Things You Need to Know About Pet Birds

Birds are becoming more and more popular as pets. There are a variety of bird species and sizes to choose from. The smaller birds are the Parakeet, Canary, Finch, Budgies, Lovebird...the larger birds are the Cockatiel, African Grey, Cockatoo, Amazon, Quaker, among others. Birds are highly intelligent animals. They are extremely social creatures... fairly inexpensive to feed... relatively easy to care for... and display amazing colors and behavior patterns that are interesting to watch and have even proven to improve peoples health i.e lower blood pressure and stress levels. The smaller birds... canaries, budgies, love birds...are ideal for apartment dwellers. Cages: Stainless steel or aluminum cages are more fitting for housing bird(s) than are painted cages. Not only will they give longer service, but the older painted cages may contain lead based paint which is toxic to birds. Cages should be wide enough for the bird to stretch its wings.

Cages should be placed near family activities in the home. Lining the bottom of the cage with newspapers or paper towels will make for easier clean up. Food and water bowls should be cleaned daily and once a week thorough cleaning of the cage should be done. Cages should also include toys, perches, mirrors and chewable items. Diet: Dietary needs among bird species are not all the same. Some have very specific dietary needs and need special diets. Feeding pet birds the right foods is one of the most important considerations of its overall care. Balancing a pet birds diet will prevent many health problems later.

Diet for most seed-eating birds should consist of pelleted foods, fresh fruits (apples, grapes, cantaloupe, pineapple, figs, and kiwi) and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates, but shouldn't be left in the cage at room temperature for long periods of time as they can spoil causing bacteria that is harmful to the bird. It's important to research what types of foods are best for your species of bird. Offering the bird a food item at dinner time is ok as long as you make sure that the foods you share aren't toxic to birds. The best time for feeding is in the morning and have fruits and vegetables available during the day. Health and Care: Health should be a primary consideration when choosing a pet bird. For routine health examinations you should schedule a yearly checkup with a avian veterinarian in order to detect potential problems early.

A healthy bird can tolerate temperatures that are comfortable to its owner. A pet bird should never be let out of its cage unattended. Some common dangers for birds are ceiling fans, heaters, open windows and doors, other pets, water filled tubs, sinks, etc. Some do's: Do close the blinds or pull the drapes over the windows if you let the bird out of it's cage to keep it from injuring himself flying into the glass. Do make sure a fireplace screen is covering the fireplace. Do cover aquariums. Do keep toilet lids down to keep the bird from falling in.

Do keep other pets (cats, dogs) away from the pet bird. Do keep clean water in it's cage. Do clean food bowl. Do keep the cage clean. Some don't's: Don't feed the bird certain foods (i.e chocolate, avocado) because they are toxic. Don't leave any doors and windows open in case the bird gets out of his cage. Don't hold a bird tight because their bones are fragile and can easily be fractured. Don't let a pet bird loose in the kitchen around boiling water or stove burners. Don't turn on ceiling fans if the bird is out of its cage. Don't smoke around the bird. Don't over heat non-stick-coated (Teflon) pots or pans for the fumes are toxic to birds. Don't let the bird eat toxic plants (daffodils, juniper, azaleas, oleanders,etc). Don't feed the bird pits from fruit as in cherries, plums or peaches because these contain cyanide which is toxic to birds. Pet birds can be purchased from a variety of sources,such as pet shops, breeders, private dealers, or individuals.

Garnish Your Yard With Unique Bird Houses and Wild Bird Feeders

If you want to jazz up your yard decor while contributing to the environment, try adding several unique bird houses and wild bird feeders. These can beautify your home while simultaneously attracting lovely birds to your yard.

Bird houses and feeders hang as picture perfect ornaments from trees, fence posts, windows or even your patio deck, but they offer so much more than decoration if you're a nature lover. Bird watching is a fairly simplistic and inexpensive hobby. You'll find bird watching to be very relaxing as you sit outdoors on a swing or lie on a hammock and watch various types of birds visit the wild bird feeders in your yard. You can even keep some binoculars and a camera on hand for whenever you see a unique bird.

You can create a marvelous bird haven in your yard with various bird houses and wild bird feeders, giving your feathered friends food, water and shelter. Your yard can provide a safe place for birds to mate, eat, drink, and raise their young. You'll also be providing protection from many of birds' natural predators as well as inclement weather. And just for your efforts, numerous birds will sing enchanting lullabies to you each morning!

Types of Bird Houses and Bird Feeders

Bird houses and feeders come in a variety of colors, materials, shapes and sizes. Some of the most beautiful bird products are hand made, created from wood, stoneware, ceramic, or hand blown glass. Some bird houses are shaped like animals - even birds - such as the cardinal wood bird house, bluebird houses, and cat-shaped houses. There are also many bird houses shaped like little cottages, cupcakes, log cabins, trailers, canisters, vegetables, and other creative designs.

Wild bird feeders can cater to certain types of birds. For example, if you wish to attract hummingbirds to your yard, opt for special hummingbird feeders. These small feeders come in various styles and colors, decorated with flowers and other designs. Hummingbirds will love them, and you'll be able to sit and watch them play in your yard for hours of enjoyment. To attract finches, add a three-tube finch feeder to your yard. This type of wild bird feeder can feed up to 24 finches all at once, keeping each one in perfect view!

There are also squirrel proof bird feeders if your yard usually attracts lots of squirrels. These are designed to allow birds to feed while preventing squirrels from stealing their food. Squirrel proof bird feeders come in styles such as platform bird feeders and caged tubular feeders.

The designs of wild bird feeders available today are virtually endless, with basic styles such as window bird feeders, platform and fly thru feeders, tubular and hopper bird feeders. The materials used range from weatherproof stoneware and ceramics, stained glass and copper, recycled plastics and glass, and - of course - wood. Everything from covered wagons and lighthouse bird feeders, to stoneware cats, cupcakes, and laughing green men bird feeders are available. Whatever you may fancy or collect, there is a bird feeder that will strike a chord and brighten up your yard!

Once you find suitable unique bird houses and wild bird feeders for your yard, be sure to add other bird accessories to complement your decorations. Try ceramic bird baths or hanging bird baths, drippers, nesting balls, solar stepping stones, garden flags, stoneware toad houses, garden statues, fountains, and other garden decor products to dress up your yard.

You can find many unique bird houses and wild bird feeders online at affordable prices. So visit a bird accessory retailer on the Web today to check out all the adorable styles available. You'll see some amazing birds gather soon to add vibrant color and sweet songs to your yard!

Garden Bird Feeders

Let's Begin With Some "Feeder Facts"

When bird feeders are first offered in your yard, it may take the birds a few weeks to discover and recognize them as a source of food. Bird feeders are containers resembling lanterns into which solicitous humans place seeds or other types of bird feed, to attract and feed the birds in the surrounding area.

Bird feeders are the the surest and fastest way to attract birds to your yard .Bird feeders are a must for home birdwatching, and many people have webcams trained on their feeders, where birds often congregate.

Bird feeders are an attractive inclusion to the gardens, courtyards and terraces and are easy to put up and easy to take care of.

Hanging bird feeders are usually hung in trees or below the eaves of a porch or patio.

Stationary bird feeders are available in two types: those that can be attached to a tree, and those that are perched on top of a pole.

Squirrels may visit the bird feeder and hoard all the seeds, not to mention, scare away all the birds, but very few bird feeders are truly squirrel proof. Platform bird feeders are for the birds that like to eat off the ground.

Window bird feeders are a great way to bring birds close to your house. Squirrel proof bird feeders are also a great way to protect your bird seed from being eaten by other animals, but if you like squirrels too, then this feeder is not a consideration for you.

Many times, bird feeders are only used during the winter since thats when their food source is the lowest. Although there are all styles and types of bird feeders, the most successful bird feeders are dependent upon the placement of the feeder and the type of food source on the wild bird feeder.

Pole Bird Feeders are great for encouraging lots of bird types to your garden, but having a Pole Bird Feeder is also a great way to discourage bird-eating cats from pouncing on your feathered guests.

Three basic types of bird feeders are available: hopper, tube and platform. While bird feeders are thought of as winter projects, urban and suburban areas can benefit from bird feeders year-round.

Stone bird feeders are generally available in marble, granite, sandstone and soapstone.

Technical structures of bird feeders are so important to consider because these things will determine the quality and the kind of seeds needed to supply the birds' daily meal.

With a natural gift for life, bird feeders are uplifting, relaxing and entertaining. After your bird feeders are up, make a covered notebook and keep track of all the birds you see.

You've heard the saying about a gift that keeps on giving, well, bird feeders are truly the gift that "keeps on giving" enjoyment all year long.

The Secret to Safely Traveling With Birds

Traveling with your bird can be a fun and rewarding experience for you and your bird. Traveling with your bird can also be easy if you follow the guidelines set out in this article.

Traveling In an Automobile

Who wants to go for a ride? If your bird is anything like mine, she loves to hear that question. Going for a ride can be fun and safe if you follow the guidelines of this article. Without making the process sound too technical, there are three distinct stages of travel that you should consider. Those three stages are the Preparation Stage, Travel Stage, and Arrival Stage.

Preparing to Travel With Your Bird by Automobile

You may have a hundred things to plan for before your journey especially on a long trip. However, adding a couple more considerations to allow your bird to go with you will be well worth your time and your bird will thank you.

There are three simple things to consider when preparing for your journey - Food, Water, and Shelter. Simple enough right?

Taking enough food to last the journey is obviously a major consideration. If you are running down to the grocery store then you can forget about this consideration. For longer trips, it is a good idea to make sure your bird has food PRIOR to your journey because your bird probably will not be interested in eating during any short trip. It most likely won't be interested in eating because it'll be distracted and/or afraid because of its new surroundings. Providing nutrition prior to travel will also help the bird's body cope with any travel related stress.

However, if there is a possibility of the trip being extended or the possibility of being stranded away from home (snow, car malfunction, etc) you will still want to make contingency plans. Just take a couple days supply of food, and place it in a Tupperware bowl, or a sealed baggie depending on how much food will be required. Toss it in the automobile and you'll have it just in case of emergency. The type of food that you take depends mostly on your bird's normal diet. If your bird will eat pellet food then your food preparation is very simple. If your bird's diet consists only of fruit and vegetables then your preparation time may take longer. Fruit will generally last a couple days if you wait until feeding time to cut/chop/dice it and most vegetables will also last a couple days. Taking the time to prepare food for your bird will be very beneficial to your mental well being and your bird's physical well being just in case something goes wrong.

Water is another important thing to consider when preparing for your journey. Much like food, it may or may not be needed depending on the length of your journey. However, just like preparing food in case of an emergency, carrying in a little water is simple and may be very beneficial if something goes wrong which unexpectedly extends your journey. Usually a small bottle of water is all that is required for most journeys. Adding another bottle for longer journeys or in case of an unexpected emergency is easy and may turn out to be beneficial to you and your bird. Fruits and vegetables high in water content provide another means to keep your bird hydrated during travel. Depending on your bird, sometimes they're more likely to eat an apple slice, grape, orange slice or other food which will provide them with the water necessary to keep them hydrated.

It is a good idea to make sure your bird has water PRIOR to your journey because most likely, your bird will not be interested in drinking during a short trip anyway. It most likely won't be interesting in drinking because it will be distracted and/or afraid because of its new surroundings. Providing water prior to travel will also help the bird's body cope with any travel related stress.

Food and Water preparation usually are very simple because we provide our birds with food and water several times a day. Providing for shelter during travel isn't as common but it can also be very simple. Commercially available carriers for birds are everywhere (online, local pet stores, etc). It is also very simple to convert a small cat or dog carrier into a bird carrier. These can be found at garage and yard sales and usually at very reasonable prices. It is very simple to add a perch to a dog or cat carrier. For plastic rigid carriers, a wooden dowel can be screwed into the carrier using two screws through the side of the carrier into the wooden dowel. For metal carriers, a perch from the bird's cage can be attached inside the carrier just like it is attached to the bird's cage.

Whether you're purchasing a carrier or converting one, there are a couple things to consider. The traveling container should be;

• Large enough for the bird to stretch its wings but it isn't necessary for it to be large enough to fly inside.
• It should have openings in it large enough to provide good ventilation. Having ventilation on at least two (2) sides should be sufficient. Ideally, the holes should be large enough for you to stick your fingers inside the cage to give your bird reassuring neck rubs.
• It should have openings in it for you to see inside to periodically check to make sure that your bird is ok.
• It should have containers inside it to place food and water.
• It should have a perch inside it for the bird to stand on.
• It should have a handle on it or another means to carry it and to strap it into your automobile seat belts.

Depending on how familiar your bird is with the carrier, you may need to prepare your bird for the carrier. Ideally, you should start this process a couple weeks prior to your departure date. This will allow sufficient time for your bird to get used to the carrier. You can start by letting your bird explore the outside of the carrier with the door open. Eventually your bird will explore the inside of the carrier. You may entice it with a favorite toy or treat. Eventually and gradually, your bird will feel more at ease around and in the carrier. This procedure should be done as far in advance as possible to your departure date in order to give your bird plenty time to get acquainted with the carrier.

To prepare the carrier for travel, all you have to do to the carrier is to put some bedding in the bottom of it such as paper, paper-towels or other suitable bedding and it's ready to go. On long flights, a favorite toy may be added to the carrier to help distract and amuse your bird during the trip.

One final consideration for your trip should be to include a basic first-aid kit. Though some might find that this is going too far, it is a simple precaution and it takes very little space but may be very rewarding if it is needed.

Here is a short-list summary of the preparation need to take your bird on a journey with you in your automobile.

• Feed & water your bird prior to traveling.
• Purchase or make a suitable carrier and place bedding into it.
• Take enough food & water with you in case of emergency.
• Pack a simple first-aid kit.

It's that simple. This literally takes minutes to prepare for and your bird will thank you for it in the long run.

Traveling With Your Bird in an Automobile

So you've spent the time to prepare for the journey and now it's time to go. What do you do now? There's really not much to do at this point. Just place your bird in the carrier and put it in the car. The most important thing to do is to strap the carrier into your seatbelt system. This will be critical in the case of an emergency but more importantly it will stabilize the carrier and create a much smoother ride for your bird. This will prevent the carrier from rolling, slipping, and sliding as you start, turn and stop the automobile. It is critical that you disable the air-bag if strapping the carrier into a seat with an airbag. Most automobiles either automatically disable the airbag or you can do it manually. If disabling the airbag isn't an option, place the carrier in the back seat where there aren't airbags.

Arriving at Your Destination in an Automobile

So you've spent the time preparing for the journey, you've finally finished your journey and you arrive at your destination. Now what? Hopefully you've read this article and prepared for your arrival because this part of the process is often overlooked. We are usually so excited and/or worried about preparing and traveling that we forget to think ahead to our actual arrival. Here are some thoughts and tips about your destination that you should consider before arriving.

• Does your destination allow birds? You should call ahead to verify.
• Can your bird get out of the carrier to stretch when you arrive?
• Do you have a larger cage to put it into when you arrive?
• Can you ship a cage, supplies, food, toy to your destination?
• Do you have a harness to let it safely get out of the carrier?
• If visiting a friend, will they allow it to get out of the carrier in their home?
• Do special precautions need to be taken for its safety at the destination? Are there birds, dogs, or cats around that may harm it?

Summary & Concluding Remarks

Traveling with your pet bird can be a fun experience for you and your bird if your plan for your trip. Spending the time planning will reduce your stress levels and your bird's stress levels. So plan your trip, grab your bird, go for a ride or a flight and most importantly have some safe fun.