FAQ

Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question. Please feel free to contact me at any time to pick my brain. Although I sometimes like to think I know it all (my husband will attest to that), I certainly DO NOT, but will do my best to help you out. ;o) Ask me some good questions, so I can add more to my FAQ page here.

A: This has to be my most commonly asked question. No! Lovebirds make much better companion pets if kept singly. If you keep more than one lovebird, chances are they will prefer to interact with each other, rather than with you. Having said that, if you are away a lot and won't have much time to interact with your lovebird, perhaps it would be happier with another bird to interact with. This does not mean they should be kept in the same cage! In fact, it can be deadly to put two lovebirds in the same cage. If you have two hens, they may fight, seriously injuring or even killing one or the other. Even pairs of the opposite sex may not get along. Be sure two lovebirds get along before allowing them to share the same cage.

A: The easy answer to this is 'No'. Lovebirds can be very aggressive little blighters and your cockatiel wouldn't stand a chance. Lovebirds generally don't do well caged with any other birds. This doesn't mean that they can't have supervised out of cage time, just be sure you are ready to intervene should it become necessary. There are exceptions to every rule: just look at our own Carl and Nibbles to see that!

A: The easy answer to this one is 'As large a cage as you can afford'. The cage needs a variety of perches, toys and at least two dishes, one for food and one for water. All this and you need enough room for the bird to fully spread it's wings and flap without hitting anything. You bird is going to be spending a good deal of it's time in it's cage; it should be as good a one as you can make it. Also taking into consideration bar spacing. Too narrow a spacing, and wings can get caught. Too large, and little heads can get stuck.

_{A: Yes! These are
smart little guys, and like all intelligent creatures, they benefit from play.
Depriving your bird of anything to play with amounts to cruelty, in my opinion.
There are dozens of websites with bird toys for sale, not to mention your local
pet store. You can even learn to make your own (by far the cheapest solution,
and not difficult to do).}

A: Varied. Your pet bird can eat almost anything you do. Even the occasional piece of well cooked meat is ok for birds. Not being mammals, birds cannot digest lactose, so milk products should be very limited, though most birds do love a tiny piece of cheese now and then. Veggies, raw or cooked, fruit, pasta... as long as you don't add salt, sugar or butter to it, your bird can eat it too. CHOCOLATE, AVOCADO, CAFFEINE, and ALCOHOL are all very TOXIC to birds and should never be fed in any amount! We feed our birds and extruded pellet diet, along with mashes, fresh foods, soaked seed and seed. We also lightly supplement with Healthy Bird products.

A: This is a matter of personal preference. I have both flighted and unflighted birds. My greys are both flighted, but never fly. My pet linnie and lovebird are both flighted and do very well. There are dangers though. A flighted bird can make it to an open door before you can shout a warning, or into a kitchen with a hot stove. Flying into windows or mirrors can pose a real hazard too. And if your bird isn't completely hand tame, the power of flight can make it very difficult for you to work on your relationship. Also, flighted birds can become aggressive, flying to attack a disliked person (No.1 reason my cockatoo Peter is clipped). All of our babies are clipped after learning to fly well, and if necessary, again before going to their new homes. Wing clipping is relatively easy to do, but you should be shown how to do it properly before attempting to do it yourself.

A: This depends on the bird. A Sandy Perch goes a long way in keeping claws trimmed, though I find that linnies often need their nails trimmed anyway. Don't wait for the nails to become too long, or it will be way too easy to cut the quick, making the trimming painful and causing bleeding. Keep something to stop the blood on hand (corn starch, or stypic powder), just in case, and if you are not comfortable doing the clipping yourself, have it done at the vets or by a knowledgeable breeder/owner. Generally speaking, beaks do not need to be clipped or shaped in any way. Be sure you bird has access to chewing materials and a good Sandy Perch, and he'll trim his own beak though normal wear and tear. If you find your bird's beak is growing too long, there may be an underlying medical problem. See your vet (for example, liver dysfunction often results in an overgrown beak).

A: A yearly check-up is beneficial. It can catch problems that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Birds generally do not require regular vaccinations (though vaccines are available for some of the more common psitticine diseases). It is very important to find a vet that is willing and able to care for birds. Do not assume the vet you currently see for your dog or can can/will treat your bird! Ask around (other bird owners, breeders, etc), to see who treats their birds. If you are lucky enough to have an avian certified vet in your area, get to know him/her. Avian certified means the vet has extra training in the treatment of birds. Not everyone is lucky enough to have an avian certified vet nearby. I would have to travel 8 or 9 hours to get to the nearest one. If that is the case with you, find a vet who at least has a special interest in birds.

A: Right away! A bird that looks sick is most likely on death's door. Birds are prey animals, and have evolved to hide any weaknesses (illness or injury) as a way to avoid attracting a predator's attentions. If a bird looks ill, it is so desperately ill that it no longer has the energy to hide this fact. If there is no way to get the bird to a vet immediately, keep him in a warm, humid area to help reduce any stress until you can get him to a vet.

A PARROT'S BILL OF RIGHTS
by Stewart A. Metz, M.D.

GET TO KNOW ABOUT PARROTS BEFORE YOU BRING ME HOME - I am not a domesticated pet like a dog or cat. I still have the spirit of the jungle in me. I have special needs which you may find it hard to fill. Please don't learn these too late for my well-being. And please don't acquire one of my cousins wild from the jungle—it will jeopardize his survival and well-being, and that won't be a party for you either!

GIVE ME THE LARGEST HOME POSSIBLE - I am used to flying through rainforests or savannas. I have given up this great gift for your pleasure. At the very least, give me enough room to flap my wings and exercise. And I need toys for my amusement and wood to chew—otherwise, I might confuse your Home with the forest and its trees.

GIVE ME A NUTRITIOUS DIET - I need a wide variety of fresh and nutritious foods, even if they take time to prepare. I cannot survive on seeds alone. Take time to learn what my needs, and preferences, are.

LET ME HAVE A 'SOCIAL LIFE' - I am a gregarious flock animal—but I am not one of you. I need lots of socialization to learn how to act with you, and with my siblings. I also need to have adequate quality time with you every day—no matter what your schedule or other needs are. I am a living,feeling creature. Above all, I need to be able to have complete trust in you, and count on your predictability in looking after me—every day.

LET ME BE CLEAN - I may like to drop food or even throw it, but I need meticulous cleanliness to be healthy. My skin itches without frequent showers, the barbs of my feathers won't seal if they become oily and, worst of all, I may become ill if my food or water is not always sanitary.

I NEED MY OWN DOCTOR - You may not understand my physiology and therefore you may not recognize it early on when I get sick. And it may be too late when you do, because I hide my illnesses (remember what I said about my being an animal of the jungle, where there are lots of predators). And I need an avian vet—a specialist (no HMOs for me please). If you can't afford one, perhaps you shouldn't have taken me home.

PLEASE DON'T PUNISH ME - Just as I don't always understand your peculiarities, you may not understand mine. I don't TRY to get in trouble—remember, a house is not the jungle. If I do screw up, don't yell at me and never hit me. I have sensitive ears and I may never trust you again if you strike me. Hands are sometimes scary things to us (why in the world would you not be zygodactylous like us?). Even more importantly, we don't learn by punishment. We are gentle creatures who only strike back to protect ourselves; we learn through patience and love.

SPEAK MY " LANGUAGE" - I know you get upset with me when I knock over my water bowl, throw food, scream or pluck my feathers. I don't do these to annoy you—I am probably trying to tell you something ( perhaps that I am hurting, lonely , or sad.). Learn to speak MY (body) language. Remember that I , alone of all creatures on this planet, learn to speak yours!

SEE ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL - I am a unique and feeling being.. No two of us are alike. Please don't be disappointed in me if I don't talk like you wanted, or can't do the tricks that your friend's parrot can do. But if you pay close attention to me (and I always empathize with you, whether you know it or not), I will show you a unique being who will give you so much more than talking and playing.. Give me a chance to show you who I am; I think you'll find the effort worth it. And remember—I am not an ornament;. I do not enhance ANY living room décor. And I am not a status symbol—if you use me as such, I might nip at your up-turned nose!

SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH ME - Above all, please remember that you are my Special Person. I put all my trust and faith in you.. We parrots are used to being monogamous. (no bar-hopping for us!). So please don't go away for long periods or give me away—that would be a sadness from which I may never recover. If that seems to be asking a lot, remember—you could have learned about my needs before bringing me home. Even having a baby or taking a new job isn't a fair reason—you made a commitment to me FIRST. And if you think that you must leave me because you might die, provide for me forever after you leave. I may live to a ripe old age but I can't provide for myself. Remember I'm in a small cage amongst people who are not of my blood.

YOUR RIGHTS - You have lots of rights, but I can only assure one. And that is, if you treat me the way I described above, I will reward you with unwavering love, humor, knowledge, beauty, dedication-- and a sense of wonder and awe you haven't felt since you were a child. When you took me home, you became my Flock Leader, indeed, my entire universe –for life. I would hang the moon and stars for you if I could. We are one in Heart and Soul.