Bird Care

Bird Care

• Never allow a tame bird to be free in a moving car. The bird could be very easily frightened and fly onto the driver, thereby creating a dangerous situation.
• Drive with caution when approaching a flock or community of ground birds on or near the roadway. The birds might mistime their flight in trying to avoid the car.
• Do not leave live electrical cords in an exposed situation in the home. If you have a tame bird with a powerful beak and that bird is allowed to roam freely, the bird could bite through the outside covering of an unexposed cord and receive an electric shock.
• If you are spraying insecticide or household sprays inside or outside the house, make sure the spray does not invade the bird’s cage or aviary.
• A well-designed and constructed cage or aviary plays a significant part in preventing and thereby reducing the incidence of accidents and illnesses amongst caged birds. An aviary can be built with two skins of wire mesh, about 10cm (4in) apart, that will protect birds against attacks from predators such as cats and some wild birds that can cause deep wounds, shock, or even death.
• Wire bars are usually used in cages. Sometimes these are coated with a zinc compound which, if ingested, may cause zinc poisoning.
• The size of the holes in the mesh or the space between the bars must be considered so that there is no chance of the head of a contained bird poking through and the bird being injured in the panic to gain release.
• Birds fly horizontally or swerve upwards or downwards. It is therefore more important to consider the length of a cage rather than the height. Caged birds that do not have enough room to fly, even for a very short distance, may suffer from debility, boredom, and stress.
• To help make cleaning easier, the bottom of a cage should have a removable sliding tray and an aviary should have a sloping concrete Floor. Each should be cleaned regularly to avoid dampness or parasites another infection developing in the debris of droppings, scattered seeds, seed husks, and other waste food that would otherwise accumulate. Such debris may lead to health problems such as diarrhea, weight loss, debility, and feather loss.
• Birds need some sunlight for vitamin D production. Aviaries should be constructed in a way that allows exposure to sunlight but also provides a shaded area to which birds can retreat from the sun and heat and for protection from the rain and wind. In a cold climate, aviaries may need to be insulated otherwise hypothermia and respiratory problems may develop. These principles also apply to the positioning of cages near open and closed windows where the use of a cover can help.
• Careful consideration should be given to the fittings of the cage or aviary. All birds need perches, drinking, and food vessels, and provision against extremes in temperature.
• – Whatever the perch. It should be cleaned regularly to reduce the incidence of parasites and infection.
• A slippery perch may cause a bird to be unstable while perching. Some bird owners have tried to correct this problem by providing a perch encased in fine sandpaper, which in turn can be the cause of a problem known as bumble foot. The best kind of perch is one taken from a branch of a tree similar to the one where the bird perches in the Isa branch or branches of varying diameter allowing a bird to choose the thickness which suits it best.
• The uneven surface of the branch makes it easier for the bird to grip and perch comfortably. A perch that is too small in diameter is the cause of cramping.
• Fouled water and food, and droppings are a source of disease. The floor of the cage can be kept clean by covering it with newspaper, which is changed daily. Food and water should be placed in suitable containers, not placed under perches, and checked daily for cleanliness. – A cage should be provided with a cover made of material that does not shed easily. Loose threads are liable to tangle around the bird’s toes and cut off circulation. The cover can protect the bird from heat stress (due to too much sunlight), ITy-potlicmlia (from too much coil), and attack from predators, especially at night.
• A lone bird in a cage may suffer boredom and, as consequence, may self-mutilate and spend time feather-plucking. The owner should provide entertainment in the form of appropriate equipment such as a ladder, mirror, bells, and a swinging perch placed in the cage. Just as the bird provides company for the owner, the owner should provide some company for the bird in talking, whistling, stroking, or even allowing the bird out of the cage into a safe room for a short time.
• The location of the cage or aviary is important. Birds should not be exposed to draughts that may aggravate respiratory problems. Sudden, loud noises or the fear of attack by predators may induce a state of stress or shock. When frightened, a bird’s instinctive reaction is to take flight. In a ‘fright-flight situation, a caged bird could damage itself against the cage wire.
• Many accidents and illnesses can be prevented by providing good management covering such areas as parasite control, nutrition, and cleanliness.