Birds
Does a bird fit into your schedule?
Vicki Moore did not believe in the general principle of keeping animals as pets, but realised that animals would be and if they were, they should be kept in the best way possible.
Lots of animals lead a miserable life due to the way they are kept. If you are going to keep a pet it is your duty to do your best for it. The following are some guidelines to help you achieve this.
Keeping birds as pets
This is general advice on how to protect your pet from safety or health hazards. For advice on individual species please consult your veterinary or expert books.
As with all pets we recommend that you check with your local shelter first, to see whether there are birds that need a new home.
Don’t buy birds at fairs or markets
Apart from the birds having had to endure stressful travelling and handling there is always the risk of disease, if many birds from different origins come together. If you really love animals, don’t buy birds caught in the wild, which have been smuggled into the country.
A deplorable, but increasing trend is the sale of hand-reared birds.
Breeders take them out of the nest far too early so they get used to people right away. This can cause life-long behavioural disturbances. The birds tend to mistake humans for sexual partners, which leads to constant frustration. This in turn can lead to aggressive behaviour towards the owner or to feather plucking and self-mutilation. Hand-reared birds can hardly ever be used for breeding. Deprived of social life within their species these birds may be unable to rear their own offspring.
If you go to a breeder or pet shop, you should always asked where the birds come from.
Before you get a bird, you should ask yourself the following questions:
- Does a bird fit into your schedule? Are you willing to invest enough time to keep the birds’ environment clean and thus healthy?
- Do you have the financial means to look after it properly and for veterinary care, if needed?
- Do you or anybody in your family suffer from an allergy to feathers? Are you or anybody prone to allergies in general? As allergies can be acquired at any time, there is always the risk that you might not be able to keep your pet for health reasons.
Certain types of curtains can be a safety hazard. - Is your home safe enough for a bird? As a bird should not spend all of his life in its cage you will surely let it out for a certain amount of time. Go through your room and look for possible safety hazards. Do you have poisonous plants that the bird could chew? Certain types of curtains, in the fabric of which the bird could be become entangled, as well as in loose hanging threads, could also be safety hazards. Even though these accidents are rare, birds have been known to drown in fish tanks and toilet bowls. What about landing on a hot cooker? Fans, either installed under the ceiling or stand-alone fans not properly secured, also mean danger for a bird. Sticky flypaper dangling from the ceiling and mobiles are potential risks.
- Do you have other pets, like cats for example, which might be a danger for the bird?
- While most birds are wonderful to look at, not all of them make pleasurable sounds. Find out about them beforehand. Are you willing to put up with rather shrill sounds for many years? What about the neighbours?
- Do you have room for a big cage? The cage should be placed in an area, where the bird can be relatively undisturbed and feel secure. It should be sheltered from draught, rapid changes in temperature, permanent sunshine and mechanical vibrations. A bird should be kept in a non-smoking environment.
- Most birds tend to get lonely and should only be kept in pairs. This means they are not as attached to their owner as he or she would like them to be. Are you willing to buy two birds to keep each other company?
- Lonely and bored birds can get quite destructive. Are you willing to rearrange your room to protect the bird and your valued positions, from getting into trouble?
- Are you aware of the lifespan of birds and parrots in particular? Parrots can easily outlive their owners. What will become of your bird, once you will be no longer able to care for it?
The pet industry constantly comes up with new ideas for your pets. Mostly they are designed to give you pleasure rather than your pet.
Here is a by no means complete list of what accessories to avoid:
Round cages
These cages severely restrict the movement of birds. They can only jump in a steep angle from the top to the bottom and vice versa. This goes against their normal movement behaviour, which means they would fly either horizontally or move from twig to twig. Apart from causing problems with orientation, round cages don’t offer retreat either, which causes severe stress for the birds.
Tall but narrow cages should also be avoided.
Don’t buy birdcages with bars with white plating. These have a blinding effect on the bird and thus limit the bird’s perception of the environment. Plastic plating can also easily be chewed off and harm the bird. Solid chromium plating is better. Cheap units also tend to rust easily. If the joints are not properly welded they create an ideal environment for parasites’ eggs.
Cages made from bamboo or other natural material can easily be destroyed by the bird and it is hard to keep them clean and healthy.
The best choice for a cage is rectangular and as big as possible, with horizontal bars to allow climbing, and made from a non-corrosive material.
Plastic perches
Avoid plastic perches. On the one hand they might be too slippery if they have a smooth surface, on the other hand, if ribbed they might have sharp edges that can cause foot injuries. Big birds like parrots can also easily chew them.
There are also colourful flexible perches for parrots, which can be bent according to choice. These are covered in Styrofoam which can be easily chewed up by the parrot, with the plastic ending up in its stomach.
Cotton perches bear the risk of the bird’s feet becoming entangled in them.
To prevent foot problems perches also should vary in diameters. If the bird’s feet close entirely around the perch, it is too small and may cause overgrowth of the claws. You can even make your own, by collecting non-toxic appropriate twigs.
The industry claims that sand paper perch covers are beneficial to bird’s nails. However, they can be harmful and cause skin injuries and sores. Sanded sheets as flooring are also harmful to the bird’s skin.
Toys
Birds, which spend a lot of time in their cages, tend to get bored. However, mirrors and plastic birds, mistakenly bought to substitute the lack of a partner, cause behavioural problems and may lead to an inflammation in the bird’s crop. Chains are dangerous as the bird can get its foot caught in them. Also avoid loosely twisted or braided ropes made from cotton or hemp as they may lead to strangulation. Synthetic materials are not recommendable either.
In general toys should be made from non-toxic materials and be unbreakable and not chewable.
External perches and tabletop perches are available for parrots. Frequently the bird is chained to them. This poses a great risk for injury, since the bird cannot move away in the case of fear and panic.