Buying a bird cage? Keep these tips in mind?

Some species of pet birds even have specific needs when it comes to appropriate dimensions and type of bird cage. However there are some general guidelines, which would help you choose a new home for your winged friend.

First off, one must decide where will your new bird cage be placed and buy according to the area you have reserved. It is preferred that the area is a fair distance away from any circumventing air drafts coming from windows or other openings. However, one should keep in mind that in order for a pet to become an active part of any family and develop a social relationship, bird cages should be placed in an active part of the home.

When you have reserved the right spot for your new bird cage, it is important to choose a cage of the right size and dimensions. When it comes to bird cages, bigger is always better, as long as the bar spacing is appropriate for your bird. While birds like a Finch or a Canary can be placed inside a small cage, other larger birds need more room to walk around with ease and fully extend their wings. One should also remember that food bowl, bird toys and bird perches will take a substantial amount of space inside a cage and this has to be taken into account.

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The bar spacing of a bird cage is very important for your pet’s safety and security. One should look for a small bar spacing in order to prevent the smaller birds such as parakeets to squeeze through or become stuck in between the bars. When it comes to larger birds such as a parrot, bar separation can be wider and preferably have a horizontal orientation to allow birds to climb on the sides of the cage and exercise.

When it comes to shape and style, one should try and avoid round, cylindrical bird cages, as studies have shown that these can affect a bird’s psychological health. As most birds get most of their exercise flying within a cage from side to side rather than up and down, the length of bird cages is more important than the height. If you’re considering placing bird toys then one should try and find a cage which complements the activity resulting from the use of this toy.

If your new bird cage is to become a prominent part of your home decor, you should get the best quality cage you can find. It needs to be sturdy and solid, and have no loose parts or cutting edges. Stainless steel is often the preferred material as it is non-toxic and would pose no threat to the bird’s health. It is also easy to clean and will not chip away. As a bird cage’s primary function is to protect its host, one should avoid features such as fancy scroll work or designs which could increase the risk of a bird’s head, wings or feet to be caught in.

A well-built bird cage gives bird and owner many years of use and enjoyment. One must remember that just like us, a bird will appreciate a nice living environment, given it will spend most of its time in the same location.

Shop and buy small, medium, and large bird cages for you pet parrot and pet birds. All types and sizes of parrot cages and bird toys for your pet birds – http://www.birdcagesrepublic.com/

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Thinking Of Buying An African Grey Parrot? Part 1

One of the most sought after pet birds in the world is the African Grey. This bird, native to Africa, is considered one of the most intelligent of birds. It’s amazing ability to speak and mimic sounds make it an entertaining companion.

African Greys are a medium sized parrot, predominantly grey, with accents of white. The two most common subspecies are Congo, noted as having a cherry red tail and black beaks, and the Timneh, which is smaller in size, darker gray, with a maroon colored tail and light colored mandible. The Congo is considered the better talker, but both are very capable of talking and equally intelligent.

African Greys have a long and rich history being kept as a pet. Egyption hieroglyphics dating back 4,000 years depict pet parrots. Throughout the Greek, and Roman histories Greys were highly valued for the ability to talk, and kept in very ornate cages. King Henry VIII had one, and Portuguese sailors kept them as companions on long voyages. This probably led to the images of pirates with parrots on their shoulders.

In 2007 the Grey Parrot was uplifted to Near Threatened status by some environmental groups. The international community is prohibiting the capture and import/export of wild caught Greys. In America, it is illegal to import these birds. Therefore, all Greys currently sold have been raised domestically. They are readily available, but can be quite costly

THE COST- When you begin your search for your Grey, you are going to be amazed at the wide price range. A bird breeder in Florida will sell a young Congo for as little as 0. Drive a few hundred miles north and the price jumps to 00. Walk in to a New York pet shop and you will be lucky to find one for 00. So why the price variations?

The costs start with the bird breeders. A properly raised handfed Grey require constant attention. Babies must be fed every 2 hours, 24 hours a day. This requires a tremendous amount of labor. Once the baby has been weaned, little is needed except to give the bird constant attention. As the bird gets older, this time must be compensated, so the cost goes up. A 1-year-old Grey now costs as much as 0-00. Some breeders who do this for a hobby are not as interested in recovering labor costs, as they do it for the joy of it.

Another factor is location. Birds bred in warm climates require little environmental control, and birds can be raised in outdoor flight cages. In northern climates, they can’t handle the cold weather (remember, these birds are native to Africa) so the cost of housing adds up. Therefore, expect to pay a bit more for birds raised in these areas.

Pet stores very rarely breed their own birds, and depend on “jobbers”, breeders or even wholesale dealers to supply them with birds to sell. They may get a price advantage from buying large quantities of birds, but they also must make a profit for themselves. This explains why pet stores sell Greys for as much as 00.

Therefore, when you begin your search for your new pet, the key to getting a good price is research and negotiation. Whether you buy from a breeder or pet store is up to you. There are good and bad in both groups. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Call around and find the price range that Greys are being sold for, and make an offer.

HOW MUCH ATTENTION THEY REQUIRE?

African Greys are a highly intelligent bird. They will require a lot of interaction from the owner.

If you want your bird to talk, don’t expect it to happen with those DVD’s, tape recordings or other easy methods. It takes human interaction. Sorry, shortcuts won’t work. You must teach your Grey to talk by starting with short, simple phrases. Be consistent, and reward your pet whenever possible. Greys should begin talking at about 1 year old. But be aware that your bird must want to talk, and many times they never will. In our experience they may not say a word for many years, then suddenly will begin repeating everything they have learned. Just be patient. Move your bird to another room, away from his cage, and work with him for 10 minutes per session. Interact as much as possible. Your Grey will devote itself to you and clamor for your attention.

The Grey does not like to be left alone without attention. They have a tendency for feather plucking and self mutilation. This is a clear sign of stress, insecurity or boredom. Move your bird to an area where the family is at. Place it in front of a window. Be sure your bird has lots of toys. But none of these replaces your interaction with the bird. You need to set aside a part of each day to give your bird attention.

CAGES- There is no such thing as a cage too big. But every bird owner will have their restrictions, and in many cases they look for the smallest cage possible.

African Greys require a medium sized parrot cage. It must be able to spread it’s wings, move freely about, and have room to hang toys and food/water dishes. The minimum preferred size is at least 28 inches. Preferably a cage 36 inches tall to allow for lots of exercise room. Bar spacing should be no wider then 1 inch, as the bird can get it’s head stuck between the bars. The material should be of strong gauge wire, because Africans can easily destroy a cage designed to hold parakeets or cockatiels.

When you buy the cage, keep in mind that you need to clean it frequently. Fancy ornate cages can be very time consuming. Metal cages will rust if not dried thoroughly. Stainless steel cages are preferred, but very expensive.

Examine the cage for dangers such as doors that don’t fit properly. Greys have been known to get their feet caught in entry and feed doors, so look them over. Look for bad welds that may have sharp edges. These are all common with inexpensive cages.

Make sure perches are big enough for your bird. Your Grey will spend much of his time standing on them, and improper perches will result in feet problems. A variety of different sized perches is a great start.

Find bird cages that have replacement food/water cups, and by extra sets. This way, while one set is in the case you can be soaking and cleaning the others. Contaminated water dishes is a major cause for disease, but such a simple problem to fix!

DIET- You can talk to ten different breeders and get ten different answers on this topic…all can be correct. My standard answer? African Greys have the same exact nutritional requirements that humans do. What would happen if you ate seeds and nuts all day long? Why would you expect anything different from your Grey?

Grey’s require a higher protein diet then other birds, and a lot more calcium. By feeding your bird a good quality commercial bird pellet diet, and supplementing it with lots of fruits and vegetables, you will never have a problem. There are commercial diets available formulated specifically for African Greys.

I also disagree with many assertions that Greys should not eat meat. Keep in mind the Grey’s ancestral history of coming from Africa. While they do eat lots of seeds and vegetation, they are also part scavengers. Meat is loaded with protein and high in vitamin B’s, which is missing from a seed and vegetable diet. Pelleted foods add these vitamins and addition protein to correct this, but you can do the same by sharing your meals with your bird. Not only does this improve the birds diet, but it increases the interaction you are having with your bird. But just like humans, don’t overdue it.

Another major source of argument between breeders is whether to give birds milk and dairy products. Here is the scoop…

Milk and dairy products contain lactose. In order to properly digest it, your body produces an enzyme called lactase. Birds do not produce this enzyme, and it’s actually toxic to the bird! Too much milk results in diarrhea, which in turn causes severe medical problems for birds. So the uneducated breeder just removes dairy products from the diet.

But milk also contains a huge amount of calcium and other minerals that are sorely lacking from the birds diet. While this can be replaced with supplements such as cuttlebones or other sources of ground up calcium, it’s still depriving the bird of other vital items it needs in the diet.

African Greys can easily handle small amounts of dairy products. Cheese and yogurt, rich in calcium but low in lactose, is an excellent treat. Be creative… Give your birds an occasional slice of pizza, or a splash of milk over their favorite cereal in the morning. Just don’t overdue it!

LIFE SPAN-African Grey’s, like other larger parrots, have a long lifespan. This fact must be taken into consideration by the new bird owner. What do you do with the bird when you die and the bird outlasts you?

Greys reach the age of maturity from 3-5 years old. A properly raised Grey will live from 35-50 years. It is not unheard of for Greys to live up to 80 years old!

So if you choose an African Grey as a pet, you can expect a very long lasting relationship with him.

How can I tell if a Parakeet is sick when buying from a Pet Store?

Four Tips for Buying Parakeet Cages

Before you actually buy a parakeet and bring him home, you should have a cage already set up for him.  As this will be where your new bird spends most of his time, it’s important that you pick out the right one.  This article will give you a few tips on buying parakeet cages.

Shape

An important consideration to make when choosing a cage is its shape.  There are many available shapes you can choose from.  It’s best to buy a rectangular design.  Never buy your bird a round cage because he won’t feel safe.  He needs a wall to retreat to when he gets spooked.

Material

You will also need to decide what type of material you want the cage made from.  Some of the best options include wrought iron and stainless steel.  Some cages may be made from brass, lead, zinc, or galvanized steel.  You should never buy your ‘keet a cage made from one of these materials.  Birds love to chew, and the toxic metals will likely kill them.

Size

One of the most important considerations when buying parakeet cages is size.  Never buy your bird a cage that’s too small for him.  At the very least, there should be enough room to allow him to stretch his wings fully without hitting the side of the cage.  You should try to buy the biggest cage you can afford.

Bar Spacing

It’s vital that you pay attention to the bar spacing of the cage you’re interested in buying.  The bars should be no more than 1/2-inch apart.  You don’t want your bird to try to stick his head through the bars and get stuck.

Buying A Parakeet

Parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus) are one of the most common birds purchased as a pet bird. These delightful pets are usually friendly and relatively easy to handle. Although they can sometimes be difficult to understand, with a little hard work they have been known to mimic our sounds.

Parakeet Facts:

Life span: 10-15 years (up to 20).Origin: Australia. Colors: the normal wild coloration is green with black bars on the wings, back and head.

Determing Sex: The area around the nostrils is called the cere. You can use this as a way to distinguish between males and females. Mature females will have a beige colored cere. Males will have a blue tint to their cere.

Temperament: Known for being a very docile and friendly bird, they are easily tamed if you acquire them while young. I’ve found that having more than one parakeet resulted in the parakeets being hard to handle and less vocal. When I have just one parakeet, the bird looked to me for interaction and was much easier to handle and actually could say a few words. I placed a parakeet mirror in the bird cage and was amazed at how much my parakeet played with his own image in the mirror.

Choosing a Parakeet

I highly recommend you choose a young bird that has been handled regularly and has been hand fed. The extra costs you experience buying a hand raised bird will be worth it in the long run. While their is nothing wrong with a store bought parakeet, my experiences have taught me that they are slower to adjust to being handled.

Use the same techniques you would use when buying a pet dog or pet cat. Look for a parakeet that is active and has shining and smooth feathers. A bird that is inactive and its feathers are puffed up may be a sign it is sick. Take note of the birds feet. Make sure the scales are smooth and the nails are in good shape. Don’t forget to inspect the birds beak for any problems.

Parakeets are playful and active and do well in large cages. We always kept our parakeets on top of our refrigerator. We bought a cage that would fill the entire top of the frig. Add a couple of rod perches and maybe a bird swing along with your water and feed bowls. Even with a large cage, parakeets need a little time outside of the cage as well. Letting them out once in a while to stretch their wings is a good idea. The exercise is very beneficial for your pet bird.