Bird Enthusiast Flashcards
How do we help match the right bird with the right guest
The temperament and care requirements of pet birds can vary greatly.
Some require social interactions and daily out-of-cage time while others are happy flying around their cage independently.
Understanding the needs of each bird, along with learning what the guest is looking for in a pet bird, will go a long way in matching the right bird with the right guest.
How can we enhance a guests knowledge and enjoyment of bird ownership?
know the products and stay up-to-date with current information!
This department keeps our stores growing, so you must be up to date with current product knowledge.
We need to make it our mission to give each guest one piece of new information.
The pet industry is always changing as new research continues to improve animal care.
bird department specifically
• Teaching the guests how to handle birds provides Animal Care and Guest Service
• Getting guests involved in bathing the birds will provide Animal Care and Guest
Service
• Sweeping up shavings and seed husks off the floor and replacing water or food dishes that have been soiled provides Presentation and Animal Care. Remember - if you see it, assume that no one else has, and be the one to clean it up!
• Offering a great product selection with clean, stocked shelves that are priced will benefit the self-guided guest, therefore providing Presentation and Guest Service
Random bird facts
• Birds were first kept for their beauty, and not just a food source, over 4000 years ago.
• Egyptian hieroglyphs show doves and parrots perched on people’s arms.
• There are over 18,000 species of birds in the world.
• Birds do not have sweat glands. Excess heat is expelled through the lungs and air sacs. An overheated bird will fluff their feathers to allow cool air in.
• Birds have a crop which stores food and water until they pass to the rest of the digestive tract. The crop acts
as a temporary storage pouch. It allows birds to consume relatively large amounts of food quickly and then move to a more secure location to digest that food. When it is low or empty, it triggers the brain that they need to eat.
Parts of a Bird
Cere - The purpose of the cere is largely unknown, but it houses the bird’s nares (nostrils) and it is believed to play a role either in respiration or the sense of smell. It can be a useful trait for bird identification and checking the health of a bird.
Mandible - Is a bone that is connected to the skull. The lower mandible can move independently from the skull because it is hinged like our lower jaws.
Syrinx - Birds do not have vocal cords.
Instead, they have a “syrinx” in the trachea that vibrates to produce sounds.
Plumage = bird’s feathers
The type of feet is indicative of a whether a bird is a “parrot” or not.
Parrots have zygodactyl feet, meaning they have two toes at the front, and two toes at the back of each foot. This characteristic means that even the little budgie is technically a parrot.
With this in mind, the term “parrot” will be used in this course to describe birds that are conure size and greater as these birds have more advanced care requirements.
Anisodactyl foot (i.e. finches)
Life Stages
Like human beings, birds have different needs at different times. They must be socialized, acclimatized and taught which behaviours are acceptable and which are not.
As their early stages of development have a profound impact on their behaviours later on in life, it is imperative that pet counsellors understand the bird’s developmental stages and the training required at each stage.
a baby parrot will change and grow in personality just as people do. That sweet little hand-fed baby will indeed go through stages. It is best for the guest to be aware/prepared for these changes before they occur.
The topic of life stages is more relevant to parrots, as smaller birds develop much faster than most parrots and therefore each stage is passed through more-or-less unnoticed.
Baby parrots
:
• need cuddling
• need to be taught right from wrong
• need to learn how to fit into a family environment
Young parrots
:
• are very active (like a toddler)
• will explore everything with their beaks
Adolescent parrots
:
• go through a teenager phase that needs to be controlled by the owner
• will need to understand certain commands such as “up” by this stage
• will balk at their owner’s wants and needs - seemingly only to care for their own wants - if they have not been taught any verbal commands
Mature parrots
:
• will likely enjoy less cuddling and more playtime
• will likely have different habits and behaviours than when they were young
• will still need affection, even if their behaviours change. Sometimes just sitting on or beside their owner is enough
Senior parrots
:
• will exhibit behaviours that can parallel
~move slower osleep a bit more
obe more set in their ways oat times behave a little moodier than they use to be
HARI
Hagen Avicultural Research Institute (HARI).
many of our parrots come from them. Based out of Quebec, HARI is a leader in parrot research (including nutrition, disease, development, training, etc.), conservation, product development, and more!
The HARI institute has identified
6 key stages in early parrot development.
If the training practices recommended at each stage are followed through with completely, the guest can expect a well-rounded companion that will be a joy to own for vears to come.
Stage 1-3
Stage 1: Introductory
Stage 2: Pre-Fledgling
Stage 3: Fledgling Stage
In the early stages of parrot development, the birds will be housed at the breeder’s facilities.
During this time, the breeder will begin the educational process while also hand feeding and maintaining the chick’s health.
Many changes, both physical and developmental, occur in these early stages.
As these young birds require intensive nurturing in the early stages, the tasks associated with these stages are best left to the professional breeders.
Stage 4
Stage 4: Advanced Foraging Education
This is the stage that our parrots typically arrive at the Animal Care Centre.
What to Expect
• Weight begins to stabilize and can be
maintained with fewer assisted feedings.
• Bird is actively engaged in primary lesson training.
• The fledglings are like toddlers who attend playgroups. The young birds need to interact with others and engage in different activities, but know that their caregivers are near
• Play is the fundamental focus. Encourage speech and “laughter.”
• Fledglings have already been exposed to towel cradling and physical exams. Continue this practice at the store.
Begin:
• Advanced foraging education with a
mentor.
• Slight nail grooming to remove sharp tips only
• Introducing fun new occupational activities.
• Introducing perch types that are more
challenging for the bird.
• Longer misting sessions, misting until the bird is thoroughly soaked.
• Desensitizing to the pet carrier.
Stage 5
Stage 5: Fledgling
Acquiring Independence
This is the stage that most of our parrots will be at in our stores.
They are exposed to unique amounts of stimulation in comparison to a home environment. As a result, quiet time should be offered every 2 hours.
What to Expect
• Fully weaned and no longer requires assisted feedings to maintain their body weight.
• Enjoys occupational activities such as
foraging, preening, play and exercise
• Perching dexterity is greatly improved.
• Dexterity is clearly visible at this stage. The fledgling should be able to perch on one foot while eating with the other for long periods of time.
• New found independence may cause the bird to challenge boundaries.
Begin:
• Enforcing ‘Up’ and ‘Down’ commands.
• Encouraging self-preening.
• Travelling with the bird in the pet carrier.
• Introducing versatile living quarters, such as an activity center and a training stand.
• Introducing full spectrum lighting for a few hours each day.
• Socializing the fledgling with other people, children and pets.
• Flight feather grooming may begin at this time.
