By Azmi Adnan
When choosing a bird cage for your African Grey parrot, the bigger the size, the better. Your parrot will love the extra space to move about and build its confidence. It is also a good idea to purchase a bird cage that opens from the top as this allows your bird to scale out onto a higher perch. And parrots love to scale.
Bird cages for the African Grey, Congo African Grey or Timneh African Grey parrots come in all shapes and sizes. However nice it may looked to be, do not purchase a round bird cage for your parrot as this will cause your bird to have psychological problems. This will affect its personality and ability to respond to your command in training. These parrots are known to be temperamental in nature and round shaped bird cages just don't make it any better.
One important point to note when purchasing a bird cage for your beloved parrot is the width between the bars. If the width is too wide, your African Grey may injure its neck when it steps its head out between the bars in trying to escape. Ask the pet shop owner for bird cages specially made for African Greys. Ensure that the perch is made of soft smooth wood as this will make your parrot learn to climb about in the cage and be active. You can also make your own perch as nothing is more satisfying than seeing your own work of art in your bird cage.
Ensure that the feeders in the bird cage are accessible and place them in different places to make your parrot explore around the cage and build its natural bird instincts to search for food. Check that water is constantly available and not contaminated with parrot droppings which can affect the health and well being of your bird.
Also, make sure you keep the bird cage clean and wash it with warm water often to prevent the likelihood of your parrot contracting diseases. Your African Grey can live up to 65 years old and the least you could do is to make its home, the cage, clean and comfortable.
Azmi Adnan is a writer and a bird enthusiast. Subscribe to his newsletter for fresh video clips on parrots and other bird species, ezines and interesting bird stories at his website http://www.power-to-live.com/parrot.html
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
African Grey Parrot, What You Need To Know First
By Azmi Adnan
There are two sub-species of the African Grey parrot - they are the known as the Congo African Grey - with light grey feathers, deep red tails and black beaks, and the Timneh African Grey, which are smaller in size with a darker charcoal grey color, a darker maroon tail, and a colored horn beak. There is also the lesser known species known as the Ghana African Grey which is similar to the Congo but smaller in size and darker in color and then there is the rare Cameroon African Grey.
These parrots are relatively quiet birds with an average lifespan of 50 to 65 years living on a diet of fruits, nuts and vegetables. It is a good idea to socialize the birds with humans on a regular basis as they tend to be quiet if left alone and thus would only bond with their owners only. When bored, African Greys have the tendency to pluck their own feathers to amuse themselves. In cold climates, this can really affect the bird in keeping themselves warm.
The African Grey parrot is considered the most talented in the parrot family with their ability to mimic human tonality. This is the reason why they are much sought after parrots by bird enthusiasts to keep as pets and also the reason why their prices are much higher than other species of parrots. They are very challenging pets to keep as they don't like to be petted upon, are also temperamental and may bite hard if stroked. They are lifelong buddies to their owners because of their longevity and it is not uncommon to see these parrots changing hands when their owners give up on them.
African Greys are commonly being bred by breeders for sale due to their high demand. More and more pet owners are finding the joy of keeping these parrots after watching the famous Einstein the talking African Grey parrot and of course, the late Alex as well.
Unlike cats and dogs, it is not a good idea to have African Greys around families with children as these birds bite. Their beaks and claws are sharp and can injure a child, or even older adults. Whatever species of parrot you intend to buy, remember that they require commitment and dedication to upkeep and you need lots and lots of patience nurturing them.
Azmi Adnan is a writer and a bird enthusiast. Subscribe to his newsletter for fresh video clips on parrots and other bird species, ezines and interesting bird stories at his website http://www.power-to-live.com/parrot.html
There are two sub-species of the African Grey parrot - they are the known as the Congo African Grey - with light grey feathers, deep red tails and black beaks, and the Timneh African Grey, which are smaller in size with a darker charcoal grey color, a darker maroon tail, and a colored horn beak. There is also the lesser known species known as the Ghana African Grey which is similar to the Congo but smaller in size and darker in color and then there is the rare Cameroon African Grey.
These parrots are relatively quiet birds with an average lifespan of 50 to 65 years living on a diet of fruits, nuts and vegetables. It is a good idea to socialize the birds with humans on a regular basis as they tend to be quiet if left alone and thus would only bond with their owners only. When bored, African Greys have the tendency to pluck their own feathers to amuse themselves. In cold climates, this can really affect the bird in keeping themselves warm.
The African Grey parrot is considered the most talented in the parrot family with their ability to mimic human tonality. This is the reason why they are much sought after parrots by bird enthusiasts to keep as pets and also the reason why their prices are much higher than other species of parrots. They are very challenging pets to keep as they don't like to be petted upon, are also temperamental and may bite hard if stroked. They are lifelong buddies to their owners because of their longevity and it is not uncommon to see these parrots changing hands when their owners give up on them.
African Greys are commonly being bred by breeders for sale due to their high demand. More and more pet owners are finding the joy of keeping these parrots after watching the famous Einstein the talking African Grey parrot and of course, the late Alex as well.
Unlike cats and dogs, it is not a good idea to have African Greys around families with children as these birds bite. Their beaks and claws are sharp and can injure a child, or even older adults. Whatever species of parrot you intend to buy, remember that they require commitment and dedication to upkeep and you need lots and lots of patience nurturing them.
Azmi Adnan is a writer and a bird enthusiast. Subscribe to his newsletter for fresh video clips on parrots and other bird species, ezines and interesting bird stories at his website http://www.power-to-live.com/parrot.html
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Attracting More Birds During the Winter - 3 Easy Ways
By Vicki Larsen
Winter and cold weather has come to much of the country. You may not think of winter as a good time to watch birds, but I find it excellent bird watching weather. There things you can do to make their lives easier and your watching more enjoyable. It consists of three simple things: provide food, water and shelter.
Food Supply
With very cold temperatures and snow covering the ground the food supply is the most essential for our feathered friends' ability to survive the winter. Bird feeders bring large numbers and varieties of birds right to your yard and into your viewing area. Many flocks of birds move through the area including, woodpeckers, chickadees, juncos, nuthatches, doves, cardinals and others. There are different types of feeders to suit the needs and species of different birds. One of the bird feeders I like to use has a roof to protect the seed and the birds from the snow and ice. I also like the use of a ground feeder in the winter as the pole type feeders get to busy to accommodate the crowds and many birds are actual ground feeders. Suet feeders are also important in the winter especially for attracting woodpeckers. Suet feeders provide the fat for the birds so they can generate energy and heat. There was a shortage of berries in nature this year due to an ice storm early in the spring so be sure to get a good quality suet that contains real berries.
At the end of this article I have included my own homemade recipe for suet.
Another great bird feeder especially for winter use is the window feeder. It attaches right to your window and brings the birds up close. Some models can even be filled from inside your home.
Shelter
Shelter for the birds can be in many forms. Natural thickets, evergreens, or shelters you can provide. After the Christmas tree has given us great joy we then place it outside near our bird feeders for shelter. Clean out your roosting and nesting boxes and winterize them by adding wood shavings and plugging vent and drain holes. Create a brush pile- use logs, branches, limbs, corn stalks and others yard cuttings to make a tepee. Attach extensions to the roofs of your feeders.
Water
Water is an important element in the bird habitat that many of us do not think about. Many birds can use a natural source-rivers, ponds, lakes etc. However these sources can freeze over. Cardinals especially use water on a daily basis for not only drinking but also bathing. You may want to invest in a heater for your birdbath for winter.
If you implement these three things-food, shelter and water to your yard, you and your birds will not only survive the long cold winter, but will get some enjoyment out of it too!
Berry-Raisin Suet Recipe
1 Cup Grease from bacon, sausage, other fatty meat or Lard
� Jar of Peanut Butter (chunky)
1 � Cup Oatmeal (not instant)
1 � Cup Cracked Corn
1 Cup Raisins
1 � Cup Cranberries (any colorful berry)
Melt peanut butter with the grease. Add other ingredients. Cool slightly and pack into plastic containers or milk or orange juice cartons. Refrigerate or freeze. Cut into shapes for suet feeders.
We at http://birdhousesofbeauty.com/ can help you take care of your feathered friends this winter as we offer a large selection of quality bird houses and bird feeders, both functional and decorative for all varieties of birds. Our website has products for Blue birds, Purple Martins, Hummingbirds, Wren, Chickadees, Orioles, Cardinals and Woodpeckers. We also have a good selection of squirrel proof feeders. We use only top quality name brand suppliers including: Audubon, Droll Yankees, Duncraft, Home Bazaar and more. Please check out our website http://birdhousesofbeauty.com/ for your next bird feeder or birdhouse- we also welcome any comments or inquiries.
Winter and cold weather has come to much of the country. You may not think of winter as a good time to watch birds, but I find it excellent bird watching weather. There things you can do to make their lives easier and your watching more enjoyable. It consists of three simple things: provide food, water and shelter.
Food Supply
With very cold temperatures and snow covering the ground the food supply is the most essential for our feathered friends' ability to survive the winter. Bird feeders bring large numbers and varieties of birds right to your yard and into your viewing area. Many flocks of birds move through the area including, woodpeckers, chickadees, juncos, nuthatches, doves, cardinals and others. There are different types of feeders to suit the needs and species of different birds. One of the bird feeders I like to use has a roof to protect the seed and the birds from the snow and ice. I also like the use of a ground feeder in the winter as the pole type feeders get to busy to accommodate the crowds and many birds are actual ground feeders. Suet feeders are also important in the winter especially for attracting woodpeckers. Suet feeders provide the fat for the birds so they can generate energy and heat. There was a shortage of berries in nature this year due to an ice storm early in the spring so be sure to get a good quality suet that contains real berries.
At the end of this article I have included my own homemade recipe for suet.
Another great bird feeder especially for winter use is the window feeder. It attaches right to your window and brings the birds up close. Some models can even be filled from inside your home.
Shelter
Shelter for the birds can be in many forms. Natural thickets, evergreens, or shelters you can provide. After the Christmas tree has given us great joy we then place it outside near our bird feeders for shelter. Clean out your roosting and nesting boxes and winterize them by adding wood shavings and plugging vent and drain holes. Create a brush pile- use logs, branches, limbs, corn stalks and others yard cuttings to make a tepee. Attach extensions to the roofs of your feeders.
Water
Water is an important element in the bird habitat that many of us do not think about. Many birds can use a natural source-rivers, ponds, lakes etc. However these sources can freeze over. Cardinals especially use water on a daily basis for not only drinking but also bathing. You may want to invest in a heater for your birdbath for winter.
If you implement these three things-food, shelter and water to your yard, you and your birds will not only survive the long cold winter, but will get some enjoyment out of it too!
Berry-Raisin Suet Recipe
1 Cup Grease from bacon, sausage, other fatty meat or Lard
� Jar of Peanut Butter (chunky)
1 � Cup Oatmeal (not instant)
1 � Cup Cracked Corn
1 Cup Raisins
1 � Cup Cranberries (any colorful berry)
Melt peanut butter with the grease. Add other ingredients. Cool slightly and pack into plastic containers or milk or orange juice cartons. Refrigerate or freeze. Cut into shapes for suet feeders.
We at http://birdhousesofbeauty.com/ can help you take care of your feathered friends this winter as we offer a large selection of quality bird houses and bird feeders, both functional and decorative for all varieties of birds. Our website has products for Blue birds, Purple Martins, Hummingbirds, Wren, Chickadees, Orioles, Cardinals and Woodpeckers. We also have a good selection of squirrel proof feeders. We use only top quality name brand suppliers including: Audubon, Droll Yankees, Duncraft, Home Bazaar and more. Please check out our website http://birdhousesofbeauty.com/ for your next bird feeder or birdhouse- we also welcome any comments or inquiries.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Selecting Food For Your Bird
By Kimberly Webber
When selecting the appropriate food for your bird, it is important to think about certain things and ask yourself several questions. You should keep in mind the type of bird or birds you own and their size. Do they need a seed and pelleted diet? Do they like to eat food from their talon, or out of their dish? Does your bird make a large mess when eating. Does your bird have any known health problems?
Some foods can help certain problems like feather picking and vitamin deficiencies. With so many different types of food on the market, it can be difficult and confusing. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you keep them on a well-balanced diet.
One common misconception is that birds need seeds in their diet, and the truth is they do not. Peanuts are very high in fat content and I recommend giving your bird no more than one per day. Sunflower seeds, which can be prevalent in some seed mixtures are also high in sodium and fat. It is ok to give your bird a few seeds, but if your bird is eating them anymore than 10% of their diet, that is too much. Most birds need to be on 90% pelleted diet. Seeds, nuts and other treats can make up the other 10%. Also included in most parrots diet can be fresh fruit and vegetables. These can seem like a treat to your bird, but are actually very healthy.
There are some brands of food which are 100% organic. These are best for your bird as no chemicals are used when growing the ingredients. Organic foods also contain no preservatives and no artificial coloring. Birds can be sensitive to those things.
Human food in very small quantities can be ok for your bird, but should not be practiced regularly. One human food that is great for birds is the sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are filled with Vitamin A, which the Eclectus parrot needs in their diet because it aids in digestion. They also contain Vitamin C and Iron and are relatively easy to cook and store as well.
Two foods that can kill your birds are chocolate and avocado. You should never feed your bird those foods in any amount.
Still have questions regarding which food is appropriate for your bird or parrot? You may contact our bird food experts and find the best food for your bird by visiting us at The Pink Bird - Bird Food Page or www.thepinkbird.com.
When selecting the appropriate food for your bird, it is important to think about certain things and ask yourself several questions. You should keep in mind the type of bird or birds you own and their size. Do they need a seed and pelleted diet? Do they like to eat food from their talon, or out of their dish? Does your bird make a large mess when eating. Does your bird have any known health problems?
Some foods can help certain problems like feather picking and vitamin deficiencies. With so many different types of food on the market, it can be difficult and confusing. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you keep them on a well-balanced diet.
One common misconception is that birds need seeds in their diet, and the truth is they do not. Peanuts are very high in fat content and I recommend giving your bird no more than one per day. Sunflower seeds, which can be prevalent in some seed mixtures are also high in sodium and fat. It is ok to give your bird a few seeds, but if your bird is eating them anymore than 10% of their diet, that is too much. Most birds need to be on 90% pelleted diet. Seeds, nuts and other treats can make up the other 10%. Also included in most parrots diet can be fresh fruit and vegetables. These can seem like a treat to your bird, but are actually very healthy.
There are some brands of food which are 100% organic. These are best for your bird as no chemicals are used when growing the ingredients. Organic foods also contain no preservatives and no artificial coloring. Birds can be sensitive to those things.
Human food in very small quantities can be ok for your bird, but should not be practiced regularly. One human food that is great for birds is the sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are filled with Vitamin A, which the Eclectus parrot needs in their diet because it aids in digestion. They also contain Vitamin C and Iron and are relatively easy to cook and store as well.
Two foods that can kill your birds are chocolate and avocado. You should never feed your bird those foods in any amount.
Still have questions regarding which food is appropriate for your bird or parrot? You may contact our bird food experts and find the best food for your bird by visiting us at The Pink Bird - Bird Food Page or www.thepinkbird.com.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Get Your Quaker Parrot Talking
By Blake Allen
Looking to get your Quaker Parrot talking?
One of the most appealing features of a Quaker parrot is talking. These friendly birds can hold conversations and imitate sounds quite effectively how.
However, they don't always do it the way we want. Many people attempt to teach their parrots to talk through the use of tapes or discs. Often, they're disappointed. While small birds, such as parakeets and cockatiels, can learn to mimic these recordings, larger birds, such as Quaker parrots, don't start talking, even though they've heard hours and hours of what sounds like human speech.
The reason that using recordings to get a Quaker talking isn't very effective is because parrots aren't just mimics. They repeat sounds we make in an attempt to communicate with us. In the wild, this kind of mimicry allows them to feel like they're part of a flock.
At home, we're the only flock they have, so they try to talk to us. Since a tape doesn't impart any meaning to the parrot, he or she recognizes it only as unusual background noise. A more effective way of teaching your parrot to talk is by helping him or her attach meaning to specific sounds.
Talk to your young Quaker as though it were a baby or young child, and you'll find that you get better results. The best talkers are the ones that are spoken to as though they are expected to learn language themselves.
Of course, the meanings that your parrot attaches to words aren't always the ones you'd like it to. Parrots react to the words and sounds that get a reaction out of you (creating entertainment for them), or that have meaning to them (getting out of the cage, receiving a treat, making a request). This is why so many parrots pick up swear words and other undesirable phrases when they talk. If the word makes you excited, they reason, it must be a good one.
One method that can work for getting Quaker parrots talking is modeling. A human or another bird performs the action that's desired in front of your parrot, and gets a reward. This can teach your parrot that it wants to do that (and get the treat), too.
This works best for tricks based on natural behaviors, such as wing-spreading and foot-lifting, but can be used to model desired phrases or sounds. Remember that, like small children, Quaker parrots have short attention spans. This means that you should keep all training sessions short (less than fifteen minutes) and have them occur more often, rather than trying for a few long sessions.
Get your Quaker parrot talking, learn more tricks, and find out everything you've ever wanted to know about parrots by visiting: http://www.train-parrot.com
Looking to get your Quaker Parrot talking?
One of the most appealing features of a Quaker parrot is talking. These friendly birds can hold conversations and imitate sounds quite effectively how.
However, they don't always do it the way we want. Many people attempt to teach their parrots to talk through the use of tapes or discs. Often, they're disappointed. While small birds, such as parakeets and cockatiels, can learn to mimic these recordings, larger birds, such as Quaker parrots, don't start talking, even though they've heard hours and hours of what sounds like human speech.
The reason that using recordings to get a Quaker talking isn't very effective is because parrots aren't just mimics. They repeat sounds we make in an attempt to communicate with us. In the wild, this kind of mimicry allows them to feel like they're part of a flock.
At home, we're the only flock they have, so they try to talk to us. Since a tape doesn't impart any meaning to the parrot, he or she recognizes it only as unusual background noise. A more effective way of teaching your parrot to talk is by helping him or her attach meaning to specific sounds.
Talk to your young Quaker as though it were a baby or young child, and you'll find that you get better results. The best talkers are the ones that are spoken to as though they are expected to learn language themselves.
Of course, the meanings that your parrot attaches to words aren't always the ones you'd like it to. Parrots react to the words and sounds that get a reaction out of you (creating entertainment for them), or that have meaning to them (getting out of the cage, receiving a treat, making a request). This is why so many parrots pick up swear words and other undesirable phrases when they talk. If the word makes you excited, they reason, it must be a good one.
One method that can work for getting Quaker parrots talking is modeling. A human or another bird performs the action that's desired in front of your parrot, and gets a reward. This can teach your parrot that it wants to do that (and get the treat), too.
This works best for tricks based on natural behaviors, such as wing-spreading and foot-lifting, but can be used to model desired phrases or sounds. Remember that, like small children, Quaker parrots have short attention spans. This means that you should keep all training sessions short (less than fifteen minutes) and have them occur more often, rather than trying for a few long sessions.
Get your Quaker parrot talking, learn more tricks, and find out everything you've ever wanted to know about parrots by visiting: http://www.train-parrot.com
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Pet Canary Care
By Barry Mcgee
If you're considering sharing your home with a pet canary, it's probably because you've heard so much about their nearly constant, bubbly singing. Join the club! Since the seventeenth century, pet owners the world over have kept canaries for nothing more than the sheer pleasure of birdsong filling their homes. A canary is not merely a feathered music box, though, and pet canary care is so much more than the gilded cage of old. A canary is a living thing, dependent on you for food, shelter, and love, and canary care, while not rocket science, involves a certain level of avian expertise. Ready to become an expert? Study hard!
Thanks to selective breeding, there's quite possibly a canary out there to suit every personality and desire. Some canaries are bred for their coloration, some are bred for their shape, and some, of course, are bred to produce a very specific song pattern. What kind of canary you purchase will depend on what canary resources are available near you. If you can find a reputable canary breeder, that will be your best option. Many pet stores now, however, commit to purchasing healthy birds only from reputable breeders, but check first to make sure that your canary was not wild caught or raised in less-than-desirable conditions. If the pet store manager can not account for where your potential canary came from, don't buy a canary from that store! Oh, and be sure that the canary you purchase is a male, if it's a strong singer you're after. The females are incapable of producing the characteristic long trills and melodies that made canaries famous.
Canaries can be quite delicate, so a primary part of learning to care for a pet canary is to realize that prevention is key. If there's a number one rule of pet canary care, it's that you absolutely must keep your canary away from drafts at all times. A drafty room can kill a canary without any warning whatsoever, and even a slight draft can prevent your canary from warbling. If a lit candle flickers when held outside your canary's cage, then you've picked a spot that's too drafty for your new feathered friend! As far as cages go, your canary doesn't require anything too spectacular-just enough room to hop about and stretch his wings. Make sure you purchase a cage that is at least two feet wide and three or four feet tall. Get a cage with a tray in the bottom to make for easy cleaning, and make sure that the bars of the cage are not coated with toxic paint or other chemical sealants. You should clean your canary's cage thoroughly at least once a week, washing perches, food and water containers, and toys in a mild bleach solution, and washing down the rest of the cage with dish soap and warm water.
While they can't stand drafts, canaries do love indirect sunlight. A good supply of natural light will keep your canary singing, and will also interest him in breeding should a female be present. If a draft will kill a canary the fastest, a second runner up is dehydration. Because of their speedy metabolisms, canaries require a lot of water and may die if they go as little as a day without it. Change your canary's water daily and never leave for more than a day without asking someone to water your canary for you. As for food, seed is the mainstay of a canary's diet, and there are many good commercially available seed mixes made specifically for canaries. You should supplement your canary's seed with a little fresh fruit and boiled egg every day. An apple slice and a fourth of a hard boiled egg is enough. You should also provide your canary with a cuttlebone, as he will gnaw on this to attain necessary calcium.
With these basic rules and supplies of pet canary care well in hand, you're ready to seek out the perfect canary for you. Will you choose a rosy red colorbred canary, an exotic Persian Singer, or something in between? Whatever your decision, your canary will thank you exuberantly for the next ten to fifteen years the best way he knows how-by singing his heart out.
About The Author: Barry S. Mcgee is a pet enthusiast. His site at: http://www.squidoo.com/petcareonline provides advice and information on all aspects of pet care for all types of pets including dogs, cats, ferrets and others and makes it easier for pet owners to choose the best solution for their companion's care.
For answers to all your pet care questions, please visit: http://www.squidoo.com/petcareonline
If you're considering sharing your home with a pet canary, it's probably because you've heard so much about their nearly constant, bubbly singing. Join the club! Since the seventeenth century, pet owners the world over have kept canaries for nothing more than the sheer pleasure of birdsong filling their homes. A canary is not merely a feathered music box, though, and pet canary care is so much more than the gilded cage of old. A canary is a living thing, dependent on you for food, shelter, and love, and canary care, while not rocket science, involves a certain level of avian expertise. Ready to become an expert? Study hard!
Thanks to selective breeding, there's quite possibly a canary out there to suit every personality and desire. Some canaries are bred for their coloration, some are bred for their shape, and some, of course, are bred to produce a very specific song pattern. What kind of canary you purchase will depend on what canary resources are available near you. If you can find a reputable canary breeder, that will be your best option. Many pet stores now, however, commit to purchasing healthy birds only from reputable breeders, but check first to make sure that your canary was not wild caught or raised in less-than-desirable conditions. If the pet store manager can not account for where your potential canary came from, don't buy a canary from that store! Oh, and be sure that the canary you purchase is a male, if it's a strong singer you're after. The females are incapable of producing the characteristic long trills and melodies that made canaries famous.
Canaries can be quite delicate, so a primary part of learning to care for a pet canary is to realize that prevention is key. If there's a number one rule of pet canary care, it's that you absolutely must keep your canary away from drafts at all times. A drafty room can kill a canary without any warning whatsoever, and even a slight draft can prevent your canary from warbling. If a lit candle flickers when held outside your canary's cage, then you've picked a spot that's too drafty for your new feathered friend! As far as cages go, your canary doesn't require anything too spectacular-just enough room to hop about and stretch his wings. Make sure you purchase a cage that is at least two feet wide and three or four feet tall. Get a cage with a tray in the bottom to make for easy cleaning, and make sure that the bars of the cage are not coated with toxic paint or other chemical sealants. You should clean your canary's cage thoroughly at least once a week, washing perches, food and water containers, and toys in a mild bleach solution, and washing down the rest of the cage with dish soap and warm water.
While they can't stand drafts, canaries do love indirect sunlight. A good supply of natural light will keep your canary singing, and will also interest him in breeding should a female be present. If a draft will kill a canary the fastest, a second runner up is dehydration. Because of their speedy metabolisms, canaries require a lot of water and may die if they go as little as a day without it. Change your canary's water daily and never leave for more than a day without asking someone to water your canary for you. As for food, seed is the mainstay of a canary's diet, and there are many good commercially available seed mixes made specifically for canaries. You should supplement your canary's seed with a little fresh fruit and boiled egg every day. An apple slice and a fourth of a hard boiled egg is enough. You should also provide your canary with a cuttlebone, as he will gnaw on this to attain necessary calcium.
With these basic rules and supplies of pet canary care well in hand, you're ready to seek out the perfect canary for you. Will you choose a rosy red colorbred canary, an exotic Persian Singer, or something in between? Whatever your decision, your canary will thank you exuberantly for the next ten to fifteen years the best way he knows how-by singing his heart out.
About The Author: Barry S. Mcgee is a pet enthusiast. His site at: http://www.squidoo.com/petcareonline provides advice and information on all aspects of pet care for all types of pets including dogs, cats, ferrets and others and makes it easier for pet owners to choose the best solution for their companion's care.
For answers to all your pet care questions, please visit: http://www.squidoo.com/petcareonline
Friday, January 11, 2008
3 Simple Steps to Change Your Parrot's Bad Behavior
By Mikael Rieck
To be the lucky owner of pet parrot can be a stressful experience. Whether you have parrots, macaws, conures, parakeets or any other type of pet parrots, you will need to train them to some extent. So far you may have experienced a lot of problems with your pet and you might even have been bitten or attacked by it. Maybe it hasn't been you but someone in your family or guests that came by that upset the bird when they got to close to the cage. This is a normal reaction but it doesn't have to be.
Parrot birds are originally wilds animals living the the great forests of the world. Their instincts have are making them behave in a certain way. But it is no more than that... A behavioral pattern that can be changed through the right form of training. Unfortunately there are many parrot owners that never go as far as to start that training. They believe that because the parrots are originally wild animals, then it is okay for them to scream all day and even bite if you come to close. Let me tell you this: It is not okay!
Most pet parrots are born in cages and have never had to use their natural instincts to survive. They have been around humans all of their lives and have never had to be aggressive in any way. The reason that a parrot starts behaving this way is due to a lack of training. That means that the cure to behavioral problems like biting and screaming is no more that intensive training that will learn the parrot to be disciplined. Parrots are clever animals and they are easy to learn new ways of behaving.
You will find that once your parrot have calmed down and are no longer aggressive towards humans, it will become a much happier and balanced bird. You can actually see the mood change and the correlation between you as a pet owner and the parrot as a pet will improve greatly.
So How Do You Train It?
They were first thing you will need to work on is your own attitude and mood. Just as you can influence other humans in a negative way by being stressed or angry, so will you also experience difficulties training your pet if you are not in a good mood. You'll find that your parrot will often tend to copy the mood you're in so be sure to stay happy, open and willing to give it your all. When you are well rested and in a positive mood you can begin the training of your parrot.
There are three basic training steps that you should always start out with. There is no right or wrong step to begin with so just start with one of the three. The key here is not that things are perfect but rather that you act and that you do it continually over a longer period of time. Repeating the training process every day until you get the results you want is the secret to success.
If your parrot doesn't trust you when you first start out you will need to build on that trust first. You can't teach a parrot that doesn't trust you anything. Start out with the three exercises in a slow and gentle way so that trust can be built or restored.
The 3 Secret Steps to Success
Giving Treats by Hand:
When offering your pet parrot a treat you have to make sure that you more your hand very slowly towards it. Make it feel that you are a person that it can trust and that you won't do it any harm. Remain positive, certain and strong. At first your parrot might scream at you or even try to bite you. If it bites, go get a thick pair of gloves so that you won't be affected by its biting. Train this exercise several times a day for as many days as it takes to have your parrot accept and even enjoy that you're giving it treats.
To Step Up:
You will want to learn your parrot to feel comfortable with you and the easiest way is to learn it to step up into your hand. When practicing this step you have to say the words "step up" in a repetitive stream so that the parrot will learn that the words "step up" means that it should automatically step into your hand. Starting out (wearing gloves if it tends to bite), press your hand against its belly in a clear and slow movement. Press towards the birds belly until it is forced to step into your hand. Do it gently and as many times as possible. Repeat the process daily for as long as it takes and don't stop until you have your parrot stepping voluntarily into your hand on command.
Talk to Your Bird:
Parrots are talking birds and many of them can get quite good at it. Start out with the word "hello" and keep repeating it until your birds has learned to say it in a clear tone of voice. DO not move on to other words until it has learned the first one. Take one word at a time and only move on to the next when it gets it right. Remember to reward it with treats and positive words and gestures. It is actually no different that when teaching children how to talk. Be patients and it WILL come.
Use about 20 minutes per lesson and only one or two times a day for two weeks will produce incredible results. It doesn't take that much effort as the key is in the repetitive process. I wish you the best of luck.
The author runs the PetInsurancePro.com website and has a special section about pet insurance for birds. Come visit the website for more information.
To be the lucky owner of pet parrot can be a stressful experience. Whether you have parrots, macaws, conures, parakeets or any other type of pet parrots, you will need to train them to some extent. So far you may have experienced a lot of problems with your pet and you might even have been bitten or attacked by it. Maybe it hasn't been you but someone in your family or guests that came by that upset the bird when they got to close to the cage. This is a normal reaction but it doesn't have to be.
Parrot birds are originally wilds animals living the the great forests of the world. Their instincts have are making them behave in a certain way. But it is no more than that... A behavioral pattern that can be changed through the right form of training. Unfortunately there are many parrot owners that never go as far as to start that training. They believe that because the parrots are originally wild animals, then it is okay for them to scream all day and even bite if you come to close. Let me tell you this: It is not okay!
Most pet parrots are born in cages and have never had to use their natural instincts to survive. They have been around humans all of their lives and have never had to be aggressive in any way. The reason that a parrot starts behaving this way is due to a lack of training. That means that the cure to behavioral problems like biting and screaming is no more that intensive training that will learn the parrot to be disciplined. Parrots are clever animals and they are easy to learn new ways of behaving.
You will find that once your parrot have calmed down and are no longer aggressive towards humans, it will become a much happier and balanced bird. You can actually see the mood change and the correlation between you as a pet owner and the parrot as a pet will improve greatly.
So How Do You Train It?
They were first thing you will need to work on is your own attitude and mood. Just as you can influence other humans in a negative way by being stressed or angry, so will you also experience difficulties training your pet if you are not in a good mood. You'll find that your parrot will often tend to copy the mood you're in so be sure to stay happy, open and willing to give it your all. When you are well rested and in a positive mood you can begin the training of your parrot.
There are three basic training steps that you should always start out with. There is no right or wrong step to begin with so just start with one of the three. The key here is not that things are perfect but rather that you act and that you do it continually over a longer period of time. Repeating the training process every day until you get the results you want is the secret to success.
If your parrot doesn't trust you when you first start out you will need to build on that trust first. You can't teach a parrot that doesn't trust you anything. Start out with the three exercises in a slow and gentle way so that trust can be built or restored.
The 3 Secret Steps to Success
Giving Treats by Hand:
When offering your pet parrot a treat you have to make sure that you more your hand very slowly towards it. Make it feel that you are a person that it can trust and that you won't do it any harm. Remain positive, certain and strong. At first your parrot might scream at you or even try to bite you. If it bites, go get a thick pair of gloves so that you won't be affected by its biting. Train this exercise several times a day for as many days as it takes to have your parrot accept and even enjoy that you're giving it treats.
To Step Up:
You will want to learn your parrot to feel comfortable with you and the easiest way is to learn it to step up into your hand. When practicing this step you have to say the words "step up" in a repetitive stream so that the parrot will learn that the words "step up" means that it should automatically step into your hand. Starting out (wearing gloves if it tends to bite), press your hand against its belly in a clear and slow movement. Press towards the birds belly until it is forced to step into your hand. Do it gently and as many times as possible. Repeat the process daily for as long as it takes and don't stop until you have your parrot stepping voluntarily into your hand on command.
Talk to Your Bird:
Parrots are talking birds and many of them can get quite good at it. Start out with the word "hello" and keep repeating it until your birds has learned to say it in a clear tone of voice. DO not move on to other words until it has learned the first one. Take one word at a time and only move on to the next when it gets it right. Remember to reward it with treats and positive words and gestures. It is actually no different that when teaching children how to talk. Be patients and it WILL come.
Use about 20 minutes per lesson and only one or two times a day for two weeks will produce incredible results. It doesn't take that much effort as the key is in the repetitive process. I wish you the best of luck.
The author runs the PetInsurancePro.com website and has a special section about pet insurance for birds. Come visit the website for more information.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Teaching Your Parrot Bird To Talk
By Azmi Adnan
To have a talking bird, it is preferable that you purchase a young, hand raised bird between the ages of two and six months. Older birds will not learn as fast and wild or untrained birds will be more difficult to train as they have already got used to the sounds ingrained in their heads. If you can only purchase an adult bird, you will need a lot of patience to train it to talk as it will take a much longer time, but it is not impossible.
The ability for your bird to mimic the human spoken words depend largely on the species, the character of your bird, your technique and how tame your bird is. You will need to work on taming your bird first and build its confidence in you as its master before you can succeed at training it to talk, so you have to work on that part. You will know that the bird is ready to be trained to talk if it is calm and looks at you confidently when you approach it.
The African Grey parrot, Greater Indian Hill Mynah and the Javan Hill Mynah are perfect talking birds to have because they are easier to train and very proficient. The tonal qualities and pronunciation may differ between these species but overall they are the more popular birds among bird lovers.
These birds can live for many years and bring much joy and companionship to you as you build their vocabulary and work on their tonal quality. Parrots may take in more words and be able to retain them as they have a stronger memory than the others.
Train your bird to talk every morning before you take off the cage cover. Repeat a word or phrase over and over again and make it a ritual. Your bird will be able to concentrate on the sounds in the dark and will try to respond to you with the same sound it hears. Do this also at different times of the day and especially during feeding time or when giving it its favorite tidbit. When the bird gets used to this, it will use the same sounds to get your attention while you are out sight when it is hungry or needs attention. When you hear this, reply back with the same words as affirmations, but do not approach the cage. When the bird tries to make a different expression, add in other words and phrases. This indicates that your bird is ready to learn new words to add into its vocabulary.
You can also use a recording to train your bird to talk or mimic sounds. Most bird parks use these method as a form of training as different bird trainer has different tonality or pronunciation. Make a recording on tape or CD and use words and phrases with clarity. If you do not have a good voice, ask someone you know to do it for you, or purchase a CD from a bird shop. Play the recording at different times of the day as this will surely have a great impact on your bird.
If you are making your own recording, do not put too many words and phrases in it as the bird has a small brain capacity. Ever heard of the phrase "bird brain" that is used so often on people? Expose your bird to a few words and phrases at a time and be patient about this. Your bird, if a parrot, can live beyond forty years, so what do you have to lose? If you intend to introduce new words and phrases, do this on another recording on tape or CD, and incorporate the older words in this new recording as well as a form of revision. This works very well in keeping the previous words permanently in your bird's vocabulary.
Azmi Adnan is a writer and a bird enthusiast. Visit his website at http://www.power-to-live.com/parrot.html and learn more about developing a life-long relationship with your birds.
To have a talking bird, it is preferable that you purchase a young, hand raised bird between the ages of two and six months. Older birds will not learn as fast and wild or untrained birds will be more difficult to train as they have already got used to the sounds ingrained in their heads. If you can only purchase an adult bird, you will need a lot of patience to train it to talk as it will take a much longer time, but it is not impossible.
The ability for your bird to mimic the human spoken words depend largely on the species, the character of your bird, your technique and how tame your bird is. You will need to work on taming your bird first and build its confidence in you as its master before you can succeed at training it to talk, so you have to work on that part. You will know that the bird is ready to be trained to talk if it is calm and looks at you confidently when you approach it.
The African Grey parrot, Greater Indian Hill Mynah and the Javan Hill Mynah are perfect talking birds to have because they are easier to train and very proficient. The tonal qualities and pronunciation may differ between these species but overall they are the more popular birds among bird lovers.
These birds can live for many years and bring much joy and companionship to you as you build their vocabulary and work on their tonal quality. Parrots may take in more words and be able to retain them as they have a stronger memory than the others.
Train your bird to talk every morning before you take off the cage cover. Repeat a word or phrase over and over again and make it a ritual. Your bird will be able to concentrate on the sounds in the dark and will try to respond to you with the same sound it hears. Do this also at different times of the day and especially during feeding time or when giving it its favorite tidbit. When the bird gets used to this, it will use the same sounds to get your attention while you are out sight when it is hungry or needs attention. When you hear this, reply back with the same words as affirmations, but do not approach the cage. When the bird tries to make a different expression, add in other words and phrases. This indicates that your bird is ready to learn new words to add into its vocabulary.
You can also use a recording to train your bird to talk or mimic sounds. Most bird parks use these method as a form of training as different bird trainer has different tonality or pronunciation. Make a recording on tape or CD and use words and phrases with clarity. If you do not have a good voice, ask someone you know to do it for you, or purchase a CD from a bird shop. Play the recording at different times of the day as this will surely have a great impact on your bird.
If you are making your own recording, do not put too many words and phrases in it as the bird has a small brain capacity. Ever heard of the phrase "bird brain" that is used so often on people? Expose your bird to a few words and phrases at a time and be patient about this. Your bird, if a parrot, can live beyond forty years, so what do you have to lose? If you intend to introduce new words and phrases, do this on another recording on tape or CD, and incorporate the older words in this new recording as well as a form of revision. This works very well in keeping the previous words permanently in your bird's vocabulary.
Azmi Adnan is a writer and a bird enthusiast. Visit his website at http://www.power-to-live.com/parrot.html and learn more about developing a life-long relationship with your birds.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
How To Tame Your Pet Bird
By Azmi Adnan
Keeping a bird as a pet can be interesting and rewarding, especially if your bird is from the parrot family that can live for many years. These birds can be easily tamed and trained to perform tricks or to talk and sing with amazing clarity. A tamed pet parrot can be your life-long companion and keep you company. Many pet parrot owners find joy training their birds to talk, and unlike your dog or cat, it can be very satisfying when your bird wishes you 'good morning'.
But before you try to train your bird to talk, it is necessary to win its confidence first. This would be having your bird to get used to your presence and the presence of the all the people living with you in the house. It would be easier to tame a bird if it is two to six months old. Anything older than that would require a lot of patience on your part. Full-grown parrots can bite hard and injure you if you are not careful. Try not to make sudden moves that surprises your bird or it will defend itself through natural instincts.
Pet your bird by gently scratching its head for it to get used to you. Offer food from the other hand, such as nuts, celery, corn, raisin, and grapes. You should also offer your bird milk or fruit juice from a small cup. Don't give your bird leftovers from your lunch or dinner, or junk food like burger meat, hotdog or high calorie cakes.
Use hunger as leverage when taming your bird. This method is widely used in bird parks around the world. When your bird has not been fed for a couple of hours, place the food on a dish near you and led the bird come to you for feeding. The bird would feel nervous at first, but once it gets used to this, it would be natural for the bird to come to you with confidence
If your bird is quite wild when you first purchased it, you could place the cage next to you when you go about doing your personal things such as reading, watching tv or writing. It would just be a matter of time before your bird get used to having your presence around. If your bird is big, you might want to rough around with it such as scratching its head and back. Protect yourself with gloves or a towel at first until it eventually recognises you as its master. Soon your bird will expect this kind of attention from people it is familiar with.
You would need to do a complete examination of your bird at least once a month and look out for abnormalities such as ingrown feather or toenails or a beak that needs trimming. Look out also for possible liver trouble in the form of swollen or dark abdomen. Wash the legs with warm water to get rid of encrusted droppings and apply Vaseline to soften the scales and kill scale lice.
With patience, you will have a great companion that keeps you company for years to come.
Azmi Adnan is a writer and a bird enthusiast. Visit his website at http://www.power-to-live.com/parrot.html and learn more about developing a life-long relationship with your birds.
Keeping a bird as a pet can be interesting and rewarding, especially if your bird is from the parrot family that can live for many years. These birds can be easily tamed and trained to perform tricks or to talk and sing with amazing clarity. A tamed pet parrot can be your life-long companion and keep you company. Many pet parrot owners find joy training their birds to talk, and unlike your dog or cat, it can be very satisfying when your bird wishes you 'good morning'.
But before you try to train your bird to talk, it is necessary to win its confidence first. This would be having your bird to get used to your presence and the presence of the all the people living with you in the house. It would be easier to tame a bird if it is two to six months old. Anything older than that would require a lot of patience on your part. Full-grown parrots can bite hard and injure you if you are not careful. Try not to make sudden moves that surprises your bird or it will defend itself through natural instincts.
Pet your bird by gently scratching its head for it to get used to you. Offer food from the other hand, such as nuts, celery, corn, raisin, and grapes. You should also offer your bird milk or fruit juice from a small cup. Don't give your bird leftovers from your lunch or dinner, or junk food like burger meat, hotdog or high calorie cakes.
Use hunger as leverage when taming your bird. This method is widely used in bird parks around the world. When your bird has not been fed for a couple of hours, place the food on a dish near you and led the bird come to you for feeding. The bird would feel nervous at first, but once it gets used to this, it would be natural for the bird to come to you with confidence
If your bird is quite wild when you first purchased it, you could place the cage next to you when you go about doing your personal things such as reading, watching tv or writing. It would just be a matter of time before your bird get used to having your presence around. If your bird is big, you might want to rough around with it such as scratching its head and back. Protect yourself with gloves or a towel at first until it eventually recognises you as its master. Soon your bird will expect this kind of attention from people it is familiar with.
You would need to do a complete examination of your bird at least once a month and look out for abnormalities such as ingrown feather or toenails or a beak that needs trimming. Look out also for possible liver trouble in the form of swollen or dark abdomen. Wash the legs with warm water to get rid of encrusted droppings and apply Vaseline to soften the scales and kill scale lice.
With patience, you will have a great companion that keeps you company for years to come.
Azmi Adnan is a writer and a bird enthusiast. Visit his website at http://www.power-to-live.com/parrot.html and learn more about developing a life-long relationship with your birds.
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