Birds

• Backyard Poultry

Articles within this category

• How should I house my bird?

  Birds are highly intelligent animals who require regular exercise and mental stimulation. It’s important to ensure these needs will be...

• What do I need to know about tethering birds?

  Tethering involves tying an animal to an anchor point for a prolonged period as a means of confinement. Due to...

• How can I keep my birds entertained, alert, and interested in their environment?

  Behaviour of wild birds There is an extensive body of literature devoted to observations of wild bird behaviour. While there...

• Where should I get my bird from?

  At some time, everyone who keeps birds will acquire a new bird – a new pet, a new breeder, a...

• Where should I keep my birds?

  Companion birds are most commonly kept in indoor cages and enclosures, although some are housed in either temporary or permanent...

• How will I keep my bird safe against household hazards?

  Every year hundreds of birds suffer from health problems caused by their environment. Their human companions are often shocked (and...

• What does a healthy bird look like?

  When looking at bird, you must be aware of the ‘masking phenomenon’. Birds are, for the most part, a prey...

• How should I handle my bird?

  At some time, you, the owner, must handle (and sometimes restrain), your bird. Traditionally, it was considered acceptable to put...

• Are birds the right companion animals for me?

  This sounds like a very basic question to ask, but it’s one that needs to be addressed. Are birds the...

• What kind of enclosure does my bird need?

  Birds have been kept as companion animals (pets) for many hundreds of years, but the last 50 years have seen...

• How, when, and why should I worm my birds?

  Worming birds – both aviary birds and companion pets – is a subject that is hotly discussed in avicultural and...

• How do I know if this is my bird?

  Identifying your bird with confidence Can you honestly say that, if your bird was in a cage full of similar...

• How should I care for my birds?

  Are birds the right companion animals for me? What is the right bird for me? There are plenty of studies...

• How should I care for my lorikeet?

  Lorikeets are brightly coloured birds of the Psittacine (parrot) family ranging from 15cm to 30cm in size, native to the...

• How can I control egg laying in my parrots?

  Although aviculturists want their birds to lay eggs, pet bird owners face a dilemma that is the exact opposite –...

• How should I groom my bird?

  Many bird owners like to groom their birds, i.e., trim their wings, nails, and beaks. This has to be done...

• How do I bond with my companion bird?

  One of the main reasons for having a pet is to bond with them in some fashion. Ideally, birds and...

• How do I socialise my new bird with other birds?

  Birds gather together in a flock which serve primarily as a protective unit for the birds. The relationship the birds...

• What should I feed my birds?

  Advances in recent years have shown us that feeding an all-seed diet is not just a bad diet, but one...

• Does my bird have external parasites (e.g. lice, mites, ticks, fleas)?

  Birds can carry a large number of external parasites (ectoparasites) – fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. This isn’t as common...