Do's and Don'ts With Your Birds

DO'S AND DON'TS WITH YOUR BIRD

COLD DRAFTS:
KEEP BIRDS OUT OF DIRECT COLD DRAFTS at all times especially at night when the bird sleeps. The birds are not active at night and cannot generate enough heat to compensate for the rapid change in temperature. There is no shelter in a cage usually for the bird to be able to move away from the draft. Watch your airconditioner and fans in summer. Birds shouldn't be pelted with cold or warm air any time of the year. A gental breese or air circulation is sufficent NOT BLOWING ON THE BIRD.

HEAT REGISTERS: Don't locate the birds cage above a heat register. This will cause the bird overheating, water containers to evaporate or remain warm growing bacteria at a very fast rate. It also makes the bird stress in overheating conditions the bird will have to drink and bathe more frequently. Overheating for long periords can cas a bird to go into a unscheduled molt an an unnatural time of the year. This will thin out a birds feathering not allowing the bird to keep or regulate its body temperature.

SUNSHINE: Sunshine is good for birds just like people. It helps absorb and process vitamin D, which helps process calcuim. Birds cannot absorb these vitamins through a sunny plate glass closed window. The suns rays cannot penatrate the glass. When placing your bird by a open wind make sure there is a safe screen in place to prevent outside animals from attacking your bird. When placing your bird out of doors DO NOT PLACE THE CAGE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. A partially shaded spot will do. Place the cage where you will be able to keep an eye out for animals or pets attacking your bird.

THE CAGE DECORATIONS:
Birds enjoy feeling safe in their cage. Many finches and the small softbills can enjoy being surrounded by silk, plastic greenery in or outside the cage. REMEMBER THESE BIRDS ARE ACTIVE AND REQUIRE A ROOMY CAGE DON'T OVER DO THE NATURAL EFFECT YOUR TRYING TO CREATE.

The larger softbills to smallest finch use plastic or silk type greenery in or near the cage. Finches do no require the foilage type decorations to feel safe.

SLEEPING BIRDS: Some birds like to sleep on a perch or the term roost at night. This means they don't like to sleep in nests. Other small birds like to sleep in a nest. Larger birds like, the canary, parakeets, ringnecks, quakers, conuers, amazones like their cages covered at night to block out the light in the room to sleep. THEY'LL USUALLY LET YOU KNOW BY CHERPING, CLICKING OR MAKING SOME TYPE OF COMPLAINING NOISES. I know of small finches will act mad also.

LIGHTING: The normal length of light from outside is a natural cycle in the wild. Birds who live in a cage rely on you to regulate their resting time during the year. Birds go through a cycle and the amount of light determines what part of the cycle the bird is in. Summer light which is 14-15 hours is required Resting season or winter is time for the bird to molt regrow new feathers and build up a good health. This resting time can be from 8 to 10 hours of light and no less. Light can be the house window, house lamp or cage fixture. The amount of brightness also effects this cycle.

MOLTING: This is a cycle time during the year the bird will loose older feathers. It is pretty hard not to notice when this happens. Make sure its not caused by other birds picking each other or by complete lack of light. This is an important time for the bird. Feathers enable to bird to fly, provide balence and regulate its body temperature. The owner is to provide extra nutritional maintenance of food so the bird can replenish these feathers without loosing body or bone mass. Vitamins, fruit, vegetables, cuttlebone, and if possible extra protien for the molting cycle. Molting can be stressful on birds system. Canaries usually will not sing during a molt. Don't confuse molting with a bird being pecked by other birds. This is a common occurance due to stress from overcrowded cages, lack of calcium in their diet or breeding behavior depending on the bird and the situation. Farmilarize yourself with these characteristics by reading reference materials on birds.

BIRD MAINTENANCE:
WATER- Always provide any bird with fresh clean water. The smaller birds are more active and require water more often. Smaller birds are more active during the day than the larger species. The also enjoy bathing more frequently.

BATHING: Bathing helps keep feathers in condition, encourages the bird to preen more often. Caged birds sometimes will not bathe in cages so you have to encourage preening and use a spray bottle. This bottle should be used for only your birds. Do not use bottles which may contain residue of yard spray or household cleaning fluid. Spritz your birds once a day. Morning or afternoon is best. Late evening may not be a good idea as the evening grows the birds become less active and may not be totally dry before sleeping. This could spell disaster.

SEED: The smaller finch should always be provided plenty of seed all day long. The smaller birds have a higher metabolism and are more active so they require a constant food supply. If left with no seed for more than 3 hours the bird will weaken health wise and if left will eventually die. Check reference books regarding the size seed and quantity needed to maintain your size bird.

PELLET FOOD: Some people swear by it others only use it as a supplement with what is usually offered to their birds. This is a personal choice you will have to decide for yourself. If your life style can't supply a varied diet as described in this pamphlet daily pellet food may be the best for your bird. Speak to an bird expert before changing a birds diet. There's more to it than changing the contents of the seed cup. Most softbill systems do require pelleted food in addition to everything else on these pages. Again, check reference books on your type of bird.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES: Birds in the wild require vegetation and fruit in the wild as well in the cage. It is always a plus to offer them. Items you regularly have in your refrigerater, garden can be shared with your bird. Always rinse every vegetable or fruit well. Insecticide residue can be fatal. Check reference books on what type of fruits your bird specie perfer and enjoy. You may find your eating habits will also improve so you both will benefit health wise.

POWDERED NECTAR: Some birds like this in addition to seed or pellet diet. If you can afford to buy these type of birds like honey creepers, white eye, humming birds or lories you have hopefully done some research prior to buying. These birds do require natural or powdered nectar. They require nectar all day. It is recommended you read as much as possible before buying any bird. Avoid impulse purchases these nectar type will not survive very long perhaps a few days without proper care.

INSECTS: Some birds like bugs as a treat or additional protien. Others require a regular diet of bugs. There are many reference books available at your library and book stores. There are bird clubs in which to ask also. We are fortunate in Oregon to have a supplier in the state to provide small or large supplies to order. Mealworms are the most common bugs given to birds.

SOFT FOOD: Soft food is better known as egg food or nesting food. This usually consists of a mixture of; hard boiled egg (protien), some type of store bought nestling food, powdered handfeeding formula (fortified minerals, protien, carbohydrates, packaged bird conditioning food or puverized bird pellet or biscut food). Other additives include but not limited to fine cornmeal, shaved cuttlebone, vitamins, wheatgerm oil and powdered oyster shell. This supplement is given in addition to vegetables, fruit and seed. It is recommended to offer enough to the bird ensuring it will be eaten and not left to spoil.

CAGE SIZE: It is recommended you offer your birds a good sized cage. For the small finches need just as much room as the larger birds. Finches are active and require excercise to remain fit and healthy. Recommended permanent living quarters a ratio per finch is 18 high X 32 wide X 15 space for a 5" finch. The height isn't as necessarily as important as the widith. Widith is for flying excercise space from perch to perch. The bird should fly not hop to each perch. The larger the cage the more surface area the happier the bird and the less often you have to clean it. You can make a real nice nature habitat. Taller cages aren't that benefical to finches. Most hang around the top perches anyway so tall cages aren't a plus. They'll just poop on everything below. Exercise will prolong the life of any bird you own. The larger birds get board and can pluck their feathers out because of boardom or lack of activity or wanting to breed. Of coarse you will have to go with a larger cage with stronger bars for such birds. Check with your bird club for the different sizes each of these birds require.

PERCHES: Perches for finches should be placed strategically next food cups not on top of them. 2 perches minimum in a cage. They should be placed far enough away from the sides of the cage so the birds tail feathers won't brush up against the cage. Swings roomy enough can be another accessible perch. If you have a large cage make sure you have enough perches so bickering over perch space won't be a problem. Always clean these items at least once a week. Small birds use their perches as napkins wiping their beaks on a filthy surface is not a good. Make sure the size of the dowel or plastic perch is the correct size for the birds feet. Oversized perches can cause the toe nails to curl. Ask a Bird Club member to assist you pick out a correct size perches.

SEED AND WATER CUPS: Food cups best location in a cage would be inside in the center less likely to spray uneaten seeds and empty hulls all over the rooms floor. Sometimes this is not possible. Some cups come with hoods, this is good, to protect from droppings or the seeds from being thrown out. Other feeders act as seed dispensors, hang on the outside of the cage reinforced with a wire clip or chain and unloads seed with gravity upon demand. Watch the wires and clips. Nothing sharp should pertrude into the cage. Make sure your bird is not the type that figured out how to unload all the seed. The Canary is famous for that. This will not make you happy.

OVERALL HEALTH: A good birdkeeper is an informed person. Your birds will last longer you'll be happier too. Listening to your bird sing can brighten what was turning out to be a ugly day. It's a hobby, a distraction from work and can be used as a relaxing tool. Yes, birds can be messy but what isn't?