Animal-World > Pet Birds > Basic Care for Pet Birds

   Some birds like handling, some are fun to watch! Some will talk while others have a beautiful song. Some are very colorful, others are full of antics. If you know about the type of bird you are getting, then you will know what to expect and what to do to maximize you and your birds enjoyment!

Why Birds Make Good Pets!

   Birds make wonderful pets! Many birds enjoy close contact which makes many of them nice, social and sometimes cuddly friends. Some birds just love to talk or sing to you. Many parrots will enjoy sharing meals with you, napping with you and even showering with you! They love to interact with their human companions!

   Birds are easy to look after, they are hardy and they make great companions!

Housing Requirements: Cages, Aviaries and Accessories.

Cage Living:
   Birds should be housed in a cage that is as roomy as possible, especially birds that will spend most or all of their time in the cage. Basically birds need to be able to stretch their wings and flap them without hitting anything. They should also be able to make short flights.
   Horizontal bars on the sides of the cage are very important for birds that like to climb, such as parakeets, cockatiels and lots of playful parrots. Bar spacing needs to be small enough that the bird cannot get it's head through them. Metal bars are good for birds that like to chew.
    It is really nice if the cage is easy to clean. Many cages have a slide out tray and an easily removable grate.
   The cage should be placed in a draft free area that is well lit, but not in direct sunlight. To make your birds feel secure and comfortable keep their cage against a wall or in a corner, and at eye level if you hang it from the ceiling.

Aviary Living:
   Aviaries are beneficial in providing large areas for birds, often with the intent of breeding. Aviaries can be either indoors or outdoors. Some birds are very noisy and can be a nuisance to close neighbors. So if your birds are loud, you may want to keep them in an indoor aviary or in a remote area.
   Indoor aviaries give you the ability to control temperature, lighting, noise and humidity. An indoor aviary is often a room in a home devoted to birds. The windows are covered with wire and the door often has a wired porch with two doors to pass through . These are to keep your birds from flying out. Some indoor aviaries are simply a bird room with extra large cages. Doing it this way, the doors and windows don't need to be screened in.
   Outdoor aviaries can provide your birds with a natural environment and are designed in a wide variety of styles. Because the birds are exposed to the weather, they must have indoor sheltering, possibly heated or cooled, if conditions get extreme. Outdoor aviaries always need a shaded area and wind breaks. Trees or large branches can fit in nicely to create a comfortable home, but must be of non-toxic woods.

Accessories: Bowls, Perches and toys.
   Bowls are needed for foods and treats, water, grit and crushed shell. Small birds can use plastic bowls. Ceramic or stainless steel bowls generally are needed for medium and large parrots. These bigger birds will often chew up plastic bowls, or even pick up their bowls and dump them or toss them to the floor. Built in bowl holders are often a part of the cage and may be designed to keep the bird from removing the bowl. Other bowls are attached with hooks, bolts or clips, and may mount inside or outside the cage depending on the design.
   Perches not only provide standing places for birds, but also give them an opportunity to exercise their beaks and keep their beaks trim. Perch size and shape can vary depending on the bird, but should fit their feet. A 1" perch is comfortable for most parrots and a 1/2" perch suits smaller birds. Round and oval wooden perches are often used, and sometimes plastic perches are used for small birds. Variety in both size and shape is important to exercise your birds feet. Natural branches are great for providing this variety. Concrete perches make nice additional perches for parrots to help them keep both nails and beak trim.
   Toys for birds are designed in lots of combinations of woods, leathers, ropes, chains, bells and even acrylics. Toys such as swings and ladders are designed for chewing and climbing, while stainless steel mirrors are for viewing and comfort. The wide range of non-toxic colors, fun textures, shapes and sizes, sounds (and even smells) that you'll find in bird toys will keep both you and your bird interested in checking out new ones. A great way to combat boredom and provide exercise!

Back to Top

Foods and Feeding
   Foods available for birds include:

• Bird feed mixes (specific for each type of bird); offering a mixture of both formulated foods and seed.
• Formulated diets; pelleted or extruded.
• Seed only diets.
• Supplements (provided in addition to any of the diets).

   Bird feed mixes (specific to each type of bird) consist of a mixture of seeds, formulated foods, some supplements, and usually additional vitamins. Bird mixes are generally regarded as suitable especially when provided with additional supplements.
   Formulated diets provide a good nutritional base, containing all the necessary minerals and vitamins, so additional vitamins are not required. However, formulated diets do not contain the phytonutrients (antioxidant pigments) that are found in vegetables, fruits, grains, and seeds. Phytonutrients are believed to boost the immune system, help a body to heal itself, and to prevent some diseases. Many birds also become bored with a formulated diet due to the lack of variety. Offering supplements can help provide the phytonutrients and help offset boredom.
   Seed only diets offer much more variety but requires additional vitamin and calcium supplements. In the wild many birds eat seed as a major portion of their diet. Many birds need not only nutritional requirements met but also variety for psychological enrichment. All seeds contain protein and are roughly divided into either a cereal type seed such as millet, or an oil type seed such as sunflower seed. To provide a balanced diet, minerals, amino acid, vitamins and trace elements can be added as a supplement to seed or water.

   There are pros and cons to feeding only a formulated diet, or to feeding only a seed diet.
Supplements can be used to enrich all types of diets.

   Supplements include soaked and sprouted seed, fruits, vegetables and even some green plants (make sure they are non-toxic). All types of fruits are a good supplement such as apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes, oranges, bananas, mangos, papayas, and even berries such as strawberries and blueberries. Vegetables are also good supplements such as carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, many garden vegetables, and even dandelions and chickweed. Do not feed avocado as it may be toxic to birds!
   Additional proteins can be offered to some birds about every 1 1/2 weeks such as cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, and even canned dog food. Many birds will eat what you eat. Be sure anything you offer is not toxic to your bird. Most foods are okay but there are a few, such as avocado, that can poison birds. Cuttlebone and calcium blocks will also provide necessary minerals for maintaining your birds health. Finely ground shells and other natural minerals can be added to regular grit.
   Some seed eating birds need grit. This applies especially to birds such as pigeons and doves that eat their seed whole without shelling it first. It is an essential to aid in digestion to seeds eaten unshelled, as these birds use it in their crop to grind the seed. Grit also contains valuable minerals and trace elements, and though not necessary for digestion will aid some birds if offered in limited amounts.
   Birds that are not primarily seed eaters do not require grit or cuttlebone. Mynah's and Toucan's will eat softbill food. Lories and Lorikeets eat pollens and nectars. These types of birds major diet consists of fruits like apples, bananas, pears, and grapes. They also will eat soaked dried fruits, canned fruits and natural juices. All of these are easy to supply. There are also commercially prepared pellets and powders available.

Exercise / Activities:
   A bird's cage needs to accommodate their full wingspan so they can safely flap their wings and exercise them. If they are kept in the cage all the time, they need to be able to make short flights. Small birds, like finches and canaries, primarily flutter from perch to perch and make short flights. They are generally always kept in their cage or aviary and can be difficult to catch if they get out.
   Parrots of all sorts love to climb on ladders and the horizontal bars of their cage. Some like to hang from the top of their cage or from various toys and swings hanging in the cage. Many of the smaller parrots like swings. . Natural perches not only provide exercise for the parrots toe muscles, they also keep birds gnawing on the bark and the wood. Cuttlebones are good for beak trimming as well as a calcium supple.
   Toys provide entertainment as well as exercise and most parrots like to chew. Perches, swings, ladders and toys all become objects of entertainment and chewing.
   Plastic toys are only safe for small birds, parakeets and perhaps less active cockatiels. Larger parrots will destroy them and can be injured by the chewed pieces. Various woods, leathers, rawhides and acrylic make good chew toys for all parrots. Bells are a favorite toy and reflective surfaces, like stainless steel mirrors, can be enjoyed by some birds.
   Playpens are located outside the cage. They have a variety of perches, ladders and swings that give birds a place to exercise and play. Playpens usually have food and water dishes. This allows you to leave your bird out for as long as you'd like.
   Most birds love a bath! A bath placed in the bottom of the cage or mounted through a side door will allow small birds to bathe, and create quite a splash! Larger birds usually like a light misting from a spray bottle 2 or 3 times a week. Birds anticipating a bath will often spread their wings out to catch the mist and call loudly when being sprayed. Often birds will take a bath in the fresh water of their water dish if not provided with a bath! Hand-tamed birds often prefer to shower with their owners.

Do's:
  Learn about different birds to be sure you get a bird that will fit you and your lifestyle. Some birds can be handled. Some birds have a beautiful song. Some are just wonderful to watch. Some like to be cuddled and others just want to talk! Some birds just like one person and others like everybody! If you know about the type of bird you are getting, then you will know what to expect!
   Take time with you bird everyday. You'll have a happy pet and a great friend! This will also keep you aware of what's going on with your bird and you'll know if anything needs to be fixed or changed.

Don'ts:
  Be sure it is safe when you let your bird out of it's cage. Don't leave windows and doors open. Don't have any water-filled vessels, a hot stove or a running ceiling fan. Don't let your bird eat any toxic plants like oleanders, azaleas, juniper, daffodils, philodendron, lily-of-the-valley, etc. Don't hit your bird! Keep your bird safe!

Back to Top

Back to Bird Page