Birds make wonderful pets! Many birds enjoy close contact which makes many of them nice, social and sometimes cuddly friends. Some birds just love to talk or sing to you. Many parrots will enjoy sharing meals with you, napping with you and even showering with you! They love to interact with their human companions!
Birds are easy to look after, they are hardy and they make great companions!
Cage Living:
Birds should be housed in a cage that is as roomy as possible, especially birds that will spend most or all of their time in the cage. Basically birds need to be able to stretch their wings and flap them without hitting anything. They should also be able to make short flights.
Horizontal bars on the sides of the cage are very important for birds that like to climb, such as parakeets, cockatiels and lots of playful parrots. Bar spacing needs to be small enough that the bird cannot get it's head through them. Metal bars are good for birds that like to chew.
It is really nice if the cage is easy to clean. Many cages have a slide out tray and an easily removable grate.
The cage should be placed in a draft free area that is well lit, but not in direct sunlight. To make your birds feel secure and comfortable keep their cage against a wall or in a corner, and at eye level if you hang it from the ceiling.
Aviary Living:
Aviaries are beneficial in providing large areas for birds, often with the intent of breeding. Aviaries can be either indoors or outdoors. Some birds are very noisy and can be a nuisance to close neighbors. So if your birds are loud, you may want to keep them in an indoor aviary or in a remote area.
Indoor aviaries give you the ability to control temperature, lighting, noise and humidity. An indoor aviary is often a room in a home devoted to birds. The windows are covered with wire and the door often has a wired porch with two doors to pass through . These are to keep your birds from flying out. Some indoor aviaries are simply a bird room with extra large cages. Doing it this way, the doors and windows don't need to be screened in.
Outdoor aviaries can provide your birds with a natural environment and are designed in a wide variety of styles. Because the birds are exposed to the weather, they must have indoor sheltering, possibly heated or cooled, if conditions get extreme. Outdoor aviaries always need a shaded area and wind breaks. Trees or large branches can fit in nicely to create a comfortable home, but must be of non-toxic woods.
Cages, Perches, and Toys
The largest cage size dimension should be length and width rather than height. Adequate space should be present to allow exercise. Birds should be allowed out of the cage for proper daily exercise. Ultimately, the cage size depends on how much time your bird spends in the cage. (The more time, the bigger the cage. )
Perches should be of varying diameter to exercise the feet. Natural branches from unsprayed fruit or hardwood trees make excellent perches. Sandpaper perches do nothing more than cause sore feet.
Toys should be carefully chosen. Many toys are unsafe. Some toys contain lead based products. Chain link toys and key chains can trap bird feet and tongues and cause serious injury. If you purchase a toy with a chain link, it is suggested you replace the chain with rawhide shoelaces. Be creative and make your own toys. (String nuts on rawhide, dog bones, rawhide chews, empty cardboard tubes from rolled paper products).
Training
Trimming the wings will often expedite training. A small room such as the bathroom (with toilet lid closed) will serve as a good training room. Schedule a couple of short sessions per day. Reward positive behavior with some treat which has been withheld from the regular diet. With small birds, you can start with your hands. In training larger birds, start working with a perch and gradually work up to your hands as the bond of trust develops. Try not to overwhelm new birds with intensive training the first few weeks it is in your home. It is recommended that you give the bird time to acclimate to your voice, its new environment and household noises before grabbing it out of the cage.
As puppies go to obedience school to learn good manners, bird kindergarten classes are available. And yes, older birds are capable of learning new tricks -- if you are not sure how to work with your bird, perhaps a bird behavior consult may be helpful.
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