Grace asked:


I don’t have a pet bird but i have seen them do this and was curious.

Roberta

Ellen Kramer asked:


Influenza, Bird Flu and homeopathy – can it provide a different perspective?

Off course putting 160000 turkeys in a shed is a healthy, pleasant experience for them particularly as we provide all their medication in their food – and anyone who thinks differently is obviously not scientifically trained – it must be the wild birds causing the epidemic as they come into all sorts of unnatural substances like fresh air and sunlight! And we should all dip into our pockets and reimburse Bernard for his terrible loss of profits and his altruistic willingness to kill all his pet birds (sorry cull – I think it means they send them to a farm for a holiday!).

If you agree with all of the above do not bother to read on but just send donations to the ‘Seroxat is good for young people’ fund. However if you are concerned we might be being told a tiny white lie then read on.

Why do we suffer from Influenza and cold viruses?

Without breathable air, we cannot survive for more than a few minutes. Air enters through the nose and mouth, throat and bronchials and into the lungs. The upper respiratory system warms, humidifies and to some extent purifies the air entering the body (e.g. by removing dust particles with nasal hairs). This system can be damaged by pollution and invaded by bacteria and viruses, which stimulate the moist membranes to produce extra mucus as protection. This mucus can quickly develop into catarrh. Colds coughs and sinusitis show varying degrees of discharge that can affect the ear, nose and throat in acute situations and these can develop into chronic conditions (especially with suppressive treatment).

Influenza (flu)

Influenza and cold viruses are actually different but people often confuse them as most of the symptoms are similar. There is generally an infection of the lungs and airways, causing a fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, muscle aches, and a general feeling of illness. There are two types of influenza virus, type A and type B, and many different strains within each type. The illnesses produced by the different types and strains are similar. The strain of influenza virus causing outbreaks is always changing, so every year the influenza virus is a little different from the previous years.

The key difference is that Influenza is caused by a different virus and produces symptoms that are more severe. Also, influenza affects cells much deeper down in the respiratory tract. Influenza virus is spread by inh aling droplets that have been coughed or sneezed out by an infected person or by having direct contact with an infected person’s secretions.

Every year, throughout the world, widespread outbreaks of influenza occur during late autumn or early winter. Influenza occurs in epidemics, in which many people get sick all at once. In each epidemic, usually only one strain of influenza virus is responsible for the disease. Strains are often named after the first location (for example, Hong Kong flu) or animal (for example, swine flu) in which it was found. The current panic is Bird Flu.

Like humans and other species, birds are susceptible to flu. There are many types of bird, or avian, flu. The most contagious strains, which are usually fatal in birds, are H5 and H7. There are nine different types of H5. The nine all take different forms – some are highly pathogenic, while some are pretty harmless. The type currently causing concern is the “highly pathogenic” Asian strain of the H5N1 virus. Scientists have discovered four different subtypes of H5N1, and there could well be more. However, all are deadly to birds, and can cause disease – and death – in humans.

However, it is important to stress that H5N1 is overwhelmingly a disease that affects birds – and not humans. It is true that humans have been infected, but almost all have been poultry workers who have come into intimate contact with birds. H5N1 cannot pass easily from human to human.

Allopaths generally assume that people who have respiratory disorders are suffering from infections which are caused by viruses, bacteria or they may be suffering from external irritants such as dust or fumes that inflame the mucus membranes of the respiratory system. They tend not to take into consideration the patient’s emotional state, diet or levels of toxicity nor look at hereditary influences.

The treatment given is firstly suppressive in nature (using anti biotic, anti virals, anti inflammatory, decongestants) or secondly through surgery (e.g. tonsillectomy) to remove the inflamed part. (Unless you are one the bootiful birds from Norfolk in which case they remove the head – oops – sorry I meant perform a culling operation)

Standard medical Treatment: There is no allopathic treatment for influenza so treatment is based on prevention in the form of the influenza vaccination which contains inactivated (killed) influenza virus or pieces of the virus.

Modern vaccines are designed to protect against three different strains of influenza virus. Different vaccines may be given every year to keep up with changes in the virus. Allopaths try to predict the strain of virus that will attack each year based on the strain of virus that predominated during the previous flu season and the strain causing disease in other parts of the world. They will also use several antiviral drugs to prevent infection with influenza virus. They may prescribe these drugs when a person has had recent exposure to someone with influenza. In addition, these drugs are used during epidemics of influenza to protect unvaccinated people who are at high risk of complications of influenza (older people and people with chronic illnesses).

The current allopathic advice on vaccinations (which is promoted by most governments) ignores the dangers of vaccinations, avoids mentioning any long term side effects and is basically an extremely one sided and distorted approach to the whole debate on prevention. The virus itself changes enough that vaccines are quite ineffective (but extremely profitable for the drug companies).

There is some evidence that the prevention programmes are creating the very problem they are designed to stop – there is obviously an economic incentive for the pharmaceutical companies to promote both panic and therefore pressure on governments. Unfortunately these suppressive acts often merely add to the problems the patient may already have. So is there an alternative?

Migratory wildfowl, notably wild ducks, are natural carriers of the viruses, but are unlikely to actually develop an infection. (There might be a message here – we all come into contact with bacteria and viruses all the time but only a small proportion are susceptible to them as our natural body defences protect us if we are basically healthy.

Thinking the unthinkable – is it completey bonkers to suspect that

a) as virus are found in birds (and us) all the time

b) that they continually mutate

c) stress lowers the immune system which protects us

we could conclude that Bird flu is a product of factory farming rather than an external foreign threat that attacks our luverly cuddly bootiful turkeys?

Can homeopathy provide a different perspective?

Homeopathy is an energetic medicine that comes from a completely different perspective to the so called ’scientific’ medical based one.

From an energetic perspective dysfunction of the lung energy can lead to upper respiratory disorders such as:

· Common Cold/ coughs/ sore throat/ fullness in the chest/ Influenza

· Nose disorders/Rhinitis/ Sinusitis/Nasal Polyps

· Coryza /Catarrh

· Adenoid glands

· Tonsillitis

· Epiglottises

· Laryngitis

· Pharyngitis

· Croup

· Skin disorders (associated with weak lungs)

Homeopaths see all of these during their practice. They are able to distinguish clearly between ‘acute’ cases caused by flu and common colds, through to more chronic symptoms leading all the way up to potential life threatening situations.

The energetic view of disorders of the lungs (Upper & Lower respiratory disorders) is that they manifest on the external surfaces of the body. The symptoms will vary according to the depth to which they descend. From this perspective the causative factors are not organisms (microbes, viruses), but changes in the energetic balance, usually as a result of climatic factors, emotional states and dietary indiscretions, pollutants or hereditary influences etc. Lung disorders are seen as emotionally linked to grief/sadness at one end of the spectrum and courage/righteousness at the other.

(Off course Bernard’s turkeys are all happy little turkeys so none of this applies to them – anyway whoever heard of an animal having feelings – what scientific nonsense – humans are completely and utterly different from animals and birds aren’t we?)

Homeopaths place the emphasis on:

· the climatic factors

· susceptibility from a miasmatic perspective

· toxicity

· Emotional factors.

People with acute upper respiratory tract infections that have their symptoms suppressed by drug therapy or who have such conditions as part of their general state of health (e.g. chronic bronchitis from smoking) may develop lower respiratory disorders. In practice you will see many people who have developed lower respiratory tract disease following suppressive treatment of upper respiratory tract disease. If the patient’s constitutional energy is strong, the problem is held in the superficial levels of the upper respiratory tract, the bowels or the skin and should not descend into the lower respiratory system.



Amy

Ellen J asked:


I have two parkets and would like to try and teach them various tricks. How would I go about doing that?

Joyce

JaiKUBER asked:


I have discontinued giving her seedmix because she seems to be having some infection in her stomach..

Craig

Lee Dobbins asked:


Birds are intelligent creatures with active minds and they can soon become bored if they had not kept entertained. Birds that are bored and start to exhibit a desirable behavior such as squawking a lot and pulling out all the feathers. One way to keep your bird amused even when you’re not around is to make sure that you provide him with a variety of bird toys.

One thing to think about when picking out toys for your bird is whether or not the toys match with your bird size. Toys designed for small bird like a parakeet might not be safe for a large parrot because the powerful beaks of the bigger birds can easily break the toys into pieces which can be dangerous for your pet.

Different sized birds do seem to enjoy different types of toys but one toy that all birds seem to like is the ladder. you want to be careful, however, that you choose the right side letter for your bird obviously smaller birds will meet once with wrongs that are closer together.

Swings and hanging ring seemed to be a bit more popular for the smaller pet birds. That’s not to say that larger birds don’t enjoy them as some do but in general the smaller birds seem to have a lot more fun. Hang a couple in your pets cage and you soon see him swinging around and hanging from them and just having a heck of a time.

The bigger birds seem to like maize toys and puzzles especially if you can put some of their favorite treats inside the toy. They also like ropes that have leather knots which they can unknot with their beaks. This gives them something to work out of their mind instead of hanging around doing nothing.

Birds have the mentality of small child and just like children birds can really get enjoyment out of a play gym. you can find these In all shapes and sizes, but typically they either sit on a table on top of the birds cage and when he is out of the cage they provide him with a variety of interesting things to play on including ladders seesaws and swings. Not only will your bird entertain himself on these though probably entertain you as well!

When you are shopping for bird toys there are some you might want to think twice about buying. Although most birds love mirrors and love to look at themselves, it does might not serve the purpose you want if they actually think it’s another bird they may bond with their own reflection and not care so much about bonding with people.

Always evaluated toy for safety purposes toys that are not well made and can come apart and harm your bird should be avoided. Also toys that have little areas that might pinch your bird’s toes or that he can get his head caught and should be avoided. Remember, your bird can get his little beak into just about anything so you want and make sure the toys are tough enough so that he can’t break anything off and swallow it which could be disastrous and possibly even fatal.

Your pet bird doesn’t necessarily need expensive toys to play with, many birds love things like paper towel tubes and tongue depressors. Just be sure that if you do you keep your bird toy like that that you make sure he doesn’t rip apart and start eating it – it might not be a bad idea to stay around and watch them whenever you give him any new toy.

Because your pet bird gets bored easily you want to rotate his toys. Put a few toys in his cage and then hide the others away where he can’t see them. After a week or two remove the toys that are in his cage and replace them with the ones you hid away. You can take this opportunity to clean the toys that he has already played with, then hide them away for a week or two. When you bring them out again he’ll think he’s got new toys to play with!



Colleen

tinder_blast asked:


A friend of mine has 2 pet parakeets that are still young. When she bought them she thought they were both male, but one may be a female. She has bean talking about the possibility of them breeding. I don’t know whether I should support her or not. She has never had birds before, and has never bread a pet before (that I know of). Can someone give me some pros/cons/information on breeding parakeets at home so I can be more informed about this?

Jacob

Michelle asked:


I want to bring my lovebird with me when I move to Hawaii, is there a quarantine or anything? Does it need a vet check?

Gilbert

Natalie R asked:


My pet rock always wants to play with the birds, how do I tell him that they are bad without hurting his feelings?

Arthur

Pyro2600 asked:


i am planning to have an aviary outside our house. what are the best ways on where i should locate it. and how do i start on taking care of birds?

Lois

peterhutch asked:


Bird flu has led to the deaths of hundreds of millions of wild and domestic birds and to a small number of human deaths. Right now, however, bird flu remains difficult for humans to contract. Most people who have developed symptoms have had close contact with sick birds, though in a few cases, bird flu has passed from one person to another.

Flu viruses occur naturally in birds and have been recognized for more than 100 years. They are popularly known as bird flu, avian flu, bird influenza or avian influenza, and there are more than a dozen sub-types. They are often carried by wild birds, though it is usually domesticated birds that become sick.

Generally, the viruses do not affect humans, or cause mild illness at worst.

Diarrhea and Abdominal Pain: Diarrhea and abdominal pain has been a symptom in some patients, but not all of them. Watery diarrhea may be a symptom in bird flu cases, but is not a common symptom in regular flu. Diarrhea comes before respiratory symptoms. Two young patients had encephalitis and diarrhea without any respiratory symptoms.

The name H5N1 refers to the type of proteins found in the protein coat of the influenza virus – haemagglutinin 5(H5) and neuraminidase 1 (N1). There are dozens of different proteins that can be present, so that flu viruses called H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 etc are also known.

Officials of the Kano state avian flu control committee detected the presence of Avian flu among 16,000 chickens on a farm a few days ago, a month after the area was declared free of the virus.

Avian influenza cannot be diagnosed by symptoms alone, so a laboratory test is required. Avian influenza is usually diagnosed by collecting a swab from the nose or throat during the first few days of illness. This swab is then sent to a laboratory, where they will either look for avian influenza virus using a molecular test, or they will try to grow the virus. Growing avian influenza viruses should only be done in laboratories with high levels of protection. If it is late in the illness, it may be difficult to find an avian influenza virus directly using these methods.

The virus has been identified in 12 states, including the largest city, Lagos, as well as around the federal capital, Abuja, since it was first confirmed in Nigeria four months ago.

Avian influenza infection in domestic poultry causes two main forms of disease that are distinguished by low and high extremes of virulence. The “low pathogenic” form may go undetected and usually causes only mild symptoms (such as ruffled feathers and a drop in egg production). However, the highly pathogenic form spreads more rapidly through flocks of poultry. It is the highly pathogenic form of H5N1 that concerns scientists.

Avian influenza (or bird flu) is a highly infectious disease affecting many species of birds, including chickens, duck, turkeys and geese. It can affect commercial, wild and pet birds. There are 15 types of bird flu, but the type that is causing concern at the moment is the deadly strain H5N1.

Avian flu passes from birds to other birds, but there have also been human cases. As of January 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) had confirmed 270 cases of H5N1 in humans in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam, leading to 164 deaths.



Viola