Perches

Material Commercial wood Mold/pesticide free natural limbs Plastic can be uncomfortable

If birds refuse to perch on plastic replace with

Housing & Equipment

Perches

Style and size depends on bird Finch ½” round Budgie ½” oval Parrot 1” square

Must be replaced often due to “chewing”

Housing & Equipment

Perches

Tapered size Allows bird to find a

comfortable perch Larger birds need larger sized

perch

Housing & Equipment

Water

Easy to clean Glass, ceramic or stainless

steel Gravity fed bottle

Housing & Equipment

Feed

Plastic Small birds

Glass, ceramic or stainless steel Parrots

Housing & Equipment

Cage Location

No direct sunlight, drafts, poisonous plants or pets

Constant temperature

Housing & Equipment

Most captive birds eat

Seed Fruit Nectar

Feeding

Seed is most common diet

Cereal High carbohydrates

Canary seed, millet corn and de-husked oat

Oil High fat

Sunflower, peanuts, safflower, pine nuts

Feeding

Seed diets

Commercial rations Premixed for specific species Free of dust and dirt Discard any moldy fed

Peanuts are most susceptible

Feeding

Seed feeding specifics

Soak seed in warm water for 24 hours for young, breeding and molting birds Increases protein content Rinse with water before feeding Discard unconsumed feed within a

few hours

Feeding

Fruit diet

Mynah birds Fruit, soft bill pellets and

mealworms Apple, grapes, orange and banana Dried fruit

Daily cage cleaning required due to fruit residue

Feeding

Nectar diet

Lories and Lorikeets Powdered nectar

Mix with water

Fruit

Feeding

Other feed sources

Green plant material Too much can cause diarrhea Avoid lettuce Wash thoroughly Feed at room temperature

Feeding

Other feed sources

Meal Worms Live food source Use as a treat

Excess calories can make bird gain weight

Feeding

Other feed sources

Grit Needed by all birds (few exceptions)

Helps grind food due to lack of teeth

Soluble Oyster shell, provides minerals

Insoluble Crushed granite, grinds food

Feeding

Other feed sources

Cuttlefish bone Provides calcium Helps with egg production Shaved or chipped

Easier for smaller birds

Feeding

Hand raising

High demand, produces tame birds Feeding must be from early AM-PM

Baby cereal/food and fruit are mixed with water, blended and heated

Newly hatched Fed every 1 ½ hours

Weaning Fed every 3-4 hours

Feeding

New birds need 2-3 days to

adjust Offer regular treats

Through open door

Handling

Press a perch against

chest Encourages bird to step up

Use a finger or hand once bird is accustomed to stepping on perch Wear leather gloves for

large birds

Handling

Clip wings

Prevents escape Painless

Primary and secondary wings are cut just below base of shaft Cutting into shaft results in bleeding

2 primary feathers are left for looks

Handling

Teaching to talk

Young male birds best Remove distractions Same person needs to teach

Women and children best Same time every day

15 minutes Repeat words slowly

Training

Sleeping on 2 legs Feathers fluffed out

Cold bird Runny feces Lack of activity Eye discharge

General Problems

Wheezing Not eating

General Problems

Internal

Roundworms Blockage, poor plumage,

weight loss and diarrhea Tapeworms

Rice like segments in feces

Parasites

External

Red mites (red specks) Scratching and picking at feathers Dust to treat

Feather mites (gray specks) Chew and pick feathers Spray to treat

Parasites

External

Scaly leg mites White scales on legs Use Vaseline or mineral oil to

treat legs

Parasites

Parrot fever (psittacosis)

Affects liver/spleen Contract by feces/food/water Symptoms

Nasal discharge, weight loss, green diarrhea

Treat with medicated feed

Bacterial Diseases

Bumblefoot

Feet and joints hot and swollen with fluid

Treat with antibiotics

Bacterial Diseases

Psittacine beak/feather disease

New feathers don’t emerge or are damaged

Soft beak/nails No cure, supplement with

vitamins and minerals

Viral Diseases

Newcastle disease

High mortality Respiratory issues followed by

tremors and twisted neck Vaccine available to prevent

Viral Diseases

Goiter

Swelling of thyroid gland Iodine deficiency

Budgies highly susceptible

Obesity Too much fat/food in diet

Sunflower seeds

Nutritional Problems

Rickets

Bones soften Deficiency in calcium,

phosphorus or Vitamin D3 Oyster shell/limestone/VD3

are best preventatives

Nutritional Problems