Indoors or Outdoors: What is best for Your Pet?

Before you take on the responsibility of owning a cat or dog, you need to take the time to consider the living arrangements for your new pet. Many people adopt pets with the idea that they will be raising an outdoor animal. How many people in your neighbourhood keep their dogs or cat’s outdoors at all times? The fact of the matter is, outside is not a safe place for a cat or a dog, as I will explain in a moment. When you adopt a pet, you need to make sure that you are ready to allow your pet into your home.

It is true that both cats and dogs will love being outside, it is their natural environment. Cats delight in chasing birds, climbing trees and hiding in shrubs. Dogs adore barking at the neighbours, chasing squirrels and digging. However, there are many dangers to keeping your pet outside at all times. Dogs tend to get more outside time than cats do. Owners take their dogs out for walks and in some cases allow their dogs unsupervised access to the backyard from time to time. Cats are usually either indoor pets or outdoor pets.

It is more common nowadays, for owners to keep their cats indoors as they begin to realize the dangers of allowing their cat to live outdoors at all times. I highly recommend that you keep your cats and dogs inside. For cats, you can help them practice their natural instincts inside by giving them plenty of places to run and play inside your home. Buy your cat a good scratching post with a high perch and install a window seat so they can gaze at the birds outdoors.

The number one danger to your pets when they go outside is other animals. You never know when your dog or cat will encounter a stray animal, or strange cat or dog from down the street. You know that your pet is properly vaccinated, but you do not know the health condition of other animals outside. In addition, if your dog or cat gets into a fight with another animal, your pet can be seriously injured or harmed. Unless you supervise your pet at all times when they are outside, you never know when your cat or dog will encounter a strange animal. Now-a-days, even quiet residential areas of large cities have coyotes, foxes, skunks, racoons, abandoned dogs and feral cats wandering the area after dark. Many of these animals carry parasites and diseases, which they can pass on to your pet. Coyotes usually work in packs and their favourite tactic is to send a lone coyote to bait your dog into chasing it. When your dog takes the challenge and chases the lone coyote, the rest of the pack come out of hiding and your dog, no matter how large, becomes a late lunch for these nighttime killers. Unless your cat can make it up a tree, she doesn’t stand a chance against these killers. If you have been watching the news over the last several months, you are probably aware that bears, wolves and other large predators are coming into suburban and city locations with increasing regularity. As their natural habitat and/or prey is decreased, they have no choice but to change their hunting areas to continue to exist. A dark city street, park or large backyard provides a perfect location to hide and spring out on unsuspecting pets and/or children.

In this time of bird flu, your cat should not be allowed to eat wild birds, particularly crows, starlings and others that either migrate long distances or mix with birds that migrate. I have not heard of any cases of a pet dying from eating an infected bird, but if your cat or dog did eat one and then crawled away to some secluded spot to die, no one would know anything about the cause of death because no city or town that I am aware of performs an autopsy on dead pets that are found within their limits. The only time that an autopsy is performed on a pet is when the owner insists and there is a possibility that the pet has been deliberately poisoned, or if the pet is suspected of having rabies. In most cities when a dead pet is found it is taken to the landfill and disposed of with no follow up of any kind. Usually the owner never even finds out the pet is dead. To the owner it just remains missing.

Other dangers of allowing your pet to live outside are cars and other people. A cat darting across the street late at night is a recipe for disaster. What if your dog gets loose from your yard and encounters a child? How will your dog react? You hope that your dog will be good and stay friendly. However, what happens if the child begins to taunt or tease your dog or poke a stick at him? If your dog bites or scratches another person, chances are, you will be responsible for your pet's actions. Many pet owners have found themselves in a serious situation when their dog or cat has acted aggressively when outdoors. Most times, you will face a court appearance and your pet will be destroyed.

When your cat or dog stays indoors, you can also help control fleas, ticks, and the exposure to heartworms. This is not to say that you should not treat an indoor pet for these problems. All dogs and cats, whether they spend most of their time indoors or outdoors, should be on a monthly heartworm preventative. This parasitic disease can be fatal to your pet and your pet can also pass these parasites onto you. It is important to remember that if your cat or dog lives outdoors, you will have many more problems when it comes to fleas and ticks. Fleas can jump from your pet to you and once they get into your home they are difficult to eradicate. Ticks frequently carry Lyme disease, which they can pass onto your pet. There is a lot of controversy about this disease, which is very debilitating. It is quite difficult to diagnose, and once infected with it, the pet or person suffering from the disease may never get rid of it, as treatment methods are not standardized and frequently not very successful.

As you can see, there are many reasons why you should keep your dog or cat indoors. Pets that are indoor pets live longer and healthier lives than pets that live outside. This includes all pets.

Once you make your pet an indoor animal, they will lose some of their outdoor survival instinct. As a result, you will need to protect them when you take them outside. Supervised walks or supervised trips to off leash parks are fine. You should also supervise them when they are in your own fenced in yard, as they will now depend on you to provide a home and protection for them. As mentioned above, you never know, particularly at night, what might be lurking nearby to attack your beloved pet.

Until next time,

Teia

PS. In the northern town in which I live and in the neighbouring city, wolves, bears, coyotes and cougars are frequent visitors and numerous outdoor pets become meals every year. Even the dog catcher had his dog attacked by a bear. Fortunately, the dog was able to get into a very well constructed dog house and avoid death, but he suffered some very nasty scratches and tooth marks that required veterinarian treatment. And of course, if you live in parts of Florida, you have to watch out for the thousands of Burmese Pythons which are devouring wildlife and pets at alarming rates.

Who Takes Care of Your Pets When You're Away?

Can your dog wait 10 hours to go for a walk? Will the cat have enough food and a clean litter box if you are away for a week? What if you can't come home Wednesday nights because of a prior commitment? Anytime a pet owner needs to go away on vacation, stay long hours at work or has regular scheduled activities that take them away from home they must consider how their pet will be cared for.

Pets provide entertainment and companionship but are also a huge responsibility. You show respect for your pet by taking its needs into consideration and planning accordingly. Fortunately there are many services available to assist you in caring for your pet during times when you can't personally give them the attention and care they need. What are they? Which is best for your pet?

DAY CARE.

Social animals, like dogs, can suffer emotionally from a lack of attention. If your dog has access to the outdoors they will be able to relieve themselves when necessary but a house-bound dog will physically require a walk or you will come home to an accident on your rug and a frustrated animal. Day care centers provide the needed social stimulation most dogs crave. At the day care your dog will spend time with other dogs and have people looking after its physical needs. If you have a young dog this can be especially important as your dog may become destructive with a lack of supervision and an abundance of unused energy.

BOARDING KENNELS.

If you plan to be away overnight or for longer, your dog or cat may be placed in a boarding kennel. This can be expensive but will ensure your pet is cared for daily and overnight.

IN-HOME CARE.

If you are comfortable leaving your dog at home all day you may find the in-home services of a visitor or dog walker to be sufficient and less costly while still providing personal attention. Cats and other animals may not need daily visits if you come home in the evening but will need some attention if you are away overnight or for several days. Cats prefer their own homes rather than the highly social aspect of day cares or boarding kennels. Other pets, such as birds and reptiles, will most likely do better with in-home care as well. In-home care can be as basic as someone taking your dog for a walk in the middle of the day or as inclusive as having a sitter stay in your home with your pet. Examine your situation and budget when choosing a method of care. Keep your pet's best interests in mind. If you are having someone come to your home be sure they are reputable. Licensed businesses should be insured and bonded when employees are entrusted with entering and locking up your home. See “Ten Steps to Finding the Perfect Sitter for Your Pet” dated March 24, 2009 about things to check when considering this option and also an experience with an in home sitter that was a personal disaster for my mom and dad.

Until next time,

Teia

Unusual Pets: The Serval

Servals are wild African cats which are also known as Leptailurus Serval. Their most distinctive features are the tall oval ears which are placed very closely to each other. They are found in African countries which have water such as Ethiopia, Benin, Tanzania, Mozambique, Congo, Angola, Togo, Uganda, Transvaal, and Algeria.

The average length of the body of a serval is about thirty-four inches and the tail is about sixteen inches long. It can live from twelve years to twenty years. A Serval’s weight can range from twenty to forty four pounds. Its tawny fur has a pattern of round black spots. The servaline or female form, which is much smaller in size, has freckled spots. Servals have melanin in their skin which sometimes gives them the appearance of a black panther. Servals with white fur and grayish silver spots have shown up in captive born animals, but this is not very common.

Servals with the highest melanin content are found in mountainous areas, while the rest live in savannas, bush lands, marshlands, grasslands, reed bed marshes, bamboo forests and open woodlands. The serval is not able to live in desert or semi-desert areas because its habitat must have a body of water and the odd tree. Since its environment contains water and trees it has the ability to swim and climb trees, although it seldom does. Servals have the longest legs among wild cats when the body to leg ratio is considered. In addition to having long ears and legs, it also has a long neck which helps it to see its prey when it is hiding in tall grass. The hearing of a Serval is so sensitive that it can detect and track rodents which are moving underground. Servals increase their concentration while listening, by closing their eyes.

Before pursing its prey, a Serval pauses for a few minutes and listens to the animal’s movements. Servals rely on their hearing more than their visual capabilities. Servals have a characteristic hop which makes it easier for them to catch birds. They have terrific leaping and pouncing abilities. They can jump as high as sixteen feet and can make a horizontal jump of up to twenty feet with precise accuracy. They can even dig burrows and look for rodents deep in the ground. With all these abilities, Servals are very good hunters. In fact Servals have the highest success rate of all wild cats in catching their prey. Their average is 50% of attempts while most cats average near ten percent. Servals feed mainly on rodents, but also eat birds, fish, frogs, insects, rabbits, reptiles and hyraxes. Servals eat their catch really fast and sometimes when the prey is big, it will get caught in their throat, so they will have to cough it out and then eat it again. They do a lot of their hunting at night when their success rate increases to approximately 67%.

When kept in captivity, they need to be served one to three pounds of raw meat with bones every day. Their meat should never be cooked. In addition to their raw meat diet, which can be beef, turkey, or chicken, they can also be given premium natural cat food, canned tuna and canned salmon. Most Servals can be trained to use the litter box, but the occasional one never seems to master it properly. Owners who don’t have time to devote to training a Serval, shouldn’t consider getting one. Even after thorough training, the pet Serval sometimes has accidents and goes to the bathroom where it shouldn’t. Because Servals have a fascination with water, it’s better if the toilet lid is closed at all times.

The pregnancy period of the female Serval lasts from 66 to 77 days. When it is birthing time, the female will give birth to one to three kittens, although on very rare occasions as many as five kittens have been born. Servals usually use abandoned burrows as a den for giving birth, but if no burrow is available they will give birth behind a dense bush.

Because of human interference with the natural habitats of Servals, they are decreasing in numbers. They are also diminishing in numbers because of large scale hunting for their fur. As a result, they have been given a flag in the endangered species register as being threatened. Therefore, they are now being protected in many nations. If hunting them is not brought to an end, they could very well become extinct. They have now become rare north of the Sahara and extinct in the South African Cape. Some African nations will still allow them to be captured for the pet trade, but even that is diminishing because their numbers are becoming so low. The severe drought in many parts of Africa is also causing havoc with not only the Servals, but also many other species of wildlife.

Until next time,

Teia

If You Like Birds, Then Put a Bird Bath in Your Backyard

The picture to the left shows the three level fountain that mom and dad installed in our yard. Each level from the top down is deeper than the one above. This allows small birds to use the top shallow level and larger birds to use the bottom deeper level. The netting in the foreground covers the front windows to break up the reflection and to protect the birds from hitting the window. They tried using UV reflective images that were supposed to keep the birds from hitting the windows, but they didn’t work. So, they put berry netting over the windows and that has helped a lot. As well as acting as a warning to birds, it also acts as a cushion if a bird accidentally crashes into the window. With hundreds of birds flaring in every direction at the first sign of danger, there is a lot of activity in our yard. Locally our home is known as the “bird house”.

A bird bath is one of the easiest ways to attract birds to your yard or garden. Not only will you attract a greater number of birds if you install a bird bath, you'll also attract a greater variety of species. A bird feeder in your garden will attract species based on the kind of foods you provide, while a bird bath will attract just about every species.

You can buy commercial bird baths at most gardening and home improvement stores but they are not that difficult to make and can be made from a large variety of materials readily found in the average home. The only essential is that your bird bath is a receptacle that can contain clean water. The best type of bird baths are shallow ones, maximum depth no greater than three inches. Mom and dad have a large plastic drip tray from a large plant pot as one of their bird baths. They placed some stones in it because the lip of the tray is quite narrow. Not only do the birds love it for getting a drink, but they also bathe in it regularly. There is constant activity around it with some birds getting a refreshing drink and others splashing merrily as they have their daily bath. Some birds are very sedate when bathing, just squatting down and getting a little water on their back and wings, while others splash joyfully sending water spraying in every direction. Needless to say, dad has to clean and refill this “bird bath” frequently. He doesn’t mind because it is fun watching all the birds enjoying themselves.

A lot of commercially available bird baths are too deep. If you already have a commercial bird bath and you find that it's too deep, you can make it shallower by putting some stones in it. Mom and dad did this with one they bought when they found that it was too deep and that small birds kept slipping into the water. By placing stones of various sizes in the bird bath, they not only provided extra places for the birds to stand when they were drinking, but they made it easier for them to get close to the water whether the bird bath was full or only had a little water in it. After putting the stones in the birdbath, mom and dad did not have any birds drown by falling into the water and not being able to get back out.

If you really want to go the extra mile in attracting birds into your garden with your bird bath you should consider adding a fountain. The sound of falling or dripping water is an attraction for birds. You should make sure that your bird bath has a non-slip bottom so that the birds that use it aren't in danger of losing their footing. Cement, rough surfaced plastic, or a rough surfaced rubber mat are all ideal surfaces for the bottom of a bird bath. It's a good idea to place your bird bath on some kind of stand or hang it from a tree to make it difficult for predators to reach it or the birds using it. If birds don't feel safe, they are unlikely to use the bird bath.

It's important that you change the water in the bird bath frequently, every few days or even every day in hot weather. If you're an ardent bird watcher, it won't just be for the bird's comfort that you install a bird bath in your garden, you'll also be doing it for your own pleasure. With that end in mind, you should ensure that you place the bird bath somewhere that allows you to view it from a place of comfort through your window or from your deck. Putting a bird bath in your garden following the guidelines above will ensure that you get hours of enjoyment watching all the many and varied species of birds that will be attracted to your garden.

Until next time,

Teia

A Traditional Pet - The Canary

The canary originated in the Canary Islands which were named not for the bird, but for the large fierce dogs kept by the local people. “Insula canaria” is Latin for “island of the dogs” and over time the name came to be the Canary Islands. A small local grayish green finch with a touch of yellow on its breast was given the name Canary after the Islands. The males of this breed of finch had a wonderful song prompting some of the locals to capture them and put them in cages in their homes.

European travellers visiting these islands heard the songs of these birds and requested that the locals catch them so they could take them home as pets. From the early fifteen hundreds onward, hundreds of thousands of these birds were exported to Europe. Early on, it was observed that Canaries are very susceptible to air pollution. As a result, because coal mining was big business, the miners began taking caged Canaries down into the mines. When the Canary died, the miners knew that coal gas was present and they evacuated the mine before the coal gas exploded. The lives of many miners were saved by these great little birds. Because of the popularity of these birds, European entrepreneurs began breeding them locally. Through selective breeding and cross breeding them with local and imported finches, this drab finch was slowly changed into the Canaries of today. Today’s Canaries are bred either for song or for type (appearance).

“Type” Canaries were primarily developed in Great Britain which went in for exhibiting their birds in national expositions. The London Fancy, the Norwich, the Yorkshire, the Lizard and the Manchester Coppy are a few of these “type” Canaries that were developed in Great Britain.

Meanwhile, in Germany Canaries were bred for song. If you have ever heard a German Roller Canary sing, it is a truly magnificent sound. Not only did the Germans keep the best singers for breeding stock, but they also trained the offspring how to sing by placing the young birds in a room with a great singer. In this way, the youngsters would try and imitate the song and voice of the great singer. This resulted in a breed of bird that probably has the greatest song of any bird in the world.

The pet Canary sold in pet stores today is a mixed breed with an unknown bloodline. Usually it has some Roller or American Singer genes mixed with a colourful “type” bloodline. The resulting bird is an average to a good singer with a colourful appearance. Frequently these birds come from a local “backyard” aviary. In this way, they don’t suffer from the stress of a long journey from the breeder to the seller. In addition, the birds are more acclimatized to the area where they are purchased.

Some of these birds have smooth feathered heads like that of the Roller Canary or the “traditional” Canary and some have the Gloster Corona or crested head which makes it look like Moe of the comedy troupe “The Three Stooges.”

While Canary clubs and competitions still exist in various parts of the world, they are not as popular as they were seventy to two hundred years ago when nearly every city had one or more clubs and yearly competitions. In spite of this, the Canary is still a popular pet. It is relatively inexpensive to purchase, quite easy to care for and, if you pick a good singer, it will give you hours of daily song.

One note of caution, though; as mentioned above, Canaries cannot stand polluted air. If you are painting inside your home, make sure you move your Canary into a room as far from the painting as possible. Also, if you are cleaning your oven make sure your Canary is moved to an area of the house that has no fumes. My mom and dad lost “Rusty,” their Canary, a year ago when they used ground up corn cobs as litter in the bottom of the cage. This type of litter, like kitty litter, has too much dust for Canaries.

If you want a pretty bird that will sing its heart out for you then you cannot find a better pet than a male Canary. The females are nice, but they cannot sing, as their voice consists mostly of cheeps and chirps. There is one note of caution to keep in mind. Canaries are very vain birds and if you put a mirror in their cage, they will sit and look at themselves for hours. The males usually will not sing if a mirror is placed in their cage and there have been numerous incidents of Canaries starving to death because they wouldn’t leave the bird in the mirror alone long enough to find the food in their cage.

So, if you want an attractive bird that sings, is easy to keep, and is relatively inexpensive, then get yourself a male Canary and put it in a cage with no mirror. Make sure your vain virtuoso has a bird bath as Canaries love to bathe. Place the cage in an area where there are no drafts and where at least part of the cage is shaded from the sun. Then sit back and let your new pet serenade you. Mom and dad's current Canary, “Jasper” starts singing just after sunup and he sings on and off until nearly midnight. When he hits high “E” it can make your ears hurt, but he sure can sing.

Until next time,

Teia

Budgerigars Frequently Suffer From Scaly Face

Pictured to the left is a healthy male Budgerigar.

Scaly face is a common condition in birds caused by a mite called Knemidocoptes. This scaly face condition is seen mostly in budgerigars and by knowing what symptoms to look for you will be able to provide treatment for your bird much earlier in the onset of an infestation. If the mites are not identified early, the damage could be severe.

Knemidocoptes is a burrowing mite that can cause disfiguring changes of the beak, legs and feet of birds. The mite has a three-week life cycle and stays on the bird the whole time. The mites burrow into the skin and feather follicles around the cere, feet and face where they feed on keratin. As the mites burrow, they leave characteristic honeycomb lesions. The mites are transmitted from bird to bird by close contact.

Although this mite most commonly affects budgerigars, many different species of birds are affected. This mite can affect all chickens, turkeys, finches, canaries, parakeets and parrots. Although the clinical signs of this mite can vary between species of birds, the basic lesions are the same.

Knemidocoptes occurs mostly in birds that have a weaker immune system. Lesions to look for include scaling, crusting and grayish lesions on the skin around the beak, eyes, legs and feet. The mites burrow into the skin leaving large tunnels resulting in the characteristic honeycomb lesion.

In severe cases the beak will start to grow malformed and it might become hard for the bird to breathe. Also, the legs and feet will also become malformed and the bird will become lame. Swollen nail beds and misshaped nails can also occur.

Both male and female budgerigars may be affected, but the disease is most commonly seen in fledglings and younger adults. The lesions usually appear over the course of months and the progression of the disease is slow.

Normally the first lesions to appear are at the corners of the beak. In most cases the condition is confined to the base and top of the beak. Normally the condition does not cause itching in the birds. The fact that the condition does not cause itching is why the honeycomb lesions and the location of the lesions will help your veterinarian determine that this condition is scaly face.

Your veterinarian will usually do a skin scraping of your bird to help confirm the diagnosis. Treatment usually consists of Ivermectin or Moxidectin. Either of these drugs can be given to treat the mites. These drugs can be given in varying forms and doses, so consult your veterinarian before treatment.

By knowing what signs to look for in your budgerigars, you'll be able to catch this condition in its early stages to hopefully prevent further damage and prevent further infestations.

Until next time,

Teia

Attracting Birds to Your Garden

The type of birds that will be attracted to your garden will be determined by the geographic location of your garden. For example, if you live in northern Canada, you are unlikely to attract Hummingbirds to your garden. Similarly if you live in the southern United States, you are unlikely to attract Ptarmigan to your garden.

To find out which birds are in your geographic area, you should consult bird books written by specialists from your area. You can also talk to avid bird watchers who live in your area. They should be able to tell you what you can expect to see in the way of birds coming to your garden, Libraries and book stores should have books that will identify which migrating birds may pass through your area.

Once you know what type of birds you can expect to find in your geographic area you can then get books to see what type of food and habitat that these birds require. You have to create an environment in your garden that will attract the type of birds you wish to have there.

Birds need water. If you supply this vital necessity in the form of a bird bath or a pond, you will have many types of birds come to your garden. Installation of bird feeders will provide food for visiting birds. It is also advisable to plant flowers, shrubs or trees that attract birds or provide berries or fruit that birds eat. Bird houses of the size and construction specific to certain birds resident in your area during breeding season will also attract birds to your yard. For example if purple martins reside in your area during the breeding season, installation of purple martin apartment style bird houses will probably result in these birds nesting in your bird houses. Not only will you get a chance to see these birds on a daily basis, but they will greatly reduce the number of mosquitoes in your area.

My mom and dad provide bird feeders on a year around basis in our yard and as a result we have many birds coming to visit. I often sit or lay on the arm of the love seat near the front windows and watch all these birds flying into and out of the yard. In winter we have Redpolls, Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Grosbeaks, Gray Jays, Ravens, Magpies, Sparrows, Pigeons, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Bohemian Waxwings and Chickadees in our yard. In the summer, we have Crows, Gray Jays, Magpies, Sparrows, Pigeons, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Evening Grosbeaks, Bohemian Waxwings, Cedar Waxwings, American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, Red-wing Blackbirds, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Cowbirds, Brewers Blackbirds, Common Grackles, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Dark-eyed Junks, Robins, Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows in the yard or flying above it. We occasionally have Merlins and American Kestrels swooping through the yard in the warmer weather looking for an unwary song bird to catch for a fresh meal. Other occasional visitors are Blue Jays, Kinglets, Nuthatches, Ptarmigan, Mourning Doves, Wrens, Swainson's Thrush, Warblers, Lark Bunting, Lapland Longspurs, and Snow Buntings.

We have a number of Manitoba Maple trees separating the front of our yard from the street and this encourages birds to come into our yard as does the Mountain Ash tree which produces juicy berries in the fall.

By providing food, water and quiet hiding places for birds, you will have these winged visitors in your yard in no time.

Until next time,

Teia

Basic Nutrition for Pet Birds

My mom and dad have had numerous birds. They have had canaries, a cockatiel, two parrots and a blue and gold macaw and as a result, I have been able to watch what they do and the wonderful success they have had with these birds. Cisco, the cockatiel is twenty-seven and a half years old. Bird experts claim that the maximum lifespan of a cockatiel is twenty-five years, but that most die before their tenth birthday.

Pet birds can be great companions but you need to provide proper nutrition in order to keep your bird healthy. An all seed diet should not be fed to your pet bird because seeds lack all of the vitamins and other nutrients that are essential to keep your bird healthy.

An all seed diet could end up making your bird sick. Lack of essential vitamins and nutrients is one of the most common nutritional problems seen in pet birds. Birds need a variety of quality foods to stay healthy just like you do.

Feeding a variety of foods is the best way to ensure that your bird has the greatest chance of consuming all of the proper nutrients. You should also consider supplying vitamin and mineral drops in your bird’s water.

If you are currently feeding an all seed diet you need to gradually reduce the amount you are feeding and gradually introduce other foods to your bird’s diet over the course of several weeks. If at any time your bird has not eaten for a few days, you should take it to see a veterinarian. Because of their high metabolism, birds cannot go very long without food or they will become ill. Also, if your bird starts to vomit or has diarrhea, that is another sign of problems and you should seek a veterinarian’s help as soon as possible.

Great things to feed your pet bird include a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables. Also provide egg pellets, which are available in the bird area of your local pet store, as a protein source for your bird. As a treat, in addition to the treat seeds, get dried fruits from the pet store. Coconut, mango, cranberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are great dried fruits. Cooked frozen peas, carrots and corn will provide some of the needed nutrients (note-it is best to remove the skin from these vegetables after they have been cooked as the skin is hard for the bird to digest properly). Fresh celery, broccoli, apples, oranges, nectarines, grapes, etc. (with the skin removed) can also be supplied on a rotating basis every second day. In this way your bird will get a balanced diet and provide you with years of enjoyment.

Be sure to always provide a clean source of water for your bird. Proper sanitation is also another must to keep your bird healthy. By cleaning the food and water bowls every time you refill them, (at least once a week for the food bowl and every second day for the water bowl) you will keep disease away. Bacteria can easily build up on food and water bowls causing your bird to get sick.

Three things that you should never give your bird are parsley, avocado and chocolate. These items are extremely toxic to your bird and should be avoided.

Some people suggest that the simplest way to provide complete nutrition for your bird is with pellet food. Mom and dad have never had a bird that would eat pellets, so they had to use the seeds, vegetables, fruits and drops mentioned above. A large number of veterinarians recommend bird pellets so be sure to try them. Maybe your bird will like them. Before picking one, read the label carefully and be sure that it is one that contains a complete and balanced diet. Like all things nowadays, some don’t have everything that is needed.

If your bird does eat bird pellets, just remember that it could become bored with a pellet diet, so be sure to supplement the pellet diet with fresh fruit, vegetables and seeds and don’t forget to put the supplemental drops in the water. Speaking of water, don’t forget to give your bird a bird bath and change the water in it and wash it out every second day just like you do with his drinking water container because if he is anything like the birds in our house, he will drink his bath water too.

By providing some variety in your bird’s diet you can keep him healthy and happy. Providing a complete and balanced diet for your bird is easy if you follow the basic suggestions above.

Until next time,

Teia