Avian Husbandry and Nutrition Flashcards
Housing and Equipment
Cages
Location
warm, bright lit area free of drafts
Social interaction with family
Minimize stress - visitors, noises, children
Free of Hazards - toxic plants, pets, fumes, fans
Housing and Equipment
Cages
Size
largest size for size of bird
Small birds - longer length of flight
Large Birds - taller height for climbing
Bar spacing <1inch for smaller birds
Housing and Equipment
Cages
Materials
Stainless steel or powder coated
non-toxic
durable
aesthetically pleasing
NO galvanized wire or zinc latches
Bird-proof latches on all doors
No Sharp edges
Easy to remove liner to clean daily
Housing and Equipment
Food bowls
Stainless steel
Fresh food/water daily
Clean with warm soapy water - NO BLEACH
Housing and Equipment
Perches
Diameter should match bird’s size
varying diameters and level
Near food dishes and toys
Material:
Natural wood
Rope
Cement
Why do you want varying diameters of perches
can get pressure sores if baring weight on the same areas of their feet all the time
Wood Branch perches
are ideal
wears down nails, come in varying sizes to avoid pododermatitis, and birds can chew on them safely
Careful with toxic trees
Braided Rope Perches
can provide a softer surface and be comfortable option for birds.
MUST be monitored carefully as they can become tattered when birds chew on them
Sandpaper/Cement Perches
AVOID
may be used along with other perches to provide texture and aid birds in safely wearing down their beaks and nails
However, concrete perches should not be the only perche used in cages.
Can be abrasive to the birds feet, resulting in irriation and sore formation.
Plastic Perches
strudy and easy to clean but can be slippery and provide less texture for gripping
Large birds may chew and splinter plastic into sharp shards.
Bird Nutrition
Overview
messy eating
chewing on objects
Feather dust
Avian Nutrition
Nutritional deficiency is a common cause of disease
Birds do not naturally select a balanced diet
Pre-formulated commercial diets are available
each species has its own unique requirements
Immpossible to create a balanced commercial diet for each species
Currently based on what we know about poultry
Bird Food Pyramid
Formulated pellets - 75%
Greens, grains, fruits - 20%
Seeds, nuts, millet - 5%
Pelleted Diets
Advantages
all nutrients packed into a pellet
Fortified with vitamins, minerals
Eliminates selectivity
Easier to monitor consumption
Pelleted Diets
Disadvantages
minimal species specificity
Rejection by birds
Artificial colors, additives
Lacks variety, enrichment
Seed Diets
Birds love them
“JUNK FOOD”
Deficient in many nutrtients - vitamin A, calcium, essential fatty acids, AA imbalance
High in fat
Fresh Foods
Vegetables
High in Vitamin A
Carrots
sweet potatoes
broccoli
bell peppers
squash
Fresh food
vegetables
Leafy greens
collards, kale, mustard greens
swiss chard
dandelion gresns
parsely
romaine
red/gree leef lettuce
Fresh Foods
Vegetables
Others
green beans
cauliflower
eggplant
sugar snap or snow peas
corn
cucumber
Fresh Food
Fruit
mago
papaya
kiwi
berries
pomegranates
pineapple
cranberries
peaches
nectarines
apricots
bananas
oranges
cantaloupe
cherries
pears
grape
apples
grapefruit
tangerines
Foods to Avoid
limit animal fats and protein
limit seeds, nuts
avoid salty or high sugar foods
Avoid dary
Toxic food items
onions, garlic
caffeine, chocolate
Alchohol
Avocados
Rhubarb
friut pits
Xylitol
Toxic component of Avocados
persin - fungicidal
Other foods Birds can have
cooked grains - brown rice, quinoa, oats, wheat, barley, pasts
Whole wheat bread and unsweetened whole wheat cereals
Cooked Legumes - beans, lentils, and peas
Supplements
Not needed if fed a well-balanced diet
Cuttle fish bone may be provided as an extra source of calcium during periods of heavy egg production
Types of Enrichment
physical
social
occupational
sensory
Toys
Important for enrichment
Rotate toys frequently to prevent boredom
Toys and potential dangers
Heavy metals - zinc and lead
Dyes and other chemicals - glues, adhesives, lacquers, paints, some dyes, chemically tanned leather
Poly Vinyl Chloride - make soft plastic and vinyl toys
ENTANGLEMENT
Ingestion
Occupational Enrichment
Allowing birds to perform jobs
Especially those they might do in the wild:
Flight / aviary room
jungle gyms
Swings, bars
Foraging
bathing
destruction
Training - tricks and puzzles
Social Enrichment
Bonded conspecifics
Owner-bird interaction
brief, playful interactions
talking, singing, dancing
Play time
Feeding
AVOID PHYSICAL TOUCHING that may result in inappropriate bonding
Large and more social birds can be very demanding of attention and resort to neurotic behaviors if denied interaction
Household Dangers
Poisoning
inhalation or ingestion of wide range of substances can be toxic
Insecticides
ammonia
bleach
oven cleaner
glues
nail polish remover
paint
perfumes
houseplants
air fresheners
candles
NOn-stick pans
Teflon
very common
non-sticl coating emits toxic fumes when overheated
Sudden death is common
Air Pollution
Birds are highly sensitive
No aerosols near birds
No smoke in the home
Use carbon monoxide detectors
Keep birds envirnments well ventilated
Drowning
Toilet bowls
sinks, bathtubs
Mop buckets
fish tanks
cooking pots
pets food/water bowls
Electrocution
birds explore with their beaks
Keep cords and appliances hidden or covered with tubing
Collision
windows, doors, mirrors, ceiling fans
Trimming wings may alleviate risks
Predators
cats, dogs, ferrets, snakes and lizards have a natural hunting instinct, and your bird may become the victim
Larger birds, especially unrelated species can be aggressive towards smaller birds
Never leave these animals alone together unattended
