Macaws on the Loose

sammy | BIRDS | May 15, 2009

If you own a macaw or are considering getting one as a pet, it is important to take into account the fact that to be happy and healthy these birds need to spend time outside of their cage. They are intelligent creatures and they will quickly become bored if not allowed time to explore their world and interact with their human companions. A bored macaw will quickly become a loud and destructive nuisance. They may even think up new games such as “let’s bite the hand that feeds us and listen to the noise it makes”. Considering the power behind the beak of a macaw, this is not a game you want to participate in.

Before allowing your macaw outside of it’s cage, you must be sure that he is comfortable with handling. If your macaw will not readily get on your arm then you will have a very difficult time getting it back in the cage. Make sure that you are also comfortable with the bird, macaws can be very intimidating up close, if you are not at ease with the bird, it will not be at ease with you. Once both of you are relaxed during close contact it is time to turn him loose.

At first you will want to let the bird set his own pace. It usually works best if at first you simply open the cage and allow him to come out when he is ready. He will probably start by simply sticking his head out, then one foot, then the other. Any noise or rapid movement may send him scurrying back to the safety of his cage but don’t worry, his curiosity will soon get the better of him and he will venture out again.

When your macaw is at ease on top of his cage you can take him on you arm and slowly walk him around. If he is new to this activity be sure not to wander too far from his cage so that you or he can quickly return to it if he becomes agitated. In a short time he will become adjusted and comfortable and be interested in exploring. Remember that it is his natural tendency to explore new objects by gnawing on them so be sure to protect your furniture and woodwork from his beak.

Once out of his cage you will find that your macaw quickly becomes an active participant in your daily life. They will enjoy helping you with tasks like paying your bills, paper makes that great noise when you rip it to shreds, and who can resist a rousing game of keep away with your pen! You must remember not to become too comfortable with your bird out of its cage. An un-caged macaw left unattended is a hazard to himself, other pets and anything of value he may come across.

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Tips on getting your bird talking

sammy | BIRDS | April 28, 2009

Teaching Your Parrot to Talk

Teaching a parrot to talk is not difficult but it does require time and patience. Not all types of parrots are able to talk so before you start make sure that your bird is capable of speech. Of the birds that can speak most can learn a basic vocabulary of words and short phrases. Some types, like the African Grey parrot, are capable of learning hundreds of words and full sentences.

Before you can start teaching a bird to talk you must be sure that he is tame enough to enjoy interacting with humans. He does not need to be tame enough to handle but he does need to be comfortable enough with humans that he will allow you to approach the cage without being afraid. He should be the only bird in the room, at least when the lessons begin. Most birds prefer the company of other birds over that of humans so he may ignore you if there are other birds around. It is also best to start when the parrot is young. Older birds can and do learn to talk but younger birds seem to pick it up faster.

Once you see that you parrot is comfortable enough with you to pay attention to you when you speak to him you can begin. The process is quite simple, all you have to do is repeat the same thing over and over again. Remember that birds have a relatively short attention span so don’t plan lengthy training sessions. It usually works best if you repeat the word 10 to 15 times and then stop. Do this several times a day. Don’t try to teach him while feeding him or he will associate the sounds you are making with receiving food instead of realizing that you want him to repeat them. Start with a single word or phrase and stick with it until he has mastered it. The phrases “pretty birdie” or “pretty boy” seem to work very well as starter phrases. Once he has learned that you can move onto almost anything. Be careful of what you teach your parrot to say. Remember that you can’t un-teach him a phrase and he will be repeating it for many years. Make sure it is something you don’t mind hearing over and over again and that it will not embarrass you if it is uttered in front of company.

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An outdoor aviary is great and here's why

sammy | BIRDS | April 14, 2009

Outdoor Aviary’s for Parrots

Many people believe that parrots are fragile creatures that must be protected from the elements. On the contrary, parrots, like most animals, including human beings, flourish if given the opportunity to experience the change of seasons, fresh air and sunlight. Obviously in extreme climates outdoor housing for your bird is not an option but if you live in an area where the temperature change is somewhat gradual and not too extreme than an outdoor aviary may be the best thing to keep your bird happy and healthy.

Before considering the construction of an outdoor aviary it is important to check with you local ordinances about outdoor housing of pets. Some places consider any pet housed outside to be livestock and as such may not allow it. It is also important to consider how close and how tolerant your neighbours are. Most parrots, especially the larger ones that are most likely to be housed outside, can be very loud. They often seem to enjoy the sound of their own voice and may choose to use it at a time when most people would prefer to be sleeping. If their noise is likely to be a problem for your neighbours then it is best to leave your birds inside to avoid conflict. If these things are not an issue for you then you should strongly consider the construction of an aviary. In it your bird can bask in the sunshine or enjoy a summer shower. He can keep himself occupied by watching and interacting with the world around him and he will enjoy the health benefits of fresh air.

Ultimately the design of your aviary is limited only by the space you have available and your imagination, but there are some basic requirements that must be met. First and foremost your aviary must be built of sturdy and durable materials. You need to be sure it safely keeps your birds inside while preventing any wandering predators from getting in. It is best if entry to the aviary is done through a double door system. This way you can close one door behind you before actually opening the cage. This will help to prevent escapes, a bird that escapes from an outdoor cage may disappear for good. It needs to built of materials that can stand up to the weather but are not toxic to your bird as chewing on their cage is a parrot’s favourite pastime.

A portion of the cage must be covered on all sides to protect the bird from inclement weather and provide shade from the sun on warmer days. In cooler climates it is also a good idea to supply a box that is gently heated so the bird can get warm if it wants to. Feed and water dishes should be placed in the covered area and must be well off the ground to prevent insects or mice from getting in to them and perches should be placed far enough apart to allow your parrot plenty of room to spread his wings and fly.

Once the aviary is built you will want to introduce your parrot to it slowly. Remember that the vast majority of pet birds are captive bred and so it is likely that your bird has never experienced the outside world. Most parrots will adjust quickly and in no time you will see the benefits as they soak up the sunshine and enjoy the freedom of room to fly.

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Essential tips for bringing your new bird home

sammy | BIRDS | April 9, 2009

Bringing Your Parrot Home

Bringing home you pet parrot can be a very exciting time for you. You may have friends or neighbours who own one of these wonderful animals and you can’t wait to have yours be a part of your family.. It is important to remember however that being brought into a new environment can be very traumatic for your bird and so you must take it slow and give them time to adjust.

As much as you would like to begin playing with your bird, it is best to leave them alone the first day. Make sure that the cage is ready with fresh food and water before you even bring the bird home. Place the bird in the cage as soon as you arrive home, close the door and walk away. Try to see the event from the bird’s point of view. They woke up this morning in familiar surroundings and suddenly without warning the have been through the trauma of being placed in a travel cage and taken outside, which for many birds is a completely new experience that may overwhelm their senses with new sights and sounds. Then they are transported to an unfamiliar cage in a new place that again is filled with sights and sounds they may never have encountered before. Parrots are very intelligent animals but this particular sequence of events is likely to overwhelm and confuse them. So walk away from the cage and give them some time to stop their head from spinning, usually 12 to 24 hours.

The next day, when you approach the cage, walk slowly and speak quietly. Change the feed and water with a minimal of disturbance and do not try to reach for the bird at this point, there will be plenty of time for that later. Talk to your bird continuously in a calm and reassuring way. If he chooses to express his opinion about the current state of affairs allow him to do so and respond in the same calm voice. He will eventually match your tone and complain in a murmur instead of a shriek.

Your actions in the days that follow will in large part be determined by the parrot himself. Some adjust more quickly than others. Judge your bird’s readiness for more contact by his behaviour. If while you are talking to him he comes to the side of the cage, closest to you and responds quietly to your chatter, than he may be ready for you to try placing your hand in the cage. If he sits far away from you and his only vocalizations are loud squawks than he is not yet ready for the next step.

At every step in the process let your bird set the pace. Learn to judge his behaviour. Learn what he does when he is uncomfortable or angry, most birds will scream loudly, move to the back of the cage and may bite if approached. Base your activities on your particular bird’s comfort level and eventually even the most frightened bird will come around. All birds prefer company over being alone and he will learn that responding positively to you will get him the attention he desires. In a relatively short period of time your parrot will be the member of your family that you imagined that first day you brought him home.

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Talking Parrot Talk

sammy | BIRDS, TRAINING | April 6, 2009

How and Why Parrots Talk

For as long as human civilizations have existed, people have been fascinated by the parrot’s ability to mimic speech. Even today if you ask most people what is most interesting about parrots they will tell you it is the fact that they can speak. Just how and why do parrots accomplish this feat?

How

Parrots do not make sounds the same way that human beings do. People make sounds by vibrating their vocal chords. They form those sounds into words by changing the shape and position of their tongue and lips. Parrots have neither vocal chords nor lips and yet they manage to copy not only our speech but also the tone, pitch and volume of the person they are mimicking. Parrots make sounds by forcing air over their syrinx, an area of their trachea with 2 thin membranes that vibrate to produce sound. They form those sounds into words by altering the shape of those membranes and changing the volume and force of the air they force across them. All birds make sounds in this way, but most birds are genetically programmed to only make the sounds associated with their species. Parrots and certain members of the crow family are the exception to this rule and as such they are the only birds that can learn to talk

Why

There are two major theories as to why parrots talk, the truth is probably that it is a combination of the two. The first theory is that it is simply fun for them to do. Like doing crossword puzzles for humans, figuring out how to mimic other sounds is a fun mental exercise for parrots. They are intelligent creatures and learning to talk may help to alleviate the boredom of living in a captivity. This would explain why they not only mimic speech but also other household sounds such as a ringing phone or the doorbell. The pleasure of learning to talk is enhanced by the fact that their owners reward them with attention when they do it. The other theory about why parrots talk is that it is a survival technique. Parrots in a household may view the humans in that household as members of their flock. Learning the “language” of their adopted flock would be an instinctive attempt to communicate. Proponents of this theory point to the fact that parrots without a flock in the wild will learn to mimic the sounds of the other birds around them.

Whatever the reason that parrots choose to mimic the sounds of their human companions their ability to do so is only part of what makes them such endearing and fascinating pets. Their natural intelligence and inquisitiveness means that regardless of whether your parrot ever learns to talk, he will be a valued member of your household.

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Keeping Your Bird Healthy

sammy | BIRDS | March 26, 2009

Tips For Newbie Parrot owners!

The old adage “An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure” is certainly true when it comes to bird care. Unfortunately, because the bird’s metabolism runs so fast, an illness can be fatal in a very short period time. Often you will simply not have time to treat the bird. That is why it is so very important to try to keep the bird healthy.. There are some things you can do to better your odds of saving your pet.

Be sure that you get a healthy bird to begin with. Buy your bird from a reputable breeder or bird rescue. This will better your chances of getting a healthy animal. If you must buy from a pet shop, study the bird you are interested in for awhile before buying. Make sure it is active and bright eyed and does not appear thin or dirty. All the excellent care you can give will not be much help to the bird if it was ill before you even purchased it.

Before you even get the bird you should find a local vet that treats cage birds. Not all vets do, and if you make an emergency visit to a veterinarian that is not familiar with birds he may not know the best procedures or medications to treat birds. It is unlikely that you will have time to find a vet skilled in bird care once you have a sick bird. Do yourself and your bird a favour and find a good vet before your need it.

Once you find a vet he can recommend over the counter medications that you can keep on hand to administer to the bird as soon as it appears to be unhealthy. Some veterinarians will also prescribe antibiotics for you to have in your home. That way you can start treatment immediately, before leaving for the vet. When dealing with birds, beginning treatment even a half an hour earlier can make a difference.

Better than all that is to do everything you can to make sure the bird does not get sick in the first place. Make sure the feed you use is nutritionally complete and fresh. Water should be changed daily as should be any greens or treats that you have given the bird. Some types of birds may require nutritional supplements or fresh foods daily to maintain optimum health. Make sure that the cage is not in a drafty area and try to avoid drastic temperature changes. Follow these steps and hopefully you will never need the veterinarian.

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Tips to make sure your getting a healthy bird!

sammy | BIRDS | March 25, 2009

If you have never owned a bird before it may be difficult to look at a cage full of birds and tell which are healthy and which are not. Obviously you want to choose the healthiest bird possible to ensure a long and healthy life for your pet. So how do you avoid getting a sick bird. First, you should always get your birds from someone you can trust and who is knowledgeable about birds and you need to know the warning signs of an ill bird.

When beginning your search for a pet bird the first thing you need to do is talk to other people who have birds. They can tell you where to find local breeders or bird rescues. Both of these places will provide an invaluable resource in your search for a healthy bird. By going to these places you can be sure that the people you are dealing with know a great deal about birds and neither would ever knowingly sell you a bird that is unhealthy. If they do not have the type of bird that you are looking for they can still be helpful by suggesting a reputable pet shop or perhaps another breeder or rescue that is likely to have a healthy bird.

If you end up going to a pet shop to purchase your bird it is important to be able to tell a healthy bird from a sick one. There are three main things to look at when judging the health of a bird.

• Eyes – A birds eyes should be bright and shiny and bulge slightly. If the eyes appear dull or sunken then this is a bird you want to avoid. Eyes that are crusty or appear stuck shut are not a good sign either.
• Feathers – The birds feathers should be clean and smooth and lay close to the skin. If the feathers are dirty or there are bald patches the bird may be ill. A bird that sits with his feathers all puffed up may also be unhealthy.
• Personality – Obviously different types of bird will show different personality traits but there are some general rules you can follow.. Any bird that separates himself from the rest of the birds in the cage or sits huddled on the floor of the cage is quite likely not feeling well. Watch for a few minutes, does the bird you are interested in behave more or less like the others in his cage? Does he interact with them? If the answers to these questions are no, then you should choose another bird.

Birds can make wonderful pets, even for one who does not know a great deal about them. If you start out with an unhealthy bird you are likely to be soured on the whole experience. Take a little time to be sure that the bird you get is healthy and you are well on your way to a happy relationship

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