Vasuki Silva

Cage birds

Why do we rear cage birds

Birds provide enjoyment and companionship for humans. Humans in their turn have a duty to care for the birds so that the bird also has a fulfilling life free from undue stress and disease.

X- small pet birdsCanaries finches

Small pet birds

Cocktiels lovebirds small parrotlets parakeets

Large pet birds

African grey amazons small cockatoos large conures

X-large pet birds

Large cockatoos macaws

Things to concern

RegulationsLongevityCost of upkeepNoiseTimeHealth concerns

Morphology of cage birds

Love birds(Agapornis spp)Distribution

   Lovebirds belong to the genus Agapornis.

nine species all native to Africa except

one. Grey-headed Lovebird

comes from the island of Madagascar.

Most lovebirds live close to the equator where they inhabit dry savannah regions.

Description    The lovebird is a small stocky parrot mostly between 5.1-6.7

inches (13-17 cm). a large bill , tail is either round or square. Their average life span is between 10-12 years with some living

even longer.    different species of lovebird are identifiable by their colors and

markings. vary greatly in their coloring, and each species can be viewed

for their unique combinations. Younger birds are duller in color and they have black in their beaks.

Description cont. The young birds coloring intensifies as they reach

maturity. Regardless of the species, mature lovebirds are gorgeous

parrots. Three of the nine lovebird species are most commonly

available lovebirds for pets Peach-faced Lovebirds, the Masked Lovebirds, and

the Fischer's Lovebirds There are a variety of color mutations in lovebirds,

developed from these three common species. This is especially true for the Peach-faced Lovebird, which can be bred in hundreds of different combinations of mutations. As a result, there are many new lovebird colors available.

 A wide variety of lovebirds can be found in the pet industry and from breeders. Some lovebirds and lovebird mutations that are commonly available include:

Abyssinian Lovebird Albino Lovebird Black Masked Lovebird Blue Masked Lovebird Dutch Blue Lovebird Fischer's Lovebird Lutino Lovebird Peach-faced Lovebird

Black Masked Lovebird

distinguished by their black heads and white eye rings. 

Adults have a red, orange, light gray or horn-colored beak

Juveniles have black-marked beaks.

Blue Masked Lovebird

hardy and are easy to breed,

Market price of pair- 5000 Rs

Fischer's Lovebird Size:  Small, up to 6 inchesNative Region:  AfricaLife Expectancy:  up to 20 yearsNoise Level:  Low, although can let out a shrill chirp.Talk/Trick Ability:  Fair; not known as a talker, but enjoys learning tricks.

Market value-4500-7000 RsGentle and playful,

Peach-faced Lovebird

Size:  Small, 6.5 inchesNative Region:  AfricaLife Expectancy:  20 yearsNoise Level:  LowTalk/Trick Ability:  Fair; not known as a talker, but enjoys learning tricks.

Blue and gold macawScarlet macawGreen-winged macaw

Macaw

Where does the Macaw come from

Originated from Mexico,Central and South America

 scarlet macaws (Ara macao)

Scientific Name:  Ara macao

Size:  Large, up to 38 inches

Native Region:  Central and South America

Life Expectancy:  60 years average, up to 80 years

Noise Level:  Loud

Talk/Trick Ability:  Very good

 81 cm (32 in) long Average mass: 1200 g. sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike pointed, graduated tail  has a larger percentage of tail than the other large

macaws average weight is about 1 kilogram (2.2 lb)

The plumage is mostly scarlet, but the rump and tail-covert feathers are light blue, the greater upper wing coverts are yellow, the upper sides of the flight feathers of the wings are dark blue as are the ends of the tail feathers, and the undersides of the wing and tail flight feathers are dark red with metallic gold iridescence. Some individuals may have green in the wings.

 bare white skin around the eye and from there to the bill. Tiny white feathers are contained on the face patch. The upper mandible is mostly pale horn in color and the lower is black. Juveniles have dark eyes; adults have light yellow eyes.

 frequently confused with the slightly larger green-winged macaw, which has more distinct red lines in the face and no yellow in the wing.

Scarlet Macaws Reproduction

Like most parrots, the female Scarlet Macaw lays 2 to 4 white eggs in a tree cavity. The young hatch after 24 to 25 days. They fledge about 105 days later and leave their parents a year later.

Blue and gold macaw

Scientific Name:  Ara araraunaSize:  Large, up to 33 inchesNative Region:  South AmericaLife Expectancy:  60 years average, up to 80 yearsNoise Level:  LoudTalk/Trick Ability:  Very Good

Most alert and intelligent of all macawsVery curious and mischievous

Scientific Name:  Ara chloropteraSize:  Large, up to 37.5 inchesNative Region:  Mexico, Central America, South AmericaLife Expectancy:  60 years average, up to 80 years Noise Level:  LoudTalk/Trick Ability:  Very Good

Green-winged macaw

The Macaw’s Beak

The Macaw’s large, powerful beak can easily crack nuts and seeds. Their dry scaly tongue has a bone inside it that they use for tapping into fruits.

What does the Macaw eat?

The Macaw eats a variety of food including seeds, nuts, fruits, palm fruits, leaves, flowers, and stems.

Feeding

cockatoo cockatoos come in two sizes:

large cockatoos and small cockatoos. Large cockatoos are noticeably bigger, and include the umbrella, Moluccan, greater sulphur crest and triton. Smaller cockatoos include the bare eye, slender bill, Goffin’s, rose breast, lesser sulphur crest and citron. 

Demanding for attention Intelligent & very sensitive Talk clearly

Cockatoos are noisy, affectionate, playful birds that often demand their owners’ undivided attention but they’ll return that devotion two-fold. Their feathering dramatically ranges the color spectrum from blacks and reds to pink and white and yellow.

Moluccan Cockatoo Behavior/Health Concerns: 

Without enough mental and physical stimulation, Moluccan cockatoos can resort to destructive behavior such as feather picking.

They can be prone to psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), fatty liver disease, obesity and bumblefoot disease

Moluccan cockatoos are known to be dusty birds, which is a concern for those with allergies.

Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo

Behavior/Health Concerns:  A stressful household or a lack of the appropriate amount of human interaction can cause bad behavior in these somewhat high-strung pet birds.

This pet bird does best in a home where it is the only bird. Sulpher-crested cockatoos can become territorial once they have matured and they are often destructive chewers.

Umbrella Cockatoo Behavior/Health

Concerns:  Umbrella Cockatoos can be extremely aggressive while breeding. Without enough mental and physical stimulation, they can resort destructive behaviors such as feather picking. They are susceptible to psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), fatty liver disease, obesity and bumblefoot

psittacine beak and feather disease Viral disease  It attacks the feather follicles and the beak and claw matricess of the

bird, The acute form of the disease is manifested by

 lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea due to the severe immune system suppression,

multiple secondary infections develop, causing death within two to four weeks. Typical confirmation of the acute form of the disease is by necropsy, because it progresses too quickly for the normal signs such as feather loss and beak deformity to appear.

Feather loss, distorted beak growth

Sulphur crested cockatoo

Budgerigar American Parake

et

English Type Budgie

Normal green type Budgie

How to feed budgies1. Seeds- Seeds should

only make up 1/6 of your budgie's diet.

2. Buy pellets3. Use fruits and

vegetables  apples, pumpkin, grapes, carrot, parsley, broccoli, mango, sweet potato, squash, and spinach. fruits and vegetables that you should never feed your bird are avocado, the pits and seeds of fruit, chocolate, mushrooms, uncooked beans, and the leaves and stems of tomatoes.