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

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