The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Bird Food The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Bird Food
Showing posts with label Bird Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bird Food. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

8 Common Bird Feeder Mistakes You Might Be Making (And How to Fix Them)


Wild birds, such as finches, robins, and cardinals, are a fascinating part of many gardens and landscapes. They're so much fun to watch, especially when you draw them to your yard with feeders so you can get a closer look. The cast of birds you'll see gathering at feeders changes with the seasons, but their lively antics will be a constant delight. Attracting wild birds is usually quite easy. There are, however, a few common mistakes that can repel, injure, or even kill birds, spoiling your well-intended efforts. Make sure to avoid the following bird-feeding pitfall so you can keep your winged visitors healthy and happy year-round.

To read more on this story, click here: 8 Common Bird Feeder Mistakes You Might Be Making (And How to Fix Them)


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Monday, October 8, 2018

The Budgie Bird - One of the Most Owned Parrots Around the World


Do you know what a budgie is? If you live in the United States you probably know it as being a parakeet. Budgies and parakeets are actually one in the same. The term parakeet is a generic label used to describe any small, parrot-like bird that has a long tail.

The Budgie/Parakeet is one of the most owned little parrots around the world. They are a favorite with many pet bird owners because they are small, capable of singing, talking and they are relatively easy to care for.

The Budgie short for Budgerigar are a native to Australia, and belong to the parrot family. They are colorful and graceful. They come in a variety of sizes from small to medium. They have long tapered tail feathers, and are full of energy. The average life-span of a budgie is generally 2-7 years, although there are some that have lived to 13 and ever older. Some budgies die before their first birthday. There are many factors that can affect the lifespan on a budgie. Many budgies die from natural causes like tumors, unfortunately they are very susceptible to them. Although budgies are often called parakeets, they are actually birds of the species Melopsittacus Undulatus.



How to tell the sex of your pet budgie:

The color of the cere, the fleshy area above its beak where its nostrils are is the best indicator of a pet budgie's sex. A male budgie will typically have a blue cere or it may be pink or pinkish purple in color. A female budgie will usually have a brown, white, light beige, or a reddish cere. Female budgies also have whitish rings around their nostrils.

Colors:
While green is the most common color, budgies are bred to produce many color mutations. These colors are categorized primarily by shades of blue or green. Most budgies have striped bars on their wings.

Diet:
Foods you should never give your budgie:
Never give your budgie alcohol, avocado or chocolate - these can kill your parrot! Also avoid asparagus, eggplant, cabbage, caffeine products, junk food, milk and cream, raw potato, and rhubarb (including the leaves).

Foods you can feed your budgie:
Radishes; turnips; carrots (root and tops); cooked sweet potatoes; radicchio;endive; mustard & dandelion greens; swiss chard; kale; parsley; cooked red potatoes; green beans; bok choy; tomato; sweet red & green, and other types of peppers; cauliflower;broccoli (head and leaves); beet & turnip greens; kohlrabi; sugar snap or snow peas; squash (peeled & steamed); red beets (peeled); romaine or green/red leaf lettuce; collard greens; corn; cucumber.

Fruits:
Apples;berries; kiwi; mango; cantaloupe; honeydew; pineapple; cherries; cranberries;
banana; pears; peaches; oranges; pomegranate; tangerines; grapefruit; papaya; grapes;
Apricots.

Make sure that you wash all vegetables and fruits thoroughly before feeding. Remove the pits, and all seeds from the fruit. Any vegetables and fruits left uneaten should be discarded daily so that it does not spoil. Since vegetables and fruits are high in water content, the urine portion of the droppings will increase.

Cage:
Your bird’s cage needs to be big enough for them to stretch and flap their wings without hitting the walls or any hanging toys. The bigger the better. No smaller than 12"x18"x18". Make sure that the spacing between the bars is no wider than 1/2-inch wide. Any wider than that and a budgie could squeeze through the bars and escape, or get stuck in the bars.

The decision to own a budgie should be considered carefully. Please consider the facts below before buying a budgie:
  • Budgies needs daily exercise or it will soon become overweight.
  • Budgies are highly active and need a variety of toys to play with and chew on.
  • You should allow your budgie out of the cage for at least an hour a day to fly around and explore.
  • Males seem to be more "talkative" than females.
  • They have the ability to speak 100’s of words.
  • They often have a favorite person, and that will be the person they will cuddle with.
  • They do bite, and their bites feel like a hard pinch.
  • Make sure that you socialize your bird when you bring it home so that it will be comfortable with many people handling them.
  • A budgie might get somewhat loud is if it hears a bird outside and will call to it.
  • Avoid mirrors in the cage until after you have tamed your budgie. They will think it's another bird and may bond to it instead of you.
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Monday, October 1, 2018

Angry Cockatoo Starts Cursing At Her Dad After He Asks Her To Go To Her Cage


Our pets are the sunshine of our lives. Their affection, their love, and sometimes, just them being themselves, light up our entire day. But there are moments when even these love- showering creatures do not come to terms with us. Just like this cockatoo, who, in the video below, is not just upset from her dad. She is so furious that she can be heard swearing all her anger away.


Pebble, an angelic looking bird, is a beautiful cockatoo who seems to be very calm. However, the reality is far from that. She seems to be completely unable to express her anger vocally.

Recently, Pebble’s dad had asked her to get inside her cage, which she clearly wasn’t happy about. That is why she started swearing her heart out at him. As she screamed the nasty words, she flapped her wings and puffed her crest to make sure her dad notices her rage.

To see more pictures and the video, click here: Angry Cockatoo Starts Cursing At Her Dad After He Asks Her To Go To Her Cage


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Saturday, August 4, 2018

Bird Owners, Do You Know the Signs of ‘Sick Bird Syndrome’?


The presence of signs of illness in a bird is sometimes termed "sick-bird syndrome." This is because many illnesses in birds cause the same signs, and, by the time a bird shows signs of illness, the bird is really sick. Aviary birds, like other prey animals, hide signs of illness. Predators look for signs of illness or weakness when choosing their prey, so a prey animal needs to appear healthy, or it will be a sure target. By the time they are showing signs of disease, in many instances, the birds have become too weak to be able to disguise it. At this point, small birds, especially, have little reserve, and even handling them can put them into shock. This is why it is extremely important for bird owners to be aware of signs of illness in a bird, and monitor their birds at least twice daily for the presence of these signs.

If you notice any of the signs of illness in the list below, contact your veterinarian. Weakness, labored breathing, bleeding, injuries, collapse, seizures, or other nervous system signs are especially serious, should be considered emergencies, and need immediate attention.

Signs of illness in birds as characterized by changes in general appearance or stance:


  • Huddled
  • Sitting low on the perch
  • Sitting on the bottom of the cage
  • Hanging onto the side of the cage with his beak instead of sitting on a perch
  • Head tucked under wing and standing on two feet
  • Ruffled feathers (consistently)
  • Weakness
  • Losing balance, teetering, or falling off of perch
  • Lumps or swelling of any portion of the body
  • Picking at his feathers or body
  • Trembling
  • Not preening
  • Harassed by other birds
  • Eyes dull, sunken, or abnormal color
  • Walking in circles
  • Unusual smell to bird or droppings
  • Drooped or elevated wing(s)

Changes in behavior and general attitude that may be signs of disease in birds:


  • Inactivity
  • Decreased or changes in vocalizations or singing
  • Drooping wings
  • Collapse
  • Seizures
  • Increased sleeping or eyes closed
  • Poor response to stimuli
  • Changes in personality, e.g., more submissive, more aggressive
  • Displaying juvenile behavior, e.g., begging for food

Changes in color, volume, consistency, and number of droppings indicating illness in birds:


  • Change in color of the urates (the normally white portion of the droppings), urine (the normally clear portion), or feces (normal varies with species)
  • Change in consistency: watery (increased urine), loose feces (diarrhea), hard feces (constipation) indicating illness
  • Bloody droppings
  • Undigested food in feces
  • Decrease in number or size of droppings
  • Increase in urates

Signs of disease in birds characterized by changes in appearance of the head:


  • Discharge around the eyes and/or nares
  • Squinting or half-closed eyes
  • Overgrown or flaky beak
  • Shiny black beak in a cockatoo (symptom of Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease)
  • Loss of symmetry (one area seems swollen or smaller compared to the other side)
  • Redness or loss of feathers around the eye
  • Discoloration of the beak
  • Flicking or twitching of the head

Changes in feathers suggestive of illness:


  • Ruffled or fluffed feathers
  • Lost, misshaped, or broken feathers
  • Decreased preening
  • Wet, stained, or matted feathers on the head, vent, or other area
  • Dull feathers
  • Long or excessive molt, bald spots
  • Pulling or picking at feathers
  • Abnormal color or barring

Changes in legs or feet associated with disease:


  • Lameness or favoring a leg
  • Flakiness, crusting, or discoloration of feet
  • Abnormal nail growth
  • Shifting feet
  • Swollen feet or joints

Signs of illness in birds associated with changes in breathing:


  • Difficulty breathing
  • Breathing with an open beak
  • Tail bobbing when taking a breath
  • Sneezing
  • Discharge or crusts around the nares
  • Wheezing or clicking sounds
  • Exercise intolerance (heavy breathing after exercise, or inability to exercise)
  • Change in sound of voice

Changes in eating/drinking/digestion indicating disease:


  • Increased or decreased appetite
  • Increased or decreased drinking
  • Vomiting or regurgitation
  • Straining to defecate or pass an egg
  • Diarrhea
  • Swelling in the crop area
  • Weight loss (use a scale) and/or prominent keel (breast bone)
  • Discharge from mouth
  • Inability to pick up food or manipulate it
  • Protrusion from the vent

Injuries:


  • Burns
  • Bite wounds
  • Injury from flying into a window or other object
  • Bleeding

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