By Silvanus Koh

Parrots are becoming more popular as pets with each passing day. This is evidenced by the proliferation of Internet discussion lists which provide access to information regarding parrot care and behavior. This upsurge in the number of parrots in homes and the amount of information newly available does not alert the companion parrot owner to a very important and pertinent fact – that parrot keeping is a relatively new phenomenon.

The parrot will live in a cage, so you will need to buy one that is large enough so that the parrot can spread his wings fully. It should be made of wire preferably since the parrot would eat through a wooden one. Make sure the door is large enough so that the parrot can fit through it, and also ensure that the door can’t be opened from the inside. Parrots are very smart so you will need to use a complex door closing mechanism. Remember the bigger the cage is, the happier the parrot will be, so buy the largest one you can afford.

The parrot will want some toys in the cage, such as a swinging perch or a squeaking toy. Make sure that the toy isn’t harmful to the parrot if it is gnawed on. \r\nThe bottom of the cage needs to be lined either with shredder paper, sawdust, straw or sand. The sand will serve as a double purpose since the parrot can gain some minerals from it, and can also use it to shape his beak better. The beak will keep growing like our fingernails and the sand will help filing it to the correct size.

Clean the cage very thoroughly at least once a month. All the metal bars and the bottom tray should be washed out thoroughly with a mild detergent and disinfected as well. Make sure that you clean out the feces of the parrot and leftover food is cleaned up periodically at least two the three times a week. The parrot will not like to live in a dirty area and his life cycle will decrease if he feels stressed all the time.

The parrot likes to be fed in many small meals instead of having one large meal a day. Pre-packaged parrot food is good for the parrot too since it will contain the correct mixes of minerals and vitamins. Make sure that you give the parrot fresh food at least twice a day and keep it clean and bacteria free. Seeds and nuts should be fed to the parrot sparingly since these foods are fatty and contain few nutrients. The parrot will also need a water bowl with fresh water supplied twice a day. You need to clean the water and the food bowl each time you refill it to keep your parrot healthy and happy. The parrot will eat fruits, nuts, vegetables and grains. Make sure you give him a balanced diet and give him healthy snacks only.

If you want to teach your parrot to talk, start when he is young since he will then pick up the language much faster. Keep trying the same word or phrase on the parrot at the same time of each day, such as ‘hello!’ or ‘how are you?’. Make sure the bird is looking at you and paying attention. Try repeating the words and phrases you want the parrot to learn and try to say the words when you do a certain activity so he can learn to associate an activity with a word. If your parrot already knows some phrases, encourage him to use them so he doesn’t forget them. Whistling is also a great thing to teach a parrot, since he will know how to whistle entire tunes. Even playing records can help your parrot learn words but do not play the same word all day or the parrot will be very bored.

The parrot will also need to be groomed at least once a week. You can do this by misting him carefully with a spray bottle, or even bathing him in a lined sink. Use water that is lukewarm and use a shampoo that is especially designed for birds. Parrots love to be in the water, so do not startle him by splashing water into his face, or he will not want to bathe anymore. If he does seem to be afraid of water, be gentle and persist, and soon he will love water as much as you do. Use a towel to lightly dab your bird dry a little bit but do not rub him and do not blow dry your bird. Just let him sit in a sunny corner of your house to dry naturally and make sure he is warm so he doesn’t catch a cold. The wings should be clipped to prevent flight, and the nails need to be groomed as well. Do small amounts of clipping frequently to avoid injury and to keep the bird well groomed all the time. Make sure you observe the vet or groom the first few times and have him teach you the proper techniques before you attempt this, since improper cutting could hurt the parrot.

Let your parrot move around your apartment at least half an hour every day. As he becomes more tame and potty trained, you can even leave him out all day, and put him back into the cage only to sleep and feed. Enjoy your beautiful, intelligent pet for many years to come as some parrots can live up to 70 years and above!

Article Source: ArticleCrop.com

Certainly one of the basic things you should be aware of when deciding on becoming a bird owner is offering your bird the correct amount of living space. This may depend on the type of pet bird you’re purchasing. Considering the variety of forms, shades and designs of bird cages available nowadays, you might find yourself confused.

While there may appear to be infinite types of cages out there at present, there are a few particulars that you will want to consider when having a bird cage. These things will help your evaluation of the cages a little better.

To discover extra information, go to the web-site: bird cages for sale.

The first rule is that you should decide where this cage is to be located. This will permit you to discover the cage which is the right for the specified area that you prefer. It is important that the place not be anywhere around doors or house windows. Also it needs to be in a lively place in your house in order that there’s continuous movement for your bird. This can provide an enhanced degree of social development.

Secondly, it is to know what size your bird will end up being when full grown. While it’s perfectly acceptable to keep a canary or finch in minor bird cages, bigger birds will require bigger cages in order that there is a lot of area for them to grow. If you do keep a bird in a cage that is much too small, then you definitely can end up on the incorrect end of bitter attitude and an ill-tempered bird. The right bird cage must be one that the pet may walk around in and find a way to fully expand its wings.

Subsequently, you should make sure that you’re using a properly constructed cage. Ensuring this may offer the owner and the bird several years of practical usage. Bird cages which are the very best quality are those which are made from steel.

Raising chickens for eggs is one of the main reasons people raise chickens in the first place. Those who are new to raising chickens for eggs may not be aware of the special dietary needs of the hens. This lack of knowledge can have a profound effect on the quality and number of eggs that your hens lay. In this article, we are going to look at one of the most important issues when it comes to feeding your laying hens: calcium.

Unless you are experienced in preparing your own chicken feed, you should purchase commercial chicken feed. When you visit the feed store you will see that there are many different types of chicken feed. Selecting the right one for your laying hens is important

Among the types you will see are chick starter feed, adult feed, and feed specifically prepared for laying hens. Feed that is prepared for laying hens will have added calcium, and this is the feed you want to give to your hens.

By purchasing a good quality laying feed, you avoid all the confusion and headaches of trying to prepare your own feed. This is the best option for virtually all owners, and especially good for those new to raising laying hens.

As you shop for your laying hen feed, you will also notice that many brands are labeled as “Complete”. This labeling ensures that the remainder of the feed is developed with all of the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your hens will need.

You may not know it, but the shell of an average egg is nearly ninety-five percent calcium carbonate. This is the main reason your laying hens need that extra calcium in their daily diet. Hens that do not receive this calcium boost will often lay eggs with weak shells and weak chicks inside those shells.

But other problems can arise as well. For instance, a hen that did not get enough calcium may discharge the embryo without any shell at all.

Another issue to consider when raising chickens for eggs is the age of the hen. As your hen ages, she will produce fewer eggs. This is simply nature taking its course. Also, your hen may lay fewer eggs during the hot summer days and during the very cold winter days. Again, this is natural and should not cause alarm.

Some experienced growers who are raising chickens for eggs set up feeding stations that contain ground up oyster shell or special limestone preparations to help get the calcium into the hens. If you buy a good quality chicken feed, you do not have to do this as the feed will have everything you need already in it.

By Anna-Marie Stewart

Keeping 2 budgies is always beneficial to the birds themselves, although it may make it harder for you to tame them. If you want to tame them and you have 2, then it’s best to have 2 males. If you really want to keep 2 birds then 2 males are the best option, as they will rarely bicker and fight, whereas 2 females will spend most of their time doing just that.

It’s also totally possible to keep a male and a female in a cage together. There’s one thing you need to be aware of when keeping a male and female though, and that is if they’re given the right opportunities they WILL mate and breed. I suggest you think very hard about what your plans are for your birds before deciding on one of each sex.

Do you want her to have chicks? If you do, then provide her with a nestbox (you can buy them pretty cheap at pet stores) and put a handful of wood shavings inside it (also available at pet stores)

If they’ve mated successfully, then she’ll start showing an interest in the nestbox, possibly within the next few days, possibly later. It usually takes about 10 days from a successful mating to when the first egg is laid. The hen should then lay an egg every other day, and the clutch of eggs can be anywhere between 1-8 eggs (sometimes even more).

Ask the petstore for eggfood and millet, as the birds will need extra strength to help them rear any chicks they might have. If the eggs are fertile they will start hatching between 18-23 days of being laid.

You don’t need to feed the chicks at all, the father will feed the mother, and she will regurgitate the food for the chicks when they get a bit bigger. At first they will be fed by her with something called ‘crop-milk’ basically the same as mothers milk, but in bird form

The chicks will start getting ready to leave the nestbox somewhere around the age of 28-35 days old, the father will feed them for a little while longer and they’ll eventually start feeding themselves. Provide the extras (eggfood and millet) all through the period of mating, laying and rearing, and also while the chicks are learning to become independent.

If you don’t want the hen to lay another round after the first chicks have hatched, then remove the nestbox as soon as the chicks leave the nest.

If you just want to keep one of each sex and not have them mate and breed, the solution is pretty simple. Don’t give them a nestbox. Budgies will very rarely, if ever, mate without a nest to lay eggs in.

Anna-Marie Stewart keeps and breeds pet budgerigars.
Visit Adorable Budgies for information, pictures and forum http://adorablebudgies.co.uk

This article is available for reprint in your opt-in ezine, web site or ebook. You MUST agree not to make any changes to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included.
(c) Anna-Marie Stewart All Rights Reserved

Article Source: EzineArticles

For anyone interested in raising chicks, the process is not hard or complicated. However, there are certain issues that you have to address if you want to be truly successful. Let’s take a look at the basics of raising chicks.

There are basically two ways to get a chick out of its egg. You can use laying hens who will sit on the egg until it hatches or you can use incubators and brooding boxes. The choice is up to you, but many prefer to use the incubator and brooder box this allows for much more control.

One of the keys to successfully raising chicks is preparation. Having the tools you need before needing them is crucial. You will need, at a minimum:

A Secure Chicken Coop

An Incubator

An Egg Tray

Automatic Egg Turner (optional)

Heat Lamp and Thermometer

Brooding Boxes

Shallow Food and Water Trays

Pine Shavings or Newspapers to Line the Brooder Box

You should set your incubator temperature to 99.5 degrees two days before you expect to put the eggs into it. It is also a good idea to make sure the automatic egg turner works properly. It normally takes about 3 weeks for chicks to hatch, and much of that time will be in the incubator so it must work correctly.

It is very important to remember to put the eggs into the turner with the small end of the egg down. The larger end of the egg contains the air sac which the chick will need later on to breathe.

It is also important to monitor the temperature daily. Do not allow the heat inside the incubator to get above 99.5 as this may kill the chick inside the egg.

Some incubators have water troughs. Fill this as directed and keep them filled throughout the hatching period. Make sure you follow the instructions as some incubators should not have the outer trough filled for the first couple of weeks.

On the 18^th day, you want to remove the egg turner and place the eggs on the mesh wire within the incubator. You will not turn the eggs any longer and should not disturb them at all until the chicks hatch.

Another important part of raising chicks is the brooder box. Now is the time to get it ready for the newly hatch chicks. If you buy a brooder box, follow the instructions. If you do not buy one, make one out of a cardboard box with some pine shavings or newspaper on the bottom.

Place your food and water trays inside the box. Chicks should be fed special chick food which is smaller in size that adult feed. Make sure they have plenty of clean water and that the heating lamp is left on and set to the properly temperature.

Raising chicks is not hard; it just takes some preparation and monitoring. Once you have raised a few sets, you will get the hang of it easily and enjoy adding to your flock for many years to come.

A good chicken’s house can protect the chickens from hazardous elements including the weather, predators, and injury.

This is how to do it:

Protection from Weather

A dry, draft-free house is needed in poultry. This can be done by building a relatively draft-free poultry house with windows and doors which can on occasion be opened for ventilation when necessary. Build the chicken house on high, well-drained areas. Thru this chickens plan, prolonged wetness and water saturation of the floor inside the coop and in the runs outside can be prevented. Let the front of the coop, the windows, and the outside run face to the south too. This permits the sun to constantly cozy and warm the coop. To keep the humidity level in the coop as small as possible, allow an adequate level of space per bird too.

Protection from Predators

The only way to give protection to the chickens from predators is to keep the chickens house totally confined with fence and covered runs. When planning a poultry house, consider laying a concrete floor, and secure the wall with one or two concrete blocks. This prevents predators from digging under the walls and the floors. When the coop is opened, windows and doors must be securely covered with heavy-gauge mesh wire or screening.

With outside runs, bury the wire into the ground along the pen border with 12 inches depth and toe the fence outward about 6 inches. Through this way, it will help to stop most predators from digging under the fence. By toeing the fence outward and burying it, the predator will dig down right into more fencing.

To deter predators, a few of the people run electrical fencing around the outside of their pens 4 inches off the ground and about one foot from the primary fence.

Protection from Injury

Plan your chicken’s house to prevent any probable injury to your chickens. Take out any loose or ragged wire, nails, or other sharp-edged objects from the coop. Eliminate all the areas apart from perches, where the chickens could perch more than four feet above the floor. Get rid of any perching areas like window sills, nest box tops, or electrical cords whenever possible. These measures could stop any injury to you or your chickens and may prevent damage to the house, also.

BUILD CHICKEN COOPS: Learn how to build a chicken coop and much more info on Portable Chicken Coops

By providing a birdhouse you can basically modify your beloved lawn or garden right into a spectacular site and tranquil shelter for birds to reside and build nests within. You will keep the birds warm and safer in the winter months and offer them a cozy haven.

Birdhouses need to be crafted or acquired by having some specific key elements in mind, such, as the bird species and also the climate. Certain birds can live in any kind of birdhouse although some should have shelter boxes that are manufactured to look like their natural, nesting environments. Birdhouses consist of several sizes and shapes. You can cook up your unique birdhouse from home if you should wish with some simple and easy Do-It-Yourself plans. Either way, it’s very helpful to consider the dimensions, materials and varieties of birds you would like to attract. Additionally, it is necessary to discover ways to effectively clean up, maintain and locate the birdhouse, which in German is termed Vogelhaus or Vogelhaeuser.

The style of the birdhouse is up to you, nevertheless you need to make certain you have the right dimensions for your birdhouse. Additionally it is equally imperative that you make the right sized entrance hole and the position of the hole above your birdhouse floorboards ought to be considered. The theory is to allow your birds to feel cozy and safe, as well as hold predators out. It is extremely important that you have included an excellent venting system within the birdhouse. One other essential aspect is that the birdhouse entails a waterflow and drainage scheme simply because if water gathers in the bottoom of the house then it really is fairly simple for airborne viruses and bacteria to grow.

Birdhouses are commonly created from untreated wood. Basically, this is the most popular material used in the making of birdhouses since several other materials, such as metal draw too much daylight. Chemically cured and packaged wood will not be suggested on the grounds that most of these woods come with preservatives that often may be hazardous to the birds. A few birdhouses are prepared by means of an assortment of concrete and wood named “woodcrete”. Some varieties, for example, Tree Sparrows and Blue Tits seem to like woodcrete boxes; that is usually on the grounds that they usually are hotter compared to wooden containers. A large percentage of birdhouses are rectangle-shaped utilizing only one pocket, even though a few others come with lots of compartments. Distinct bird types have different wants. You have to have the capability to access the interior of the birdhouse if necessary so that a hinged part or top allow for easy maintanence in addition to having the potential to check on the birds.

The models for birdhouses often known as nest boxes are getting to be highly opulent and several now mirror the look and feel of a human being’s house. Quite a few tend to be specially designed such as a nest container resembling a caravan or maybe a light house, while a handful possibly even look like boats. Birdhouses need to be water resistant. Slanted rooftops which extend over the periphery of the birdhouse will be a good idea mainly because rainfall, debris and moisture content can slide off the periphery.

The size of the birdhouse largely depends upon the bird you would like to house within your garden. Small boxes would invite Tree Creepers, whereas, very large boxes will pull in owls and other birds of those size.

To be equipped to provide warmth, safeguards and security to many birds then you should think of getting a wide range of nest boxes and also feeding channels, yet birds usually are territorial therefore it’s vital to check at your local pet store to find out whether you need to go along with this path or not.

Nest containers are a fun way to impart shelter and protection for birds. You can obtain great happiness from seeing just how helpful you’ve been to the birds. Get the birds to your house using a birdhouse!

A good aviary is often a big covered shelter which would allow birds to be able to fly without restraint as well as socialize well with various other birds. Birds that could dwell alongside one another may very well prosper inside an aviary. Birds very much love the companionship of other birds possessing similar temperaments so they become happy to live in the common space.

While establishing any kind of aviary you ought to understand that making an investment in your aviary is going to be a dedication. You have to nurture, care, and provide food for all the birds you plan to raise. You will have to take into account the amount of time readily available to you to expend relating to your birds’ daily care, your own understanding levels with birds, and also your ideas.

Home aviaries appear in varied sizes and shapes, both for interior or exterior use. Household aviaries are either anchored or dangling down. A good sized aviary that has the ability to comfortably accommodate 20 birds could well be 12 feet in height, 5 feet in height and 3 feet in width. Meant for smaller sized birds and for fewer birds you could certainly pick up significantly more compact aviaries. The dimension will depend on the sorts of birds and the amount of birds that you would like to hold.

Aviaries are often times made to stimulate birds’ organic and natural environments with unique landscape like plants, shrubs and water features. A sufficient amount of foliage is needed to ensure there are ample spots for your birds to develop nesting homes in. It is best to put in natural chemical free wooden perches (as cured wood may potentially prove toxic to your birds) in order to ensure the aviary complements the birds’ natural environment. You really should include several perches with different diameters and these must be exchanged constantly. Unlike small cages aviaries make it possible for the birds to fly out and so are sometimes described as flight cages due to this. Aviaries, which in German are called Vogelvoliere or Voliere, actually are a better solution when compared to a cage given that birds would communicate with their own brethen inside an environment that is definitely a lot more natural and organic compared to a bird cage.

Some birds may be suitable and can live in the very same aviary while others can’t reside in the very same area. It’s very beneficial to speak to an avian breeder to fully understand these kinds of indispensable information and facts. You may as well reveal to your breeder which kind of exterior or interior surroundings you have got in order to choose birds that will be perfect for the actual spacing which you have.

You need to keep predators as far away as you can. Various predators are generally mice, squirrels, jackals, snakes and cats. There are many tactics that can assist you; if you have a floored aviary it’s best to have a cement flooring to ensure that virtually no predators may possibly dig their own way in, or a good ultra-sonic appliance that gives off radio waves to frighten off predators. Such a gadget is totally unharmful on your birds.

Almost all birds will look out to keep themselves engaged in routines which mirror their particular organic and natural behaviors; consequently it is important to get distinctive things that would occupy their interest. Parrots for illustration should have items to gnaw on. The vast majority of birds will be needing a enclosed and calm location to nap therefore it’s imperative that you make available convenient sleeping spots for your birds.

Birds are extremely brilliant, inquisitive animals which will captivate people. Birds will definitely create rapport with their masters simply because they are remarkably friendly pets. They’re long lived companions which would provide you many years of friendship. Possessing an aviary is definitely a delightful and pleasant encounter to pay attention, learn about and observe your birds in a natural and organic manner.

Its a well known fact that sparrows and other small birds are huge fans of extreme sports. So it may not come to you as a surprise that at last, someone has finally catered to these little creatures’ desire to enjoy their favourite sport and eat at the same time.

The Bungee Bird Feeder is the talk of bird land right now and sparrows everywhere are on the look out to see who has them hanging in their backyards or off their balconies.

Made entirely from bird seed, the Bungee Bird Feeder is probably the coolest and oddest looking accessory for the garden around. It immediately becomes the talking point of the garden as it dives from nearby trees and waits for passing feather-bearing bi-peds.

The feeder is made up of a mixture of different seeds. Red and Yellow Broomcorn Millet make up the body or skeleton of the feeder in a husk type structure. The outer surface of the feeder is then made from a coating of seeds which are fixed to the feeder using a glucose mix. The figure has its arms outstretched and actually does look like a mini-person bungee jumping. The resulting effect is quite startling and eye-catching. The Bungee Feeder is sturdy and comes in a well-presented blister pack together with its own bungee chord to allow you to suspend it from wherever you want.

Don’t expect birds to come to it straight away though. This is not what a bird normally recognizes as a feeder, but when eventually they do realize that this is a feeding spot, they come in droves, or rather, flocks… If you’re looking for something a bit original for your garden, then look no further!

This item was designed in the UK and is available, mostly online, for purchase.

Many of those new to raising chickens may be confused about what to feed chickens. To be clear, the audience for this article is those who are raising their own backyard chickens, in their own chicken coops and hen houses. Commercial hatcheries are a different story altogether and not addressed in this article.

If you have done any research at all about the feeding of chickens you already know that there are many products available and just as many arguments about which product is best. The good news is, for those new to raising chickens, feeding your chickens a well-balanced diet is easier than you may have been led to believe.

The two things you need to keep in mind when selecting the right feed for your chickens are: age and purpose.

Most feed stores and farmer’s co-op’s will carry a variety of feeds. The specific feed you buy should be based on where the chicken is in terms of its development, as well as what you want the chicken to be or do. For example:

You can find chicken feed that is specifically designed as a starter feed for young chicks (age) that you plan to raise as brooders (purpose). Chicks need a diet high in protein to help boost their growth. You can also find feed that is specifically designed for hens you wish to use as egg laying hens. Laying hens often need more calcium, and this type of chicken feed provides that added nutrient to them.

The bottom line is until you have gained enough experience and confidence to mix your own feed (should you choose to do so), commercial chicken feed is just fine, as long as you buy according to age and purpose.

One note that may surprise you is that it is not recommended that you add nutritional supplements to the commercial chicken feed you buy. High-quality chicken feed will often have the word “complete” attached to its brand name. This means that a specific set of criteria have been applied to this particular type of chicken feed. If you add to the formula, even with the best of intentions, you may actually impact the digestion of the feed and cause harm to the bird.

In addition to feeding your chickens the proper food, your chicken coop or hen house should always provide some means of delivering clean, fresh water for your birds. Many people do not realize it but the chicken anatomy is much like the human anatomy in that the body is made up mostly of water. Access to clean, fresh water, whether it is provided inside or outside of the chicken coop or hen house, is an essential element to raising healthy fowl. Lack of water, especially in hot weather can be lethal to your chickens.

Should you notice that your birds are not drinking as much as they should, check the temperature of the water. Chickens are notorious for not drinking if the water is either too cold or too hot. Fresh water must be provided daily, and the trough must be kept clean of droppings and other debris.

Many people consider adding a free-range run to the chicken coop to allow their birds to eat from grassy areas. This is fine as long as you understand that your chickens will also need access to at least some high-quality chicken feed. Most grassy areas and pastures will not contain all of the nutrients that your birds need, and thus those nutrients must be added through chicken feed.

When you are planning your chicken coop or hen house, remember to think about both feeding and watering your birds. Many chicken coop plans will have already taken these into consideration and you can use those as a baseline guide for your new chicken coop.