Birds Flashcards

1
Q

What should you consider before purchasing a pet bird?

A

Time, money, care

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2
Q

What legislation limited the sale and transport of endangered bird species in the US?

A

Wild bird conservation act of 1992

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3
Q

What are some examples of common pet birds?

A
Parrotlets
Lovebirds
Parakeets
Conures
Lories
Cockatiels
African Greys
Eclectus
Amazons
Cockatoos
Macaws
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4
Q

What are some common characteristics of birds?

A
bipedal
warm blooded
feathers
beak (no teeth)
lay eggs
high metabolic rate
most can fly
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5
Q

When comparing companion bird species, what behavior, characteristics, traits should we consider? What important differences do we see between common companion birds?

A

social, voice, intelligence?

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6
Q

What adaptations do we see in bird bones to adapt them for flight?

A

light weight
many bones fused together
hollow

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7
Q

What are the functions of feathers?

5

A
flight
insulation
waterproof
camouflage
attract mates
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8
Q

What are the functions of different feather types?

A

regimes - flight feathers

and others

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9
Q

What are the pros and cons of trimming bird wing feathers?

A
PRO
can't fly away
less dangers
less likely to have a flight related injury
easier to handle 
painless
CONS
less exercise
natural behavior
stronger respiratory system
escape danger/defense
more problem behaviors
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10
Q

What are the functions of beaks?

4

A

consuming food
defense
building nest
balance/climbing

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11
Q

What are the causes of abnormal beak growth? Scissor beak? Prognathism?

A

nutritional imbalances, injury trauma

prognathism - underbite

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12
Q

What factors should we consider when choosing a bird cage? Perch?

A

2x wingspan
3x bird’s length

small parrots: less than 3/4 in

medium: 1in
large: 2in or larger

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13
Q

What are the functions of the gastrointestinal organs of the bird?

proventriculus
ventriculus
small intestine
large intestine
cloaca
A
proventriculus - stomach
ventriculus - gizzard
small intestine - nutrients absorbed
large intestine - short colon and paired ceca
cloaca - opening for everything
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14
Q

What are some important nutrients that are needed for proper bird health?

A

high protein
high essential fatty acids
high calcium

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15
Q

What is the function of grit?

A

quarts, sand, calcium carbonate in ventriculus to help break down dry/hard foods

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16
Q

What are some common causes of toxicosis in birds? What are the common symptoms and how are they treated?

A

poisoning by harmful substances and inappropriate diet

weakness, wheezing
respiratory disease (teflon only)
convulsions

lead, zinc poisoning and teflon poisoning
treat with Ca-EDTA to remove metals or keep birds out of the kitchen

17
Q

What are some common causes of compulsive egg laying? How should it be treated?

A

continuousing egg laying instead of normal litter

treated with:
reduced daylight
remove nesting box
leave eggs with hen
medical treatment
18
Q

What are some common causes of egg binding? How should it be treated?

A
age
obesity
cold, dry air
poor diets
calcium deficiency
compulsive egg laying

treated with calcium supplements, good nesting materials, surgical intervention

19
Q

What birds are at risk for aspergillosis? What are the clinical signs?

A

inhalation of spores from a moldy substrate

birds that are:
crowded
moist
poorly ventilated areas
contaminated litter or feed
clinical signs:
inappetite
increased thirst
wheezing and rapid breathing
liver damage
death
20
Q

What are the causes of chlamydiosis?

A

caused by a bacterial disease - chlamydia psittaci

21
Q

What is avian influenza? How does it affect birds? People? How concerned should we be?

A

viruses naturally found in the intestine of wild birds

  • transferred to humans via contact with contaminated secretions

BIRDS - can go almost undetected in birds - ruffled feathers, drop in egg production
HUMANS - flu like symptoms

22
Q

What are some disease prevention tips that are important for both our backyard poultry flocks as well as our companion birds?

A

keep clean and give a good diet?