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By Nancy Mcdaniel

There are many things to consider when owning a pet bird.

• Do you have enough room?
• Do you have enough patience? Is our house set up to have a bird? If not , are you willing to invest in what it takes to have a home that’s “bird safe”?.
• Do you have the time it takes to care for a bird?
• Do you know what kind of bird you want?
• Are you ready for a long-term commitment?

These are the most important questions you should ask yourself BEFORE considering owning a bird as a pet. Birds live a long time, depending on the type some live over 20yrs. Birds require a lot of interaction and stimulation. If you don’t have the life style that would be conducive to having a bird as a pet then stop right here! YOU must adapt yourself to the bird, and not expect the bird to adapt itself to you!

Not only having a home that is bird suitable, but having a home that has an appropriate place for a cage is very important. I can’t stress enough the importance of having a suitable cage. Depending on the type of bird will be the factor in the size and placement of the bird cage. Cages can be very costly, the bigger the bird the bigger the cage. Certain bird types need different types of feeders,waters, and toys. yes toys, boredom is one of the birds biggest stresses. Boredom can causes many problems in birds, feather plucking, depression and behavior problems.

Being a bird owner is not to be taken lightly. I would rather you find out now then to realize this after investing in everything to have a bird as pet. There isn’t much of a market for getting rid of previously owned birds. Having a bird as a pet can be very rewarding,but only if you are willing to educate yourself on being the best bird owner possible.

Birds are very entertaining and very smart animals, some types can be taught to speak, they can be house broken, and taught to do tricks. Once again it takes a very committed person to own a bird. They are not just play things that can be put away when your tired of playing with them. Owning other pets, having them in the same environment as the birds not a good idea, nothing against cats but cats can cause pet birds a lot of strife. A scratch from a cat can cause a type of bacteria to enter into the birds blood stream and kill just as quick as if the cat had just attacked it.

Birds can very easily get their beaks caught in things,that is why not only having a bird safe home important, but having a cage that is safe too. Birds are allergic to many different types of plants, cleaning solutions, cooking utensils and smoke. As you see it’s quite extensive the amount of knowledge needed BEFORE getting a bird as a pet.

Nancy McDaniel is a lover and bird owner, she writes on this subject and other related issues. You can learn more by visiting her blog http://new2birds.blogspot.com

Article Source: Nancy Mcdaniel

By Ken Marlborough

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Free as a bird.” In the wild, birds are free, flying from tree to tree in effortless abandon. At home, we should recreate that environment to the greatest degree possible. In general, we should buy the largest cage that will safely accommodate our feathered friend.

In order to be comfortable, birds need ample space in order to be comfortable. It should be able to spread its wings easily and move from perch to perch. Like all of us, birds need exercise. It stands to reason, then, that larger or more active birds need large bird cages.

A macaw, for example, needs a cage that is at least three feet long and five feet wide! Amazons, African grays, conures, and cockatoos also require large bird cages, though not as large as the macaw. Before making such a purchase, make sure that you have enough space available in your home.

Large bird cages are available in a variety of materials, such as wood, metal, iron, stainless steel, and acrylic. You can choose based on many factors, but convenience should definitely be considered. Your large bird cage will need to be cleaned regularly, and stainless steel or metal cages are usually the easiest to clean.

Large bird cages are available at most pet stores and specialty bird stores. They can also be ordered online. For a large bird cage built specifically for your space, you might consider a custom bird cage.

Article Source: Ken Marlborough

By Lance Winslow

Why do birds make such good pets? It is interesting really, because birds are free and most likely do not wish to be put into a cage and yet they seem to like the companionship and safety from the outside world that cages offer and they seem to like the free food too.

Outside birds like Hummingbirds seem to hang around and will make your home their home as long as you feed the bird feeders for multiple generations. And it is a nice deal for them. They can enjoy buzzing around and knowing there is always food in the feeder for them, it is a win/win situation indeed for those who love birds.

Why does mankind love birds so much? After all we have a national bird; The Bald Eagle and there are endless bird watching sites on the Internet as well. In fact we seem to be all bird crazy, but why? Well many evolutionary biologists surmise that mankind has co-evolved along side our feathered friends.

The birds in the trees start making noise when intruders come near. And perhaps early mankind living in troops prior to our first civilizations used these warning sounds to reduce the element of surprise from something or some animal, which might harm them. Indeed this theory makes perfect sense. And so maybe we are genetically engineered to work together in this way some how. Perhaps this is why birds and people seem to go together? Consider this in 2006. “Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; WorldThinkTank.net.

Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Article Source: Lance_Winslow

By Azmi Adnan

Keeping a bird as a pet can be interesting and rewarding, especially if your bird is from the parrot family that can live for many years. These birds can be easily tamed and trained to perform tricks or to talk and sing with amazing clarity. A tamed pet parrot can be your life-long companion and keep you company. Many pet parrot owners find joy training their birds to talk, and unlike your dog or cat, it can be very satisfying when your bird wishes you ‘good morning’.

But before you try to train your bird to talk, it is necessary to win its confidence first. This would be having your bird to get used to your presence and the presence of the all the people living with you in the house. It would be easier to tame a bird if it is two to six months old. Anything older than that would require a lot of patience on your part. Full-grown parrots can bite hard and injure you if you are not careful. Try not to make sudden moves that surprises your bird or it will defend itself through natural instincts.

Pet your bird by gently scratching its head for it to get used to you. Offer food from the other hand, such as nuts, celery, corn, raisin, and grapes. You should also offer your bird milk or fruit juice from a small cup. Don’t give your bird leftovers from your lunch or dinner, or junk food like burger meat, hotdog or high calorie cakes.

Use hunger as leverage when taming your bird. This method is widely used in bird parks around the world. When your bird has not been fed for a couple of hours, place the food on a dish near you and led the bird come to you for feeding. The bird would feel nervous at first, but once it gets used to this, it would be natural for the bird to come to you with confidence

If your bird is quite wild when you first purchased it, you could place the cage next to you when you go about doing your personal things such as reading, watching tv or writing. It would just be a matter of time before your bird get used to having your presence around. If your bird is big, you might want to rough around with it such as scratching its head and back. Protect yourself with gloves or a towel at first until it eventually recognises you as its master. Soon your bird will expect this kind of attention from people it is familiar with.

You would need to do a complete examination of your bird at least once a month and look out for abnormalities such as ingrown feather or toenails or a beak that needs trimming. Look out also for possible liver trouble in the form of swollen or dark abdomen. Wash the legs with warm water to get rid of encrusted droppings and apply Vaseline to soften the scales and kill scale lice.

With patience, you will have a great companion that keeps you company for years to come.

Azmi Adnan is a writer and a bird enthusiast. Visit his website at http://www.power-to-live.com/parrot.html and learn more about developing a life-long relationship with your birds.

Article Source: Azmi Adnan

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By Kimberly Webber

When selecting the appropriate food for your bird, it is important to think about certain things and ask yourself several questions. You should keep in mind the type of bird or birds you own and their size. Do they need a seed and pelleted diet? Do they like to eat food from their talon, or out of their dish? Does your bird make a large mess when eating. Does your bird have any known health problems?

Some foods can help certain problems like feather picking and vitamin deficiencies. With so many different types of food on the market, it can be difficult and confusing. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you keep them on a well-balanced diet.

One common misconception is that birds need seeds in their diet, and the truth is they do not. Peanuts are very high in fat content and I recommend giving your bird no more than one per day. Sunflower seeds, which can be prevalent in some seed mixtures are also high in sodium and fat. It is ok to give your bird a few seeds, but if your bird is eating them anymore than 10% of their diet, that is too much. Most birds need to be on 90% pelleted diet. Seeds, nuts and other treats can make up the other 10%. Also included in most parrots diet can be fresh fruit and vegetables. These can seem like a treat to your bird, but are actually very healthy.

There are some brands of food which are 100% organic. These are best for your bird as no chemicals are used when growing the ingredients. Organic foods also contain no preservatives and no artificial coloring. Birds can be sensitive to those things.

Human food in very small quantities can be ok for your bird, but should not be practiced regularly. One human food that is great for birds is the sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are filled with Vitamin A, which the Eclectus parrot needs in their diet because it aids in digestion. They also contain Vitamin C and Iron and are relatively easy to cook and store as well.

Two foods that can kill your birds are chocolate and avocado. You should never feed your bird those foods in any amount.

Still have questions regarding which food is appropriate for your bird or parrot? You may contact our bird food experts and find the best food for your bird by visiting us at www.thepinkbird.com.

Article Source: Kimberly Webber