Whole Pet Parrot Care Guide

Despite the fact that some of them can outlive their owners, birds are more fragile than many other types of animals. In fact, miners used this weakness to stay safe underground. They often carried a canary with them because they knew these birds were so sensitive that the canary would die if the air in the tunnel was unhealthy.

Pet birds have this same susceptibility to unhealthy odors. Teflon pans, aerosol sprays and even furniture polish can be lethal for your birds. Always be sure to use anything with a strong odor in a well-ventilated area that is well away from your birds.

Another serious danger for pet birds is their desire to chew. Birds will chew on welded items and develop lead poisoning from the soldered joints. They will also nibble on potted plants. Be sure that any plants near your bird's cage are not toxic. If you aren't sure, you may want to move them just to be safe. Despite all the reports to the contrary, poinsettia plants are not poisonous. Providing a safe alternative, such as a small pot of parsley can help your birds avoid the temptation to nibble on your houseplants.

When you feed your birds fresh food, you usually are doing something good for your birds. However, there are some things you should not feed them. Avocado, coffee and chocolate are toxic to birds.

As you approach the holiday season, you will probably be bringing a tree into the house. Many people see the tree and naturally assume that their birds can enjoy climbing on it. However, many Christmas trees are toxic to birds, especially if they have been treated with any type of preservatives. In addition, many of the ornaments and the electric lights can pose a safety hazard.

Of course, if your bird does not have clipped wings, there are quite a few additional safety concerns that you will face. First, you should be sure that all of your windows have curtains or shades so that you can cover them while your bird is out. If you have glass doors, they should be covered as well. If you don't use curtains or shades, you should place safety decals on the glass so your birds can tell the glass is there. More than one bird has flown into glass and broken his neck. Mirrors and other large reflective surfaces pose the same problem.

Next, you should be sure you don't have standing water accessible when your bird is out. Your bird can drown in the toilet or the kitchen sink in a matter of seconds. Cooking while a bird that can fly is out is also a bad idea, especially if you have an uncovered pot on the stove.

Finally, more than one bird owner has forgotten that his bird was perched on his shoulder when he has hurried to answer the door. Never carry your bird to an open door, even if his wings are clipped. A bird with clipped wings can still glide quite far if he catches an updraft.

With their strong beaks and active minds, it is no wonder that birds quickly grow unhappy if they are sitting in an empty cage. Since some birds become pluckers and pull out the majority of their feathers when they are bored, it is important that you give birds toys to keep them happy and healthy.

One of the most essential things you should consider when choosing bird toys is whether the toys are the right size for your bird. Toys that are designed for small birds are not always safe for large birds, since their larger, more powerful beaks could break pieces off of toys that were meant for smaller birds.

If you have smaller birds, Olympic rings and swings are extremely popular toys. In fact, if you put both toys in the cage, some of the more active birds will try to swing on both toys at once. Some bigger birds enjoy swings, too, but the majority of them don't seem to be quite as fond of swings as little birds. If there is enough room, ladders are a favorite with birds of all sizes.

Larger birds enjoy puzzle and maze toys, especially if their favorite nuts are in the toys. They also like toys with leather knots that can be unknotted or any other toys that engage their minds and their bodies.

Birds that pluck do well with toys that can be preened. When they are busy preening their toys, they spend less time pulling out their feathers. If you buy toys with preening strips made with cotton fabric, keep a close eye on the toys. When one of the strips begins to fray, remove it immediately. The threads could tangle around your bird's neck or toe. Preening toys made with feathers are a bit safer, since they don't pose the danger of loose threads.

Play gyms for birds are similar to play gyms for children and are just as popular with our feathered friends. You can find small play gyms with a swing, perch and ladder or you can find elaborate gyms with seesaws, treat bowls and climbing ropes.

There are some toys you should avoid. If a toy has a mirror or extremely reflective surface, your bird may become bonded to his reflection instead of remaining tame and friendly with people. Toys with small parts that are not securely attached, such as small, flimsy clappers in cowbells, are also a bad idea. If your bird removes a tiny part and swallows it, there could be fatal consequences. If you buy a toy which does have a cowbell, you may want to remove the clapper ahead of time to be on the safe side.

Finally, just as young children will discard an expensive toy to play with an oatmeal box, birds often are just as happy playing with simple toys, such as tongue depressors, children's wooden blocks, or paper towel tubes. Just be sure that you supervise them closely to be sure they don't ingest whatever they are playing with.