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Birds generally will do a good job of taking care of themselves if provided with some basic needs. However if one is to truly keep his pet in top shape he needs to follow some routine procedures and live to his responsibilities.

First of all one should provide his bird with proper food. There are basically two types of bird categories: seed eaters or hard-bills, like finches and canaries, and hookbills like parakeets and cockatiels. Seed eaters eat seeds of different grasses and plants when in their native environments. Providing these birds with commercial seed mixes and leafy greens such as chicory or dandelions, and slice of apple or orange will nourish them very well. On the other hand, hookbills consume leaves, fruit and berries so preferably they should be supplied with large seeds like safflower and sunflower together with an assortment of fruit and vegetables. They can consume these items very efficiently thanks to their strong, bigger beaks.

Bird cages should have a minimum of one food bowl, one water bowl for drinking and another for bating. These should be cleaned daily as when they eat, birds leave seeds and seed hulls in the feed dish and drinking bowl. Water and food must be replenished daily as what could appear as a full cup of seed might be all hulls. One should make sure bowls are made of a durable material and they allow thorough cleaning and disinfections. Bird cages should also have perches of an appropriate size and placed as such as to encourage the bird to move from one to the other by flying or hopping. In case of larger birds, like parrots, one should avoid placing more than two perches in their parrot cages as they could limit the space available for movement. Food and drinking bowls should not be placed beneath perches, as bird droppings would foul their contents.

Although finches and canaries usually do not use bird toys, parrots enjoy objects that they can manipulate or climb on, or chew up or hide in. Therefore bird toys are critical for parakeets, lovebirds, and cockatiels and should be placed in all parrot cages. There is a wide variety of wooden and plastic bird toys available. Some birds also enjoy their reflection from small mirrors.

Birds tend to keep themselves quite clean, but may need a bit of help. All birds enjoy and require a bath. Most birds self-bathe pretty vigorously in a shallow water bowl within their Bird cages. The bathing bowl should be kept separate from the bird's drinking water. Another form of hygiene that birds maintain is preening. Self-preening is form of caring and grooming its feathers. Preening will ensure that their feathers are neat and nice. It is very important to trim a bird's nails periodically when they start to curl or curve around, as they could have problems sitting on their perch. If properly taken care of, birds live for quite a long time and all members of the family can enjoy their presence.

Shop and buy a small, medium, or large bird cages for you pet parrot and pet birds. All types and sizes of parrot cages and safe bird toys for your pet birds - http://www.birdcagesrepublic.com/

It is no small thing when you are giving thought to buying a new parrot cage for your bird. A good deal of your bird's time will be spent in his cage, so it is very important that it is the correct size and the bars are solid with the correct amount of room between them. Furthermore it has to be made of strong, safe materials.

Follow the tips below and you will be able to confidently select the best possible cage for that feathered member of your family.

Taking your budget into account, buy the largest cage you possibly can. Be sure the bars are spaced right for the size of your bird. This is your bird's private domain, thus to greatest advantage its wellbeing, both physical and mental, it should be a bird version of a majestic mansion.

The right spacing of the bars is key. The incorrect spacing could be unsafe for your bird. If the bars are overly wide apart, the bird could break out or have its head trapped between the bars. If they are too close together, a foot, wing or beak could get stuck tight between them.

The size of the bird will establish the depth the bars ought to be. Little gauged bars are about adequate for small birds with small beaks.  Bigger gauged bars are necessary for larger birds with big, strong beaks.

Material choices for parrot cages include stainless steel, plastic and powdercoated steel. Small birds do fine in plastic cages but they are not appropriate for large birds. For the larger, stronger birds, buy a cage constructed of steel, whether powdercoated or stainless.

Bars that are nearly impossible for a bird to break are those that are drilled through and fitted into a square tube. Bars of this type are superb as they contain sufficient depth that a bird can't fracture them and pull them out of the hole it is drilled through.  Bars that are joined only in spots, such as solderedbars, are quite simple to rupture since they aren't fitted inside one another like the drilled through bars are.

Prior to you starting to look for a cage, you have to bear in mind that keeping the cage tidy is very crucial. Wherever the food cups are will make a difference since birds like picking them up and creating huge messes by shaking them and dropping them.  Furthermore you should consider how the cage is put together. If it has lots of nuts, bolts and screws holding it together, cleaning it by removing them separetely and afterward putting it back together is not going to be easy and will take a lot of time.

If you are gone a good deal of the day and can't be home so your bird can be out of his cage much, a parrot cage with a dome top is ideal. If your parrot is fortunate enough to have you home a good deal of the time, a play top bird cages will be a joy for him as he can be supervised outside most of the time. The dome shape give the feeling of more headroom that a play top cage can't offer. But a parrot lucky enough to possess a play top cage simply wants to have his door opened hence he could climb to the top to locate loads of toys, food and a nice perch.

There is no doubt that a top valued cage will contain added elements to suit you and your feathered friend than a less costly one would. Regardless of what cage you in the end think purchasing, ask what type of warranty there is, if any, what it covers and for how long.

Large Bird Toys
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the big bird question, what bird is right for me?

I have a baby parakeet for my first bird but it was not challenging enough. i want a larger bird one that will.....
-cuddle
-not be to noisy
-pretty-colorful
-medium/large
-smart(trainable -tricks and phrases)
-active-loves to play with toys
-friendly with other people but always loving me more;) also when i let my parakkeet out i want them be ableble to interact a little.
-not to big
-common species
-not a lot of money for the bird a lone
ALSO KNOWN AS THE PERFECT BIRD:>
I want this parrot to be my everythireallyaly want a parrot that everyone will love and want to play and cuddle with him oh and i want the birdy to love eating little treats;)

also tell me about your bird even if he/she does not fit tdescriptionion.
which would be best electus,african grey, amazon or mini macaw, conure,caique?
every bird is perfect in their own way dont ever say that they are not:P

Oh my gosh.. hehe, you are soooo going to get a million answers for this question! LOL.

I breed over 300 birds. And i find that most people (that are first time bird owners) find the following birds the perfect pets.

1. Budgie

Needs:

Minimal Attention
Easily tamed
Friendly
Sociable

2. Cockatiel

Needs:

Minimal attention
Easily tamed
Friendly
Sociable
Easy to care for

3. Sun Conure

Needs:

Alot of attention
Friendly
Sociable
cute
Loving
Messy

Picture: http://images.google.co.za/images?gbv=2&hl=en&ei=sECvSfiOL8_DjAfc5azCBQ&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=sun+conure+parakeet&spell=1

4. Indian Ringneck Parakeet

Needs:

ALOT of attention
Messy
Can be trained to talk
Naughty
Cute
Friendly
Tamin difficulty: Novice

Picture: http://images.google.co.za/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=indian+ringneck

5. African Grey

Needs:

ALOT of attention
Can be trained to talk
Can be taught to do tricks
Sociable
Loving
Affectionate
Friendly
Taming difficulty: Easy

Picture: http://images.google.co.za/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=african+grey

6. Electus

Needs:

ALOT of attention
Friendly
Messy
can be trained to talk
Large Parrot
Can be taught tricks
Big cage

Picture: http://images.google.co.za/images?hl=en&q=electus&gbv=2

The more challenging birds:

Cockatoo
Macaw
Umbrella Cockatoo

I would suggest either an Indian Ringneck, or an African grey. African greys are one of the most common birds in the world. They are loved by people all over the world and are great pets. They are a medium sized parrot.

On the other hand, and indian Ringneck is also a good pet, and is also very common. They always keep you busy!

Hope this helps you and good luck =]

The African Grey is a large parrot renown for its intelligence and ability to imitate and, some believe, understand the human language. If you choose a Grey as a pet you will be following in royal footsteps as King Henry VIII of England owned one, but you will also be making a lifetime commitment as most have life spans that range between 50 and 65 years. Considering the following information as you make your choice will help you decide if this is the bird for you, and if so, will result in a happier relationship between you and your Grey.

Social Needs This is a bird that needs a fair amount of social interaction to stay healthy emotionally and mentally. It should be placed in an active part of your home so that it can observe all that goes on. It also needs to be allowed out of the cage for at least an hour each day and given one on one human interaction. Introducing a variety of people will keep them from being wary of strangers and will allow them to bond with those other than the main caregiver.

Toys and Housing Because they are so intelligent, they need to be in a stimulating environment that includes a variety of toys that are rotated frequently, toys that they can tear apart without injury, and toys that contain food or treats that they must work to remove. They need a large cage that is at least 4 feet long by 3 feet deep and 3 feet high with a solid back, or that is placed against a wall to provide a feeling of security. They should also have perches in the room that they can use when they are out of the cage. Allowing your parrot to spend time out of the cage insures a happier and healthier bird-both physically and mentally.

Life Stages If you are planning to acquire an African Grey as a baby parrot, know that they have a fairly long maturation cycle which spans approximately 10 years. It is important that during these first 10 years obedience training is a regular part of your daily routine. This can prevent your Grey from becoming destructive and aggressive with humans and other pets upon maturity.

Food Diet should consist of pellets, a minimum of seeds, and daily offerings of fresh fruits and vegetables (organic is best). Avoid chocolate, avocado, garlic and onions, rhubarb, caffeine, alcohol as they are toxic to your bird. Birds are lactose intolerant, so since they are unable to digest dairy products they have no nutritional value and should be avoided. If you have questions about your Grey's diet, consult an avian veterinarian before giving any food that you are unsure about.

Maintenance African Greys are considered a dusty bird because they produce a fine white powder that goes airborne when they shake or ruffle their feathers. This will require bathing your bird more often, and cleaning the cage more often that a less dusty bird. Using an air purifier near the cage will greatly eliminate this dust.

An excellent resource for a HEPA air purifier to remove the dust, dander, and feathers produced by birds is offered by PurerAir.com-- the Bird Dander Purifier at http://purerair.com/bird_dander_air_purifier.html

Large Bird Parrot
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What are the normal fees for adopting a rescued cockatoo or other large parrot?

Have you adopted a bird? What are your experiences? Any additional information or thoughts on bird adoption would also be appreciated. Thanks.

I run a rescue here in Michigan, and unless there is a great big vet bill or something, typically I don't charge a rehoming fee. But, I'm a nazi about making sure that the people who come to me learn everything they possibly can about their bird before it ever gets to their house.

My philosophy is this: If you want a big bird, you're going to get a big bird whether it's from me or someone else. So, rather than have you go out and just get one on your own, I'd rather give a good home to the ones that come here, and I do that by asking you to read, read, read, and then I quiz you on all you've learned. I do home checks, and then if all goes well, your bird is fostered into your care.

The foster time can range from 6 months to 18 months depending. If things are shaky at the 6 month home visit, then we can extend the foster period. If they're still shaky at a year, our choices are to take back the bird or to foster for an additional six months.

Once we're confident you're good on your own and you don't need our help anymore, then the bird is then adopted to you, with the stipulation that if it ever gets to the point where you must get rid of the bird or if something happens to you and you need to give it to someone else...the bird comes back to us. If you have a particular person in mind to take your bird, we'll begin the same process with the next person.

How to groom a large unruly parrot without help from a partner

Large Bird Cage

where can i find a large bird cage cheap?

i need a bird cage big enough to house a white dove. it has to be able to fly around and rest on the bottom. but i don't have the money to spend on a large cage that can cost 300-400 dollars. Where can i find one cheap? maybe $100?

Check out http://www.craigslist.org in your local area.

Look under farm + garden.

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How do you take care of a parrot? This is a very good question and let's get to the answer. First of all, when it comes to taking care of a parrot, there are at least three distinct things that you must have to properly take care of him or her. These three things are essential to your brand new adopted parrot's well being. They are also essential to your parrot's life span. These three things are a well balanced diet. A large enough birdcage where he can grow and prosper, and a endless supply of fresh water.

Well balanced Diet

Don't assume that just because a parrot is a bird that all they want to eat are seeds. This is very far from the case. As a matter of fact, parrots eat a whole list of different foods, and if you want to know how to properly take care of them, then you should be prepared to keep them happy by feeding them different things. Parrots can eat a whole host of fresh fruits and vegetables which include: apples, bananas, melons, pineapples, carrots, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, green beans and corn. When you put these fresh fruits and vegetables TOGETHER with a high quality seed mix, then you have the makings of a happy and healthy parrot!

Birdcage

Two differing sides of the same debate here. One side says to buy a aviary, which is a very huge cage that you can keep many birds in, and the other side says to just buy a large birdcage. I'm not going to recommend one over the other because both do an excellent job. My argument is not everyone can afford an aviary, and if you can't then a big birdcage will do the trick. Whatever you do, the cage should be big enough so that your parrot's feathers are not sticking out of it!

Water

A constant supply of fresh drinking water will be much appreciated by your newly adopted bird. This should be changed EVERYDAY! I say everyday because parrots can get quite messy and stale water sucks! Whatever you do with your own diet should reflect in your parrots diet. If you drink fresh water everyday, then so should your parrot!

When it comes to taking care of a parrot, if you follow these three essential things, then you can't go wrong. Taking care of a parrot might seem like a hard task, but just like anything else, if you pay attention and stay the course, it will eventually be like second nature to you! Good Luck!

If you are on the fence about adopting a parrot and the only thing stopping you from taking that next step is how to take care of a parrot... then allow me to direct you to a website that can answer that question...and more! This website is specifically dedicated to parrot care and it can answer ALL of your questions concerning parrots. Parrots are fascinating creatures and if you are thinking about adopting one, then you need to have access to the best information that you can find on parrots. You can find this information and more when you visit: http://parrotcareguide.info

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How do I keep large black birds away from my bird feeders?

I have bird feeders in my yard to feed the tiny little birds that fly about, especially this time of year when it's really cold. The problem I am having is that there are alot of crow / black birds in our area and they are absolutely relentless when it comes to the bird feeders. I really don't care for these black birds at all. They eat or destroy all the food for the little birds in a short amount of time. Does any one have a sensible solution to this bird problem, besides shooting the black birds. We have plenty of woods and fields for these black birds to hang out in....Not my bird feeders!

First of all why are you feeding birds anyway? Let alone the black ones...wait, is this about humans or animals. It's hard to tell the difference most of the time.

It is most beneficial to feed wild birds during the winter months when their natural food may be unavailable but shortages do occur at other times of the year. So putting food out for the wild birds at any time of year can help when there are shortages. During the breeding season a temporary shortage of food will affect the young fledglings so it is especially helpful to put out food for the birds at this time.

Feeding in the Spring and Summer

During the summer and especially when they are moulting, birds need high protein foods. Good examples to put in your feeder are raisins, currents, black sunflower seeds, grated cheese, meal worms, soaked sultanas and commercially prepared summer seed mixtures. You can also purchase mixes for insect loving wild birds.

For fruit eating birds put out grapes, bananas, apples or pears, suitably chopped into smaller pieces. Avoid the use of peanuts, bread or fats as they can be harmful if taken back to baby birds. Home made fat balls are not really a good idea as they quickly go off in the warm weather. Commercially prepared fat bars are better and last for around three weeks before they must be thrown away.

During unseasonably cold or wet weather there may insect shortages. If the weather is very dry earthworms become difficult to catch. For birds with young in the nest they will be tempted by food on bird tables during these times so it is essential to make sure any food you put out is suitable for the young birds. Never put out loose peanuts, large pieces of bread, fats or hard, dry food at this time as these can be fatal if taken back to feed the baby birds.

Feeding in the Fall and Winter

During the colder months put food out for the birds regularly, twice a day if possible, especially in very cold weather. The birds need high energy food during this time so foods high in fats are particularly suitable. Put out good quality food and remove any uneaten food regularly.

Attracting Birds to Your Feeder

You can attract different species of birds to your garden by providing the food they like in a suitable feeder. Large birds will need a feeder with large, sturdy perches, hummingbirds will be attracted to a nectar feeder, finches to a thistle feeder. You can also purchase goldfinch feeders, jay feeders and woodpecker feeders.

Types of Bird Feeders

Feeders suitable for different types of food:
Tube feeder - small seeds including thistle seeds
Platform feeder - fruit or other food types
Hummingbird feeder - nectar
Squirrel proof - mesh cage feeders - peanuts, larger seeds, suet
Standard type feeder - safflower seeds, sunflower seeds

Food suitable for different species.

* Bluebird - bluebird seed available to purchase, cornmeal with peanut butter
* Bunting - small grains and seeds.
* Blackbirds - breadcrumbs, small seeds and grains
* Chickadee - sunflower seeds, unsalted nuts, safflower seeds, suet
* Finches - black sunflower seeds, thistle seeds
* Jays - peanuts, suet, corn, sunflower
* Mourning Doves - cracked corn seeds, wheat, sunflower and safflower seeds
* Mockingbirds - bread, suet, raisins
* Robins - breadcrumbs, raisins, apples
* Northern Shrikes - Suet.
* Siskins - sunflower seeds, thistle seeds
* Thrashers - suet, raisins, bread
* Towhee birds - seed mixes for small birds
* Woodpeckers - cracked corn seeds, wheat, sunflower and safflower seeds
* Warblers - peanut butter, suet
* Townsend's Warblers - cheese, peanut butter, suet
* Yellow Throated Warblers - breadcrumbs.

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