How to Take Care of a Budgie

 

You've just got your very first budgie and are not completely sure of what to do? Follow the easy steps below & you'll surely learn a few helpful tips to help you keep a happy, healthy budgie!

Make sure that the Budgie is comfortable, give it some time to get used to its new surroundings - about two or three weeks at least.    

 Never rush your budgie!! It will adapt on its own. Stay close to the cage and talk to it sweetly and quietly as you wait for it to adjust but don't try to handle it. It will soon get used to you. Keep the bird in "Quarantine" for four weeks if you have other budgies.

Don't handle it too much on its first two week. 

Eventually as it becomes used to its new environment, start interacting with it more and more and eventually it will know you are a friend and not a predator. Other wise they may start being a little anxious and afraid. This will cause them not to bond with you.

Make sure you feed your Budgie correctly. 

Its food mostly consists of seeds and fresh fruits and vegetables. A lot of people will tell you you must provide pellets as the base of the diet but in reality pellets are simply manufactured, unnatural lumps of low quality grains, fruits, vegetables & any other preservatives, colours, or flavours they add to it. Also, remember to never feed your budgie chocolate, caffeine, or alcohol, and make sure it has enough to water to drink. Keep clean and fresh water in its cage at all times, & change it daily to prevent bacteria build-up.

When it's bed time, simply throw a light towel or blanket over the cage, so it covers three of the four cage walls. 

Make sure there is sufficient air ventilation - you don't want to suffocate your new bird! If it is noisy you can do this too, it will calm them down, but it would also be good if you could move the cage if possible. If you believe it might be too dark, you can provide a small night-light in case your budgie gets a fright, this prevents it from flying around the cage blindly in fear & slamming into a cage wall/toy/perch, causing injury.

Buy a big cage - as big as you can afford. 

The cage should be at least 18cm D x 18cm H x 30cm W, at least. Try to buy a cage that is wider than it is tall & one with a square top. The reason for this is because budgies fly horizontally, not vertically like a quail, & fancy-topped cages are simply a waste of space. The budgie must be able to spread its wings & fly - do not crowd the cage with toys, perches or other budgies.

 Make sure to buy toys & perches of different thicknesses, shapes, & textures.

 Natural perches are great, especially compared to dowel or plastic perches. Make sure the wood is safe for the bird, such as eucalyptus. Dowel perches or plastic perches can cause foot problems due to the lack of foot exercises. Also try to avoid concrete perches as they are hard on the birds feet, but if you must use them, position them at the lowest point possible.'.

Name your Budgie, this will let them get used to the name!

Cuttle bone is a good source of natural calcium for budgies. 

Mineral blocks can also be bought too. Some people may use liquid vitamin & mineral supplements, but it is not essential, & these things will be consumed through the fresh fruits & veggies you give them - so make sure to give them a variety of fruits & veggies!

Clean out the Budgies cage at least once a week and fresh water every day.

Always treat your budgie with love & kindness.

 Remember they are very fragile & require you to handle them with care. Keep them away from small children, & always remember to teach people new to birds how to handle & properly play with these delicate little creatures!!

How to Take Care of Cockatoos

 

Cockatoos, like many parrots, can be immensely rewarding pets because of their sociability and intelligence. However, these positive traits can also create problems if the birds are not cared for properly. These tips can help you establish a fun, loving, and productive relationship with your bird.

Step 1-  Choose your bird carefully. 

Look for one which is healthy, alert, and does not display signs of fearing strange humans.

• Clear eyes and smooth, clean feathers are a sign of good health. Also check the feet (they should be scaly but dry and smooth), and the vent (should be free of fecal material).
• A bird should hold its crest in a relaxed position, about halfway raised. A flattened crest indicates fear or hostility. A fully upright crest indicates surprise or defensiveness.
• Purrs, low-pitched squawks, and clicks usually indicate curiosity or friendly intent. Hisses and high-pitched screams indicate aggression or fear.
• The bird should show interest in normal activities, such as playing with toys, eating, and interacting with other birds or people.

Step 2- Set up an environment for your bird.

While a cockatoo can spend time riding around on shoulders or sitting on a perch outside its cage, you need to "bird proof" any room where the bird will be loose.

• Hazards which should be removed or hidden include: wiring (birds will chew on power cords), bare bulbs, flames, toxic plants, small hard objects (easily swallowed), standing water (deeper than 4cm), hot plates.
• Make sure to cover holes, such as those behind appliances. Cockatoos love to explore what they perceive as "tree cavities".
• Unless you are positive a room is 100% bird-proof, and is closed to prevent escape, don't allow your bird to be loose unsupervised.

Step 3- Set up a comfortable cage, for times when you're not around, or at night. 

The cage should include perches, a toy or two, fresh water, and a removable tray for droppings. You'll also want a cloth to cover the cage at night.

Step 4- Provide a variety of healthy food for your bird. 

Besides bird food pellets, offer fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Carrots, apples, celery, spinach, and pear are good choices.

Step 5- Introduce toys, so that your bird can entertain him or her self. 

Cockatoos are highly intelligent, and easily bored.

• Present toys one or two at a time, and replace the toy with a novel one when the bird tires of it. Keep old toys around to cycle back in.
  
• Good toys include teething rings/teething toys, large bells, rope dog toys, balls (too large to swallow), and rattles.
• Introduce entertainment. Besides playtime with humans, many birds enjoy listening to music or watching movies over your shoulder.

Step 6- Interact with your bird whenever possible. 

Cockatoos are very social, and love companionship.

• Talk to your bird as much as you can.
• "Socially groom" your bird by gently scratching the back of its head.
• Play with your bird by allowing it to climb on you, stroking it, and offering toys from your hand.
• Offer food treats, such as small pieces of fruit, directly from your hand.
• Introduce your bird to new people.
• Allow your bird to accompany you around the house. A trained cockatoo can ride on your head or shoulder while you do chores, talk on the phone, or watch TV.
• Teach your bird tricks. Cockatoos enjoy the mental stimulation of learning new tasks, especially when they get a tasty fruit morsel as a reward! As well as being good talkers, they are agile and can be taught to do some amusing gymnastics.

Step 7- Develop a routine whenever possible. 

Birds have an acute sense of time and enjoy predictable interactions. For example, you can start a ritual of playing with the bird every day at a certain time, or of an activity you do together.

Step 8- Bathe your bird weekly or bi-weekly with a spray bottle.

• Some birds prefer to bathe themselves in a shallow dish (less than 5cm of water).
• Mix 7 parts water to 1 part Listerine in your spray bottle if your bird's feathers need extra attention.