Lee Dobbins asked:


One common misconception about pet birds is that they live for hundreds of years and need to be willed to someone in order to ensure their care after you’re gone. While birds do live for quite a long time in the wild, their lifespan in captivity is actually much shorter. Below are some common pet birds and their average life span in captivity given that they receive superior care and a proper diet.

Macaw – 50 years

Cockatoo – 40 years

African Grey – 25 years

Amazon Parrot – 50 years

Conure – 15 years

Parakeet – 15 years

Parrotlet – 15 years

Lovebird – 10 years

Canary – 15 years

Finch – 5 years

Certainly with a lifespan of 50 years, a bird could outlive you however there are many hidden dangers lurking around that can cut your birds life short. Birds are very fragile and need to be cared for properly in order for them to live a long life.

Here are some things you can do to help keep your bird safe and healthy:

One major danger for birds as fumes from chemical products. Aerosol sprays, Teflon pans and even such things as furniture polish can kill your bird. Keep anything that has a strong odor away from your bird and make sure you use it in a well ventilated area. I suggest you get rid of all your Teflon pants however if you insist on keeping them make sure your bird is nowhere near the kitchen when you’re cooking with them and also be sure not to heat them up without food in them as this will cause the Teflon to emit more odor.

Pet birds love to chew on things and will in fact chew on anything they can find whether it’s good for them or not. It’s important not to let them chew on anything that is welded as they can get lead poisoning from the slaughter in the joints. They also will love your household plants and will nibble on them so you need to be sure that any plants you have are not poisonous to birds.

Birds love to eat fresh fruits and vegetables but you need to take care not to leave the fruits and vegetables out too long or they can start to rot. Just like you wouldn’t feed a piece of pineapple that was sitting on the counter for three hours to your family, you shouldn’t be this to your bird either. Something should never be offered to birds as food such as coffee chocolate and avocado as these are toxic to our feathered friends.

The holidays pose a special threat to birds as they may want to fly into your tree and chew on it. You need to be very careful with this, however as many trees are sprayed with stuff that is toxic to birds. In addition, the ornaments, tinsel and electric lights might seem attractive to your pet bird but, of course ,could be very dangerous for him to chew on.

Birds that are allowed to fly around the house can be fun but you need to think of safety first if your bird does not have clipped wings and has free reign to fly wherever he wants. Obviously, you want to make sure your windows are closed so that he cannot get out. In addition, you probably want to pull down the shades or close the curtains when your birds flying around as you don’t want him to fly into the closed window and hurt himself. If you cannot do this, then put some decals on the glass so that your bird will know not to fly into it. The same goes for Mariners or any reflective surface. This is very important as your bird can actually break his neck by flying into them.

Another thing to be careful of is standing water such as water in the sink or toilet you don’t want your bird to get in over his head and drown!

Please refrain from cooking while your bird is flying around as you don’t want him to win on the stove and burn himself.

Finally, make sure that you do not answer the door while your birds perched on your shoulder. Even a bird with clipped wings could get away in an updraft and their many dangers outdoors such as cats and cars that can harm your bird.

Feeding your bird a nutritious diet and keeping him safe may not ensure that he outlives you but it will go a long way to making sure that he has a long healthy and happy life!



Annette

Limoeg Veigroeg asked:


 

How to choose the best bird cage for your pet bird?There are several factors when you try to find the proper solution for purchasing a bird cage and of course it depends on how much you want to spend for a bird cage.Here you will find the necessary information to make that choice a whole lot easier.

There are pages with information about different types of birds and their cage requirements.Also there is information about the following topics:

How Big Bird Cage Does My Bird Need ?

The bigger is the better. All types of birds like lots of room. They need space when they stretch and flap their wings, otherwise they will hit things at a bare minimum.

How To Choose The Shape Of The Bird Cage?

The longer is the better. All types of birds like flying one side of the bird cage to the other. But you have to consider that tall birds need adequate for them higher bird cages.

What Materials Should Bird Cage Be From ?

Choose stainless steel because it is powder coated metal. Bird Cages made of thin wire or acrylic plastic will not hold up. Usually the more expensive the bird cage is the better material is used for it.

What Bar Spacing Is Good For My Pet?

It depends on your particular bird and its specific characteristics. With sure you will not want your bird to injure its wings or head it there is possibilities to be caught between the bars.You will find more information about this on the other pages with specs for different types of birds.

Is The Bird Cage Easy To Clean And How?

The easier the bird cage is to clean, the better, because you should to do it regularly. So choose a bird cage with wide doors which are easy to access and are fitted to the bottom trays which can be pulled out readily. Metal bird cages are better than plastic or wooden ones.

Will The Door Latch Easily And Securely?

Be sure that your bird can not open the door by picking the latch because it may fly off.

There is additional information about the different places to get a bird cage and what you might expect to pay for it. The site is in progress and you will continue to find beneficial information for you. Thank you for stopping by and lets hope that you will be able to find the best bird cage for you.

 



Thomas

Low Jeremy asked:


The bird with the scientific name Poicephalus Meyeri originated from the wilds of Central and Eastern Africa. Meyers have gone thru countless hybrids without having to consider instant look “standard” in plume color and other features. Meyer parrots appear to be of six sub-species; each looking perfectly similar with the rest, resulting to lack of dominant marks to distinguish each from the others.

It is believed that breeding has started from the wilds where the bird originated, and gone thru with disregard in the proper manipulations and considerations on the bird’s total breed. Meyeri parrots are inferior in size compared to other birds, preferred choice for household pets. Being small saves you from preparing a large cage, conducive to smaller space in its foster home.

Like other parrots, there’s no assurance that the Meyer will talk. It takes a lot of patience and determination to let it mimic in return to efforts done in training. The disadvantage of its having gone thru unprecedented hybrid processes is believed to have started while on captives in the forests; original breeders, mindless to focus on basic colors.

Later breeders have difficulty in their assessments; as to whether they could still resolve to come up with the desired feather color combinations, that may under mind a fixed determining appearance of the bird. They are less capable to detect how many species are scattered, making for a whole population of confusing inter hybrid in captivity.

Six Sub-species of the Meyer Parrot (Poicephalus Meyeri)

1. Poicephalus Meyeri Meyeri

2. Saturatus

3. Reichenowi

4. Matschiei

5. Damarensis

6. Trasvaalensis

It takes a very knowledgeable observer to detect which this and that, of its sub-kind because of the complicated spread in overall plumage. It’s a general vague overview on the breeding approach; and presenting today a big controversy what touch in hybrid to concentrate, if only to settle to one image. Meyers’ bird breeding has similarities to what was done with the Senegal bird; kind of “mind twist” run-down observation tests which, and what sub-species.

Plumages’ dominant hue is of gray and brown. Back part is gray, and bills are dark gray. Thighs, wings, crown, and shoulders are yellow. Heads and beaks determine what apparent *** it belongs. Males obviously have flatter heads; but to get total assurance of its *** is thru operation or DNA test.

Mature Meyers weigh 100 to 135 grams, measure between 7 to 9 inches (20 to 22 cm.), and length of wings spread to full span is 5 to 6 inches (14 to 14.9 cm). It reaches sexual maturity from age three to four years old, and lay 3 to 4 eggs, hatched after a period of 3 months (12 to 13 weeks) but could leave nest after 9 weeks.



Ricky

Mikael Rieck asked:


The sky is the limit when it comes to finding creative names for your pet bird. The name you choose to give your pet bird could range from something silly to something serious and everything you could imagine. Some bird owners opt for sticking with traditional bird names, while others choose names that are off the wall. If you are unsure what to name your pet bird, there are some ideas that might help you decide.

Some birds’ names are derivative of the kind or type of bird they are. Other ideas for pet bird names are descriptive of their feathers or colors. Whatever scheme you want to go with for choosing a name for your pet bird, there are plenty of good ideas for names available. Here is a list of some of the most common bird names for all types of pet birds:

A-B Pet Bird Names: Abercrombie, Acadia, Achilles, Adonis, Adriel, Amadeus, Ami, Ari, Aria, Ares, Arcadia, Amber, Adonis, Banana, Bam Bam, Bilbo, Berrie, Bernie, Brahms, Baby Beak, Barnabas, Bailey, Billabong, Binky, Brady, Boyd.

C-D Pet Bird Names: Chico, Chaso, Clyde, Cole, Conga, Conrad, Sparrow, Candy, Canoli, Caper, Captain Jack, ChiChi, Chelsie, Cherrio, Coco, Callie, Conrad, Dafney, Daisy, Dakota, Dali, Dania, Dinah, Dinky, Destiny, Dora, Doohicky, Dudley, Demeter, Dude, Darcy, Diego, Doozer.

E-F Pet Bird Names: Echo, Elan, Elgar, Emily, Emerald, Eve, Ernie, Elmo, Eggbert, Elsu, Euterpe, Feathers, Folly, Frank, Fern, Fanfan, Fallow, Faith, Falco, Fred, Frank, Fletch, Finesse, Frazier.

G-H Pet Bird Names: Gandolf, Gar, Gill, Giligan, Georgia, Grady, Grace, Goldie, Ginger, Gimli, Gallant, Goliath, Geebers, Hamham, Happy, Harry, Hailey, Hillary, Hermes, Hera, Hombre, Honey, Horatio, Homer.

I-J Pet Bird Names: Ian, Icebreaker, Ichabod, Illy, Inca, Indi, India, Indigo, Iris, Isaac, Isabeau, Isabelle, Isis, Ivy, Jake, Jay, Jo, Jewel, Jerry, Jude, Julia, Jumbo, Java, Jamie, Julius, Josetta, Jose.

K-L Pet Bird Names: Kade, Kya, Keeter, Kiara, Kamie, Kalypso, Kally, Kirby, Kip, Kira, Kiwi, Koko, Kako, Karma, Katie, Lacey, Lily, Lime, Lizzie, Lulu, Luke, Luca, Louis, Leah, Lanie, Larka, Leelu.

M-N Pet Bird Names: Maggie, Maddy, Melody, Max, Mo, Molly, Monet, Misha, Maya, Monroe, Melody, Maya, Maude, Nate, Neva, Nibbles, Nissa, Niko, Nero, Neptune, Norton, Nanny, Nessie, Newton, Nimbus.

O-P Pet Bird Names: Ocean, Odin, Olive, Ollie, Onyx, Opal, Oscar, Ortega, Olivia, Oedipus, Odilon, Pandora, Paco, Pepe, Percy, Polly, Pippin, Plato, Pip, Pluto, Poochie, Pascal, Pappy, Paloma, Petry, Priudence, Pickles, Pika, Pearly, Peedie.

Q-R Pet Bird Names: Queen, Qunicy, Quentin, Quennell, Querida, Radley, Rhett, Rocky, Rodin, Raven, Robin, Rosy, Ricky, Ruffian, Rowan, Rockey, Remus, Reed, Raphael, Rhianna, Rhona.

S-T Pet Bird Names: Sandy, Sierra, Sidi, Spud, Squek, Sparrow, Sparky, Shonna, Shylee, Sangria, Samson, Salterella, Sam, Sammy, Sahale, Sidian, Spike, Tiki, Tuck, Tweeky, Tweeter, Tao, Tico, Tia, Thor, Tequila, Taco, Teila, Tarma, Tansy, Tango.

U-V Pet Bird Names: Uh-oh, Ulani, Unity, Uriah, Uranus, Ulysses, Urania, Val, Virgil, Violet, Verdi, Vixen, Venus, Vesta, Voltaire, Verdis, Vaughan, Vanilla, Verne.

W-X Pet Bird Names: Wanda, Willow, Willy, Winter, Wriggley, Winnie, Winslow, Worple, Wanda, Xaviera, Xenos, Xerxes, Xylia.

Y-Z Pet Bird Names: Yale, Yancy, Yannis, Yasmin, Yetta, Yoda, Yvette, Yves, Yoshi, Yates, Yodel, Xena, Ziggy, Zoe, Zola, Zippy, Zorro, Zazu, Zen, Zeus, Zelda.

As you can see from this list of common bird names there is no shortage of creative and fun names, and names that have special meaning. Pet bird names are varied and you be as imaginative as you like. One thing to keep in mind when naming your parrot is to keep it something shorter and that is easy to mimic to help your parrot pick up on it faster and be able to repeat it.



Jonathan

Stacy Richford asked:


Many birds become very unhappy rather quickly due to the boredom of sitting in an empty cage. Birds have very active minds and strong beaks they need to work out in order to help keep them occupied and happy. Boredom is one of the reasons why many birds become pluckers and pull out their own feathers. This is why it is important to choose the right toys for your new pet bird.

When choosing a toy for your pet bird it is important to make sure that you choose a toy that is the right size. Some toys are specifically designed for smaller birds and are not always safe if you have a large pet bird. Larger birds have much stronger beaks and can easily break apart toys that were designed for smaller birds. This can be a potential choking hazard.

An extremely popular toy for many smaller birds are swing sets and Olympic rings. Many birds get so much enjoyment out of these two types of toys that they will in fact try to swing on both of them at the same time. Some larger birds also enjoy playing on swing sets, but the majority of bigger birds are not as fond of them as their smaller brethren. Toy ladders are a favorite of birds of all sizes but you have to make sure that you have adequate room in your pet bird’s cage.

If you have a bird that has tendencies to pluck a lot, it would be in you and your birds best interest to buy toys which can be preened. Keeping your little buddy busy preening their toys means they are much less likely to spend time pulling out their own feathers. If you purchase a toy that has been made with cotton preening strips you need to pay close attention for any threads that begin to fray. A loose thread could easily tangle around your bird’s neck or foot. Preening toys composed of feathers are significantly safer since you do not have the dangers of any loose threads.

Toy play gyms for pet birds are a lot like the gyms in which children play, and many birds get almost the same amount of enjoyment from their play gyms as children do theres. Most bird play gyms include climbing ropes, perches, ladders, seesaws as well as swings and a small bowl for treats.

There are certain toys you should think twice about giving your pet bird. Any toy that has a mirror or highly reflective surface may cause your bird to become bonded with its own reflection. Also toys with flimsy parts with tiny attachments that are not securely fastened such a small bells can also be a bad idea. If your bird manages to pull off any tiny part from one of its toys it may end up swallowing it, and the results could be fatal.

Lastly worth pointing out is the fact that many birds, just like children are quite happy playing with simple objects rather than expensive toys. For example, a paper towel tube or something like a wooden tongue depressor can be quite a joy for many birds. As always be sure to supervise and watch your pet bird closely to make sure they do not injure themselves with whatever it is that they are playing with.



Elizabeth

Terry Edwards asked:


Having a pet bird certainly provides a great deal of enjoyment in our daily lives. Listening to them chirp and sing is a lot of fun for those who love birds. Along with having a pet bird comes the need in having a good quality bird cage.

While you will find all types of bird cages made from everything from plastic to bamboo, the most important aspect will always be having the right size of cage for your pet bird. Here are some tips to help in selecting the best bird cage.

1. Where will you keep the bird cage?

Knowing where you will be keeping the cage in your home will help in knowing how big it should be. You shouldn’t keep it in direct sunlight throughout the day or right next to an ac/heating vent.

2. What size is your bird?

Knowing where your bird cage will be in your home will let you know how big it can be. Now you can select a pet bird. Parakeets, finches and canary’s can all be housed in smaller bird cages without concern over space.

Larger birds such as parrots will require much larger cages to have the extra room they need to move around.

Why is size so important? Birds do not like to be in small, restricted spaces. They become unhappy when they can not at least be able to spread their wings out and walk around. No different than how you would feel being cooped up.

3. Buy a good quality bird cage

Instead of cheap plastic, buy a good steel or wooden bird cage. Keep in mind that steel is much easier to maintain than wood, but both can provide durability and life.

Add some toys in the cage to let your bird play and have fun. Don’t forget perches and food trays.

Keep these tips in mind when purchasing your bird cage and you both will be very happy with the results.

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Grace

Jim Brown asked:


Birds kept as pets should have the proper treatment for it to live healthy. Lots of things are to be considered upon deciding to have birds as pets. Choosing the right type of bird for you is crucial and the type of environment you ought to build for the animal is also important. Pet birds are almost always kept in cages. The owner must make sure that the cage is not too small for the bird/s and accessories must be present for feeding and recreational purposes.

The first thing to consider about caring for birds would be its proper nutrition. In the wild, birds feed on nectar, insects, leaves and other available food that is fit for their kind. Birds in cages should be fed with a balance of commercial and natural diet. Bird seeds are most ideal for supplement and intake. Water is also important.

Bird cages should be placed in areas where the distribution of sunlight, fresh air and humidity is equal. An owner must also make sure that there is enough shade for the bird to rest. Sudden change of temperature may harm the bird since it needs to adapt before it can be considered to be ready for transfer.

It is recommended that the largest cage that can be accommodated by the house should be chosen. The cage must be durable enough to tolerate damage which will be done by the bird. It should not have toxic components because the bird will be sure to gnaw on the rails. The cage, if possible should be wider than higher to promote wing stretching.

Perches should also be pesticide free. Commercial perches made of wood are ideal. A perch’s main function is to keep the bird away from their droppings, their tails from the water and other hygiene related issues to keep the bird healthy.

Food bowls should be wide and shallow rather than the deep and small cups. This type of food container makes the bird see what it will be eating and there are greater chances of it being attracted to the sight of food which may be beneficial to its health.

Newspapers, paper towels and plain cage liners should be used rather than wood chips or sand so that the droppings will be seen for monitoring and health purposes. A screen should separate the bird from the liners to prevent it from contamination. Daily cleaning routine of the bird cage and its accessories should be done to avoid food spoilage and disease.

Birds are intelligent animals. Their psychology needs an active attention. Therefore it would be advisable for the cage to be placed near family activity areas. Toys are also encouraged to promote play. One thing to be cautious about selecting bird toys is that the materials should be chewable to avoid choking.



Zachary

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

Andri Irawan asked:


Choosing a pet bird is very different compared to shopping for clothes. This is because it requires a lot of commitment to make sure that this creature will get all the love and care that it needs so consider a few things when you decide to go to the pet store.

Birds come in all sizes. There are big ones and there are small ones. Just remember, that the bigger they are, the bigger also the commitment in keeping it. Bigger birds are louder and messier so if you are not up for that, better stick to a small or medium sized bird.

Some birds can come out of the cage while there are those that should always be locked up. Two distinct examples of birds which best illustrate this is the African Grey and the Canary. Although you may not get either of the two, part of choosing a bird is based on their behavior and temperament.

Another thing you should know about birds is that some of these can chirp, sing and even talk. While some of these are noisy there are others that only talk on occasion.  

Pet birds have special diets. While some eat pellets, there are others that require fruit, nectar and pollen. If you don’t mind spending a little more to feed your birds, then it will not be a problem in choosing a bird with such needs.

Aside from special diets, ask yourself do you want a pet bird that requires a lot of attention or one that is low maintenance? People who are too busy with work and other responsibilities should get one that is easy to care for otherwise there is no point in buying one.

When you go out looking for a pet bird, give some consideration to where you are buying it. While most will choose to go to a pet store, you can also find one by talking to a breeder or from private persons. Regardless of where you get it, find out if whoever is selling it can assure you that the facility is free from communicable diseases like bird flu and other infections?

The biggest issue that you have to consider when choosing a pet bird is how much you are willing to spend for it. Buying a pet bird is one thing but there are other things you have to invest in like their cage, food and veterinary care.

Before buying the pet bird, have it checked by a veterinarian because they know better when it comes to the health of these creatures. If it is alright with the owner, pay them first with a post dated check for the next day so whatever happens, you can make a decision whether or not to get it.

As you can see, there are a lot of factors that you have to consider when you decide to get a pet bird. Once you have figured out the right one, you will undoubtedly enjoying having it around.

To ensure that it is healthy all the time, the pet bird you decide to get should not only be fed but also given some attention because this could be a very food friend.

So take the time out to do some research before choosing one from the pet store. With the right information, you will not regret buying this pet bird on the spur of the moment.



Edna

Ruth Bird asked:


I read a report on the effects pets have on heart attack patients. In Australia after a year,6% of heart attack victims who owned a dog died, but, the difference is: a 25% mortality rate for those who didn’t own a dog. Now some people may be surprised. I am not, I have done dog therapy visiting for many years and see first hand the effect a dog can have on a health challenged person.

For many years, we have become aware of the therapeutic effects pets can have in healing. Some of these effects can be for: reduction in depression and stress.

What do you think will benefit you more when you are going through certain challenging difficulties, people or pets?

Think about it. When you are stressed or depressed, do you want a person around, or would you feel better stroking a pet, and looking in your pet’s eyes? Believe it or not, most people prefer the pet because there is no pressure coming from the pet. The pet is strictly a “receiver” for you!

Pets are also great for lowering blood pressure. This is a known fact. There is power in pets.

Having a dog present during stressful times, with people around, could even cancel out the people stress. Again, the dog’s receptive and loving nature seems to **** up the stress.

More power of the pet!

Again, it has been documented in many places that pet owners are happier and healthier people.

What is it that makes a pet so powerful?

A persons mental state of mind can change when you bring a pet into the equation. This has even been proven with scientific studies. The brain chemicals actually go through changes. So, we have fact here, and not fiction.

A pet is in a constant state of acceptance to you. More perhaps a dog than a cat. A pet will bring meaning into someone’s life. A pet can actually serve as a positive relationship; this will give confidence to the pet owner. Many pet owners will work harder, and more efficiently at keeping well, and getting well for the benefit of their pets. They want to make sure that they are there for their pets. An added incentive to wellness.

Animals, especially dogs, have a sense of what their owners need, and they are able to give it. There is no hidden agenda with a dog or a pet. A pet’s purpose in life is to serve his/her master. And the master’s responsibility is to look after the pet. Hence, a purpose for wellness to many people!

Please note, this is not medical advice, simply an idea that has been documented and studied more and more.



Florence