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Q. My canary has stopped whistling, has a ‘prickly-looking’ appearance, and there are loose feathers at the bottom of the cage….is my bird sick? |
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A. No, your canary is probably just moulting or changing its feathers. As a general rule, all birds moult at least twice a year. The reason your canary has stopped whistling is because it needs all its energy to change its feathering, but once the moult is complete, the canary should begin to whistle again.
You will also notice that your bird will be scratching itself more than usual. This is quite normal during a moult. |
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Q. My pet parrot only eats sunflower seeds…should I be feeding my pet other foods or is this sufficient? |
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A. Your pet should be eating other foods, such as a variety of fruits, vegetables and nuts on a regular basis (except iceberg lettuce as it can cause diarrhoea and definitely no avocado as it is toxic).
Sunflower seeds consumed in large quantities can cause health problems, as they are high in fat. Only small amounts of grey sunflower should be fed to parrots…black sunflower should be avoided in seed mixes as it can make parrots ill with prolonged use. We prefer to feed our parrots a good quality seed mix such as Small Parrot Mix (which we prepare ourselves) that contains a number of other seeds providing your bird with more variety. Large parrot mixes provide a limited selection of seeds. Other food supplements could be given such as millet spray, calcium grit, pelleted foods, and gourmet seed mixes (containing dried fruits and legumes).
Inadequate nutrition can cause a whole array of problems, such as infertility, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, rickets, diarrhoea and other digestive problems, liver dysfunction, fatty tumours, kidney disorders and unhealthy feathering. |
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Q. Is my bird unwell? It is all ‘fluffed up’ and is sitting at the bottom of the cage. |
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A. Yes….birds that display these symptoms, as well as not eating and sitting on both legs while resting, usually indicate a health problem. I suggest that you consult an avian vet as soon as possible to seek a diagnosis and the correct course of treatment. ‘Over the counter’ medications such as avian antibiotics are also available. |
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Q. My pet bird is plucking the feathers on its chest, is starting to withdraw from human interaction and is generally misbehaving. Is there something I can do to stop this? |
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A. There are many elements to this question so you need to think laterally if you seek a solution! Firstly, feather plucking generally indicates either a skin or feather irritation (in which case you need to consult an avian vet) or your pet is just bored, causing the behavioural problem! Imagine yourself confined to a limited space with nothing to do…you would be bored too! Your pet should have a selection of toys to keep it occupied while you are not home or while it is in its cage in order to provide mental stimulation and distract it from mutilating itself.
A word of warning….do not let the plucking or other behavioural problems persist. You need to understand why the bird has withdrawn from you and is generally ‘acting up’. Inadvertently, most bird keepers cause or create behavioural problems without realising it. This is why we recommend that our customers purchase a book such as ‘A Guide to a Well Behaved Parrot’ (Barron’s Publication) or ‘Pet and Companion Birds’ (Australian Bird Keeper Publication) when they purchase a pet bird so that the customer is armed with as much information as possible and a successful and loving relationship can be formed with as little trauma as possible. The bird can’t talk to you so it must communicate with you another way…you just need to be able to interpret his behaviour to understand him! |
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Q. I have a pair of budgies that have developed a ‘warty’ appearance above the beak and on their legs and toes. What is this condition and do you have something that can treat this? |
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A. Your budgies have developed a disease called ‘scaly face’. If these birds are in an aviary, the infected birds must be segregated to avoid infestation in healthy birds.
There is a treatment available to deal with this condition. A liquid formula is applied to the affected area with a cotton bud, in accordance with the directions on the bottle. As this condition is contagious, it is best that you don’t place the cotton bud into the bottle to reapply the liquid to another area, as you can infect the medication. This condition could also reappear so ‘nip it in the bud’ quickly to avoid prolonged treatment. |
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Q. How do I know that I am buying a cage that is appropriate for my pet bird? |
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A. We recommend that customers purchase a cage that is wide enough so that the bird is able to spread its wings comfortably.
You need to also be aware that larger parrots such as cockatoos, galahs, eclectus, and macaws are highly intelligent and can easily learn to open its own cage or even dismantle it from the inside by loosening the bolts that keep it together. There are now cages available with ‘parrot-safe’ features such as special locking systems and bolts. |
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Q. My bird has just laid eggs in the nest box. How long before the birds hatch? |
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A. This all depends on the species, but as a general rule the incubation periods are as follows:
It is important that the appropriate nesting material is made available to aviary birds during breeding season to avoid complications with the young, such as bowed legs and respiratory problems due to use of incorrect nesting material. |
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Q. Do birds get parasites? |
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A. The most common parasites that infect birds are mites, lice and worms. Prolonged exposure to such parasites can ultimately result in death. These are all treatable conditions with medications readily available.
Birds should be wormed at least every 6 months, with the administering of a good quality wormer in the drinking water. No other source of water should be provided, such as flowing or bathing water and no fruit and vegetables should be given while worming.
Mites and lice are controlled with the use of a good quality mite and lice spray. As a precaution, this could be used on birds, nesting material and perches every 4 months. |
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Q. I love to have my pet bird out of its cage but his nails get caught on the carpet as he attempts to move around. What can I do to stop this? |
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A. We encourage pet birds to spend as much time as possible out of their cage, under supervision.
The sharp nails definitely require attention. You can contact an avian vet to have the nails clipped on a regular basis. It is best not to perform this procedure yourself unless you are experienced. Alternatively, there are now bird toys available in Australia such as ‘Polly’s’TM range that not only entertain your pet, but also gently file down the nails (and beak) on a perch made from durable and parrot-safe materials.
There are also bird harnesses available. You can now safely take your pet outdoors – while holding on to a long lead. |
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Q. I have acquired an aviary and I would like to have lots of different types of colourful birds. What would you suggest? |
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A. We usually recommend that you keep like species together, especially if breeding, to minimize in fighting. We advise clients to drop in and have a look at the range available before making any decision - we are then able to guide and assist you to make the right purchase. |
DISCLAIMER.
THIS INFORMATION IS A GUIDE ONLY.
IF IN DOUBT CONSULT A VET CLINIC WITH AN AVIAN SPECIALIST . |
