Fri 25 Jul 2008
Rub a Dub-Dub, a Parrot in the Tub
Filed under: Articles-Birds General — admin @ 4:11 pm


Rub a Dub-Dub, a Parrot in the Tub
By Robin Bateman

Ask any bird owner and he will tell you, “Yep, birds are messy.”

So just how do you keep your new pet parrot clean? And what about his cage, toys, food…are there any special instruction here?

The Bird – To keep feather dust to a minimum, and promote vibrant colors, shower your parrot weekly. Most species love water and will sing, flap their wings and even “dance” when showered. You can purchase a shower perch for let your parrot walk around on the bottom of the shower floor or tub.

You don’t have to buy special soap for your bird. Use plain tap water. Be sure the temperature is warm. It’s a good idea to test the water’s temp by letting the water run on the underside of your forearm, much like you would for a baby’s formula.

Some bird owners mist their parrots with water from a spray bottle (similar to the ones used for misting house plants). A few varieties of birds dislike misting, so proceed with caution. If your pet shows signs of apprehension, it’s a good idea to avoid the misting process altogether.

The Food Dishes – Wash in hot soapy water, or run through the dishwasher everyday. Consider buying two sets of food and water dishes; while one set is placed in your birds’ cage (with fresh contents) the other set is in the dishwasher.

The Cage – A rule of thumb here is; the larger the bird, plus, the more time the bird spends in the gage equals the more frequently you should perform a thorough cleaning on the cage. i.e. more than a “wipe down”. Cage liners are wonderful! It’s easy to roll up your bird’s mess in one thin liner than it is to empty the pan, or pull up newspaper. Change liners daily, or every few days, depending on how messy your bird is. A quick wipe over with a warm wet cloth helps alleviate the difficulty of the thorough cleaning.

Before you thorough clean, remove the bird from his cage and place on a perch away from his cage area. Use a bird safe disinfectant. Sometimes a scrub brush and/or sandpaper can help remove tough dried particles.

The Toys – Soak toys in mild soapy warm – hot water. rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before returning to cage. Cleanse toys every few weeks to remove germs and feather dust.

The Yard aka area around the cage – This area is often plagued with feathers, feather particles and feather dust as well as seeds and other food items your bird drops. Vacuum daily. A cage with a seed catcher helps somewhat and is worth purchasing.

Also, consider purchasing an air purifier one with a HEPA filter.

Whenever possible, use cleaning time as play time, too. Talk and socialize with your pet while you change his bird liners, or shower him. the more contact you have with your parrot, the better caregiver you’ll be. You’ll also be able to recognize signs of stress and illness quicker.

Keeping your bird clean, healthy and happy requires daily maintenance, but is well worth it.

Robin Bateman is an author and Moderator on http://www.Writing.Com which is a site for Writers. She is also a contributing editor for Racquet Sports Industry Magazine, resource for those in the tennis industry employees.

Bateman began her parrot-owning journey in 1999 and now owns six parrots.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com which is a site for Pets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Bateman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Rub-a-Dub-Dub,-a-Parrot-in-the-Tub&id=1208038


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Fri 25 Jul 2008
Parrots – Why Every Parrot Owner Needs Be a Member of an Online Message Board
Filed under: Articles-Birds General — admin @ 4:05 pm


Parrots – Why Every Parrot Owner Needs Be a Member of an Online Message Board
By Kelli L

Are you a parrot enthusiast? Do you currently own parrots or plan on getting some in the near future? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to get involved online! There are a couple websites full of useful information for parrot owners. Bird Board is one of many that features that are beneficial and useful to both current parrot owners and individuals who are planning on purchasing or adopting a parrot in the future.

Membership to these message boards are completely free, so there is no risk for you to join. With just a short registration process, you will quickly be on your way to interacting with thousands of other parrot owners from around the world. As a matter of fact, Some are available to users in a variety of languages! At a Bird Board you will also have access to a fountain of information that can be helpful in the everyday care of your beloved parrot.

Bird board includes areas for general discussion on birds, do it yourself projects for birds and instructions for making your own homemade bird toys and bird treats. There is information in the forums on the health, nutrition and safety of your birds as well as training techniques that other parrot owners have been successful with. If you are looking to purchase or adopt a parrot, there is a classified section available, as well as information on various bird clubs and bird shows from around the world. Any bit of information you could possibly be looking for, can be found in the many forums on various message boards.

Most have a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions section, that lists the most frequently asked issues parrot owners come across. There are news articles available for the latest news on parrots and parrot issues, as well as general articles that cover everything from the care of your bird to how to build your own bird toys. With your free membership to a BirdBoard, you will have access to member maps so that you can find other members that are in your area as well as, photo and video albums that show other members with their pet parrots. You can also find species specific boards, with discussions and information on the specific breed parrot that you own.

Navigating the these website is easy, so you will have no problem finding the information you are looking for. In fact, there is so much useful and interesting information on a bird board, I’d wager that before you know it, hours will have passed with you browsing the site and you’ll wonder where the time has gone! If you love your parrot and want to learn all you can about your feathered friend, becoming a member of a bird board is absolutely essential. Even if you have owned parrots for years, it is still in your best interest to join. Not only may you learn something new, but you will be able to interact with other parrot lovers from all around the world. After all, no one can understand a parrot lover like another parrot lover can!

If you read this article and found it helpful, consider stopping by my website http://www.BirdToys.com

You can also find me and over 17,500+ other parrot owners at http://www.BirdBoard.com where you can ask questions and get immediate feedback.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelli_L
http://EzineArticles.com/?Parrots—Why-Every-Parrot-Owner-Needs-Be-a-Member-of-an-Online-Message-Board&id=1206141


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Fri 25 Jul 2008
Parrot Owners – Materials Commonly Used in Bird Toys
Filed under: Articles-Birds General — admin @ 3:55 pm


Parrot Owners – Materials Commonly Used in Bird Toys
By Kelli L

WOOD

Birds need to chew, wood is an excellent material to satisfy this natural urge. Birds play most often with wood toys. Wooden toys are meant to be destroyed. Some bird owners may be frustrated by the destructive nature of their parrots. However, chewing is a natural instinct and vital to birds mental and physical well-being. If you provide only acrylic toys they will often find other, more expensive ways to satisfy their chewing needs (i.e., molding, furniture). It is important to know what woods are safe for your bird. Both soft and hardwoods are commonly used in toys.

Safe Woods (not a complete list):

Pine, Balsa, Birch, Basswood, Poplar, Maple, Walnut, Ash, Apple, Elm, Cactus (Cholla) and Manzanita

Unsafe Woods (not a complete list):

Cedar, Red Cherry, Plywood. Oak

If you like to make your own toys NEVER use pressure treated wood, it is treated with arsenic and will poison your bird. If using natural branches make sure they have not been exposed to insecticides. Also, take care to collect branches in areas removed from highways where plant life may have absorbed toxic emissions from cars. Scrub all branches with a non-toxic disinfectant (dilute chlorine bleach), rinse and dry thoroughly.

If you need to clean wood toys, don’t soak them. It is best to wipe them clean with a damp cloth or sand the soiled area until clean. If your bird likes to dunk his toys beware that moisture can promote bacterial growth and the toys should either be discarded or thoroughly cleaned and dried in a low temperature oven before returning them to the bird.

Birds are able to distinguish colors therefore color makes wood toys more attractive and interesting to birds. Manufacturers usually color wood with food coloring or vegetable dyes. We don’t believe in flavoring wood as the bird should not be encouraged to ingest the wood and, unless properly controlled, the fruit sugars often used provide a perfect medium for bacterial growth. Do not buy toys that have been stained or varnished to add color. If you are interested in a toy with painted parts (ie, ABC blocks) make sure that only non-toxic, child safe paints were used.

ROPE

Several kinds of rope are used in bird toys. Only 100% natural fiber ropes such as cotton, hemp (jute), or sisal should be used in bird toys. Nylon blend ropes should never be used as they can result in serious injury and cuts due to the strength of the strands if the birds get caught in it. Ropes can be safe as long as they are maintained properly and the bird’s beak and nails are kept trim. There have been safety problems noted when excessive fraying occurs. Birds have choked and lost circulation to legs by getting tangled in ill maintained ropes. Rope toys have proven very beneficial in solving feather picking problems and therefore we don’t like to discount rope as a viable material. Bird owners have a responsibility to check their bird’s rope toys daily and to cut back or discard rope toys when they become frayed and present a hazard to their bird.

CHAIN

Chain should have welded not open links. Un-welded chain provides sharp surfaces and narrow openings which have been known to cut toes. Make sure the links are a safe size for your bird, if toes get caught in the links the result can be broken toes or legs. Chain length is also a consideration as a long length of chain could conceivably end up wrapped around a bird’s neck during a vigorous play session. As the wood components are chewed off, a chain hazard could develop. Owners must monitor the status of toys and ensure that as they physically change safety hazards do not develop.

FASTENERS

This is a crucial area of concern as good fasteners are expensive and therefore many manufacturers cut corners and use potentially unsafe items such as split key rings or dog leash type snap hooks. Birds have been cut and lost circulation to toes and tongues on toys utilizing split rings and spring type clamps. For conures or larger birds we recommend either Quick-links (also sometimes called C-clamps) or Pear links to attach toys to the bird’s play area. They come in a variety of sizes and can be tightened with a wrench easily to prevent the bird from unhooking his toys. This type of fastener provides the least potential for injury. They are available in a variety of sizes and can be purchased from your local hardware store if needed to replace unsafe fasteners from existing toys.

Do not use split key rings, spring loaded clips or metal shower rings to fasten your toys. Small hardware pieces can be ingested accidentally. Birds have cut toes and tongues on split rings and spring type clamps.

ZINC

A lot has been mentioned recently about zinc toxicity in birds. Many bird toys are made with zinc coated (galvanized) metal components. Zinc is also commonly found in cage powder coatings. Some avian health specialists have stated that in order for zinc related health problems to result that the parrot must actually swallow the metal components and that “beaking” the parts is insufficient for toxicity to develop unless the galvanized coating is extremely brittle and flaky. If a bird spends a lot of time chewing on toy hardware (i.e., washers, quick links, wire) then it is possible they will ingest enough zinc to build up toxic levels in their systems over time. Owners who are worried about the possible health effects can often find stainless steel replacement components at their local hardware store. This option is also often much more cost effective to the consumer than buying toys constructed with stainless steel parts.

PLASTICS

Acrylics are used in many toys today and if sized properly to the bird are virtually indestructible. If purchasing acrylic toys we recommend the acrylic have a minimum thickness of 3/16?. Recently, there has been a shift back towards wood toys because although the acrylics are durable and attractive they are also not as fun for the bird who likes to chew. We recommend that a few of your birds toys be acrylic or a blend of acrylic and wood, they will be long lasting and the bright colors used are stimulating to your bird.

When considering toys with plastic components a bird owner must consider the nature of the plastic component (i.e., soft vs. brittle) relative to the size of the bird. Brittle plastics should not be given to larger birds because when they break very sharp, cutting edges are formed and if swallowed accidentally could result in ruptured organs. Hard plastic toys specifically designed for parakeets and cockatiels should not be given to larger birds with the beak power to destroy them.

LEATHER

Leather is a great material for birds to safely play with and chew on. Most birds especially like to spend hours untying knots made in leather strips.

Only vegetable tanned leather should be used on bird toys. Do not buy toys with dyed leather or leather tanned with chemicals as most are toxic to birds (i.e., chromium, formaldehyde). For this reason you should also not retire old shoes, belts and pocketbooks to your birds toy chest.

Replace leather if soiled or wet. Bacteria will flourish under these conditions. Many toy companies will sell replacement leather strips.

When hanging toys strung on leather (or rope or chain), avoid leaving a long strand between the toy and the cage. Some birds when rambunctious with their toys can get the leather wrapped around their necks and strangle. It is best to tie the toy close to the bars of the cage.

RINGS

When choosing toys with rings or large plastic chain links make sure that the rings are of a size that the bird can’t get his head stuck in them and choke. Also beware of toys with multiple rings looped directly together as birds have met similar fates when they have been trapped between the rings.

BELLS

Birds love to make noise and bells provide a fun source for their merrymaking. If a bird is mechanically inclined and can remove the clapper the potential exists for swallowing/choking. Make sure the bell clapper can not be removed by the bird. If it is not securely fastened either remove it or weld it (we recommend silver solder). Make sure the clapper is not lead (toxic), if it is lead you will be able to dent the clapper with your fingernail. Do not buys toys that use jingle type bells, toes can become caught and cut in the wide to narrow openings, we recommend the cow or liberty bell design. Appropriately size the bell to the bird so it will be able to withstand the power of the beak.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

Just because the label says the product is safe doesn’t mean that it’s OK for your bird. Any toy has the potential to be unsafe if improperly sized to the bird. Ask your toy vendor or bird store owner for help or advice on choosing a toy appropriate for your bird.

As with kids, no toy is 100% safe for all birds. Use common sense and supervise your bird when you first give him a new toy. Observe how he interacts with the toy to determine how best to hang it and where and when to allow him to play with it (some toys are safer outside the cage).

Provide a wide variety of toys and rotate them in and out of the cage or play area. Variety will help alleviate boredom and keep your bird more alert and curious. Keep 2-3 toys minimum in the birds cage and don’t overstuff the cage so the bird doesn’t have room to move.

Don’t assume that if your bird doesn’t like a toy that it won’t play with any toy. Try something different and take the time to observe what your bird finds interesting in terms of design, texture or size.

Introduce toys to baby birds but make them small…don’t intimidate them. Hand toys are some of the safest toys available and they are especially great for young birds as they help to develop hand-eye coordination.

Play with your bird…most birds think it’s great fun to chase balls across the floor or couch, play “catch” or “pick it up” with mom or dad.

This guide is by no means comprehensive but we have tried to address as many issues as possible. When in doubt, ask for help. We sincerely wish you a long, happy and healthy relationship with your bird.

If you read this article and found it helpful, consider stopping by my website http://www.BirdToys.com

You can also find me and over 17,500+ other parrot owners at http://www.BirdBoard.com where you can ask questions and get immediate feedback.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelli_L
http://EzineArticles.com/?Parrot-Owners—Materials-Commonly-Used-in-Bird-Toys&id=1287023


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Sun 6 Jul 2008
Proper Bird Care
Filed under: Articles-Birds General — admin @ 4:26 pm

Proper Bird Care
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine]Joseph Devine

Most of us probably remember Tweety Bird growing up. With his disproportionately large head and equally small wings, he entertained with his many episodes, involving highly dangerous and complex interactions with Slyvester the cat. “I taut I taw a puddy tat!” is most likely a much quoted reference to his dazzling moments.

In light of his charismatic qualities, it may be a worthwhile endeavor to examine his nature from reality’s perspective: the fact that he’s a bird and what that means bird owners around the world. For bird owners, Tweety has a special place in our hearts. He reminds of out the care it takes to make sure that your bird is healthy and happy for the duration of its life.

For those who are unfamiliar with proper bird care and are thinking about purchasing one, it is important to keep a few things in mind.

·         The Cage – When buying a cage, make sure that the cage is large enough to provide adequate exercise for your bird. The largest dimensions should be with respect to length and width, height. How big or how small the cage should be is a function of how much time the bird spends in its cage. The more time it spends in there, the bigger the cage should be and vice versa. The cage should be fitted with perches of varying sizes so that your bird can properly exercise its feet.

·         Food – Fresh seed mix should make up no more than 20 % of its food source. Seeds are high in both protein and fat, so anything more than 1/5 the energy intake would be unhealthy for the bird. Vegetables and fruit should make up the other 80%. Don’t over feed your animal. This will put unnecessary stress on the birds bone structure.

·         Keep your bird away from common household dangers. These include cats and dogs, plants, paint, ceiling fans, vacuum cleaners and open toilet bowls. Birds often unknowing find themselves in compromising situations when confronted with these household objects.

It is important to also take your bird to get regular check ups at the local veterinarian clinic. Trained specialist can often detect serious illness before they arrive, saving you psychological, physical, and financial headaches in the future.

For more information on ways you can properly take care of your bird consult this website: http://www.sanfranciscoveterinarianclinics.com/ or your local veterinarian.

Joseph Devine

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine http://EzineArticles.com/?Proper-Bird-Care&id=1187016

 

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Sun 6 Jul 2008
Top 5 Bird Dangers
Filed under: Articles-Birds General — admin @ 3:15 pm

Top 5 Bird Dangers To Avoid
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=CS_Swarens]CS Swarens

If you are a bid owner, you must be aware of the things that can harm your little avian friend, particularly if you enjoy allowing it to roam freely in your home. By being aware of potential bird dangers, you can effectively make certain your pets are kept safe and enjoy living a long, healthy, and happy life with you.

Bird Danger #1: Accidental Poisoning

Sadly, hundreds of pet birds are accidentally poisoned every year. There are many products and chemicals that are potentially fatal to birds, including insecticides, bleach, ammonia, glues, oven cleaners, paint, nail polish remover, metals such as zinc and lead, perfumes, and even plants. Non stick coatings, such as those found on bread machines, waffle irons, and space heaters can also emit a fume that is toxic to birds when inhaled. So, search your home for potential dangers, making certain to consider things that your pet bird might inhale or ingest that could be potentially lethal.

Bird Danger #2: Toys

While it is important to purchase toys for your avian friend, it is equally important to make sure they are properly made. Buying toys for your pet bird is the same as buying toys for a child. Make certain none of the parts can easily break off and be accidentally swallowed. Similarly, when it comes to rope toys, make certain your pet cannot accidentally get tangled up in the rope or that your pet cannot separate the strands and accidentally get caught inside. The same is true when it comes to electrical cords – birds are naturally curious and will want to play with them. So, keep them out of reach and consider covering exposed cords with corrugated plastic tubing.

Bird Danger #3: Water and Food

Obviously, your pet bird won’t be able to live if you don’t feed it water and food. At the same time, you shouldn’t leave large containers of open water available to your pet – this includes your toilet and water that you may have out for other pets. Birds can easily fall into open water and accidentally drown. In addition, make certain you give your pet the right type of food and keep inappropriate foods put away. Chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol are all potentially fatal to birds when consumed. Similarly, avoid feeding your pet bird foods that are high in sugar, salt, or fat.

Bird Danger #4: Household Items

Several ordinary, every day household items can pose a threat to your pet bird. Ceiling fans, for example, can cause serious injury to birds that do not have their wings clipped. Even those that aren’t in flight can get stressed out by the movement of a ceiling fan if it is located near to their cages. Pet birds may also fly into windows, mirrors, and doors, so cover them up when your bird takes to flight or keep your pet bird’s wings clipped.

Bird Danger #5: Poor Air Quality

Pet birds can be very sensitive to any type of pollution in the air. Cigarette smoke can cause serious respiratory problems and aerosol products should not be used while you are near to your bird. Birds are also more susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning. So, for the safety of your birds as well as of your family, keep a carbon monoxide detector in your home and avoid running your vehicle inside an attached garage.

CS Swarens is the president of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065

For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet’s pet resource including pet classifieds at http://www.findapetonline.com

Research birds utilizing breed profiles at http://www.findapetonline.com/bird_breeds_a_z.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CS_Swarens http://EzineArticles.com/?Top-5-Bird-Dangers-To-Avoid&id=1187411

 

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Sun 6 Jul 2008
Some Interesting Information on Birds
Filed under: Articles-Birds General — admin @ 3:05 pm

Some Interesting Information on Birds
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mike_Yeager]Mike Yeager

Birds are amazing creatures did you know that birds have been clocked in migration by radar to be moving about 30 mph for songbirds, and 45 for shorebirds. Much of the speed of migration depends on wind conditions and some birds slow down to conserve energy when they are aided by wind. Birds are technically referred to as the classification of Aves or Avians . They are warm-blooded creatures and are very similar to mammals . Birds are an important food source for humans. The most commonly eaten species is the domestic chicken and its eggs, although geese, pheasants, turkeys, and ducks are also widely eaten.

Birds are the only vertebrate animals to have a fused collarbone (the furcul a or wishbone) and a keeled breastbone. Birds are warm-blooded, egg-laying, vertebrate animals. They are covered in feathers and their forelimbs are modified into wings which are used for flight. Birds are incredibly diverse in size, color, and lifestyles. They range in size from the 2.5 inch, 0.08 ounce Bee Hummingbird to the Wandering Albatross with an 11 foot wingspan.

Birds are social animals and need exercise in unconfined areas. Birds are vertebrates with feathers, modified for flight and for active metabolism. Birds are a monophyletic lineage, evolved once from a common ancestor, and all birds are related through that common origin.

Birds are easy to love and being bipedal their feet are usually adapted for perching and never have more than four toes. Hearing and eyesight are well developed but the sense of smell is usually poor. Birds are important elements of nearly every ecosystem on earth and many plants depend on birds for pollination and seed dispersal.

They are often illusive and not particularly cooperative subjects. They are rather small, shy, and keep their distance but can be social and communicate using visual signals and through calls and song, and participate in social behaviors including cooperative hunting, cooperative breeding, flocking and mobbing of predators. Primarily socially monogamous it has been found that some species have polygamous or polyandrous breeding systems.

No matter how you describe them birds are amazing creatures. http://www.my-bird-houses-4u.com/articles/articles.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Yeager http://EzineArticles.com/?Some-Interesting-Information-on-Birds&id=1243846

 

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Sun 6 Jul 2008
Pet Birds Require Daily Interaction To Keep your Bird Happy and Healthy
Filed under: Articles-Birds General — admin @ 3:01 pm

Pet Birds Require Daily Interaction to Keep Your Bird Happy and Healthy
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Delgiudice]Barbara Delgiudice

Owning a pet bird or birds, whether they be a parrot, dove or canary, require daily interaction from you, the  bird owner.  Birds are highly intelligent creatures who are very social beings.  They give unconditional love and need to receive the same unconditional love back to them.

Alex the gifted parrot proves to us that the idea of a ” bird brain” is completely wrong.  In fact the study that Dr. Irene Pepperberg did with Alex an African Grey parrot for 30 years of research, shattered scientists understanding of the Avian brain.  Alex eventually learned enough speech elements to identify 50 different objects, 7 colors and 5 shapes.  He learned to count quantities up to 6 including 0 and was able to articulate certain desires and could even express frustration with repetitive scientific trials.  Alex’s emotional development was similar to that of a 2 year old human child, , and his intelligence was that of a 5 year old child.

This evidence about Alex tells us that birds definitely need interaction.  My experiences with my cockatiels and one parakeet (little parrots) also prove that pet birds need daily interaction and affection.  Affection is highly important as well and the interaction.  They ask me with their body language to pet them every day.  They also like me to stay near them as if in a flock. They may ask to get on my shoulder or lap.  I take my birds for a ride in the car about once a week to my Mom’s.  She loves to see them, and they love going for a ride in the car as well as visiting my Mom, sister and their dog.  I don’t let them out of the cage when I am there because of too many dangers. I take them in one bird cage which I bundle up in blankets for protection.  The thickness I use depends on how warm or cold outside it is.  Birds like to feel safe in their cage so the blankets covers all sides except half of the front part to look out of.  I completely cover the front in bad weather or too much sun until we get into a more comfortable environment.

Great care must also be taken when feeding your bird.  Each species requires different nutritional needs.  If you put any bird on an all seed diet, he will get very sick or die from malnutrition.  My cockatiels for example are given organic parrot pellets, Dr. Lafeber’s Nutriberries for Cockatiels and some oatmeal, flax seed meal and a little millet seed.  There is a nice variety of nutritional bird food in their dish which they can forage through.  Foraging helps stop the boredom of your pet bird’s meals.  Even fresh fruits and vegetables are highly recommended and necessary for your bird’s diet.  I give my birds a little piece of berry from my frozen berry medley every day and some soybeans that were previously frozen and heated.  But when I can get fresh vegetables and fruit, I give them apple, cooked broccoli, chopped carrot, sweet potato, white potato and corn.  First thing in the morning, I give them a couple of Trader Joes O’s which are almost like Cherrios.  I will also give them little pieces of Spelt bread which has whole grain goodness.

My 2 cockatiels require attention from morning till evening, and I do enjoy spending the time with them.  They love to be petted and have their little heads scratched.  They love being talked to and like to spend play time on the floor with bird toys, ladders and special wood for birds to chew on.  Their cages require daily cleaning as well as the bird dishes.  Birds are messy.  Water will be splashed around with seed husks, loose feathers and droppings that require daily clean up. When I go out, I put them in their cages, one in each cage if the younger bird is pushing the older bird around too much.  Some times they like to decide which cage they want to stay in. I also turn on the radio with soft music or cartoons on TV.  They enjoy very young childrens cartoons.

Birds may create allot of work, but the rewards of unconditional love and companionship from your feathered friends are  priceless. [http://www.barb2birds.biz/birdtrks/main.html]Parrot Health, Training

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Delgiudice http://EzineArticles.com/?Pet-Birds-Require-Daily-Interaction-to-Keep-Your-Bird-Happy-and-Healthy&id=1280202

 

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Sun 6 Jul 2008
Air Purifier for Bird Dander
Filed under: Articles-Birds General — admin @ 2:55 pm

Air Purifier For Bird Dander
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Davis]Debbie Davis

If you have a bird in your home, or office you probably spend many hours watching, feeding, and talking to it, and you may even let it out to fly around inside occasionally. And each time it shakes, flaps it wings, or hops from one perch to another, dander (microscopic pieces of dead skin) is released into the air. Multiply the number of times you think your bird flaps or shakes each day by even as few as 20 particles of dander, and you can see that bird dander becomes an issue very quickly, particularly if dander is an allergen for you or someone in your family. Using an air cleaner for bird dander is the most effective way to consistently eliminate the dander that your bird constantly produces. Here are 4 features to look for when deciding on an effective air purifier for bird dander.

Opt for a HEPA air purifier. High efficiency particle arresting HEPA air purifiers are designed to remove particles as small as .3 microns. Dander ranges in size from 12-100 microns in size. By selecting an air purifier that has the capacity to remove particulates smaller than 12 microns, such as a HEPA air purifier, you will insure that the dander is effectively removed.

Look for 24 hour coverage. Since bird dander is constantly becoming airborne, you should select an air purifier that is designed to work constantly so that the air in your space is constantly being filtered and remains fresh and free from dander.

Select an air purifier that is durable. If you are to use your air purifier day in and day out to keep up with bird dander, the air purifier you choose should be constructed with all steel parts, have a baked on powder coat finish to prevent out gassing, and should have a substantial warranty of 5 years.

Keep purifier maintenance low. If you lead an active lifestyle, you want an air purifier that basically takes care of itself. Choose an air purifier that requires only occasional filter changes, and has a filter changing process that is easily done.

Birds are a lovely addition to any space, but birds without the dander are even lovelier. Choosing a HEPA air purifier that can run dependably, that is made of steel, is well constructed, and has a substantial warranty will help you find the best air purifier for you, your family, and your bird.

Debbie Davis

Debbie Davis is President of PurerAir.com which offers Austin Air HEPA air purifiers and Blueair Air Purifiers for the improvement of indoor air quality. Visit us now to see the
<A target=”_new” HREF=”http://purerair.com/healthmate_hm400.html”>Austin Air HealthMate HEPA Air Purifier</a> used in the bird aviary at Theater of the Sea in Florida,
or call our 24 hour customer support line at (800) 997-2989 for expert advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Davis http://EzineArticles.com/?Air-Purifier-For-Bird-Dander&id=1104728

 

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