Reduce Bird Allergy Symptoms

Finding a way to live with the allergies that your bird triggers is a must if you are to keep your pet. Here are 5 strategies to use that will help.

Finding ways to literally live with your bird and your allergies is crucial. Here are 5 things you can do to reduce symptoms and be able to enjoy your bird.

Redecorate---See, this isn't turning out to be so bad after all. The purpose of this possibly fun solution is to minimize the places where dust, feather, and dander can collect. Get rid of carpet, upholstered furniture, and drapes.

Opt for surfaces that can easily be damp wiped and are more likely to shed particles rather than holding on to them. Tile, linoleum, wood, throw rugs, aggravate flooring are great choices for your aviary. Leather, slip covers that can easily be removed and washed, blinds or shutters are all great choices as well.

Clean Regularly---A routine cleaning of the cage, floor, and furniture where you bird lives will reduce the number of pollutants in the room and those that can possibly go into the air. Always take the cage outside to clean, make sure vacuum bags and all other particles that result from cleaning are put outside immediately. This gets rid of them for good.

Clean Smarter---Clean with water whenever possible. Damp mop floors rather than sweep. Use a damp cloth to gather particles from surfaces. Use a vacuum cleaner that will not send particles back into the air.

Give Bird Baths---If your bird likes water, providing a bowl separate from drinking water that allows it to shower water on feathers and skin can reduce the amount of dander available to fly into the air.

There are also shower perches available that be can easily be installed in the shower to give you another opportunity to spend time together. Make sure the perch is off to the side and the pressure is set on mist rather than stream. Talk with an avian vet before launching your water plan.

Clear The Air---Airborne dander is generally the number one cause of allergies triggered by your avian friend. Nothing will take away all of the dander and shedding these small particles of dead skin will continue as long as you have your bird.

Constantly removing the allergens with a HEPA or high efficiency particle arresting filter has long been recognized as one of the least invasive yet most effective ways to reduce airborne irritants. This type of filter will remove bird-related particles and other more normal indoor particulates as well.

It will also remove normal household allergens that trigger flare-ups like dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, dander from other pets, bacteria, as well as viruses. By design this type of technology will remove 99,997 out of every 10,000 airborne particles that are.3 microns in size or greater.

Using these strategies won't completely eliminate your allergies. There is no cure. But they will allow you to enjoy your bird and increase your quality of life because of it.

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Should Your Parrot Need Toys?

Now I know that we keep our exotic birds, parrots etc as our pets for many reasons. Some of us have them just to hear them talk or sing. With some of us, it may be more of a flock mentality, we actually bond with and think of them as one of the family. But yet still others, lose interest after awhile and really neglect the attention these beautiful creatures deserve.

So, what ever you motivations are or were for keeping a bird in your home, be aware of your birds feelings, and whatever you do or don't do when you are home with your feathered friend, or friends, please keep the following in mind:

A bored bird is really really a sad thing to see.

Most parrots need toys to be happy, not having something to do has been shown to cause feather plucking, and other behavior problems.

So, what can we, the human, the head of the flock do?

Put yourself in the mindset of your pet bird and think about this:

Sitting there in his cage with nothing to do while his master is out of sight, he must feel like a lion in a cage.

He looks around for exciting things to see and explore, but there is nothing there but the confines of his enclosure, the bird cage.

Yes there may be some scraps left from his last meal that he could peck at, but that's such a bore. What to do, what to do? Out in the wild, his instincts would tell him, look for food, look for food.

Along the way he may encounter a funny looking plant that seems to have some kind of edible morsel hanging within. He would land there, check it out, hunt and peck, try to find a way to get at that treat.

He would have to use all his learned and instinctive skills just to get to and inside that nut shell, or the remotely hanging fruit or seed spray that seems to be just outside of a place that's easy to get at.

Eventually he would have found his tasty reward that made him full and content.

But you know what? He would find that part of the reward of getting to this prize was that he got to do all kinds of exciting things to get there!

Things such as climbing all around on limbs, hanging upside down by one foot while trying to reach whatever tasty treat might be hanging there.

Or maybe sitting there and grinding away on a branch until the piece breaks off and crashes to the ground.

Or things like shredding the leaves with his beak just to watch the pieces fall down on the critters below.

Or things like hopping from one small branch to another branch just to watch them spring back.

Oh such fun!

Now wouldn't it be nice if his bird cage came equipped with a variety of useful fun things that a lucky bird might find in the wild?

Maybe we could find something that would create a challenge for him to get to his food, something fun. Maybe we could add something to his cage like this. Fun Bird Toy

So, think like a bird!

Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Finches Information: How to Feed Your Finches Correctly   African Grey Parrot Facts To Help Make Buying Decisions   Tips on Buying the Right African Grey Parrot Cage   

It's False! 4 Common Myths About Birds

Remember when you were a kid how your mom told you, "Don't pick up the baby bird that fell out of the tree to put it back in the nest or it's mom will abandon it. Because birds are afraid of human scent." That's not true. Most birds don't have a very good sense of smell and could not detect human scent. Although, before handling the baby bird it would be best to determine if the bird is a nestling or a fledgling. Nestlings are featherless and fuzzy, and putting them back in the nest would indeed be helpful, because they are too young to be out of the nest. Fledglings have feathers and are old enough to leave the nest, and fledglings often spend several days on the ground as they learn to fly. It is best you don't carry them off to your house to care for them, because its parents are often nearby even if you don't see them. And they can take much better care of their offspring than you can.

You probably have also heard it said that, "you shouldn't feed the birds because your bird feeder should run out of food, the birds will come to depend on you could starve." That is about as true as you starving if the local McDonald's leaves your town. Although, if you are going out of town in extreme cold weather, a sudden disappearance of food, could be a hardship to them. May not be a bad idea to have someone fill your bird feeder while you are away if you leave town during icy and snowy weather.

Which leads to the concern "if I leave out my hummingbird feeder too long in the fall will I prevent the hummers from migrating like they should for the cold weather?" No need to worry. Hummingbirds know when to migrate due to hormonal changes in their body. These hormonal changes are triggered by the shortening length of daylight. The days getting shorter causes the hummingbirds to migrate. Leaving your bird feeders out too long in the fall will not cause the birds to miss their opportunity to migrate because they accidentally hung around too long.

We have often been cautioned not to throw rice at a newly married couples because a bird may swoop down and eat it. And as rice expands in water the bird will blow up. This is not at all true. Mary Jo Cheeseman, a rice expert at the USA Rice Federation says many birds such as migrating ducks and geese depend on rice fields each year to fatten up to have enough strength to migrate to their nesting grounds. "It's a myth. There is no reason why birds, including small song birds, can't eat rice," said Ned Johnson, a professor of biology at Berkeley. Johnson often gives lectures on feeding of birds.

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Finches Breeders: The Right Way of Breeding Finches

Professional finches breeders have great merit for developing advanced techniques for proper keeping pet finches and offering them all necessary conditions for producing healthy and happy offspring. Today successful breeders are the main reason why many types of birds are widespread in almost all parts of the world. Business with exotic birds captured in their native countries and after that smuggled through the borders is an inhuman and illegal business in much legislation. Inhuman aspect lies in the fact that captured birds that have lost their freedom forever have deep problems to accommodate to life in captivity. Exhaustion during long journeys conducted in poor conditions is another serious problem for birds. I will also mention that many birds get serious injuries during the process of capturing.

Bird breeders are here to make all needed things properly and legally. Breeding is not that complicated if you know the exact way how to do that. This means an important amount of high-quality knowledge is necessary, otherwise things could go wrong. Renowned breeders usually have a lot of experience and they are ready to deal with various problems that may occur during the process of producing offspring. They also have a lot of information about bird health, general and specific behavior and their various needs, so that is the main reason why you should buy finches from people who posses that kind of knowledge and experience.

Devoted breeders usually have a lot of birds kept in aviaries or cages. They excellently know how to keep finches healthy and satisfied, providing their homes with everything they need. Otherwise, birds could become unhappy and even angry due to improper conditions of keeping and breeding. Breeding is more complicated than a simply keeping and it requires more specific conditions which will supply the birds with all they need to start to court and mate. Selective breeding is an interesting method which enables producing controlled offspring, and experienced breeders use it to get what they exactly want.

Of course, it is true that professional breeders of finches make money by selling young birds, but they have to do that with love and devotion, without neglecting any other aspect of their birds' lives. For example, birds must have enough room for short flights and exercises, all necessary foods should be there, no matter if the birds are breeding or not. Breeders who really love their birds take a proper care for those that are sick or too old for breeding. A good breeder is always ready to pay for medicaments which cost more than bird's selling price. Breeding finches is not only about money, it's about love and commitment; it's a style of living rather than an ordinary job.

I was talking about the people who breed birds on a professional level. Of course, beginners and people without much experience are able to do it successfully too. You can make a successful breeding with a single pair of birds at your home, but you have to be sure that you know the right way. Always keep in touch with people who are ready to give you helpful tips and help you if some problem occurs. People who don't have experience with breeding finches should start with some of the easiest for breeding and zebra finches are widely recommended.

I know people who are renowned breeders now, making a large success with producing happy little chicks. A friend of mine, who started breeding four couples of owl finches 20 years ago, had disappointing results as more than a half of the chicks failed to survive. And it was his mistake, because in that time he was too confident that he is doing the right way and he didn't try to learn more. After that, he learned the lesson. Breeders should be always ready to exchange opinions about the quality of their finches' lives. Everyone who has decided to keep and breed finches or other birds should be in touch with other breeders.

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3 Things You Shouldn't Do Around Budgies

Budgies are interesting pets to have. They are fun, social and good companions for people across all ages. They are good for places and homes where having bigger poets like cats and dogs may not really be practicable. While it is true that having any bird as pets can be a little stressful, anyone with a little patience can soon get used to it. And with proper training, the bird itself can be tamed and made a proper citizen of the home.

Budgies are like every other pet. They are smart, intelligent, fun, and a great company to have. However, they also need proper feeding, care, exercise and training. While most people and websites talk about the things you can do to and with your budgies, they hardly talk about the things you shouldn't do.

Therefore, this article is meant to show you the things you generally avoid if you want your budgie to be in the best of health.

1. Avoid Putting them in Direct Sunlight

It is not good to put the birds in direct sunlight. While the aviary shouldn't be dark, the normal lighting will do just fine. If there are sun rays entering the aviary, try as much as possible to keep the birds away from it. Also, avoid keeping in the direct path of drafts.

Locate there in a place where there isn't any draft. This way, they will not get cold or exposed to intense heat. The conditions in a typical aviary or home are perfect for them. Exposing them to direct sunlight for extended periods or drafts will affect them negatively.

2. Avoid Using Aerosols

If you are buying a budgie, know that you may not be able to use any aerosol anywhere near them. This is because they are sensitive to chemicals. So, if you must use aerosols in a certain part of the building, move their cage away and do not return until the aerosols have cleared and you're sure there are little or no residues.

3. Get Rid of Poisonous Indoor Plants and Fumes

Another thing you need to be careful of is indoor plants. If you have indoor plants that could be potentially poisonous to the bird, get rid of it; particularly when you want to the let the bird out of its cage. Also avoid exposing the bird to fumes of any kind.

These three things will help keep your bird healthy and out of harm's way.

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Cockatiel Parrot Air Cleaner - 5 Safest Features To Have

If you own a Cockatiel Parrot you've got a bird with big personality in a little body. You've also got a bird that can produce a heck of a lot of dust. And as adorable as these birds are, the white powder that they produce can trash their room and your home pretty quickly.

The right air purifier is the best and safest way to keep the dust down. An air purifier that has these 5 features indicates that it is both safe and effective.

Numerous Filters For Particles----Dust is composed of many different sized particles, so a variety of different sized filters is necessary. Pre-filters trap particles that you can see and save the HEPA filter for microscopic filters such as bird dander, bacteria, and viruses.

Carbon cloth is also an excellent filter to have in a cleaner for your bird because it can remove noxious gases, chemicals, and odors that have the potential to be lethal to your pet. And because it is woven like cloth it has the ability to remove additional particulates as well.

No Ozone---The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that any amount of ozone produced indoors is harmful. Unfortunately, in order for ozone technology to be effective the level would need to be so high that it would become deadly. Clean air is great but for most people (smile), that is too high a price to pay..

Split Capacitor Motor-This type of motor allow will allow an air purifier to clean 24 hours a day safely and effectively without needing time to cool off. Make sure the technical specifications of the cleaner have this feature listed.

The advantage to you and your Tiel is that the air is kept clean. This helps prevent your bird's air passages from becoming clogged. Clear air passages give your bird the best chance of remaining healthy with a high quality of life.

Steel Case---Because you want a unit that can run all the time, you definitely want a case made of steel. Plastic cases often emit noxious fumes when the heat from the motor makes it hot. Steel will not emit noxious odors.

Long-Life Filters---A unit that needs you to go inside to clean, wash, spray, or recharge makes it hard on your bird in several ways. Most importantly, if the unit has to be stopped, particles remain in the air. And anytime the air is not being cleaned the dust is accumulating in the air making the air unhealthy for you and your bird to breathe.

And secondly, by having to do anything inside the unit exposes everyone to the very pollutants that you are trying to minimize. Opening the unit can send the powdery white stuff right back into the air again.

A cleaner that only needs to be vacuumed on the outside, and that has a filter life of at least 5 years is best. This means maintenance can be performed without any interruption in cleaning, and operation of the unit is only interrupted once every 5 years for the 10 minutes that it should take to change the filter.

Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Finches Information: How to Feed Your Finches Correctly   African Grey Parrot Facts To Help Make Buying Decisions   Tips on Buying the Right African Grey Parrot Cage   

The Regent Parrot - A Little Known But Beautiful Parrot

The Regent Parrot, or Australian parakeet as it is sometimes called, is primarily found in southwestern and southeastern Australia. They can found in heavily wooded areas and have a strong preference for eucalyptus groves.

The bird goes by several different names including the Regent Parakeet, the Regent Parrot, the Australia Parakeet, the Rock Peddler, the Black-tailed Parakeet, the Smoker, and the Marlock Parakeet. It's hard to imagine that such a small bird has acquired so many names.

The male of the species are a yellow color with an olive-yellow crown and nape. The female is more of an olive green with a dull olive-yellow on the head and breast. The back on both sexes is a dark olive green with a red band across the middle of the wing area. The outside of the feathers are yellow underneath and bluish-black on top. The beaks are a reddish color and the legs are grey. There is some evidence that the locale of the bird has some bearing on the colors as the eastern Australia birds seem to be more colorful than the western birds. The juvenile birds resemble the female in color and will gain their final coloration by 14 months of age.

The birds can range in size from 14.5-16.5 inches in length and, like so many other parrots, have a long life and have been known to live 25 years in captivity.

Their food mainly consists of seeds, fruits, nuts, and berries and for the most part they feed on the ground rather than in the trees.

These birds make excellent pets as they have a very pleasant nature and seem to enjoy human companionship. As a matter of fact they have been known to follow their humans around the house when let of their cages. When first introduced to humans they are very trusting and are easy to train as they are quite intelligent. They also exhibit good talking skills.

They do like to fly and are known as very good fliers. Because of this they are very suitable for aviaries and prefer a large cage for that same reason. The birds are very energetic in their nature and should have plenty of toys and things to chew on such as perches and wood.

A breeding pair will produce one brood per year. The female will normally lay from 3-6 eggs which will hatch in roughly 21 days. The chicks will be ready for flight in 40 days and will leave the nest shortly thereafter. There are import restrictions on the bird. However, they have been cross bred with a number of other breeds.

Normally the Regent Parrot is a very hardy bird and easy to keep healthy. However, if they are kept in an aviary caution must be taken that they do not become ill with intestinal worms from feeding off the ground. If maintained in an aviary, regular trips to a veterinarian may be in order to check for worms. Other than that, they should provide years of enjoyment.

These birds are not highly available in the marketplace, but can be found at some pet stores and breeders.

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Garden Birds Love Wild Bird Seed

When it comes to feeding birds in your garden, there are various ways to do so and numerous food to feed them with. Depending on the type of birds that visit you, there is a choice of different feeders available. However, if you not sure what types of birds come to your garden this is a perfect and exciting opportunity to do a bit of bird-watching and research the different kinds you see.

The wild bird food you select should be stored in a dry location and only given in quantities to fill the bird feeder. If let out in the open to get wet, mould can grow. If you scatter the wild bird seed over the ground, you will have other pests on your hands such as squirrels, chipmunks and predatory hawks. Instead you will need to be organised in where you place your food for the birds to ensure they will want to visit your garden.

Start the process by searching for an area to place your bird feeder. The ideal place is one that is located securely on a tree. You can even purchase a self-standing feeder, but make sure you place it in an area that will allow the birds a clear view. This is especially needed if you have lots of cats around. The feeder should be fastened using the manufacturer's instructions and nothing but wild bird seed should be placed in them.

In some instances, you can purchase specialized feeders such as a peanut feeder. This will allow you to mix the wild bird seed with unprocessed peanuts to feed larger birds. Keep in mind that small or juvenile birds can choke on these in same way as a small child.

Fill the feeder with wild bird food, but do not overfill it. Make sure that any spills are cleaned up. If you live in an area that receives a lot of rain your bird feeder should be checked regularly for any dampness or moulding of food. As the quantity of seed decreases, remove the old bird seed and refill the feeder.

Some examples of great bird seed to purchase include Chapel Premium Bird Food and Johnston and Jeff Wild Bird Food although there are many more to choose from.

Wild bird food doesn't have to be expensive if you use it in moderation. Overall though it's well worth the money to have birds singing in your garden.

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Zebra Finches As Pets

If you've decided to take the plunge and get a few Zebra finches as pets, then bravo to you! This kind of bird makes for a great companion at home. While a lot of other people prefer different kinds of pets to take home, we're loyal to this kind. Why is that? Well, if you read our reasons below, you'll easily see why these birds make for great household pets!

The Benefits of Getting Zebra Finches

1. They are a hardy type of bird- Many homeowners get discouraged from keeping birds of any sort in their home because they can be easily affected by different diseases. In truth, a lot of birds really do get sick, and eventually die because of different things that they get form their other birds, or even the environment. Luckily, Zebra Finches birds are not these types of birds. This kind of finch is very resilient and can withstand different sorts of diseases. The immune system of these birds seem to be much stronger compared to other varieties of Finches.

2. These guyss are very easy to breed- if your reason for investing in these birds is to eventually breed them, then you will make the right choice by going with these birds. Zebra finches breed much more easily compared to other sorts of finches. In fact, this bird is an excellent variety for the bird breeder who is just starting out. Other finch owners and breeders have even observed that this variety of finch has the tendency to breed TOO much, so if you do not want any more of these birds in your home, then it may be best to just get females.

3. They are the easiest to maintain- while it is normal to experience different kinds of problems with other kinds of finches, it is a rarity in the case of the Zebra Finch. These birds are really very easy to maintain, making them the ideal pet for people with busy and active lifestyles, children, and those that live in tiny and limited spaces. What's more, is that this kind of feathered friend does not take up much space, and has a soothing and lovely chirp to boot.

We hope we've stated our case well enough, and you are now inclined to get a Finch of your own. You'll find that keeping these birds in your home can bring much entertainment, amusement and overall enjoyment!

Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Finches Information: How to Feed Your Finches Correctly   African Grey Parrot Facts To Help Make Buying Decisions   Tips on Buying the Right African Grey Parrot Cage   

The Benefits Of Adopting A Cockatoo

It happens too often that an unexpected visit in a pet store will let you drive home with a cockatoo with you. This is a charming, affectionate and smart bird that you can adopt as a pet. It might not be as talented as dogs and kitties but it has its unique qualities in which you can be proud. If you are planning to adopt a pet because you want to experience how to raise a bird at home then choose one among a lot of cockatoos. There are a lot of benefits in adopting one. You can even be more inspired each day knowing that you still have somebody to play and laugh with. You have somebody to carry with you for a trip.

Find yourself a beautiful smart cockatoo and bring it home. But, be sure that you give him everything he needs from the basic supplies like food bowls, bird bath, cage, dwelling, toys, and other supplies included in the basics. You also need to find an excellent veterinarian so in case you need to have your pet vaccinated and checked-up, it won't be harder anymore because you have his vet. If everything is good and you are ready to take care of the bird for the first day then start availing the benefits. Be entertained, discover and play all day.

Cockatoos can live longer so enjoy the time you spend with them. If you live on your own because you need to work away from the family then get an excellent companion. If not a dog or a cat then maybe you could have a cockatoo. This is a charming bird that you can train. Instead of feeling bored, you can already enjoy your stay at home. These birds are unique because they really want to be with their masters most of the time. They always long for attention and time. With a unique pet with you, boredom will be lessened. They tend to move and lot when they're happy so looking at them is already a big thing.

When getting a cockatoo, choose based on the size, behavior, temperament, nutrition, and budget. Once you have found the one then it would be a start of an exciting stage in your life. You wake up each day not only for yourself or your family but also for your pet. You learn many things out of adopting a pet. You become friendlier. You learn that cockatoos like humans need to be given time and care. Adopting the bird is never a waste of money.

Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Finches Information: How to Feed Your Finches Correctly   African Grey Parrot Facts To Help Make Buying Decisions   Tips on Buying the Right African Grey Parrot Cage   

Instant Cleaning With Bird Cage Liners

Don't you just hate it when you have to clean your feathered friends' home frequently because of all the food morsels and droppings, which seem to pop up every minute? If this is a problem for you, then you may want to consider trying some bird cage liners, which offer the house protection from both the inside and the outside. These materials are an ideal substitute to bedding and decorative substrates, which are tedious in nature, in terms of the maintenance and replacements. Here are some reasons why these bird supplies are more convenient to utilize than other cleaning products.

1. Of course, one of the main reasons why consumers love to avail of these bird cage liners is because of its affordable price. In spite of the fact that it is meant to be disposable, you are guaranteed that you can use it a couple of times before throwing it into the trash.

2. This is quite easy to use in the sense that you are always given a size, which will surely fit the measurements of your bird cages. The liners are normally made from heavy-duty plastic, which has the same texture as that of a tarpaulin. You are given the freedom to cut it down to the exact dimension, which you like, as well.

3. As mentioned above, the liners are not difficult to use, in the sense that it will only take you about a minute to set it up, and just a few seconds to remove it. What you have to do is lay this product at the very base of the cage, being careful to use it as a secondary flooring. At the end of each day, you can just lift it up by the ends, securing the mess within it, and dispose of the entire plastic along with the food morsels and droppings.

4. These liners often come in a set, which includes a counterpart covering that you can use to envelop the exterior of the cage, giving you the opportunity to keep your feathered friends cool and away from the sun during the afternoons.

Overall, these bird cage liners are a great addition to your must-have items, since it will not only make sure that your feathered friends' home is clean, but it also ensures that you will have an easier time in maintenance. Plus, its other features benefit the health of your pals greatly, too.

Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Finches Information: How to Feed Your Finches Correctly   African Grey Parrot Facts To Help Make Buying Decisions   Tips on Buying the Right African Grey Parrot Cage   

Toys for Medium to Large Parrots

Toys are an important accessory, necessary for the enrichment of all pet parrots. Different breeds of parrot will have varied toy preferences and the size of parrot toys should be carefully chosen to suit the beak size and destructiveness of each breed. It is important to bear in mind that certain commercially produced bird toys can be dangerous for large parrots, due to their ability to break off pieces and digest them. For this reason toys for large parrots need to be carefully selected and the avoidance of breakable plastic pieces is imperative. Toys made form organic materials such as wood; leather and jute are generally safer for large breeds of parrot. Bear in mind that large parrots are naturally destructive in nature and the fact that they destroy their toys, is a perfectly natural pastime and one which they need for entertainment and enrichment purposes. Parrots are naturally inquisitive and love exploring and investigating new things. Parrots are less likely to be overly destructive if they have a variety of different toys to explore.

Boredom is a common problem with young parrots, especially large parrots as they are quite intelligent and need to have regular stimulation. Rotating your bird's toys is a good way to prevent boredom and wanton destructiveness of the cage contents. Socializing with your parrot regularly is also important to prevent boredom so you should play with your parrot each day, giving them varied environments and activities. Play gyms are a good way for your parrot to get exercise and stimulation but again they should be always used under strict supervision.

HANGING TOYS

There is a wide selection of hanging toys available for large parrots, some designed for shredding and others designed to make a noise and entertain the parrot when it is alone in its cage. Often large parrots will become quite attached to its toys and care should be taken when moving them around the cage as this could upset the parrot and cause it to become agitated and possessive towards its favorites. Many hanging parrot toys are designed for shredding and are generally safe but care needs to be taken to ensure that partly shredded toys do not become a hazard for the bird. Parrots can easily get tangled in dangling pieces of fabric, string or leather causing them to strangle themselves or get their feet or beaks caught up. Always remove toys that are likely to become a hazard to the parrot especially when they are left alone for a prolonged time.

Foraging hanging bird toys that have refillable compartments where you can put seeds and other treats are popular, giving the parrot a challenge. Generally when a parrot works out how to get treats from a compartment they will remember the sequence and enjoy repeating the exercise regularly.

TOWERS AND TREAT DISPENSERS

Perspex towers specifically designed for large parrots, which require a sequence of actions to extract the seed or treat can be very popular and are great for training your parrot. They are available in a variety of difficulty levels and can be quite a challenge to the young parrot. Learning to train and teach your parrot to use these towers will take some time and dedication, but the exercise is an excellent bonding technique and also teaches the parrot to use and prove its intelligence. There are different treat dispensers available that off a variety of challenges for parrots and their trainers.

Daily food treats like pieces of fruit should not be placed in the same bowl or location in the cage each day; rather they should be placed in a challenging location like inside bird-friendly toys so that they encourage the parrot to develop its natural foraging instinct. The more you engage in this practice the more inquisitive your parrot will become, searching for its treats and the more enjoyable the pastime will be for the parrot.

FOOT TOYS

Large parrots enjoy throwing things around with their feet and beaks and can spread their food around the cage in this way. Providing a selection of small foot toys in a bowl is a great solution and these toys can be collected up and replaced in the bowl at the end of the day. Common foot toys can be large wooden beads, pine cone pieces, durable plastic rings designed for large parrots and small bells.

HAZARDOUS TOYS

Care needs to be taken when choosing toys for your parrot and some toys need supervision especially when the toy is made from a material which shreds easily. Some rope toys can be hazardous if they are shredded and the bird gets tangled or hangs itself. Fabric hammocks have been known to cause this type of disaster when the bird is left unsupervised for long periods of time. If you leave your parrot alone every day while you are at work, it is vital to ensure there are no partly shredded toys in the cage which could cause harm to your bird while you are away. Always check your bird toys every day for broken off pieces, cracks in plastic and dangling threads from shredding. Always remove these from the cage when the parrot is not under supervision.

Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Finches Information: How to Feed Your Finches Correctly   African Grey Parrot Facts To Help Make Buying Decisions   Tips on Buying the Right African Grey Parrot Cage   

The African Grey Parrot The Different Types

In this article, we'll concentrate on the distinctive varieties associated with the African Grey Parrot. The first African Grey Parrot would be the Congo, Timneh, Ghana and the Cameroon.

However, essentially the most renowned is the Congo and the Timneh. The Ghana is similar to the Congo African Grey but smaller with a deeper colour. Then there's the Cameroon, and that is a really uncommon parrot.

In the natural environment, all of these birds live on fruit, nuts and vegetables which can be available in the uppermost parts of the trees.

They are very sociable birds and flock together. They live in the jungle and have a companion for life. Domesticated parrots will every now and then pluck out their feathers when fed up just to amuse themselves. Since they are intelligent birds, they need to be stimulated or they will simply get bored.

They are capable to replicate a large number of noises and such is the reason that they are so pricey. African Grey and most parrot species are temperamental and demanding birds at times. Once you possess an African Grey you can assume to have a life- long relationship together with your parrot if it happens to be taken care of.

Due to their high demand, breeders normally breed them. Young ones along with the aged need to take precautions around parrots as they have very sharp talons and beaks.

Parrots require a lot of dedication and perseverance, but most of all love. Bear in mind you are responsible for your parrots needs, and the most essential thing he requires other than food, is fresh water daily as he not only drinks of his water but also bathes in it. Clean out the food and water containers on a regular basis, as these are perfect places for bacteria to grow. Like I said this is a long time relationship therefore his cage which is his home is of up most relevance.

It goes without saying, the bigger the bird, the bigger the cage. When buying a baby parrot, take a look at the size of its parents to know how big the bird will grow in order to know what size the cage needs to be when the bird is fully grown. You may purchase a smaller cage at the start when the parrot is a baby never the less you will need to swap it quicker than you think. For more information you can visit the Blog Site.

Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   African Grey Parrot Facts To Help Make Buying Decisions   Tips on Buying the Right African Grey Parrot Cage   

Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot

An African Grey can be a source of infinite joy for its owner if it is properly cared for. Unfortunately, if you're a first time bird owner, it's best not to buy a baby African Grey parrot that is too young as these birds require a lot of care and attention. If you're not familiar with the behavior of these particular parrots, you will have a tough time handling the babies.

Usually, African Grey babies are cared for by their parents well beyond the time they start flying. The babies are not usually sold to new owners before this point of time, which is about 12 weeks. However, if your baby African Grey was born at home, you've got some serious information to brush up on before attempting to rear them all by yourself.

Characteristics

Baby African Greys are not grey when they're born. They're pink when they hatch. They develop their trademark grey color, black beaks and red tails only when they start growing feathers. Usually when you buy a baby parrot from a pet shop, it's safe to assume that it's at least 12 weeks old. That's about the perfect time to wean baby African Greys from their mothers.

Some special needs are:

- Day old chicks are really tiny, weigh less than 18 grams and need extreme care in handling due to their fragility - They need special formula for feeding and the knowledge of how to feed them, asl they need care and a warm place to inhabit - They're very cute when they're born. However, they tend to look weird for the first three weeks - They need to be trained from an early age, at least from when they are 12 weeks old

Things to know

Buying a baby African Grey is an important decision that one cannot afford to take lightly. It's a commitment that can sometimes last a lifetime. Since these parrots have a very long life span, you need to consider the fact that they will be around much longer than you. It's almost like choosing a pet for life.

It pays to build a good rapport with the breeder so that you can ring them with your concerns at any time.

Since these parrots bond intensely with their owner, it's not easy to give them away either. They can develop cognitive and speech skills that can match 5 year old human children at times. So you can understand how difficult it would be to give them away. In fact they tend to hurt themselves or become overly stressed if they're separated from their owners.

If you've done your homework and decided that a baby African Grey parrot is what you want, you can be sure of a fun filled lifetime bird owning experience.

Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Tips on Buying the Right African Grey Parrot Cage   Finches Information: How to Feed Your Finches Correctly