Pet bird ownership has changed over the years. We now know so much more about the basic needs of pet birds and are able to offer them a better quality of life in the way of enhanced nutrition, better understanding and control of disease, and better ways to keep birds as pets.
Choosing a Cage for Pet Birds
Since birds come in all sizes, it is important to choose a cage or enclosure suitable to the bird’s size, activity level, and character. An owner should buy the largest cage he or she can afford but at the very least, the bird needs to be able to spread its wings in all directions. Some species of birds require room to fly, whereas some enjoy lounging around quietly within their enclosure.
A bird should never be housed in a cage made of zinc, galvanized steel or zinc-based painted metal cages. These types of metals are dangerous to pet birds who like to chew and they can develop toxic levels of these substances which can be fatal. Stainless steel is the best choice and is easy to keep clean.
Cage placement should be an important consideration as well when deciding where the bird should live within the home. Cooking with Teflon coated pans, using air fresheners or burning candles and smoking, can cause severe respiratory distress to pet birds. Pet birds should be isolated from these areas at all times.
Lighting for Pet Birds
The pet bird owner should consider different places within the home to place the bird so that it can receive as much natural daylight as possible. Birds need natural light to be able to metabolize the vitamins within the foods they eat, and require sunlight to remain healthy both physically and mentally.
Since most pet birds are kept indoors, some owners and aviaries install full-spectrum lighting. Full- spectrum fluorescent lighting simulates natural sunlight. Birds have keen eyesight and need the variations of light only found in sunlight or full-spectrum lighting. This type of light helps birds to find food, identify mates and to avoid depression and self destructive vices such as feather picking.
Choosing Perches for Pet Birds
Pet birds should be offered perches that fit the entire foot (with no overlap of toes) and they should be in a variety of textures, shapes and thicknesses to prevent arthritis and foot sores. Cement perches, wood perches and plastic perches work well. Some perches come with zinc hardware attachment pieces, but these can easily be changed out to stainless steel parts from the local hardware store.
Sandpaper and other abrasive textures are not good choices for perches since they can encourage foot disease. Natural wood perches work well for birds that are foragers and like to chew and some owners might enjoy making their own perches and swings from bird safe varieties of wood in their backyard. Heated perches work well for birds kept in air-conditioning or drafty areas within the home.
Toys for Pet Birds
There are many types of toys for pet birds that can provide hours of entertainment and can meet innate needs to feed, hunt, forage and chew. Bird toys can be made of many types of material from plastic to metal, wood or paper. Some bird owners enjoy interacting with their bird by making homemade toys with treats inside.
Birds find enjoyment in toys that simulate situations they might find in their natural environment. Some birds are foragers and enjoy toys that have parts which can be removed or sorted through such as shape boxes with small wooden pieces that fit through different sized openings on the box. Other birds find enjoyment in shredding ends of rope or chewing cardboard.
Nutrition for Pet Birds
Nutrition is the most important factor in bird ownership. Since the nutrition needs are different for every species of pet bird, the owner should take the time to research their particular pet and find the diet that is right for them. Seed only diets are no longer deemed the best diet for pet birds. High quality pelleted diets now offer better nutrition than seeds alone.
There has been much advancement made in the way of pet bird nutrition, and there are many varieties of diets available to choose from depending on the species. A board certified avian practitioner can provide pet bird enthusiasts with all of the necessary information to help an owner choose the best diet, and can answer any other questions regarding the care of their pet bird.
Wendi Gibson - Wendi is a Registered Veterinary Technician in the state of Texas with an Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology. She has ...
