Birds gather together in a flock which serve primarily as a protective unit for the birds. The relationship the birds have with one another is essential to the survival of each individual. The need for social interaction between the birds, although extremely important, is secondary to the instinct for survival….
One of the main reasons for having a pet is to bond with them in some fashion. Ideally, birds and owners interact as flock members, but not as mates. When the behaviour of a parrot causes this bond to be severed, the results can be devastating to the owner and…
Many bird owners like to groom their birds, i.e., trim their wings, nails, and beaks. This has to be done carefully, as your bird may be injured if the correct techniques are not used. Often these procedures are best done by a veterinarian experienced with birds. Wing trimming Wing trimming…
Although aviculturists want their birds to lay eggs, pet bird owners face a dilemma that is the exact opposite – they want to stop, or at least limit, the number of eggs their bird lays. Left unchecked, some birds, especially cockatiels, will lay one egg after another until they are…
Lorikeets are brightly coloured birds of the Psittacine (parrot) family ranging from 15cm to 30cm in size, native to the Australasian region including south-eastern Asia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. They are becoming increasingly more popular as pets, but general knowledge on their care is lacking or misleading. The most…
Identifying your bird with confidence Can you honestly say that, if your bird was in a cage full of similar birds (species, sex, and colour) that you could unhesitatingly point to one of them and say, “That’s my bird!” If your bird escaped and was handed in to a local…
Worming birds – both aviary birds and companion pets – is a subject that is hotly discussed in avicultural and pet circles, with almost as many opinions as there are bird keepers. Thoughts seem to range between worming your bird every 6 weeks to never doing it at all. And…
Birds have been kept as companion animals (pets) for many hundreds of years, but the last 50 years have seen a surge in their popularity. A large number of species are kept as pets, with interactions ranging from a bird who becomes a part of the household to a bird…
This sounds like a very basic question to ask, but it’s one that needs to be addressed. Are birds the right companion animals (pets) for me? Birds are very clever. They can comprehend and learn things. There are plenty of studies that prove their intelligence [1]. They need care, the…
At some time, you, the owner, must handle (and sometimes restrain), your bird. Traditionally, it was considered acceptable to put on a heavy pair of gloves, pin the bird to the tabletop or the side of the cage and then drag them, struggling and screaming, into a position where the…