Story Time: How I got into Birds

This is a special blog, because it is the last one. So many people have a story or a reason as to how they came to like birds, others don’t, but I happen to have a story behind it and I thought I would share. I don’t think I would have ever gotten in to birds or have the amazing birds I have to day if it wasn’t for what I am about to tell you. I am also going to go into how I got my curent birds.

It was a hot summer day and I was 10 years old. My little brother had a baseball tournament, and I was at the baseball field to help support him. Then I say a beautiful bird fly across the sky and land on the top of the many fences. I immediately went to look at it. It had a little mohawk (plume), gray body, yellow head, and red checks.

I was so happy to see such a pretty bird and I immediately loved it. I asked my mom what typeof bird it was and she said it was a cockatiel. I asked her if it was a pet bird, and she said “yes, but it is most likely a bird that escaped or was born into the wild. ” I really like the bird, so I asked her if I could possibly get one, and she said, “maybe.” I was ecstatic with just a maybe. With my sister I followed the bird all day long. I even gave the bird a name.I had named him Henry.

The next day of the tournament the bird was still there and I followed it around again. I even tried to catch a few times to try and take it home,but it never worked. I remember watching the bird and thinking that it was very brave to continue to fly in and out of the baseball games. I loved watching him and it was very fun following him around and seeing what he was doing. That bird is what essentially got me into birds.

After having interactions with that bird, I knew I wanted one. I started doing research on how to properly care for a bird,, how to teach tricks, food, toys, and other things I would need to know in order to get one. I asked my mom after I knew a lot of information if I could finally have one, and she said “Yes, only if you can whistle.” At the time I was not able to whistle, and I find out later that my mom had said that because she thought I would never be able to whistle. I proved her wrong and was able to whistle in less then a day because I practiced a lot so that I could get one. I specifically wanted a cockatiel just like the bird I had seen at the field.

I didn’t actually get a bird until 2 years later. I was 12 years old and I had still been looking around at birds. An at this time I had gotten to hold a bird as well which got me interested in other species, but I still wanted a cockatiel. I saw a lost cockatiel that had been found on the OC pet adoption site and after bout a month of being there, they are auctioned off to a family that will take care of them. The day the auction was happening I was very excited because I had been told My mom might go.When I came home from school that day a beautiful gray cockatiel was there sitting in a cage.I was so happy. I had named it Pixel. Sadly Pixel died not even a week later because he had not been drinking enough water, although I gave him fresh water everyday or he died from sickness. I was heartbroken. The next day my parents worked with my grandparents to get me a new bird. And he was the standard cockatiel look and I named him Snickers. Once again I was very happy to have a bird, and I loved him from the start.

I taught him tricks, like how to whistle and say “pretty bird.” He was very good. After a year f having him I got a second bird, which was a green checked conure who I named Hershey. I keep the in seperate cages of course. I have always been very happy with them and lobed how sweet they are and how they get a long pretty well. However if it wasn’t for the bird o the baseball field, I would have ever gotten into birds the way I am now.

June 4, 2019 0

How to Tell If a Bird is Sick

This is a very important thing to know when having a bird. You always want to know if your bird is in good health or not. If you notice that your bird is sick then you want to take them to the vet right away, so they can get better and so that you don’t have to worry about their health. They generally should be pretty healthy most of the time, but it is those sudden times that give you a scare, and you might want to know what to look for.

There are many symptoms a sick bird may have, and once again if they show any symptoms then you want to take them to the avian vet right away. Some birds when they are sick might act differently and puff up their feathers. Puffing up is a normal behavior when they are sleeping, but it is not normal for it to be constantly, so when they do this they are showing they might be sick. A bird might also bob their tail when breathing which means their breathing may be irregular which also shows sickness.

Some other signs may be if your bird is resting more and not as active. Their body will be wanting to get more sleep to try and fight off their sickness and it be apparent if they are trying to rest or are sleeping more then they usually do. They might also have bad posture at rest and be having their eyes half closed for a while. This is another sign that they are trying to get more rest and tat they are possibly sick.

Birds may also have strange discharge as a sign of sickness. They might have discharge or wetness around the nose. This will normally be seen at the top of the widest part of the beak or at feathers near beak. The bird might also not fully digest or throw up food. This can be a courtship regurgitation, so just be careful wit this sign because the bird might not actually be sick. The bird however can definitely be sick if their poop has any undigested parts or is runny. There should always be a constant color and consistency of their poop, so it is important to check their pop to make sure they are not sick ever. Their should never be fully undigested seeds in their poop.

Other signs can be feather plucking which can be from boredom or skin irritation. Other signs can be if the feathers are poorly preened. This is bad because fathers are very important to their survival and they always take a good job of taking care of their feathers. They take pride in them and it shows they really aren’t feeling well if they aren’t taking care of their feathers. They might also show weight loss which means they aren’t eating much. This is important because it can be dangerous if the bird doesn’t have much reserve in them and is a direct sign of them being sick.

In general always monitor your birds and if their is anything unusual you can always google it, but I would suggest taking your bird to the vet, who will know what is going on. They will be the best person to talk to if you are worried about your feathered friend and the key to keeping them healthy.

Sources used:

Some Sick Bird Symptoms

May 21, 2019 0

How to Tell if Your Bird is Male or Female

There are several ways to tell if a bird is male or female. It is best to take your bird to the avian vet for a true gauge on if they are male or female, but their are some ways that you can tell from home with certain species. There is a variety of ways with just bird species alone. You also tell by the way they might act towards another bird.

Cockatiels

Female cockatiels tend to be reserved, but very sweet. The male cockatiels are typically the ones who are loud and chirping. Another way to distinguish them is by color. The males tend to be brighter than the females. For example grey Males tend to have a brighter orange cheek then the females.

Canaries

Theses birds are known for their singing However it is typically the male bird that would burst out into song. The female tends to be more reserved and will sing some, but not all the time.

Parakeets and Budgies

An easy way to tell if this bird is male or female is by the cere which is a bump on top of their nose. An adult male will have a blue cere. An adult female will have a pinkish-brown cere. This is only true about adult parakeets, because young parakeets will have a blue cere regardless of gender.

Zebra Finches

Males will be more colorful than the females.

Behavior

Another way besides the gender is if a bird is acting a certain way towards another one. For example they might spread their feathers as if they are showing them off. They might also screech or sing songs trying to get their attention. This means they are a male bird trying t mate with a female, which is another easy way to tell their genders.

April 2, 2019 0

Getting a New Bird!

My family recently got a new bird, so I thought I would go over getting a new bird and some important steps that come with it. It is very important that the bird works well with your family and is in the right level for you. There are three levels of birds, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. They all require different amounts of care and needs, so it is best to get a bird that you can suit the needs for it. And as you go up levels, the more the bird needs. If you have never had a bird before then get a beginner bird, not a advanced or intermediate because they require much more care.

It is also very important to choose a bird that is assertive and pays attention. When in the pet store and choosing the bird, you want to make sure the bird is paying attention to you and seems attentive. If they are hiding and ruffled or sleeping, they may not be good fit for you. When they are active, and being alert in the store, the more likely that they aren’t sick and will also be friendlier and more active when at home too.

Another thing to keep in mind when getting a new bird is having a home for them. They need to have a proper sized cage for their species. They will need to have perch space, and plenty of space to move around. They also need to have space for plenty of toys because they also need toys. Toys are needed to stimulate their minds and to keep from their beaks growing long.

Another part of having a new bird is making sure they get a proper diet. They should eat seeds that are designated for their species. They will also need to have fruits and vegetables that they can eat. This will all need to be in proper feeders or containers that are kept in cages at all times. Water is also essential to have in the cage at all times. The water needs to be in either a container or feeder as well.

Once all of this is set up, you can bring your bird home and put it in it’s new home. They will need to get used to their surroundings before you try and take them out. It is best to wait 24 to 48 hours before even putting your hand in their cage, because it will stress your bird out. Once this time has passed, it would be time to start training your bird. First try introducing your hand to them, then start trying to teach them how to step up by pressing your finger under their belly. Treats can be very helpful in this process. The birds may bite you, but it something that will stop once they are used to you, you just have to give time and patience. These are steps that are very important when getting new birds, but enjoy your new feathered friend.

March 19, 2019 0

Having a Clean Environment

It is very important to have a clean environment for your bird. They need to be in a clean cage with plenty of food and water at all times. They also need to be in a room with not to much direct sunlight because they will overheat if put them in direct sunlight. The cages should also be in an area where people will come in, so they can talk to them and interact. The cage should also be kept in a spot safe from animals.

Their environment should also not be to cold. If it is to cold the birds risk getting sick. It is also similar is it is to hot. The birds could overheat and they could get sick or die. It is very risky for this. The birds should also never be kept outside for to long because of these reasons.

The birds will be fine with all of these requirements. They do need to be safe when taken out of the cage as well. They need to be in a space with no open windows and with the same conditions as prior said for where their cages are. It is best if you can take out the birds where their cages are. The room should also be pretty easy to clean up because the birds will poop a lot and you will want it to be easy to clean up. The birds should be able to also come out with nothing their to harm them when coming out. This means no sharp objects, pins or any other item that could cause harm to the birds.

The quality of the air around the birds is also very important to monitor. It is important to not introduce to many scents to the birds at once, so no really strong smells or clashing scents for it it will confuse them. The air can also not be to cool or warm. There can’t be to many drafts near the cages.

Overall the birds need to remain safe anywhere they are. They have to have a special set of living conditions to remain safe and stay healthy.

January 15, 2019 0

A Bird’s Diet

It is very important that a bird gets a healthy diet. It is good for them to have plenty of food and water at all times. A normal diet should consist of seeds, fruits and vegetables. The birds will enjoy having fruits and vegetables as a treat, and are very healthy to add in to a birds regular diet. They should always have seeds or pellets to eat at all times, which should be kept in some sort of container in their cage to eat, along with water.

Fruits and vegetables are very good for birds to eat. However, they can only eat certain fruits and vegetables. Some can be harmful to the bird, but most are good. The fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Which are very important things a bird should get.

Fruits that are good for them to eat are cantaloupe, pears, bananas, mango and papaya, kiwi, pineapple that has been dethroned, pomegranate, grapes and persimmons. Citrus fruits should be given in moderation because they are acidic. These fruits such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits and lemons. Other fruits, such as peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries and plums are fine to give birds but never let your birds chew on the pits, which contain cyanide, as do apple seeds.

Vegetables that are good for birds to eat are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, pumpkin, squashes, kale, turnips, green, red, yellow and hot peppers, corn and mustard greens. Other vegetables that are good for birds to eat are peas, beans, and lentils. Beans such as kidney, red, lima, navy and soy must be cooked in order for the bird to eat it. The lentils they can eat of all varieties as long as they are also cooked. Some raw beans such as green beans and peas that they can remove from the pods and are a good source of fiber, and are fun for birds to play with. Green beans are also a good source of fiber. Carrots are a good source of vitamin A which birds lack, so it is very good for them. Sweet potatoes as a good source of vitamins A, B, C and E. They are also high in carbohydrates, so they should be given to birds only as a special treat.

Berries can also be eaten by birds, such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, boysenberries and other berries are rich in nutrients and antioxidants. They are very popular among birds because birds would eat them in their natural habitats. They are also colorful which birds tend to like.

These are all very important for birds to eat. They need all of these for the proper nutrients in their diet. They need all of these nutrients to remain healthy. Birds are very picky eaters, so they might not accept the food right away, but just keep feeding them the food everyday, so that they get their nutrients, and so that they get used to the food.

December 4, 2018 0

Bird Safety Tips!

In this bog today, I will be talking about bird safety. I will cover where to put cages, how to keep away from other animals, and more!

When you get a bird, you may need to make sure you have a proper spot to put a cage. You want to put the cage some where that does not have direct sunlight hitting the bird. You also don’t want to put the cage in a spot that is to cold or warm. If a bird gets to hot, the bird could get overheated and die. It is similar if the bird gets to cold,they could get very sick. You also want to refrain from putting a birds cage outside. It is okay to have an out door and an indoor cage, but the bird should not be left outside all the time.

Another tip is if you have other animals then just a bird, try to keep them away from the bird. If the bird is in their cage, it should be fine for other animals to be around it, just

keep the cage higher up. Also whenever you take your birds out always check for other animals before the bird is taken out. I have a dog and cat along with my two birds, and I have once found a cat hiding under my bed or in a box, so make sure to always, always check before handling the bird. If you do discover another animal in the room with you and your bird quickly put your hand over the birds wings and hold them until they are back in the cage. This will prevent them from flying and you can get them back to their cage safely. They may struggle in your hands by biting you and squirming, but it will be worth it to know that your bird is safe and sound

There are also lots of things that need to happen to make sure your birds and that includes their health.Make sure to always give your bird food,

and fresh water. Replace their water everyday, and always check their food. It may seem like they still have lots of food, but the seeds, could just be shells. The shells are seeds that are empty, so they have already been eaten from. An easy way to tell if there are shells is to blow on the birds food, which will cause the shells to just blow out of the food dish. Also make sure to clean out their cages every week. This will help keep them at their optimal health.

Another tip to keep your birds safe, is to know when they look sick. Some signs of sickness are trembling, being huddled, eyes dull or sunken, drooped or elevated wings, and several more signs can show that your bird is sick. Plucking can also be a sign of sickness or of your bird being stressed out. If you notice signs like these, then take your bird to the vet to get proper treatment. Just always make sure your bird is safe, and receives proper care at all times.

Example of plucking, my bird does it from stress.

October 7, 2018 0

Working With Your Bird

A recurring challenge that can be found with birds is finding a way to play with them

while multitasking. Your bird may have an attitude, and only want you to pay attention to them. You must multitask while playing to get your job done. They will really want to be out no matter what you are doing.

How this challenge of multitasking first comes up, is that they will try to distract you from your work. They could scream, bite,

annoy you, and more. They will continue doing this until you pay attention to them, and only them. If you give them attention and go back to work they will start distracting you again, so be prepared.

But, since this happens, just give your bird lots of love when you

are not working, also try different things with your bird. You could also take breaks every now and again to play with your birds. Also talking to them while you work distracts them. Another tip is if your hair is long to let it down, for your bird to play with.

How I met this challenge with my birds, is by moving them around. I will have both my birds out at the same time, but I have to keep them separate. For example I might have one bird on my knee, while the other is on my shoulder as I

work. I will talk to them and let them play with my hair while they are out to distract

them. I will also move them around to different spots on me.I might move them to my opposite shoulder, knees, or head. One of my birds really likes the top of my head. and will be calm there.

This still challenges me because my birds find new ways to get my attention to them. My conure, Hershey, finds ways to prevent me from doing homework all the time, and I just have to find ways to get her to stop. Like one time, I was reciting the Gettysburg Address, and she would stick her head in my mouth! So, find methods that work for you, and have some fun with your birds while you work.

Holding birds together, but keeping separate

September 25, 2018 0