![]() ![]() He or she may recommend a 14-30 day isolation period before allowing them to share the same space. ![]() But before bringing home that second bird and introducing him to your resident bird, quarantine him in a separate room until you get a clean bill of health from your avian veterinarian. And don’t forget that birds budgie-sized and larger need daily exercise time out of the cage in order to stay both physically and mentally fit.Īs flock creatures, most birds are happier with a suitably- sized companion bird or one of its own species. Toys should be size appropriate and made of bird-safe materials. Brainy birds enjoy dismantling puzzle toys and untying knots. Caging materials should be very sturdy and free of lead and zinc.Ī larger cage allows for more in-cage exercise and has more room for toys. Here are some guidelines: small birds (canaries – lovebirds) 3/8” – 7/16”, medium birds (cockatiels – small parrots) ½” – ¾”, Large birds (amazons – African greys) ¾” – 1”, and very large birds (cockatoos, macaws) ¾” – 1-1/2” between the bars needed. Keep in mind that bar spacing must be adequate for the size of your bird - or birds. Buy as big a cage as space and resources allow. Because of their small size, canaries and finches could also be offered free flight in a small, bird safe room, for supervised out-of- cage time. Since small birds like finches and canaries are rarely allowed free flight around the home for safety reasons, they also need enough space to fly. Birds need space to flap their wings, glide from perch to perch, and climb all around. While the ornate cages of the Victorian era are most decorative, they’re more suitable for plants than birds. Suitable housing is important to bird welfare as well. A well-written breed-specific book about your type of bird will give you more specific feeding directions. Current avian diet recommendations call for a top quality pelleted food along with small portions of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes and some starches in the form of pasta, whole grains, and cooked brown rice, depending on the species, with seeds relegated to treat status. They quickly packed on the pounds …er, ounces, making birds old and unhealthy before their time. When offered seed mixes, many birds went right to dessert – the sunflower seeds. Once, avian diets consisted only of seeds. But as we learn more about birds’ needs and begin to meet those needs, our avian companions are living longer than ever. For years, bird care was seen as little more than keeping the seed cup full, the water fresh and the cage clean. A lifetime commitment to a bird may be longer than you imagined. ![]()
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