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How To Take Care Of Your Pet Parrot

Parrots make wonderful family pets because they are great companions, they are beautiful birds with colorful feathers and you can teach them to talk. But you must have a strong level of commitment to your parrot because he will need daily and weekly maintenance, as well as plenty of attention.

What a Parrot Needs

When you consider how to take care of you parrot, you will have to consider what you will need to get started. The first thing you will need is a large cage for your parrot to live in. Make sure it is big enough for him to move around a bit and be comfortable. To occupy his time and make him feel comfortable you should place a mirror, a swing and a toy in the cage. You will also need something to properly line the cage.

What To Feed Your Parrot

A parrot should have a healthy, well-balanced diet. It should consist of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, meat and grains. Peanut butter and cooked eggs are other sources of protein that are good for parrots. Pre-packaged parrot food is certainly another valid option. It takes the guesswork out of feeding your bird a wide variety of balanced nutrition.

As with most pets, avoid feeding your parrot caffeine, alcohol, chocolate and salty foods.

Teaching Your Parrot To Talk

One of the most attractive features of this type of bird is that you can teach them to talk and whistle. Most people get a lot of enjoyment out of it. It does require a lot of time and repetition though and training should begin when the parrot is young. New words should be introduced with an activity so the parrot can link the two. He may even pick up on words you don’t really want him to learn just because he hears them often.

Whistling may come more natural for the birds and may be encouraged after you have trained him to talk.

Provide Exercise

Your parrot will need to get daily exercise. Let him out of the cage for small amount of time, starting with fifteen minutes at a time. Let them fly around the house and tire themselves out. See a professional for wing clippings when necessary.

Beak Care

Never try to trim your parrot’s beak at home. Seek a professional’s help when needed. Some things you can do at home to help your bird with beak care is to provide a concrete perch or a cuttle bone for him.

Maintenance

The basic things you need to commit to for taking care of your bird are quite simple, but they do require some effort on the owner’s part. In addition to never leaving his food bowl empty, you will need to provide him with fresh water twice a day. You will need to clean his cage on a weekly basis. You will also need to groom him 2-3 times per week. This can include a full bath given in a sink or washtub or by simply misting the bird and using specialized bird shampoo on him.

When all the work is done, you will have a beautiful pet that will provide hours of entertainment and joy.

About The Author
Naldo Camarones
The latest work of Naldo can be found at: http://www.shparrot.com

Attracting Birds Into Your Backyard
By: bird watcher

Birds are fascinating to watch and observe. First you need to capture their attention visually and you can do that by planting brightly colored plants. They most certainly are always looking for food so, if you planted fruit tress or other plants that bear food, they most surely will be interested. There are a variety of birds that enjoy eating berries and seeds including, cardinals, finches and sparrows.

Some examples of fruit bearing plants are ones with berries, oranges and cones. Also these trees provide protection which will encourage them to settle.

If you have large trees in your back yard that is even better, as birds are always looking for protection from the weather and other harsh conditions. Large protective trees such as spruce, oak and maple trees are favorites of birds.

Robins are very pretty and unusual birds. They will be looking for worms and insects in the lawn. They love to sing at sunset, so they will most certainly serenade you if you are fortunate to be there within close proximity of them.

Water is always welcome also. If you have a stone or other large object that holds water. They will look for that.

If you are a serious bird lover, you will most certainly want to transform your yard to attract birds. If you are a bird lover and have a willow tree in your yard, you are very fortunate as most likely you will see a variety of birds including orioles and warblers.

If you have a vacant field with a variety of flowers, you will most certainly attract a variety of birds including quails and pheasants.

Old large trees are a perfect settling ground for all kinds of birds. They enjoy the protection as well as fruits and seeds and the availability to sit and next on the limbs.

If you enjoy woodpeckers, they are looking for hard wood tress such as ash, cherry and birch trees. It is actually the insects underneath the hard bark that they are looking for.

The variety and types of trees will attract different birds. The softer wood tress such as pine and spruce provide a comfortable place for birds to rest and nest.

Birds are beautiful creatures and they can be attracted to your yard through a variety of means. If you have a brightly colored garden with flowers, shrubs and large beautiful trees, you will most certainly find a multitude of birds in your yard.

http://tavs.co.za/bird-watch/
http://www.pagequest.co.uk

Cockapoo Training: Preventing Dogs and Cats from Fighting
by: Richard Cussons

A house with a dog and a cat is not an uncommon situation. In fact, many family considered dogs and cats as extension of their family. As such, these two different species should have been become friends considering their role in the human family. But instead of living together peacefully, these pets often end up fighting each other. A cockapoo-chasing-a-cat scenario wouldn't happen if only proper introduction and cockapoo training were provided.

The moment you bring home your new cockapoo, do not force them to like each other immediately. Go slow and limit the exposure. It is better if the cat is in another room when the new dog (in a crate or with a leash) gets in. This aims to teach the dog that there are rules he must follow and cannot just do anything he wanted. Through the safety of the crate or leash, allow the cat to check or explore the newcomer. Praise the dog for being friendly around the cat, otherwise correct him by saying "no". You may also want to make the environment appear enjoyable when the cat comes in. This will eventually associate positive and pleasant feeling with the cat.

When the dog is already used to having the cat around and is not barking every time the latter gets in the room, you can let him out of the crate. If the dog starts to show aggression, correct him at once before it turns into growling and hissing. Give the command "no" in a firm manner. Reward the dog for showing friendly behavior to the cat.

Though introductions have been done successfully, you still need to take necessary measures to ensure that the peace and friendship between them will prevail. It is best to separate cats and dogs at mealtime. Dogs tend to protect everything he considered as his property, including his food. He could possibly attack the cat or toss down his meal immediately and could possibly develop digestive problems.

To lessen the risk of them fighting, keep an eye to them as often as possible. If you won't be around to supervise, do not let them stay together in one room.

To prevent hostility and rivalry between your cat and your cockapoo, make sure to provide proper introduction and cockapoo training.

Proper introduction and cockapoo training are ways to prevent hostilities and rivalry between your cat and your cockapoo.
About The Author
Richard Cussons writes articles on various topics including cockapoo training advice. For more information about cockapoo training, check out cockapoosavvy.com. http://www.cockapoosavvy.com/

The ideal food for Pigeons
By: David Smith

Pigeons need their food to be a simple non-fiber kind. The main food element is composed of grains and seeds. Wild pigeons consume some greenstuffs and gravels along with their food intake. The free birds enjoy a wide range of food for their daily intake. On the contrary, the pet ones live only on the food offered to them by the owners. The average intake of a fully grown up bird consumes around 500 grams of grains or seeds per week.

The free birds that move in the wild enjoy the natural food, which is supposed to be the ideal one for any pigeon. The composed food for the pet bird is improvised in a manner that it provides the same nourishment and the best food for your pigeon.

Pigeons are very much fond of grains as such and that is why it is the most important part o the pigeon food. There are varieties in grains and some grains do not suit pigeons at all, which should always be avoided as pigeon food. The best of the lot is the dried field peas, which the pigeons like above all food. They supply an enormous quantity of protein to build up muscles and bones stronger.

Corn is the next choice in the likings of the pigeons. During winter, the intake of corn supplies required fat to the pigeons. Corn should be offered to them only in determined quantity due to its fat content, which should not exceed more than thirty percent of the entire food portion.

Another significant staple food for the pigeon is sorghum; the rounded shape of the grain makes it easy for the bird to consume. Wheat is very common in the food list for pigeons. They prefer brownish-red wheat, which is harder to break. The idle combination of the pigeon food is a mixture of equal parts of peas, corn and shorgum with wheat taking only ten percent of the ideal food.
http://www.roehnfried-onlineshop.de/

Pet Care Tips to Live By

Owning a pet, whether it is a bird, a cat, a dog or even a gold fish can be a rewarding and exciting experience. Pets can bring you much love and joy and they can be great company for you, and also a great learning curve for children learning to take care of their very own pet. But it is important that you know how to look after your pet, which is where pet care tips can come in very helpful. It doesn’t matter what type of animal that you own, they all need care and love to some degree, however some animals can be slightly easier to care for than others.

If you own a goldfish, then here are some important pet care tips for taking care of your fish so that it has a happy and healthy life:

1 Always make sure that you have a tank or a bowl that is big enough for your fish. If you have more than one fish, then you will need a larger bowl. And don’t forget, fish grow just like any other animal so when they become too big you must get them a bigger living environment.
2 An important pet care tip when it comes to fish and goldfish is that you should never over feed them. Fish are not like us, they do not know when they are hungry and will continue to eat even when you give them too much. Try to feed your fish around two times a day and only sprinkle a finger full of food on the top of the water this is plenty for a goldfish.
3 Another important pet care tip for goldfish is to always keep the tank or bowl clean. Scum can build up on the glass and the water can get really dirty, so it is imperative that you clean your goldfish bowl at least once a week.
4 Remember fish are not the same as dogs and cats and other pets, they should not be handled as they are cold blooded animals and the heat from your hands can end up killing them.

Here are some important pet care tips that you should remember when it comes to caring for a new cat or kitten:

1 Cats and kittens require lots of attention and taking care of, that said a cat can be pretty self sufficient and will spend a lot of time going out on his own. It is important that you make sure your cat is well taken care of, make sure that he has a collar with and ID tag on it just in case he gets lost.
2 An important pet care tip to remember is that cats need check ups just like you and me, so you should make sure you take your cat to see a vet regularly for injections to protect against disease when they are out and about.

About The Author
The author has created a pet care site that provides you with the most in-depth and complete analysis of the best pet care and pet training guides regarding pet care tips.
The author invites you to visit:http://pet-whisperer.com

Why Should We Feed Wild Birds?
by: Susan Woodward

The US Fish & Wildlife Service reports that approximately 54 million people in the US feed wild birds. Feeding the birds has become the second most popular "passive" hobby in our country. Gardening ranks as number one, and I have to wonder what kind of gardening they studied, as I would never have termed that hobby "passive."

There are some people who think that putting out food for the birds is wrong, and they cite various reasons, some of which may be valid. However, most wildlife organizations not only consider that feeding the birds is alright, they also sell both bird seed and bird feeders.

Certainly, the joy of watching wild birds at close quarters is more than enough reason to put out bird feeders. We like birds and enjoy having them around. We like to hear their songs through our open windows on a spring or summer day, and their vibrant colors brighten up a winter day when much of our landscape can look pretty bleak.

It is interesting, and educational, to see wild birds interact as they feed and bathe in your yard. It's also beneficial for them. In many areas, birds have lost their natural habitat and their traditional sources of food have become truly sparse. In addition, they often must compete for available food with birds such as house sparrows and starlings which are not native to North America. Your feeders can make a difference and may help them survive.

Another important reason is that wild birds are bug-eating machines. The birds you attract to your feeders and garden will also seek out mosquitoes, caterpillars, slugs and snails to dine on. Those much-maligned starlings wandering over your lawn will eat Japanese beetle larvae and also go after gypsy moth larvae, which most native birds scorn. A Baltimore oriole can eat seventeen hairy caterpillars a minute, and a pair of flickers can polish off five thousand ants as an appetizer. Hummingbirds have the highest relative food consumption of any bird and consume half their body weight (about two ounces) in food every day, most of that being soft-bodied insects (mosquitoes!) and spiders.

Feeding the birds is a hobby you can start at any time of the year with very little trouble. Winter is the obvious time, as their natural food supplies are low. But different species will visit your feeders during their annual spring and fall migrations, as well as during the nesting season. I get a kick out of the wren that sits on the bar at the feeder and throws seeds, one after another, onto the ground. I don't know what she's looking for - maybe a bug. The young cardinals and towhees sit on a branch overhanging the feeder, shivering and cheeping plaintively until their father flies up and stuffs regurgitated seeds into their open beaks.

Providing food for the birds doesn't just mean having bird feeders. You can create a bird-friendly environment in many ways. Deciduous and evergreen trees provide both seeds and shelter, as do shrubs and ornamental grasses for ground birds. Many birds have an appetite for fresh fruit, so bushes, weeds and trees that have berries are especially tempting. Flowers attract insects and can be left to go to seed which provides food during the winter.

The final argument for feeding the birds? Maybe we owe them. It's very true that extinction of the species occurs naturally, but man's interference has accelerated the rates to an alarming degree as our population has expanded and their natural habitat has been decimated. Surely, it's only fair that we help them out by making our yards more welcoming to them.
About The Author
Susan Woodward inherited her love of birds from her grandfather, whose hobby was photographing and banding birds. She has enjoyed feeding and watching the birds in her own backyard for decades. She is the owner of It's a Bird's World, an online store featuring bird feeders, bird houses, bird baths and accessories. To see a good selection of different types of bird feeders, visit http://www.ItsaBirdsWorld.com.

12 Mistakes People Make With Their Birds
by: Kai Jordan

I don't know any one who started out wanting anything less than a loving home for their bird. However, because they didn't know all they needed to know about caring for their bird, mistakes were made, and their bird suffered as a result.

Even with all the information available to us, we still don't know all there is to know about having birds as pets. It's a continuous discovery and mistakes will be made. If you find yourself making some of the mistakes discussed below, forgive yourself. Do the research, learn what you need to know and change it.

1. Staying in a bad relationship.

The idea of bringing a cute, cuddly baby bird, or a beautiful, older bird that talks into your home, is a temptation that is hard to resist. However, not all of us are able to care for birds in the way they need to be cared for. When reality sets in and you realize living with this bird isn't going to work out as you thought it would, you come face to face with a dilemma.

What do you do now?

First of all, don't beat yourself up. You made a mistake. It happens. Do your research. Better late than never. Determine if you are up to the task. If you realize this isn't going to work out for you, then it certainly won't work out for the bird. Dedicate yourself to finding your bird a new home.

Don't keep the bird just because you feel guilty or because you feel a sense of responsibility. It's like staying in a bad marriage. No one ever benefits. You'll be giving this bird a new opportunity for happiness by finding him a place to thrive.

2. It's "Just A Bird"

When we believe something is "merely" or "only", we tend to treat it with less respect and consideration. "Just" implies a lower level of importance. This perspective towards birds ends up as a rationalization for neglect and abuse. Example: 1. So what if my bird is in her cage most of the time. After all she's just a bird. 2. Care about his feelings? He doesn't have feelings, he's just a bird.

Birds have emotions. They may not be as complex as ours, but they feel fear, grief, love, joy and probably a whole lot more in between. Birds aren't "just". They are wondrous beings with intelligence and feelings. They need to be treated that way and given the best life experience we can give them.

3. Cage too small

I often wonder what some cage manufacturers are thinking when they design cages. Some of them don't seem to know much about birds. Either the main perch and feeding areas are too high creating a lot of wasted space or they make the feeding crocks so large they also take up too much of the interior space. Birds don't eat & drink very much per day and yet the crocks are big enough for a pound of food.

Look for cages that make sense from the bird's point of view. It has to be roomy enough so they can move around, climb the bars, and have perches and toys at different levels. A cage may look big enough when it's empty, but start putting perches, toys, ladders and swings inside and all of sudden the cage that seemed big enough, now doesn't have room for the bird.

Cage size also depends on the activity level of the bird. If a bird enjoys hanging from a toy and flapping it's wings, this has to be taken in consideration when determining size. When you see minimum cage requirements for your species of bird, go to the next size.

A cage 3 feet wide is more appropriate for a medium size bird like an African Grey than a 2 foot cage and the cage size needs to increase from there for larger birds. Would you feel comfortable with a house the size of your bathroom?

4. Not enough exercise

Birds need to move. They need to climb, swing, hang and flap their wings. Just sitting on a play stand chewing toys is usually not enough. If your bird's wings are clipped you can introduce your bird to the flying game for exercise. When your bird is on your hand gently secure her feet with your thumb, and slowly lower your hand so she moves her wings to maintain balance. At the same time say fly or whatever word you like. She'll learn to associate the word with the flapping of her wings and will soon do it on her own when you say the word. Pretty soon your bird will look forward to her flying or flapping exercise sessions and she'll be happier and healthier as a result.

When I got my African Grey, Cairo, at age four, she didn't know how to fly. So, I taught her. I started out with the flapping game and then spent months running with her through the house while she flapped her wings while tightly clulching my hand. The neighbors thought I was a bit nuts, but Cairo loved it and would yell "fly, fly" as she was happily flapping away. She now knows how to fly and is much more confident.

4. Not Enough Explanation

Birds need to understand what is going on in their environment and we do them a disservice if we don't explain our actions and expectations. Don't worry whether they understand or not. Just try it and they'll surprise you with the results.

All my birds identify noise with the word noise. Instead of freaking out over a loud noise they'll all say noise and not be bothered by it. My CAG is learning to distinguish between noises. Motorcycles made her anxious, but now that she is learning that it is called motorcycle noise she isn't concerned about it as she once was. When she hears a motorcycle she just says noise and doesn't worry about it.

When you go away over night tell your bird how long you're going away for. Example: You're going away for "2 Nite Nites" (substitute whatever word you use at night). Tell them you'll miss them and they'll be fine.

5. Moving too Fast

It's not always easy to remember to slow down when we're around our birds. Sudden movements, especially fast hand movement usually frightens them. If we're under stress, feeling frustrated because we feel we don't have enough time to accomplish what we need to accomplish, we radiate that energy and can instantly raise the anxiety level of our birds. We need to slow down. Keep our hands still instead of waving them in our bird's face. Have someone wave their hands in your face. Do you like it?

6. Not Taking The Time To Observe

One of the greatest pleasures and most important aspects of sharing our lives with birds is watching them. We can learn so much about what they like, what bothers them and what is safe for them by watching them play, interact with other birds and other people. Taking the time to observe can eliminate future problems.

7. Not stimulating their sense of adventure

Birds are naturally curious. They need to be given challenges that stimulate curiosity. Puzzle toys and foraging toys are an important addition to any bird room.

8. Hitting

The fastest way to destroy a bird's trust is by hitting. NEVER hit your bird.

9. A frustrated bird is not happy

Birds do not understand teasing. It's cruel. Also be careful of toys that tend to frustrate rather than entertain your bird. Some puzzle toys can entertain your bird for hours, but if she isn't able to feel any accomplishment or success as a result of her efforts, she can become frustrated. All birds are different so once again, observe.

10. Pushing Your Bird

Pushing your bird to do things he doesn't want to do probably won't accomplish a positive outcome. If your bird isn't in the mood to come out of his cage, or if he doesn't want to step up or come near this new person you've brought to meet him, let him be.

Educate & train your bird to enjoy doing those things that are necessary for a cooperative relationship. Give him good reasons to want to come out of his cage. If instead, you think pressuring is easier and takes less time than educating your bird, don't be surprised when he responds with his beak.

11. Crowding your bird

Birds like space. Putting their cages too close together or putting birds together in small cages can sometimes be a disaster waiting to happen. Allow your bird to have their own personal space and only put them with other birds when you are absolutely sure they are comfortable sharing space with that bird. Continue to watch the situation. They could change their minds.

12. Having too many

Only you can determine how many birds are too many. But, before you fall in love with another bird you can't live without, do a serious, honest appraisal of your present situation. Are you giving the necessary time to the bird or birds you already have? Will you be able to afford the extra expense? Why do you really want another bird?
About The Author
Kai Jordan Kai Jordan works with parrots to resolve feather plucking and other emotional issues. This article is an excerpt from "Happy Pet Birds". For more info. visit http://www.parrot-source.com

Bird Watching Tips

Simply sitting and watching birds is a popular hobby around the world. It`s fun and relaxing at the same time.

Many people quite enjoy just watching the birds in their garden, yard, trees and bushes from their front window. And it`s even better to actually go out into the wild and watch the birds in their own natural habitats.

`Natural Habitat` of course usually means going into the woods, or to remote areas. So before going on a bird watching outing, be sure you`ve prepared a little. First and foremost, be sure you`re wearing the appropriate clothes for both the location you`ll be visiting, and the climate that area is currently experiencing.

If you live in a warm desert area for instance, and you plan to go up a mountain for a day of bird watching, you`ll want to first find out if there`s any snow on the mountain, or whether it`s cold during the daylight hours.

You`ll of course also want to be sure you have some food or snacks, and plenty of water to keep you hydrated.

Binoculars are almost a requirement for bird watching too. They allow you to get a close up view of any birds, nests, and chicks. Many bird lovers also enjoy having pen or pencil, and a notepad on hand so they can take notes about the birds they`ve seen, or sketch them as they`re watching.

And of course if you like pictures... you`ll want to bring along a camera :)

Last but not least, it would be helpful to have some sort of bird identification system or reference available. Whether you can take it with you into the woods, or you have it hanging at home, these are always quite useful over the long term.

Attract Wild Birds to your Garden this Spring with Bird Houses, Bird Feeders, & Bird Baths!
© 2009, Kathy Burns-Millyard. This article is brought to you by The Bird House Shop Section of The Garden Source Network.

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