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| Red-breasted parakeet - Psittacula alexandri |
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
RED TROATED CONURE Parrots - 7 Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering a Red Throated Conure, or have just recently decided to add one to your family, they will require a fair amount of your time. In return, they will give you their love and affection for possibly next 20 years. Here are 7 answers to the frequently asked question about this rare and beautiful parrot.
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| Red-throated Conure or Red-throated Parakeet (Aratinga rubritorquis) upper body. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
1. Is there any difference between the Red Throated Conure and the Red Throated Parakeet?
No, this is just an alternate name for the same bird. You may also see it referred to as the Orange Throated Conure.
2. How big are they when fully grown? They average between 9 and 12 inches in length and weigh between 4 and 5 ounces.
3. How much attention do they need? You should plan to spend a minimum of several hours a day interacting one on one with this parrot. The more you socialize with your parrot, the more chance you stand of avoiding biting, screaming, and feather plucking.
It is easier to avoid these behaviors than it is to redirect them once they have become a habit. And if your Conure becomes emotionally unhealthy, deterioration of physical health often follows and often opens the door to disease and infection which can ultimately shorten the life of your companion.
4. What kind of cage is best? A stainless steel cage is the best overall choice. It is an expensive cage, but you will only need to purchase one of them because they will last for the lifetime of your bird.
The cage should be large enough to allow your Conure
to fully expand its wings in any direction inside the cage. The cage should also contain a variety of toys, perches at different levels, and bar width that is narrow enough to prevent your bird from getting its head caught between them.
to fully expand its wings in any direction inside the cage. The cage should also contain a variety of toys, perches at different levels, and bar width that is narrow enough to prevent your bird from getting its head caught between them.
5. What's the best way to find an avian vet? One of the best ways is by word of mouth. There are many bird related bulletin boards, forums, and chat rooms. Become a member, join in the discussions, and post your questions.
People are more than happy to share their personal recommendations about vets that they have found helpful. Your breeder is also an excellent resource for finding a vet.
6. How loud are they? On a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being really noisy, Conures generally approach an 8. They make loud screeching sounds that can eventually become distracting at best. Again this is a generalization, and you should keep in mind that each bird is different. Using a cage cover that does not let in light will help delay the noise until you remove it in the morning.
If you are still on the fence about a Red Throated Conure, spend some time around the bird to get some idea of how loud the bird you're interested in really is. Then access, whether you think all in your family, will be able to tolerate this for the next 20 years or so. If the answer is yes, you've found a friend for life.
7. What type of air purifier is safe for my Conure? A high-efficiency particle arresting (abbreviated as HEPA) air purifier is safe, efficient, and economical. It is designed to run 24 hours a day to stay ahead of and remove particulates that can clog your bird's air passages.
These particles include feathers, dust, bird dander in addition to those that are found in the average home-- dust, mites, mold and mildew spores, bacteria, and viruses.
A HEPA air purifier is capable of removing bird dander as well as other fine particulates and produces only fresh clean air. A bird dander air purifier can literally add years of life to your Red Throated Conure and you.
Articles Source: EzineMark |
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Should I Get a BUDGIE?
Taking a budgie home is a big responsibility. You're wholly responsible for the well being of your new pet day in, day out. And that will still be true once the novelty wears off. At the risk of sounding like a spoil sport, there are a few things you need to consider before you bring a budgie home.
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| Male Budgerigar of natural coloration (Wikipedia) |
Taking care of a budgie's basic need doesn't take up a massive amount of time. But it does take a little of your time every day. A budgie needs fresh food and water, a clean cage and regular companionship.
In the wild budgies live in huge flocks. And within the flock, they have an immediate family that they are very close to. It's a common myth that a budgie alone in its cage will be happy. The truth is that they are very social animals that have a deeply ingrained need for company. As your budgies adopted the family you will have to spend a decent amount of time with it if it's housed alone. Otherwise, it's likely to get depressed.
Cost
Now, budgies aren't expensive pets to keep. Far from it. But there are costs that come with owning any pet. The obvious initial expense is a decent sized cage, but you've probably already realized that. A regular supply of food, sandpaper, grit and mineral blocks does add up. As well as the need to buy new toys every now and again, so your budgie doesn't get bored with them.
Also, it's a good idea to put a little money aside each month to pay for vets bills when you need to. Alternativ, ly you can get pet insurance. Nothing is more heartbreaking than not be able to pay the vets bill that could save your pet's life. Or having your budgie suffer because you don't have any money for treatment. A saying that I heard recently really sums up this point, 'If you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet.'
It only costs a couple of bucks to buy a budgie, but then it's your duty to make sure you can look after it.
Is A Budgie The Right Pet For You?
While budgies are great companions that can bring a lot of joy into your life, they're not right for everyone.
A relationship with a budgie is much more hands off than a relationship with other pets. Budgies will sit on your finger and let you stroke them for some of the time, but they're certainly not pets that you can have a very physical relationship with. So, if you're looking for a pet that you can cuddle and stroke often, then you are probably better suited to owning something furry.
Noise is also something that you need to think about. Are you going to get irritated if your budgie squawks all the way through your favorite TV or radio show? If there's a steady stream of sound, like a conversation going on in the room, you budgie will often join in. Also, a budgie tends to create a fair amount of mess. Feathers and seed husks will usually litter the floor under and around your budgies cage. And when your budgie's flying around the room it'll leave stray feathers all over the place. This means that you'll likely find yourself needing to vacuum slightly more often than you do at the moment.
Budgies and Other Pets
You'll often hear tales of a small bird being introduced to a cat, and of the cat getting on well with the bird. Of the cat taking a curious interest and then leaving the bird in peace. It sounds cute and it probably does happen. But it's the exception rather than the rule. Generally, if you have larger animals like cats or dogs they'll need to be kept apart from your budgie. Since your budgie needs time every day outside his cage, you'll need to house him in a room that you're happy to lock the cats and dogs out of while your budgie flies around and explores.
Budgies can be housed with quite a few different species of bird. They're not suitable to be kept with all types of pet bird though.
Budgies and Children
You might be thinking about getting a budgie primarily for your child. If you're child wants a budgie, that's great. They're good pets. And your child can learn about responsibility as well as gaining a loving companion. However, children generally like to be hands on with their pets. The younger they are, the more hands on they tend to be. So your child will need to be taught how delicate a budgie is and supervised when handling it.
Lastly you should remember that as the adult you have the primary responsibility for the budgie's welfare. Your child might want a budgie more than anything in the world right now, but what about in six months time? Are you prepared to look after the budgie in the years ahead, if your child gets bored of it?
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Monday, September 11, 2017
Cleaning Your AVIARY
An aviary is a large enclosure also known as a flight cage and is used to mimic a bird’s natural habitat. Keeping a clean aviary is highly important in order to breed and keep healthy birds and prevent the disease from spreading amongst them.
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| Bournemouth Gardens: the aviary (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Knowing how to effectively clean and maintain a healthy living space for birds is extremely useful and can reduce the overall workload from mounting up and becoming much more of a tiring chore. You can practice cleaning methods on a regular basis and this will not only make the overall process easier to keep on top of but also allow the birds to adapt to the cleaning routine.
A few tips that are worth noting are how you plan to go about the various cleaning tasks. By dividing the aviary into sections and various different cleaning tasks you can go through the checklist a lot easier not to mention quicker. The main tasks may include, cleaning the floor, changing the floor covering, changing drinking water, replenishing food containers and disinfecting certain areas.
Some cleaning jobs need to be daily while others can be left for weekly maintenance. It is useful to outline which jobs are which in order to run a smoother cleaning operation. Check too that all cleaning products you use are not harmful to the birds themselves, particularly disinfectants. It is important to remove the birds before using any strong and potentially harmful products, especially if they release harmful fumes.
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Saturday, September 9, 2017
AFRICAN GREY PARROT: One of the greates species of parrots
The African grey parrot scientifically known as Psittacus erithacus is originated in Central Africa. here are two types of African Greys - the larger Congo (has bright red tail feathers) and smaller Timneh (darker tail feathers). No one really knows when the grey african parrot was first found in Europe but it said that King Henry VIII had an African grey parrot as a pet.
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| African Grey Parrot |
I will try to talk a little about the african grey parrot behavior and training.
The Grey is a very social bird. In the wild, they depend on the flock for their safety and their emotional well-being. Because they depend on the flock so much, they read the emotion of their companion birds. This translates to their human companions as well. If an owner is upset or angry, the bird will feel it and react to the emotion.
African grey parrots really need much attention and interaction. Because of their dependence of the flock, if they stay alone they will get bored and depressed. If you don't spend enough time with an african grey parrot he will get the feather picking behavior or even become quite aggressive. So if you decide to buy an african grey parrot keep in mind that they are not lonely birds. African Grey parrots need a strong relationship with their owners. If you think that you are not able to make this commitment you should reconsider and buy another species of parrots.
But the most interesting aspect of the african grey parrot is that they are very intelligent. I have heard of a parrot called Alex that Alex, the African Grey trained by Dr. Irene Pepperberg, can perform tasks on the same level as a four-year-old child including distinguishing colors, shapes, and numbers of objects.
African grey parrots are also great talkers. They can learn a larger number of words and the most amazing thing is that they can use the words properly. If you think that we are talking about a bird's brain you have to agree that this is very good performances.
The training of your african grey parrot can be very fun because they learn very fast and they are very curious. If you want your bird to say a certain phrase, say it in different ways. Say it in a sing-song way, in a low voice, in a high voice, in a baby voice, or any other voice. Say the phrase looking directly at the bird so that he knows you want him to say it.
I advise you not to teach him dirty words. Don't make a joke from your pet. Also be careful to keep many toys around your african grey parrot so he will not get bored.
In conclusion, please don't buy an african grey parrot if you are not sure that you can meet all the parrot care demands.
Friday, September 8, 2017
Thursday, September 7, 2017
PARROT Adoption: What You Need To Know
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| Cinderella, a Congo African Grey Parrot (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Two years ago, you simply could not resist those two brightly colored parrots in the pet store window. What a mistake! Now you want a new home for your parrots and are thinking of selling them. If you place a short ad in the local newspaper, how will it read?
1. Virginia parrots for sale2. Quaker parrots for sale
There are many ways to advertise, even with as few words as that, but do you really need to "sell" your parrots? Might you find a better home through parrot adoption?
What Is Parrot Adoption?
Parrot adoption is very much like baby adoption. Those who have parrots they cannot care for offer them to people who want a parrot. The adoptive parrot owners may not be able to afford the initial outlay, or they may simply want to give a good home to a parrot that must be relocated.
Parrot adoption does not always mean "free" parrots. The term is also used for inexpensive parrots purchased from former owners.
Finding Interested Homes
Parrot adoption requires good homes, of course, but how do you find them? One way to begin is to place a newspaper ad, as you would if you were selling. You might write: "Parrots for adoption" or "Quaker parrots for adoption to good homes" or "Adopt a parrot".
If you are unsuccessful with ads, try contacting a parrot rescue Foundation or parrot adoption organization. They may be able to put you in contact with someone wanting parrots like yours. They may have someone on their waiting lists.
Evaluating Prospective Homes
"But it's just a parrot!" you squawk. Not really. It is a creature that will live many years. During those years, it will need health, safety, love, and happiness. You will want to try your best to provide those by asking a few questions of prospective owners - getting to know them a little. You will want to try, also, to ensure your parrot will not have to move soon again. For proper parrot adoption, begin with these questions.
1. Why do you want a parrot? One wrong answer is, "My child has been begging for one, and I think it would be cool to have a talking pet."2. Does anyone ever smoke in your home? Smoking can kill a parrot very rapidly, and you want assurance that yours will go to smoke-free homes.3. What other pets do you own? Parrots have natural predators, and will not be safe or healthy if they share a home with one of them.4. Can you afford to take the parrot to a veterinarian when necessary? Your parrots have a long life expectancy, and will need occasional visits to a veterinarian.5. For other important questions, you should contact a parrot adoption group and get advice.
Delivering an Adopted Parrot
Once you have found good parrot adoption homes, you will want to do your best to make the transition smooth. Take your parrot's cage (It's his home, and you won't need it.), his toys, perches, and the food to which he's accustomed. Take time to get the parrot settled before you leave him. Be available to visit now and then during the first week, if asked.
The Other Side of Parrot Adoption
The flip side of parrot adoption is the adoptive family. Parrot adoption can be preferable to purchasing a baby parrot from parrot breeders or a pet store.
Your parrot will be far less expensive, in most cases. It will likely have a cage and accessories, as well, which will save money and time for you. Parrot adoption lets you skip the toddler and adolescent stages, and your bird will likely have a vocabulary, with knowledge of how to add to it. In some cases, an adopted parrot will know some tricks. It will be accustomed to human handling and - hopefully - enjoy it.
The Downside of Parrot Adoption
The upside outweighs the downside of parrot adoption, but there are things you should know.
1. How does the parrot behave? Parrot adoption is often initiated by an owner who does not want to deal with behavioral problems. The parrot may have become aggressive: biting and screeching. You will want to observe the parrot in its home before agreeing to adopt it.2. Has the parrot ever been injured or struck with anything? You will have a lot of work to overcome this problem and get the parrot to bond with you.3. Is the parrot healthy - and can you talk to his veterinarian? If the parrot has never been taken to a veterinarian, there may be hidden health concerns. If he has been taken, the veterinarian will be able to tell you about potential problems. Any prospective parrot adoption should include consideration of health information.
Finalizing Parrot Adoption
When you adopt a parrot, you adopt a long-term commitment. It will be your responsibility to care for the bird throughout its lifetime. It will give you affection and will expect the same from you. Before you enter into parrot adoption, think it through carefully. Then enjoy your parrot fully.
(C)2007, Anna Hart. An avid reader and researcher, Anna explores many parrot breeds and offers more parrot adoption information at http://www.parrots-of-the-world.com If you have a pet parrot you can no longer keep, or want to find a parrot to adopt, you won't want to miss Anna's advice. Article Source: EzineArticles |
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
BUDGIES - 3 Mistakes That Can Kill Your Pet
It's easy to get into bad budgie care habits. But these bad habits that are easy for us to live with are hard for your budgie to live with. Your bad habits can hurt - or even kill - your budgie.
Let's take a look at some these common mistakes:
1. A huge mistake is feeding your budgie an all seed diet.
Budgies need more than just seed mix to stay healthy. Giving your budgie just seed is like you only eating turkey. Turkey might be good food, but you wouldn't stay healthy if that's all you ate, right?
Now, when you bring a budgie home it's probably only been fed seeds so far. So when you give your budgie other food it rejects it. That's a natural reaction. If you'd never seen a potato before, you would be a little suspicious of it when one turned up on your plate.
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| Budgerigars, Melopsittacus undulatus. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
It's this natural reaction from your budgie that leaves may budgie owners saying things like 'my budgie only likes seed,' or 'I just feed my budgie seed and it looks fine.'
The truth is no animal that has a poor diet will be very healthy or live as long as it could do.
2. Exposing You Budgie Extreme Temperatures
A mistake that's not so obvious - but just as deadly to your budgie - is exposing your budgie to sharp temperature changes and drafts.
Sitting your budgie's cage next to the window, so it can have a pretty view and watch the birds fly by is actually dangerous. You see, constant droughts will likely make your budgie ill. And a budgie that picks up a chest infection can go downhill very fast.
Also, the heat can kill your budgie. If your budgie's cage is getting the full heat of the midday sun it's easy for your budgie to get dehydrated. If there is no shade in the cage then your budgie has no choice but to sit there while the heat makes it uncomfortable.
Budgies might be hardy animals, but there are some conditions they just aren't suited to living in.
3. Unscreened Windows
You might not have even considered this one. Your windows are dangerous to your budgie, and so are any glass doors. When you let your budgie out of its cage and it flies around, the budgie often doesn't realize that the glass is there and tries to fly through it.
This isn't just dangerous - it can be deadly. Sorry if that sounded kind of melodramatic, but I'm being serious here. Loads of budgies break their neck flying into windows. Not to mention shattered beaks and other injuries.
Sadly more budgies die this way every year. Hopefully, your budgie won't be one of them.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Different Types of CHICKENS
While there are dozens of different types of chickens, selecting one to be a part of your flock can be challenging. First you'll want to consider the role of the chicken meaning, is it a pet, will it be bred for meat or an egg producer? There are lots of choices to make when selecting the right type of chicken.
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| A Naked Neck rooster (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Egg laying chickens come in a variety of breeds and their egg production will vary. The top egg laying chickens that produce white eggs are Ancona, Andalusian, Catalina, Hamburg, Holland, Lakenvelder, Leghorn, Minorca, and Redcap. Each chicken will have their own disposition as well from nervous to the wild, noisy or shy.
There are also chickens that lay brown eggs and they include Australorp, Java, Naked Neck Turkin, Plymouth Rock, Delaware, Dominique, Rhode Island, Sussex, and Wyandotte. Many of these chickens have good dispositions and are relatively mild mannered and good producers.
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| Australorp Chicken (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
If you're interested in growing chickens for meat, you want to look for breeds that are able to gain weight within the first 4 months of life. The disposition of these types of chickens is less important than egg layers because they aren't expected to live for long. Meat producing breeds consist of Cornish and Cornish Cross.
Some hens of specific breeds can both be used as egg producers but also provide a good source of meat. These types of birds may be ideal. An example of these types of chickens includes Brahma, Buckeye, Catalina, Araucana, Australorp, Barnevelder, and many others already mentioned above.
Birds like the Cochin, Phoenix, and Showgirls are perhaps a bit more attractive than those chickens bred purely as a food source but whatever type of chicken you decide you'd like to breed or raise, it's good to do a little research based on your ultimate goals.
Monday, September 4, 2017
BIRD WATCHING Tips for Beginners
Bird watching can be a very fun and interesting activity once you are familiar with the thing that you need to know when doing it. The first thing that you need to familiarize yourself about bird watching is identifying the bird that you will watch.
This very task is quite challenging because it is not easy to identify them especially when they are so many feet away from the ground. Since birds are energetic and active animals, you need a clear and quick eye to be able to see as many details possible in such as a very short period of time.
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| Bird watching hide. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Aside from being too far away from you, other problems that you might encounter—especially if you are a first-time bird watcher—is the dim light shaded by trees, the glint of sunlight that can affect your sight, and the hidden places where birds go to play. So, when you are into bird watching, it is always best to have a general knowledge on bird's attitudes and observe them carefully. You might not name them properly the first time but you definitely can the next time if you pay proper attention in observing them.
The following are just of the helpful tips that can help you in your very first bird watching session:
- Always keep on eye on one bird. Bird watching is more effective if one uses a binocular. When you are bird watching, try to spot only one bird that catches your attention. Once you have seen one, never take your eyes off it because it might fly to a place where you cannot see it.
In most bird watching centres, beginners are given a field guide in a form of a booklet or brochure so they can identify the bird once they have seen one. Once you know what is it, take time to observe its physical details as well as its behaviours and mannerisms. Make sure that you observe the bird's movements, markings, feeding habits, songs, colour, and size so you can easily identify it the next time you see it.
- Make sure that you listen intently for the bird's calls and song. Although listening to a bird's song is easy, it doesn’t stay long in a person's memory. What you should do is to listen intently when the bird calls or sings and play the bird's song in your mind repetitively. Listening to a bird's call and the song is important because it can help you identify the bird even without seeing it.
- Take time to estimate the bird's shape and general size. The average shape and size of the bird will give you a huge clue in finding out the family it came from. In bird watching, make sure that you assess its overall appearance and take note of its approximate size and shape. Once you can tell from the size and shape of the bird what kind is it, then you are doing good.
- Pay attention to the bill characteristics and facial markings of the bird in sight. This is one of the hardest things to do because the average of almost all birds is small. They also keep on moving so it will be hard to take note any unique markings on their faces. It is also equally hard to take note of characteristics of its bills because most birds keep on picking all the time.
To get these details, spot a bird that doesn’t fly around that much. Once you found one, start observing it head by looking for any distinguishing hue patches or colour strips. These can be present in their eye lines, crowns, napes, and arcs or in the rings.
Related articles
Birds watch friends 'for lessons in nest building'(scotsman.com)
Rainbow-colored bird draws bird watchers to Vermont town(crescent-news.com)
Sunday, September 3, 2017
The SENEGAL PARROT - An Overview
Senegal Parrot - Three Variations
The Senegal parrot (Poicephalus senegalus) is classified as a Poicephalus parrot. The parrot is generally green in color with a red, orange, or yellow belly. There are three different subspecies of this parrot, but the only difference among them is the color in their bellies. If it has a red belly, it is the Senegalus versteri. If it has an orange belly, it is the Senegalus mesotypus. If it has a yellow belly, it is the Senegalus senegalus. All three subspecies can be raised and sold as pets and can be given the same kind of parrot care.
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| Poicephalus senegalus senegalus, the Senegal Parrot (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Senegal Parrot - Natural Habitat
The open woodland and the savanna are the habitats of choice of the Senegal parrot. A gregarious species, this parrot chatters continuously and makes a wide range of whistles and squawks. When left alone in their natural habitat, the parrot has an average lifespan of thirty to forty years. When held captive, they have been known to live for as long as fifty years. Despite the different colors of their bellies or "vests", the three subspecies share the same characteristics. They have the same needs and the same qualities, and they can be shown a similar kind of parrot care. All have a height of approximately nine inches, and they have a weight of about 140 grams.
The Senegal Parrot as Pet
If you are looking to have a feathery friend for a pet, then you might want to consider the Senegal parrot. The Senegal parrot makes an excellent pet. It does not matter whether you are a novice pet owner or an experienced one; the Senegal parrot will settle and feel right at home with you. Some owners even regard this bird to be "bulletproof". This is because this parrot does not scare easily. In fact, they always seem to be up to the challenge of a new experience! If you are concerned about parrot care, fret not since this bird is fairly easy to take care of.
This bird puts the P in personality, or parrot if you wish. This bird makes the perfect feathery companion. The Senegal parrot is, by nature, affectionate. Just like most pets, this parrot loves to be constantly cuddled and kissed. It also loves having its head and belly rubbed often. This bird is also naturally inquisitive. It is not a clingy creature. As long as you provide it with tons of toys it can play with, then the parrot would not mind being left on their own in their cage. Talking is not its strongest point. It can mimic a few words, but that's about it. It imitates sounds more than it does words.
Senegal Parrot - Parrot Care
There is not much fuss involved in the parrot care of this type of parrot. The bird needs the basic food, water, and spacious cage, but that's about it. Bear in mind that you need to expose the parrot to a social environment while it is still young to prevent aggression problems later on. It helps to introduce the bird to different people, situations, and environments to avoid it becoming a one-person bird. This is a dangerous scenario because the bird can get aggressive and jealous.
Love your pet, and it will love you in return, perhaps even more. Given time, effort, and the proper parrot care, you will be one happy Senegal parrot owner.
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Saturday, September 2, 2017
PARROT Toys - Everything You Need to Know
This article is for you if you own a parrot or are thinking about getting a parrot.
1 - Why Do Parrots Need Toys
You already know that you need a LOT of toys to keep a parrot entertained if you have a parrot or several parrots. If you're thinking about getting a parrot then get ready to hire a staff of Santa's Elves because you're going to need them. Most parrots love to destroy toys. This is a healthy, necessary, and required behavior. After food, water, and your attention, toys are probably the next most important things in your parrot's world. Toys are not an optional accessory for you parrot; they are essential. Toys provide mental stimulation, physical stimulation, and keep your parrot's beak trimmed.
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| A pet Monk Parakeet (also known as the Quaker Parrot) with a colourful rope and toys. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
There is also another more tangible reason for providing toys for your parrot. Toys are required to keep your parrot's beak trim. The beak is always growing much like out fingernails. Your parrot's beak will become overgrown without something to chew on. This will require a trip to the vet, toweling, and filing of the beak. This is stressful to the parrot and can be avoided by providing toys for your parrot to chew up and destroy.
2 - What Are the Types of Toys?
There are several types of toys. These are general categories and some toys fall into several of the categories. Some are designed to give your parrot mental exercise such as Puzzle Toys. Some are designed to give your parrot physical exercise such as Exercise Toys, and Grasping Toys. Finally, some are designed to give your parrot a healthy beak and healthy feathers such as Chew Toys and Preening Toys.
- Puzzle Toys - These are typically puzzles with treats inside them. They encourage the parrot to solve the puzzle to earn the treat. Some are simple lids on boxes and some are complex and require the parrot to unscrew nuts from bolts to open a treat holder.
- Exercise Toys - These are typically rings or ladders that encourage your parrot to climb, hang, or swing.
- Grasping Toys - These are "hand" held toys and other toys that encourage your parrot to hold them while playing with them. This encourages your parrot to exercise its "hands".
- Chew Toys - These are for shredding. They keep your parrot's beak trim.
- Preening Toys - These are typically hanging toys that encourage your parrot to preen them. The theory is that if your bird preens it's toys then it will be encouraged to preen itself. Preening is necessary for your parrot to maintain healthy feathers.
3 - Important Toy Safety Issues
There are several things to avoid when buying or making toys. These include safety issues with your parrot consuming the toy and other physical safety concerns. Some materials to avoid include toxic inks, staples, rubber, Styrofoam, soft plastic and costume jewelry. These items are potential dangerous items if your parrot ingests them. There are also items that pose a physical danger. These items include key-chain rings, frayed ropes, and a crowded cage. Key chain rings can potentially get caught on you parrot's beak or their nails. Frayed ropes are also potentially dangerous if your parrot's feet get tangled in the frayed ends. Finally, a crowded cage can be dangerous if your parrot doesn't have room to spread its wings.
Leather strips are often used to tie toy parts together. If you're using your own leather strips then make sure they are not dyed, tanned, or treated in any way. If there is a doubt then don't use it. Glue is often used to glue toy parts together such as Popsicle sticks. Make sure you use a non-toxic glue such as Kid-Safe glues if you use glue and use as little as possible.
Glues should be avoided when making toys unless necessary. A "Kid-Safe" glue that is non-toxic should be used if required and you should use as little as possible.
One final consideration regarding safety is toys mixed with food or treats. Some toys have treats in them or fastened to them. This is acceptable and this type of toys is one of the parrot's favorite toys. However, flavoring toys with food can be dangerous and should be avoided. This happens when some people make toys and want to color the toys. The coloring should be non-toxic and food free. If it tastes like food or a treat then your parrot may consume it. If you want to dye wood blocks then use a nonflavored coloring for the same reason. Some people recommend food coloring or unsweetened Kool-Aid to color your wood blocks.
4 - What Makes a Toy a Good Toy?
There are several factors that make a toy a "Good Toy". The most important factor is that the toy must be safe. The previous section listed some materials to avoid. This section lists some characteristics that make a toy a "Good Toy".
- Colorful - Parrots can see colors.
- Chewable - This will help keep their beak trim.
- Different Textures - Parrots "feel" with their beaks and can distinguish different textures.
- Appropriate Size - Buying or making your toys the appropriate size is a key consideration.
- Mentally Challenging - The toys should be mentally challenging such as Treats inside Toys.
- Quick Links - Also called "C clips" or "C clamps". They have a screw fastener and are shaped like a "C"
- Moving Parts - Parrots love a lot of moving part and swinging parts.
- Makes Noise - Parrots love bells and musical toys.
- Puzzles - Some "puzzles" are simple (lid on a box) and some are very complex.
5 - Where Can I Get Toys?
Now we know what makes a dangerous toy and what makes a good toy. There are a few places/means to get toys. You can purchase them at pet stores or on the Internet. This is the easiest and most convenient way to get toys. You can also build your own toys. These are referred to as DIY (Do-It-Yourself) toys. This is the cheapest way to get toys. Finally, you can do a combination of buying, building, and recycling which for most people is a happy medium.
Buying toys at pet stores or online is very convenient. There are two key considerations necessary before buying the toys. These are material and size. Toys come in a variety of materials and are often a mix of the following materials. The common toy materials are wood, rope, leather, acrylic, and metal. All of these materials are safe. However, you should check each toy to ensure that there aren't other hazards such as entanglement (frayed rope or clips) or ingesting hazards (small parts). The size of the toy is also a key consideration. Most pet stores recommend what toys should be purchased for what size of parrots. However, there isn't an industry standard in "sizing". Check the size of the toy and match the size of the toy with the size of your parrot. A general sizing is small (Conures & Pionus) , medium (African Greys & Amazons), and large (Macaws & Large Cockatoos).
Buying toys is often how parrot owners start out getting toys for their parrots. After buying parrot toys for a while you will soon realize that the cost is very high. You will find yourself spending $10 for a toy with nothing to show after a couple hours of your parrot chewing on it. It's very similar to feeding money into a shredder. Some parrots are better at destroying toys than others so some parrots require a lot more toys than others require. You will soon begin to realize that you can build your own toys a lot cheaper than you can buy them.
Building your own toys is the cheapest way to get toys for your parrot. DIY (Do-It-Yourself) toys are a cost effective means to provide your parrot with toys. This does require some knowledge and experience using tools but only very basic tools. You might need a wood saw to cut wood, a drill to drill holes, and possibly a pair of pliers. You can purchase the wood at a local hardware store, bring it home and cut it up, then hang it from your bird's cage using rope, wire, cloth, or leather strips. The DIY method also requires some creativity on your part. However, after looking at other toys at pet stores or online, you can come up with your own ideas about building your own toys. While this is the cheapest way to get toys, it does require a lot of cutting and drilling. There is a third option for those of you who don't have the energy or inclination to dedicate this much effort. This option is a combination of buying toys and making toys.
Building your own toys is the cheapest way to get toys for your parrot. DIY (Do-It-Yourself) toys are a cost effective means to provide your parrot with toys. This does require some knowledge and experience using tools but only very basic tools. You might need a wood saw to cut wood, a drill to drill holes, and possibly a pair of pliers. You can purchase the wood at a local hardware store, bring it home and cut it up, then hang it from your bird's cage using rope, wire, cloth, or leather strips. The DIY method also requires some creativity on your part. However, after looking at other toys at pet stores or online, you can come up with your own ideas about building your own toys. While this is the cheapest way to get toys, it does require a lot of cutting and drilling. There is a third option for those of you who don't have the energy or inclination to dedicate this much effort. This option is a combination of buying toys and making toys.
The third option for getting toys is to combine the buying and making methods. In this case you purchase toy parts and make your own toys. These toy parts come in toy making kits where all the pieces are included and you just have to assemble them. These toy parts also come in packages that just include wood blocks or just include plastic blocks, or just include other parts. In this case, you may want to purchase several different packages of toy parts and mix and match them. This requires very little work because the toy parts are ready to assemble and don't require cutting or drilling. And these DIY kits are often cheaper than the fully assembled toys. This option is how most long time parrot owners get toys for their parrots.
6 - How Can I Save Money on Toys?
There are several ways to save money on toys. The first option is to use common household materials to make toys and to supplement toys. Here's the "Top Ten Cheap Materials to Use to Make Parrot Toys" It actually has sixteen items but who has ever heard of the "Top Sixteen List"?
- Unscented Toilet Paper rolls and Paper Towel rolls - Most parrots love to shred these. You can put them with other toys or just hang them from their cage. Some recommend that you not use these items due to the glue on the rolls containing Zinc. You may want to watch your parrot the first time to see if they're eating them or just shredding them before turning them loose to shred these.
- Chinese Finger-Cuffs - That may not be the politically correct name for these. They're the tubes that you put your fingers in and they tighten as you pull your fingers out. These can liven up any toy or be used alone and hung from the cage bars..
- Magazine Inserts - You know those annoying things ads that fall out of magazines? Guess what your parrot thinks of them. They love to shred them. Some warn against giving these if they have ink on them but just watch your parrot the first time to see if they're eating them or just shredding them before turning them loose to shred these.
- Baby Key Rings - Baby toys usually make an excellent toy for parrots too. The baby key rings are a lot of fun and provide long lasting entertainment to your parrot.
- Paper Cups, Plates, Straws - All of these are inexpensive and easy to chew for your parrots. Cut them and tie them together. The more creative you are, the more your parrot will appreciate them.
- Ping Pong Balls - These provide good "hand" toys or if you poke a hole through them you can hang them in their cage or on their play-stand.
- Pine Cones - If you have these available, they make a great toy. Make sure they're clean before giving them to your parrot.
- Newspapers - Just make sure the ink isn't toxic. Roll the paper up into a tight roll and tie it together. A paper-log can provide hours of fun to your parrot or just minutes depending on what type of parrot you have.
- Cardboard boxes - Small boxes can provide fun to your parrot and you as you watch your parrot experiment.
- Ink Pens - Those plastic pins with the clicker button make an excellent toy. Just make sure you remove the ink part and the inside parts (clicker,spring,etc) before giving it to your parrot.
- BONUS!--Wooden Clothes Pins - If you have any, these are great chew toys for parrots. Just make sure they're the old style without the metal springs.
- BONUS!--Worn Shoe String - Make sure they're clean and use them to tie other toy parts together. Watch for frayed ends, which may get tangled in the parrots talons.
- BONUS!--Rag Strips - Cut old (clean) rags up and tie them in knots. Just make sure they're clean and watch for frayed ends, which may get tangled in the parrots talons.
- BONUS!--Unscented Paper Towels - Just tie them around their cage bars or around toys and watch them shred these. This is also a good way to encourage a parrot to play with a new toy.
- BONUS!--Coffee Filters - Just the plain cheap paper filters. Cut a hole through a bunch of them and tie them together with string or a leather strip. This is cheap and will provide a lot of entertainment.
- BONUS!--Food Stuff - Some people use Cheerios and raw pasta to supplement their toys. They tie the Cheerios or raw pasta onto toys or just hang strings of them from the cage. I personally don't like to mix food and toys but it's just a personal preference.
- BONUS!--Popsicle sticks - You can buy these at craft store at reasonable prices. If you use them after eating the Popsicle then rinse it thoroughly.
The second way to save money is to reuse and recycle old toys. It is important to regularly clean and rotate in new toys to keep your parrot healthy and stimulated. This is the perfect opportunity to clean and disassemble old toys and use the old parts with new parts to make new toys. This recycling saves money and also provides some familiarity to your bird when you rotate in new toys. This familiarity will encourage your bird to play with the new toys. Getting your parrot to play with new toys is sometimes a challenge. This topic is covered in the next section.
The third way to save money is to go to "Second Hand" stores such as "Goodwill" and "Salvation Army" stores. They probably don't have bird toys but they do often have baby toys. Most baby toys are also safe for parrots. Be sure to heed the safety warnings earlier in this article. Most toys like wooden blocks use toxic free paints that make them usable by parrots. Also some of the toys such as the hard plastic baby key rings make excellent toys for parrots. There are excellent values to be found in these stores and these stores provide another way for you to save money on your parrot's toys.
7 - How to Get Your Parrot to Play With Toys?
So either you spent $20 on a new toy or you spent 20 minutes making a new toy and you show it to your bird. Your anticipation and excitement level is about 10 on a scale from 1 to 10 but your bird's excitement level is about a 1 on a scale from 1 to 10. What happened and how can you fix this problem? Some parrots are afraid of new things, some are afraid of certain colors, or just afraid of the way some objects look. These fears or your parrot's shyness can challenge you and your parrot. Here are some ideas to overcome these fears and to encourage your parrot to play with toys.
- Introduce new toys slowly.
- Try new location in the cage
- Tie paper towels around the new toy
- Put a dab of peanut butter on it but make sure you wash it off later.
- Try the toy again in a couple months
- Recycle old toy parts into new toys
- Regularly rotate new toys into your bird's environment
The first idea, "Introduce new toys slowly", will vary depending on your parrot. Use the following process for very shy or frightful parrots.
- Start with the new toy several feet from the cage but within sight of the bird.
- Every other day move the toy closer to the cage
- Put the toy in the bottom of the cage for a couple days.
- When your parrot plays with it then hang it in the cage.
If you notice fear in your parrot at any point in the process then you should back up a step in the process and proceed slower.
8 - Top Ten Cheap DIY Toys
There are thousands of possible DIY toys that you can make your parrot. Here are ten ideas that require no tools and very little time.
- Wrap a treat in a paper towel and tie both ends.
- Use a clean cloth glove as a piata.
- Take a piece of paper towel roll and put a treat inside it and crimp both ends.
- Tie Paper Towels onto a string with wood blocks and hang it.
- Poke holes into nuts and make a string of nuts and wood blocks.
- Roll up a newspaper into a tight log, tie it in the middle, and hang it.
- Poke holes into a stack of Magazine Inserts, thread them on a string with wooden blocks and hang it.
- Glue Popsicle sticks together and hang it.
- Put a Ping Pong ball inside a closed paper cub and hang it.
- Any combination or mix of the 9 ideas above.
9 - Concluding Remarks
Hopefully this article has been a useful introduction to toys for your parrot. The topics in this article will help you save money, help you make entertaining toys, and help you provide your parrot with the stimulation and entertainment that it requires. The Internet is a good source for ideas. Check out the commercial toys for sale on the Internet and try to duplicate them. Have fun, be creative, and save some money.
Friday, September 1, 2017
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Fact Sheet: CANARY - Serinus canaria
(Original Title: Rainforest Birds - Canary)
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| Photo by steve p2008 |
Bird Name:
Canary
Latin Name:
Serinus canaria
Status:
Least Concern
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Serinus
Species: S. canaria
General Information:
The wild species is also known as Canary, Island Canary, Tame Canary, and Atlantic Canary. The Domestic Canary has been bred in captivity since the 1600s. They are divided into three main groups: Colorbred Canaries (bred for mutations), Type Canaries (bred for their shape), and Song Canaries (bred for unique song patterns). The word "Canary" is derived from the Latin canaria, "of the dogs", referring to the numerous wild dogs that inhabited the islands.
Physical Description:
The average length of the wild Canary is 12.5 cm, with a wingspan of 20 to 23 cm, and a weight of 15 to 20 gm. They are yellow green, with brownish streaking on their back and wings and have gray and brown in their plumage. The beaks and feet are pale in color. Females are duller in color.
In the case of the domesticated Canaries, there are hundreds of mutations that will have numerous variations in color.
Diet:
The diet in the wild consists of fruits, seeds, and nuts. They have a grove on the inner beak that helps them to break open nuts.
Habitat:
The Canary is native to the Azores, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. It inhabits semi-open areas such as orchards where it nests in shrubs and trees. It resides in elevations from sea level to 1700 m. A number of escaped populations occur on Bermuda, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
Reproduction:
Breeding is generally between January and July. Females build the nests in bushes or small trees. Incubation takes about 14 days and the chicks fledge after two weeks.
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