FAQ - Frequently Answered Questions:
Caring For Your Pet Bird
Adopted from HSUS Pets for Life
Birds, after cats and dogs, are the third most popular pet in the United States.
Even though they are small and caged, birds still require a great deal of care and
attention. They are complex creatures, and if you take good care of your own bird,
you will have the opportunity to see what unique pets they are.
Housing
Before bringing home a bird or buying supplies, find an ideal location in
your home for the bird's cage. This space must be indoors, provide appropriate temperature
and light, and allow for regular interaction between you and the bird. This location
should be large enough to accommodate a sizable cage. Do not keep birds in the kitchen
because Teflon-coated pans, aerosol cooking and cleaning sprays, hot water, and
gas stoves can pose serious health threats, including death, to birds. The location
should receive strong natural light, but not subject the bird to full sun through
a window. Also guard against drafts from windows or doors, especially in winter.
And although you want the bird to be around you and your family, be aware that birds
need a quiet and undisturbed period for sleep at night.
Once you have chosen a space and are ready to select a cage, get the largest cage
that you can afford to buy. This may cost hundreds of dollars, but keep in mind
that this is a one-time purchase, and it is where your bird will be spending a majority
of her time. Look for cages made of metal that are designed to be easy to clean,
and will withstand scrubbing and periodic disinfection. Likewise, look for cages
equipped with with a removable tray in the bottom and feed and water bowls that
can be serviced from outside the cage. Avoid purchasing cages that are excessively
fancy or have lots of decorative detail. Also, avoid cages made of wood or wicker,
that are round or cylindrical, and that do not allow for freedom of movement for
the bird. Keep in mind that you are looking for a wide cage with room for a bird
to move horizontally, not vertically. The width of a bird's cage is significantly
more important than its height. The size of the bird housed will dictate the size
and spacing of the cage bars. You'll want bars that are close enough together to
keep your bird from escaping.
The cage should have perches of an appropriate size for your bird to sit on and
climb. Perch placement should encourage the bird to move from one to another by
flying or hopping. Do not fill a cage with too many perches and structures that
will only reduce the space available for movement.
There should be a minimum of one food bowl, one water bowl for drinking, and one
bowl for bathing. Make sure that the bowls are durable and made of materials that
will allow for thorough a cleaning and disinfecting. Also, ensure that birds can
reach the bowls comfortably from a perch, and that bowls are not placed directly
under perches where they will be fouled by bird droppings.
Every bird cage needs toys. Although finches and canaries are less likely to use
them, objects that the birds can manipulate or climb on, or chew up or hide in,
are critical for parakeets, lovebirds, and cockatiels. There is an assortment of
wooden and plastic bird toys available. Some birds also enjoy seeing themselves
in small mirrors.
Feeding
The birds discussed here can be divided into two categories: hard-bills
(seed eaters) and hookbills. Seed eaters include canaries and finches, while hookbills
include parakeets, cockatiels, and lovebirds. Hookbill is also a general term for
all parrots, whether small or large species. (The HSUS does not recommend parrots
as pets.)
Hard Bills/Seed Eaters: Finches and canaries in their native environments eat the
ripening seeds of various grasses and flowering plants. They will also, on occasion,
consume insects or other creatures. Commercial seed mixes for these birds are widely
available at pet supply stores. In addition to seed mixes, these birds relish leafy
greens like romaine, dandelions, or chicory, as well as slices of apples or oranges.
Hookbills: The smaller hookbills (parakeets, lovebirds, and cockatiels) are also
seed eaters. They additionally consume bark, leaves, and fruits and berries. For
these species, there are appropriate commercial seed mixes, which generally include
some larger seeds such as sunflower and safflower. You can offer these birds fruits
and vegetables as well as seed mix. Their beaks allow them to do a very efficient
job on a wide range of fresh items.
A bird's food and water bowls must be cleaned every single day. As birds eat, they
leave seed hulls in their feed dish. What appears to you to be a full cup of seed
may be all hulls; this is one reason that food and water must be changed and replenished
each day. This means that all old food or water must be discarded, the bowls must
be scrubbed thoroughly and dried, and new, fresh food and water must be provided.
It is essential that a bird's food and water sources remain as clean as possible.
Pelleted diets are also available for all of these bird species; this food provides a nutritionally balanced diet in a uniform pellet. Both pellet and seed diets have
their devoted fans. Regardless of what your bird eats, though, make sure it is fresh,
stored appropriately, and of good quality.
Small birds enjoy a cuttlebone in their cage, which provides some mineral supplementation
and keeps beaks occupied and in shape. Likewise, seed-eaters consume small bits
of rocks and sand, which aids in the breakdown of foods in their gizzards. Grit
for these birds should be supplied in a small feed cup as opposed to on the cage
floor.
Do not offer chocolate and avocado to any birds; these are dangerous foods that
can cause death.
Socialization and Sterilization
While one bird can make a wonderful addition to
your family, he might be a lot happier with a friend. Even though male canaries
may typically be kept by themselves, all birds will be much happier with a partner
or small flock. In most cases, male/female pairs will do the best together.
Unlike cats, dogs, rabbits, and other pets, you do not need to spay or neuter your
birds. These surgeries for birds are much more invasive, and because of birds' extremely
light weights, correct anesthesia can be tricky. Also, since birds lay eggs, their
population can be controlled by simply removing the eggs.
Behavior Problems
In general, the smaller domesticated bird species (canaries, finches,
cockatiels, parakeets, lovebirds) are less likely to suffer from behavior problems
than their wilder, more exotic counterparts. These species have been adapted to
life as companion animals through long genetic selection. If you take proper care
of them, most will never exhibit any behavior problems.
For those birds who do have behavior problems, the more common ones include frequent
egg-laying by the female, or self-mutilating behaviors, such as feather-plucking.
Such problems can be signs of boredom, dietary issues, incompatibility with cage
mates, or stress. Keep in mind that these issues are less frequent or non-existent
in domesticated species, but can be seen more frequently in larger species.
Hygiene and Physical Health
As pets, canaries and finches can live 8-10 years, while
cockatiels, parakeets, and lovebirds can live up to 20 years. However, if you want
your bird to live as long as possible, it is important that your bird stays healthy.
Before getting your bird, you will need to find an avian-certified veterinarian
in your area. If you have trouble finding one, contact your local animal shelter
for advice.
Birds will do a good job of keeping themselves clean, but they need a little help
from you. All birds like and need to bathe. Most birds will bathe themselves vigorously
if they have access to a shallow water bowl in their cages. This bowl should be
separate from their drinking water. Some birds, especially cockatiels, may prefer
to be spritzed by a squirt bottle.
Another part of avian hygiene is preening. Preening is a bird's way of grooming
and caring for his feathers. His preening will make sure that all of his feathers
are nice and neat and pointing in the right directions.
It is also important to keep an eye on your bird's nails. Nails may need to be trimmed
periodically. If your bird's nails start to curve around or if he is having trouble
standing on a perch, it is probably time for a trim. Because trimming a bird's nails
must be done carefully, take the bird to a vet or have someone with experience assist
you.
When birds are sick or injured, they will normally try to hide their illness.
However, here are a few things to look for:
-
Closed or swollen eyes;
-
Diarrhea;
-
Fecal stains on the feathers surrounding the vent (anus);
-
Sitting in one place for extended periods of time during the daylight
hours with feathers puffed out;
-
Noisy or labored breathing, with wheezing or clicking
sounds.
If you see any of these signs, please call your veterinarian immediately.
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