***Please don't forget our feathered friends during the cold
weather. They need a lot more food to maintain their body
temperature during this season.
Birds of a Feather
There are many things you need to bear in mind when considering
a bird as a pet. Birds can be wonderfully rewarding pets, but
they can also try your patience, much like a child who is
forever in that stage known as the terrible twos. They feel no
guilt about kissing you with the same beak they used to chew
through your antique coffee table. And the sweetest, softest
noises will be alternated with screaming so shrill you'll fear
for the crystal.
Understanding your bird, providing your bird what he needs to be
happy and healthy, and making sure that he sees a veterinarian
once a year will go a long way in keeping both you and Polly
happy and living in harmony.
Picking Polly
There are many different types of birds people keep for pets;
parrots are among the most common. The term "parrot" refers to
any bird with a hook bill, ranging from a little parakeet to the
hyacinth macaw, which measures approximately four feet from head
to tail. Research the breeds you're interested in before making
your decision. Keep in mind when you're looking at a bird's
attributes that there may be a downside to the very trait you're
attracted to. Different parrots, for example, are good at
different things. Cockatoos are considered the most affectionate
of the parrots; they like to be held and snuggled. But they can
also become severely depressed if they're not given enough
attention, and they're prone to self-destructive behavior for
this very reason. Macaws, on the other hand, are big and bright,
making them an exotic eye-catcher, but their large size requires
extra space so that they can adequately exercise.
Home sweet home
Numerous factors need to be considered when looking for the
appropriate cage. First and foremost, you need one that's large
enough for your bird. Polly should be able to completely spread
his wings inside his house. In fact, the cage should be at least
double the width of Polly's wingspan. One with horizontal bars
is preferable as Polly will appreciate the opportunity to climb.
For your own convenience, you should find a cage that is easy to
clean. Newspapers, paper towels, or paper bags make nice
carpeting for the bottom of Polly's house.
Once you have the cage set up, you have to decide where to put
it. Birds are social creatures who like to be with the family,
so it's advisable to keep the cage in a room where the family
gathers most often. You will want to avoid the kitchen, though.
The temperature changes and fumes there can be harmful to
Polly--not to mention the chance that Polly might land on the
hot stove if he's out of his cage. Also, nonstick pans used at
high temperatures have been known to give off a gas that can be
toxic to birds.
Would you like broccoli with that?
Providing your bird with a healthy diet and plenty of fresh
water is one of the most important things you can do for his
health. In the wild, few birds eat only seeds, which are
extremely high in fat and low in nutrients. Some seed is okay
for your bird, but a diet composed only of seed is bad news.
Even worse are those birds that refuse to eat anything but
safflower or sunflower seeds. Don't let Polly get away with
eating a poor diet--most kids would have a candy bar every night
for dinner if they could, but that doesn't mean it's good for
them. Instead, feed Polly a pellet diet that is designed to
fulfill his nutritional needs. Much like dog or cat food, a
pellet diet will have all of the good things your parrot needs
to be healthy. You can also supplement your bird's diet with the
food you eat. Polly can eat just about anything from the four
food groups that you do. Some birds are more finicky than
others, but try giving yours different foods and see what he
likes. Keep in mind that if it's bad for you, it's probably bad
for him too. And never feed your bird chocolate--it's toxic for
them, much like it is for dogs. ss
Pretty bird
Birds actually enjoy taking baths. At least once a week you
should provide your bird with access to water so that he can
splash around and bathe if he wants to. Most birds have fun
getting wet and consider it a wonderful game. There are various
bird baths on the market that you can buy. A shallow bowl of
water also works well for smaller birds. Many birds even like to
accompany their owners into the shower, as long as the water
pressure isn't too strong. Standing off to the side in the
shower can help lessen the water pressure for Polly. And as long
as the bird is healthy, showering with him essentially poses no
health risk to the owner. In fact, keeping your bird clean is
one of the simple ways that you can help keep Polly healthy.
However, even with the intent of keeping Polly clean, he never
needs soap--it would be harmful to him should he ingest it. Soap
is not designed for his sensitive skin, and it will interfere
with the natural powders that he produces to keep his feathers
in top order. Water is all Polly needs to spruce himself up.
He'll fluff up, get his feathers all wet, and then spend an hour
or two picking through them, putting them all back into just the
right place. Bathing distributes his natural oils and helps keep
him looking glossy. It will also help control the powder and
dander he produces.
It's also your responsibility to keep Polly's wings clipped,
which means cutting the feathers he uses to fly so that he's
unable to fly more than a few feet. Clipping your bird's wings
is an important safety precaution. It prevents him from flying
into places he shouldn't be, where he could be hurt or lost
forever. Don't attempt to clip your bird's wings until you have
been shown by an experienced person how to do it--many people
simply have their veterinarian do it. It's important that you
clip only the feathers that will limit his flight, and you want
to be careful not to cut any of his blood feathers, which could
hurt him. Your parrot will also need his nails trimmed
regularly. Once in a while Polly may also need to have his beak
trimmed, but if you provide him with enough to chew on, his
natural instinct to bite into things should keep his beak well
trimmed. Sharp scissors will work well to clip Polly's wings,
and there are tools on the market designed to trim your bird's
nails and beak.
Time to play yet?
When you're not available to keep Polly company, make sure that
he has access to a couple of bird-safe toys. Only buy toys that
are strong enough for your particular bird. An African grey, for
example, will shred a parakeet's climbing ladder within minutes
and possibly hurt himself in the process. It won't take you long
before you realize that parrots are very playful pets and
require a lot of attention. Toys are not enough. You need to
take Polly out of his cage and interact with him. For most
parrots to remain happy, they need this kind of attention daily.
Teach Polly a new trick, talk to him, scratch his head, flirt
with him, or teach him how to wink--there are many things that
parrots delight in doing. Who knew a bowl of popcorn could be so
much fun? You'll find yourself making up silly little games that
will keep the two of you entertained for hours. Before you know
it you'll have a pet just as special, or perhaps even more
special, than the friend who inspired you to get Polly in the
first place.
