice as long if he needed to, and that there is enough room to hop around and play with his toys. Keep the cage clean and give him a variety of toys. Keeping a millet for birds to snack on also keeps them happy!

Recognizing signs of a healthy or sick bird means you could get to the vet in time to save his life or know that you are on a good track to keeping your bird healthy.

SIGNS OF A HEALTHY BIRD:

- good appetite

-sings often

-active

stands on one leg to sleep

-sleeps with head turned 180 degrees

SIGNS OF A SICK BIRD

-loss of appetite

-inactivity

-does not sing often

-sneezing, wheezing

- standing on two, widespread legs to sleep

-falling off perch

Taking care of birds can be a delicate business, but but it can be very rewarding. A happy and healthy bird can make an adorable little animal friend!

A Friendly Parisian Birdie