Posted under
Pet Tips by oahupet on November 24th, 2009 12:55 am
From www.articlealley.com.
Acockatiel needs social interaction in order to thrive. Cockatiels like to do things like eat, groom themselves (preening) and play with members of their flock, so these are some basic needs you will have to fulfill. If you don’t have much spare time to spend wth your bird, consider buying two cockatiels of the same sex so they can interact with each other. Two same sex cockatiels kept together in a large cage will form a strong social bond between themselves.
Cockatiel Care Basic – Maintenance and Cleaning
Change the cage paper daily. Black and white newsprint is alright to use, but don’t use the colored print or glossy advertising inserts. Many of these are colored with lead ink.
Take your cockatiel out before cleaning the cage. For cleaning the cage, the Oxyfresh line of products are ideal. Rinse all toys and the cage thoroughly. Perches should be scraped clean. The product Pet Focus is very good for disinfecting and comes in a ready to use form.
Cockatiels’ down gives off a powdery dust. This is a sign of a healthy bird.
Cockatiel Care Basic – Food and Water
Your cockatiel needs various components in his diet to keep him healthy. Do not feed your bird only seed. You will also need to feed (organic is best) pellets and healthy fresh greens and beans. Foundation Formula and Harrison’s are two organic pellets that can be purchased.
The remainder of your cockatiel’s diet should be organic and consist of greens like rinsed, fresh spinach and kale. Lettuce is not very nutritous and consists mostly of water. Other additives to their diet should be cooked vegetables like pasta, beans, corn, and rice. The use of organic foods are stressed here because there may be pesticide residues on produce and seed that is not organic. Roudybush is not organic, but is a high quality food naturally preserved. Cockatiels prefer this food and will thrive on it.
When you are feeding a diet with pellets, do not add vitamins to the water. Most pellets have vitamins added to them Read the manufacturers instructions on the bag.
Provide clean, fresh water for your cockatiel on a daily basis. The stainless steel cups should be cleaned twice daily if food gets in the water. Do not place the bird’s perches above food and water dishes. If droppings should get in the water, change the water immediately.
Cockatiel care basic is essential if you are going to have a healthy, happy bird. Please visit us at Cockatiel Care Secrets for more free information on caring for your cockatiel.
This article is free for republishing
Source: www.articlealley.com.
Posted under
Pet Tips by oahupet on December 7th, 2008 10:55 pm
By Azmi Adnan
To have a talking bird, it is preferable that you purchase a young, hand raised bird between the ages of two and six months. Older birds will not learn as fast and wild or untrained birds will be more difficult to train as they have already got used to the sounds ingrained in their heads. If you can only purchase an adult bird, you will need a lot of patience to train it to talk as it will take a much longer time, but it is not impossible.
The ability for your bird to mimic the human spoken words depend largely on the species, the character of your bird, your technique and how tame your bird is. You will need to work on taming your bird first and build its confidence in you as its master before you can succeed at training it to talk, so you have to work on that part. You will know that the bird is ready to be trained to talk if it is calm and looks at you confidently when you approach it.
The African Grey parrot, Greater Indian Hill Mynah and the Javan Hill Mynah are perfect talking birds to have because they are easier to train and very proficient. The tonal qualities and pronunciation may differ between these species but overall they are the more popular birds among bird lovers.
These birds can live for many years and bring much joy and companionship to you as you build their vocabulary and work on their tonal quality. Parrots may take in more words and be able to retain them as they have a stronger memory than the others.
Train your bird to talk every morning before you take off the cage cover. Repeat a word or phrase over and over again and make it a ritual. Your bird will be able to concentrate on the sounds in the dark and will try to respond to you with the same sound it hears. Do this also at different times of the day and especially during feeding time or when giving it its favorite tidbit. When the bird gets used to this, it will use the same sounds to get your attention while you are out sight when it is hungry or needs attention. When you hear this, reply back with the same words as affirmations, but do not approach the cage. When the bird tries to make a different expression, add in other words and phrases. This indicates that your bird is ready to learn new words to add into its vocabulary.
You can also use a recording to train your bird to talk or mimic sounds. Most bird parks use these method as a form of training as different bird trainer has different tonality or pronunciation. Make a recording on tape or CD and use words and phrases with clarity. If you do not have a good voice, ask someone you know to do it for you, or purchase a CD from a bird shop. Play the recording at different times of the day as this will surely have a great impact on your bird.
If you are making your own recording, do not put too many words and phrases in it as the bird has a small brain capacity. Ever heard of the phrase “bird brain” that is used so often on people? Expose your bird to a few words and phrases at a time and be patient about this. Your bird, if a parrot, can live beyond forty years, so what do you have to lose? If you intend to introduce new words and phrases, do this on another recording on tape or CD, and incorporate the older words in this new recording as well as a form of revision. This works very well in keeping the previous words permanently in your bird’s vocabulary.
Posted under
Pet Tips by oahupet on December 2nd, 2008 1:12 am
Submitted By: Nancy Richards
Caring for parakeets is the most important step in keeping parakeets as pets. Remember their immune systems can be touchy. This means that at the first sign of illness, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Even a simple virus can turn deadly overnight. A regular care and checkup of your parakeet can keep you away from visiting the vet too frequently. Caring for parakeets means:
A regular checkup of their plumage - birds keep their plumage in peak condition by preening. You can encourage this by occasionally misting it with warm water.
Selecting the right cage for your parakeet - choose a cage that is large enough to allow it plenty of exercise. Most cages come with 2 perches. For more specialized caring for parakeets, you can attach a cuttlebone to the side of the cage. It will help keep the bird’s beak in good condition and will serve as a source of calcium and other minerals.
A proper and adequate diet – this is the single most notable aspect in shaping the health, vitality, and permanence of your parakeet. Give them leafy green vegetables, rice, tofu, some seeds and fruits like orange and papaya. These would give them all the required nutrients to keep them healthy.
Regular bathing of your parakeet – give your parakeet a regular shower of 5-7 times a week in the summer and 3-5 times a week during the winter. This routine will help you keep your parakeet clean and avoid skin related diseases.
Proper grooming of your parakeet – proper and regular trimming of the toenails is very essential. Consult a veterinarian if you wish to clip its wings.
Lack of parakeet care can result in feather plucking, moody and ill-trained parakeets at home. It is always a good idea to know what injuries and what diseases can affect your parakeet, what is the ideal diet for a parakeet, how many times a week should you give it a bath. These would help you undertake foolproof caring for your pet parakeets.
A healthy parakeet is more likely to be immune to diseases and can stay around for a long time to make you laugh, make you entertained and give you a moment to smile…
