Things To Think About Before You Buy A Pet Bird

English: Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus). Pet bird named Sophie on a cage. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A pet Sun Parakeet (also known as a Sun Conure) in parrot cage. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A pet Congo African Grey Parrot in India. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Lee Dobbins

While a bird is an easy pet to care for, they do require just as much commitment and preparation as any other type of pet.  Whether you are buying a small parakeet or an large parrot, you should make sure that you are prepared to care for your new feathered friend properly.

One thing that all pets, including birds need is attention.  If your schedule has you working long hours and not spending much time at home, perhaps you should consider a fish tank instead of a bird.  A bird cannot be left in it's cage alone all the time and still be expected to be friendly on the odd days when you feel like playing with it.  Some birds require more interaction than others, but they are social creatures and need you to set aside some time each day to play with them.  You can use this time to teach them tricks and strengthen the bond between you.

When considering bringing a bird into your home, you must think about the safety of your new pet.  Are there other pets in the house that could be threatening to the bird?  Are there tiny nooks and crannies that a bird could get into and hurt himself?  Do the other members of your family leave the windows and doors open where the bird could fly out and be lost?  All these things must be considered for the safety of your new pet

The purchase and placement of his cage is another consideration.  You must buy a cage that is the right size for your bird.  Many parrots become quite adept at opening their own cage doors so you should consider how easy the cage is to break out of.  The cage should be made out of a safe material and have bars spaced in such a way that the bird cannot get his head stuck in between them.  There should be no sharp edges and their should be appropriate food and water dishes as well as perches inside the cage.  Cages can be expensive, but don't skimp on this as it is your pets new home!

Before you buy the cage, consider where you will be keeping it.  It is best if the cage can be in a quiet corner but near family activities as your bird really wants to be part of the family.  You should keep it out of direct sunlight, and away from any drafts or anywhere that could have a sudden change in temperature like in front of the heater or air conditions.  Avoid placing the cage in the kitchen as fumes and hot surfaces can be hazardous.  Be aware that the fumes from nonstick pans can be deadly to a pet bird, so make sure you get rid of all your non stick pans before bringing your bird home.  Of course, you will want to keep the cage out of the path of traffic so you need to buy a cage that is the appropriate size for your bird as well as the right size to fit in the intended area.

Depending on the size of your bird, you may want to consider the level of noise that he will produce.  Parakeets make little chirpy noises that, for the most part, are not annoying.  Conures, on the other hand have a shrill call that goes right through you.  Most happy birds will not yell constantly, but it is natural for them to call out at times so make sure you (and your neighbors) can handle the level of noise produced by the bird.

Finally, make sure that you want to commit to the care that is necessary to have a happy healthy bird.  You'll need to clean out the cage daily and make sure you provide fresh food and water.  Food your bird a varied diet and have him checked by a vet (preferably one who specializes in birds) every year.

Birds can be very rewarding pets and take minimal care but they must be provided with a comfortable and safe environment and your companionship in order to thrive.  Many birds can live for 20 years or more, so you are making a long commitment when you bring home your new feathered friend.   This commitment to care and companionship is well worth it, however, as the rewards of owning these enchanting creatures are many!

Lee Dobbins is owner and editor of [http://www.epet-center.com]ePet Pet Center where you can find information on every type of pet including [http://www.epet-center.com/pet-birds.html]pet birds.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Things-To-Think-About-Before-You-Buy-A-Pet-Bird&id=30787] Things To Think About Before You Buy A Pet Bird

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How To Attract Song Birds To Your Yard

Source : Wikimedia Red Headed Wood Pecker In late winter birds are ready to nest and mate. This is a unique opportunity to draw dozens of species of different kinds of bird to your yard by providing artificial nest boxes. Decide what kind of birds you want to attract before building your bird house. Robins and phoebes only nest in sheltered but open areas. They prefer simple sheltered platforms. Wrens, bluebirds and tree swallows are birds who like one unit enclosed bird houses to nest in. Wrens prefer these bird houses be near some sort of cover such as shrubs while bluebirds and swallows prefer more open areas such as along a fence row. All bird houses should have adequate ventilation on the top and adequate drainage on the bottom. The hole on the house should face north or east to prevent birds from over heating. Ideally they will not have a perch outside the entrance as this entices predators. Mounting bird houses on metal poles instead trees also discourages predators. Also, bird houses should be easy to clean as to prevent the spread of parasites from nest to nest each year. Making song birds welcome in your yard should be the goal of the placement of all nesting boxes and feeders. There are four elements s that most song birds need to feel comfortable. These elements are food, water, nesting sites, and shelter. Many of these things are already present in our back yards. We have trees and shrubs to provide nesting areas and place that water pools to provide water. We have insects or grass that has gone to seed to provide food. To make our yard stand out from our neighbors we simply can do a few extra things. Bird Seed dispenser We can provide nesting sites by the standards first discussed in this article. The next most difficult element is providing clean water sources for song birds. Avoid placing water in metal bowels but birds do appreciate warm water left in small containers outside for clean drinking and bathing during the winter months. There is a chance that you will get longer glimpse of song birds in the winter near a warm water bath as birds preen after bathing in the winter to keep ice from forming on their feathers. A good quality seed such black oil sunflower seeds and cracked corn can help songbirds maintain their weight during the winter months and ensure their survival til Spring. Again the type of seed and feeder will determine the type of birds that are attracted to your yard. All bird feeders should be equipped in a way to discourage other four-footed friends in the back yard from raiding the feed. Tubular feeders are a practical feeder that can service a number of different kinds of birds. In nature wild birds never become dependent on just one type of diet. Instinct lets them know that a single food source might dry up. Wild birds have a pretty good system of sampling a buffet of different food sources. We can make it easier on our winged friends in the winter by adding a little variety to their diet. Bird lovers know the more types of wild bird we can attract the better. Many experienced backyard bird lovers use a tube style bird feeder with black oil sunflower seeds .These seeds are usually found in the pet aisle of your local grocer and are relatively inexpensive. Daily maintenance is required to free the slots of the debris left from the hulls or the seeds or other feed by-product. If you neglect the daily maintenance the birds will no longer be able to easily access the food in the feeder. Most tubular feeders are made out of hard plastic and offer a variety of different port designs and perches to attract different type's wild birds. They all work on the same principal. The food is put vertically in the feeder and as the food level drops the bird must move to a lower feeding position. Tubular bird feeders come in many different sizes but there are basically three types. The first type is a more general feeder that can easily dispense sunflower seeds. This will attract a number of backyard birds. The second type is on that has smaller holes meant to allow only Nyjer™ seed to drop .This is to attract finches. The third type of Tubular feeder has unique perches above the feeding port to give goldfinches a chance to feed without the company of the more plentiful house finches. The upside down design allows the more agile goldfinches more feeding time than their less coordinated cousins. Songbirds always feed exclusively from tubular feeds. Variety of diet will attract many different types of songbirds. It may take some experimentation with feed to attract the feather friends you are most interested in attracting to your yard. Additions to a tubular feeder are a tray to catch loose seed and plastic caging to discourage four-footed yard residents from feeding on your bird seed. A well made tubular feeder can provide you and your feathered friend's year round enjoyment for many years.

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The Right Cockatiel Diet

Picking The Right Diet for Your New Cockatiel

Source: Morguefile

You can and should feed you cockatiel fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh pears and apples are a favorite . They should be feed sparingly as not to cause loose bowl movements. You can also feed your bird spinach, cabbage hearts, carrot tops, and Brussels spouts. Make sure food is fresh and not wilted. Remove the left over from the cage daily. You bird will not eat even slightly aged fruits and vegetables and they just become a potential source of bacteria.

Spray millet and hard yellow cheddar can be used as treats .

Picking the right seed mixture for your cockatiel is important to the overall health and well-being of your bird. In the wild cockatiels eat seeds from a wide variety of grasses. This is the mainstay of the wild cockatiel's diet. In captivity it is best to feed seed mixtures geared specifically for cockatiels as these are those mixtures that most closely mimic their natural diet. Most cockatiels mixes include millets, oats, and sunflower seeds.

To assure your bird is getting the freshest seed it is best to purchase seed in smaller quantities. You can test the freshness of seed mixtures by wetting a small amount in a small bowl and keeping it moist. If the seed is fresh; much of it will have spouted within a few days. Keeping your seed in an air tight container in a dry environment will assure you seed stays fresh for a reasonable amount of time. Check your feed bowl often because it may look full when it is not. Cockatiels eat unshelled seed and the bird eats the kernel and disposes the hull. Be sure the bowl is full of unshelled seed and not just the shells of the discarded hull.

Millet

Source: morguefile

Fresh Fruits and Vegtables

You can and should feed you cockatiel fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh pears and apples are a favorite . They should be feed sparingly as not to cause loose bowl movements. You can also feed your bird spinach, cabbage hearts, carrot tops, and Brussels spouts. Make sure food is fresh and not wilted. Remove the left over from the cage daily. You bird will not eat even slightly aged fruits and vegetables and they just become a potential source of bacteria.

Spray millet and hard yellow cheddar can be used as treats but should only be a small amount of your bird's diet. Yellow cheddar is a good source of calcium essential from your bird's health. A more accepted way to give calcium is from a cuddle bone or grit. Use of grit is controversial in using it as a digestive aid. However, digestible grit is a good source of calcium.

Pellets and Vitamins

Most cockatiels will do fine on a seed diet with an addition of a calcium source. Many owners like to supplement the bird's diet with vitamins. You should consult your veterinarian before introducing vitamins supplements into a bird's diet that has not consumed them before. Pellets are available as an alternative to the seed diet. These pellets are nutritionally complete. A good compromise for those concerned about their birds' vitamin intake would be to do a mixture of pellet based and seed diet. Introduce pellets into you bird's diet very slowly to avoid any digestive issues.

Keeping Consistent With A New Bird

If you adopt a bird from another person or group it is good to maintain the diet and supplements the bird is already receiving if the bird is healthy. If your cockatiel is molting it does not require a change of diet only a more ample food supply. It is best to leave your birds diet alone if your bird is healthy

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