| |
3742 Monroe Road
• Charlotte, NC 28205 • (704) 342-9955 |
| |
Birds
|
|
| |
|
Pet
birds have increased in popularity in the past decade. The number
of households now owning birds is in the millions. The diversity
of pet birds is enormous, from the smaller finches and canaries
to parakeets and the larger macaws. There seems to be a bird that
satisfies every persons wants and needs. We will briefly discuss
some aspects of having a new bird. Birds (especially the parrots)
possess great intelligence, similar to that seen in chimpanzees.
This must be taken into account for their psychological as well
as physical well being. Birds do and will require a lot of time
and effort on your part. People see a talking bird and are immediately
captivated, not realizing the years it took for the bird to learn
to speak. Perhaps in this aspect they are a little like our dogs
(how can we forget the hours of "sit-come-stay" or the
dreaded potty training?). The point is that birds do not come
into the world owner-ready, but need to be, in a sense, "taught"
to be pets.
|
|
| |
|
The cage
- Usually an overlooked but very important item. A birds cage
should be large enough so that it can stretch it's wings out
and turn around without touching the sides. The opening to the
cage should be large enough to easily get your bird in and out
of it. Make sure that the cage is of sturdy construction and
that it has a good door latch. This is to prevent your bird
from escaping and potentially injuring itself. The larger parrots
can and will bite through thin metal bars. Cages should also
be easy to clean as waste and food material will build up (birds
have a tendency to be messy eaters). The bottom of the cage
should have grate so that your pet will be separated from it's
droppings. The perches in the cage should be of different diameters.
This will be better for your birds feet.
Toys - Every bird should have a variety of toys with which to
play. These toys should be rotated every 10 days or so to prevent
boredom. When choosing a toy, take into consideration your birds
size and destructive capabilities.
Play Area - A place where the bird goes to have fun. There are
several play "gyms" available on the market today.
Diet - One of the most important aspects of a healthy bird.
Much research has been conducted lately on bird nutrition. As
a result of this research, there are pelleted diets available
that are complete in their nutritional value. Pelleted foods
should constitute a large proportion of the diet. As a general
rule, food that is good for people is good for birds. This includes
the many fruits and vegetables that we enjoy. Make sure they
are of good quality and clean before feeding to your pet. Avoid
the following: chocolate, avocados, alcohol and coffee.
|
|
| |
Carolina Exotic Animal Hospital
3742 Monroe Road • Charlotte, NC 28205 • (704) 342-9955
|
|
Copyright ©
1999 All Rights Reserved.
Intelligent Media Ventures, Inc.
|
|
