Husbandry Husbandry

It is estimated that the majority of It is estimated that the majority of health problems observed in pet health problems observed in pet

birds is due to improper birds is due to improper husbandry and diethusbandry and diet

CAGESCAGES

An aviary (a cage An aviary (a cage big enough for big enough for your bird to fly your bird to fly in) is ideal. But if in) is ideal. But if you can’t have you can’t have one . . .one . . .

Cage SizeCage Size

Get a bigger cage for Get a bigger cage for your bird than you your bird than you think he needs. At the think he needs. At the absolute minimum, a absolute minimum, a bird needs a cage bird needs a cage large enough so that large enough so that he he can fully spread his can fully spread his wings without touching wings without touching the sides of the cage, the sides of the cage, and at least twice that and at least twice that size is better.size is better.

Bar SpacingBar Spacing

Your bird's head Your bird's head should should notnot be able be able to to fit between the fit between the bars bars of the cage. If of the cage. If it can, you could it can, you could easily end up with easily end up with a strangled bird.a strangled bird.

MaterialsMaterials

Stainless steel and Stainless steel and powder‑coated powder‑coated (that is, baked‑on (that is, baked‑on coating) cast iron coating) cast iron and steel cages are and steel cages are best. best. Galvanized Galvanized steel should be steel should be avoided, avoided, because because birds can and do birds can and do succumb to zinc succumb to zinc poisoning.poisoning.

DoorsDoors

There should be at There should be at least a least a 1/4" gap on 1/4" gap on all sides between all sides between the door and frame the door and frame of a bird's cage. of a bird's cage. Tight‑fitting doors Tight‑fitting doors are a recipe for are a recipe for severed toes and severed toes and feet.feet.

PlacementPlacement

Parrots are social Parrots are social animals and like to animals and like to be where the action be where the action is. The living room is. The living room or den is generally or den is generally a good place for a a good place for a cage. cage. Do NOT Do NOT put a put a bird’s cage in a bird’s cage in a bedroom, garage or bedroom, garage or other isolated other isolated place.place.

More on PlacementMore on Placement

Never place a bird's cage in the middle Never place a bird's cage in the middle of a room. That's a recipe for an of a room. That's a recipe for an anxious, nervous bird. anxious, nervous bird. Place cages Place cages against walls, against walls, preferably in well‑lit preferably in well‑lit areas. And if you place your bird’s cage areas. And if you place your bird’s cage in front of a sunny window, make sure in front of a sunny window, make sure that part of the cage is in shade.that part of the cage is in shade.

Bottom LiningBottom Lining

Use Use newspapernewspaper (at least two sheets (at least two sheets thick), and change the papers daily. thick), and change the papers daily. Avoid using ground corn cob, walnut Avoid using ground corn cob, walnut shells or other such spongy media on shells or other such spongy media on cage bottoms; they hide filth and cage bottoms; they hide filth and encourage the growth of deadly encourage the growth of deadly bacteria and fungus.bacteria and fungus.

Room TemperatureRoom Temperature If a person is comfortable in a T-shirt then If a person is comfortable in a T-shirt then

the room temperature is probably the room temperature is probably comfortable for an comfortable for an adult bird (75 adult bird (75 F)F)

Exception is neonates, which require Exception is neonates, which require higher temperatures depending upon higher temperatures depending upon their agetheir age

If a neonate needs to visit the hospital, If a neonate needs to visit the hospital, the owner should be advised to bring the owner should be advised to bring supplemental heat and a covered (with supplemental heat and a covered (with air holes) container to keep the neonate air holes) container to keep the neonate warmwarm

Newly hatched chicks can require up to Newly hatched chicks can require up to 9494F and greater than 50% humidityF and greater than 50% humidity

The body temperature of different species The body temperature of different species of birds can vary of birds can vary between 104between 104F and 112F and 112FF

HumidityHumidity

Tropical parrots prefer 50-60% Tropical parrots prefer 50-60% humidityhumidity

Some birds, such as budgies and Some birds, such as budgies and zebra finches, are from arid regions zebra finches, are from arid regions and may require lessand may require less

Gas heaters used in homes during Gas heaters used in homes during the winter months can create dry air the winter months can create dry air within the house and a humidifier within the house and a humidifier may be needed in the bird’s room to may be needed in the bird’s room to maintain adequate humiditymaintain adequate humidity

Cage CleaningCage Cleaning

Haul your bird's Haul your bird's cage outside and cage outside and thoroughly scrub it thoroughly scrub it down every few down every few weeks. Strong weeks. Strong sunlight is a great sunlight is a great disinfectantdisinfectant..

Bleach 1:32 Bleach 1:32

Dish CleaningDish Cleaning

Clean your bird's Clean your bird's water and food water and food dishes at least dishes at least daily. (Water daily. (Water dishes tend to dishes tend to need cleaning need cleaning two or three two or three times a day.)times a day.)

Time Out of CageTime Out of Cage

At a bare At a bare minimum, your minimum, your bird should have at bird should have at least two to four least two to four hours out of his hours out of his cage every day, cage every day, and more “out and more “out time” is better.time” is better.

PERCHESPERCHES

All good perches have All good perches have uneven surfaces. uneven surfaces. Grapevine perches and Grapevine perches and mesquite-branch mesquite-branch perches are very goodperches are very good, , as are perches made as are perches made from citrus and from citrus and eucalyptus. Large-eucalyptus. Large-diameter rope perches diameter rope perches are comfortable, but are comfortable, but should be washed and should be washed and trimmed (of loose trimmed (of loose strands) often.strands) often.

More on PerchesMore on Perches Avoid perfectly round Avoid perfectly round

perches—dowel sticks, PVC perches—dowel sticks, PVC pipe, etc. Such perches can pipe, etc. Such perches can give your bird painful foot give your bird painful foot sores.sores.

Manzanita perches are Manzanita perches are slippery and can be a hazard slippery and can be a hazard for baby birds or birds with for baby birds or birds with balance problems, but are balance problems, but are okay for most birds.okay for most birds.

Avoid sandpaper-covered Avoid sandpaper-covered perches.perches.

Cement perches are okay Cement perches are okay only if there are also natural-only if there are also natural-wood perches in the cage.wood perches in the cage.

ShowersShowers Bird need regular showers. It is Bird need regular showers. It is

recommend at least once a recommend at least once a weekweek. Some birds prefer spray . Some birds prefer spray bottle baths, while others prefer bottle baths, while others prefer going into the shower with you. going into the shower with you.

Helps maintain healthy feathers Helps maintain healthy feathers and most birds appear to enjoy and most birds appear to enjoy it, especially those from South it, especially those from South America, such as macaws and America, such as macaws and Amazon parrotsAmazon parrots

Birds can be placed in the Birds can be placed in the shower or sink, or offered a shower or sink, or offered a shallow bowl for bathingshallow bowl for bathing

Sprinklers and bowlsSprinklers and bowls

LightLight

Parrots need a certain amount of Parrots need a certain amount of UV UV light. light. If you can, take If you can, take your bird your bird outside with you at least 15 minutes outside with you at least 15 minutes a day a day or, better, provide him with an or, better, provide him with an outdoor aviary. The aviary, of course, outdoor aviary. The aviary, of course, should be partially shaded.should be partially shaded.

SleepSleep

Light CycleLight Cycle In general, birds In general, birds

should be exposed to should be exposed to the natural light the natural light cycle occurring cycle occurring outside or be kept at outside or be kept at 10h of light/14h of 10h of light/14h of darkdark

To avoid stimulating To avoid stimulating reproductive activity reproductive activity in some birds (i.e. in some birds (i.e. chronically egg laying chronically egg laying cockatiel), the cockatiel), the amount of “light amount of “light time” may need to be time” may need to be decreased even moredecreased even more

Enrichment/TOYSEnrichment/TOYS Usually safe if made Usually safe if made

from hardwoods (either from hardwoods (either untreated or vegetable untreated or vegetable dyed), untreated dyed), untreated leather, ropes, leather, ropes, uncoated steel, uncoated steel, stainless steel, or hard stainless steel, or hard plasticsplastics

One study in humans One study in humans showed that some soft showed that some soft plastics contain toxic plastics contain toxic levels of lead, so these levels of lead, so these should be avoided for should be avoided for birdsbirds

Avoid long ropes or Avoid long ropes or chain that can wrap chain that can wrap about a bird’s neck, about a bird’s neck, foot, or toefoot, or toe

Avoid materials that are Avoid materials that are galvanized or those that galvanized or those that contain lead or zinccontain lead or zinc

PerchesPerches

TOYSTOYS

Flowers Flowers

GYMGYM

Natural Foliage Natural Foliage