Birds   Chinchillas   Turtles   Lizards   Snakes   Rabbits   Guinea Pigs

Their beautiful colors, talking/singing ability, and lively antics have made birds a popular pet choice for many people. Selecting a healthy bird requires good observation by a prospective owner. A bird that is healthy should be active, alert, bright-eyed and sleek looking. A bird that sits quietly with its head tucked under a wing or if its underside is soiled with droppings probably has health problems. As a general rule of thumb, only acquire a bird from a reputable breeder or pet store. A newspaper advertising a “bargain” bird probably is not a bargain at all.

One of the biggest problems veterinarians see in pet birds is nutritional deficiency. This is due to a combination of misinformed clients and the feeding of only traditional seed diets. Properly feeding a pet bird can include components of all four basic food groups.

• Fruits and Vegetables: these contain many essential vitamins and minerals. Provide a variety of fresh fruits and veggies daily, emphasizing dark, leafy, green and meaty, yellow veggies. Avoid avocados; they have been known to be toxic to pet birds. Like people, birds have their own favorites, so just keep offering what you have on hand until you find out what they like.
  
  
• Breads and Cereals: most traditional seed diets fit in this category. While there are differences in seeds, most contain insufficient quantities of protein, vitamins, and minerals, and many are high in fat. Seeds should make up no more than 30% of your bird’s total diet. Other types of “breads and cereals” that birds may like are whole-wheat toast, nutritious breakfast cereals, dry dog kibble, and commercially prepared pelleted diets.
  
  
• Meats and Meat Products: can be added occasionally to provide fat, protein and variety. Birds may accept cooked beef or chicken, and hard-boiled or scrambled eggs.
  
  
• Milk and Milk Products: contain many important nutrients including protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Birds often enjoy small amounts of yogurt, cottage cheese and hard cheeses.
  
  

If you are feeding a properly balanced diet consisting of the four basic food groups, supplementation is usually not needed.

Birds should be housed in a cage that is large enough that the bird can fully extend its wings without touching the cage bars. Confinement to a cage is necessary to prevent escape and injury, but birds do benefit from some supervised freedom and exercise in the home. If you are going to let your pet bird have some free fly time, a wing trim is recommended to partially restrict flight.

If you are not going to let your bird fly free in the home at all, the cage he/she is housed in should be large enough to allow flight within. The cage bottom should be lined with newspapers, paper towels or other plain cage liners and should be cleaned daily to prevent fecal and bacterial buildup. Plain cage liners are preferable to products such as kitty litter and corncob bedding as they allow the owner to monitor the number and consistency of the droppings.

A perch should be provided for your bird in its cage. The best perches are cleaned natural branches with some leaves or bark left on. This may stimulate the bird to chew, providing exercise and entertainment. Avoid evergreen and fruit tree branches, as the sap and seeds may be toxic.

Birds are very sensitive to their environment, so much so that a sudden change in temperature can be a potential health threat to your pet bird. Most birds are comfortable at room temperature in an area of “low traffic” in the home. Perhaps housing your pet in a corner of the living room where he/she can see and become familiar with you without feeling threatened would be the best place to start.

Encourage grooming by misting your bird with water or offering a bath. Avoid keeping your bird in the kitchen or any other area exposed to fumes or smoke. One thing to watch out for is Teflon coated pans. When they are heated to above normal cooking temperatures, the resulting fumes can kill birds very quickly.

While birds do not receive annual vaccines like dogs and cats do, they will benefit from regular veterinary care. It is recommended that your pet bird receive an annual examination by an avian veterinarian to check for illnesses that may not be visibly apparent and to get an overall assessment of the bird’s well being. Signs of illness to watch for include:

• a decreased appetite or activity level
  
  
• discharge from eyes, nostrils, or mouth
  
  
• vomiting
  
  
• bleeding, and/or a change in the number or consistency of the droppings
  
  

If you observe any of these signs in your bird, he/she should have an examination by an avian veterinarian immediately.

Birds   Chinchillas   Turtles   Lizards   Snakes   Rabbits   Guinea Pigs

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