Fundamental Bird Info Flashcards
Some daily duties in bird care
Remove shavings from dishes
• Replace water if there is poop or pellets inside
• Clean poop off perches, toys, and the floor
• Ensure parrot cages are locked
• Sweep any seeds or shavings off the floor
• Interact with all guests in the department
• Dust, front, and face stock
• Empty garbage cans, bring bags to bin outside, replace with fresh bags in the can
Parrots
Baby parrots need cuddling, need to be taught right from wrong and need to learn how to fit into your family
• Young parrots are very active (like a toddler) and will explore everything with their beaks
• Adolescent parrots may develop an attitude and the owner will need to control this by teaching the bird certain commands, such as “up”
• Senior parrots will get slower, sleep a bit more, be more set in their ways, and at times be moodier than they used to be
Finches
• Finches make a great pet for those owners who do not want a bird that needs to be handled.
. These birds should go home in pairs unless replacing.
• Be sure to have an even number of males to females to avoid competitions for attention.
• Though some species can be mixed, it is always best to keep them paired within the same species.
• Some finches are sexually dimorphic.
Canaries
• Canaries do quite well living on their own!
• They are great for first-time bird
owners as they are not very demanding
• Canaries can live up to 15 years
• Canaries are known for their melodious voice
• The males are known for their great singing abilities, though some females excel as well
• Their songs change over time by adding and dropping notes on a yearly basis
• Why they might not sing: When it is moulting (generally occurs 2-3 times a year)
• If a female is in the cage because singing is used to attract a mate
• Sometimes a canary might simply need to learn how to sing!
Budgies
• “Budgie” comes from the word “budgerigar” which means “good to eat”
• These Australian birds can live between 10-18 years of age
• Budgies are companion birds that do well on their own if they receive a lot of attention, otherwise get two
• Budgies are the second best talkers in the world!
The world record is between a budgie and an
African grey parrot
Sexing
• You can tell the sex of the budgie by looking at his cere just above his beak
• If the cere is blue, it is a male. If it is a leathery brown, it is a female
• Keep in mind that despite the fact that budgies are sexually dimorphic, Petland does not guarantee the sex of animals
Age
Young
Striped Banding to the Cere, black button eyes, black on beak
Old
Striped Banding is Receding, iris around eye, no black on beak
Cockatiels
• Cockatiels originate from
Australia and can live from 15-25 years
• The disposition of cockatiels are very fun-loving and curious by nature, making them one of the most popular companion birds
• They mimic sound really well, but are generally not great talkers
• Each one is different, and some patient training sessions can yield great results!
• Cockatiels love attention and interacting with their owners!
• Our birds are hand fed by our breeders, making them easier to hand tame
• They are great birds to have guests handle for their first time!
• One bird can do well on his own as long as a lot of time is spent with him
• Confidently bringing them out of the cage on a daily basis is an important way to combat obesity.
Other ways include:
• Keeping lots of interactive toys in the cage
• Supplying a balanced diet
• You can tell the sex of a cockatiel after the post juvenile molt (nine months)
by looking at the cheek colouring and tail feathers
• Males have bright orange cheeks and solid grey tail feathers
• Females looks like their cheeks have been dusted with a brownish powder.
Their tail feathers have yellow and black cross banding and yellowish-white rims on the outer feathers
Maintenance
Bird bath
•Birds require a daily bath to encourage proper preening
habits
• If misting, make sure the water is warm and lightly mist above the bird like rain, not at the bird like a water gun
• Guests can offer their birds a bath where the bird can wash himself
• Though either method is sufficient, some birds may have a preference
Maintenance
Cage liner
•Cage liners collect the poop, seed shells, and water that will inevitably be splashed around.
• Cage paper is awesome for easy clean as the sheet only needs to be hit against a garbage can for the collected waste to fall off.
• Substrate such as eco bedding is awesome for foraging if offered in a separate bowl.
Maintenance
Seed cups
• Having a variety of seed cups is a smart idea for any bird because he will need separate dishes for staple food, salads, and supplements
• Having additional food cups on hand allows the guest to rotate them out for cleaning purposes
Maintenance
Clippers
• Birds need regular wing and nail trims for safety purposes
• Wing trimmers should have a rounded tip to prevent accidents. Face trimmers from the dog section work well
• Bird nails are very small and therefore only bird nail clippers should be used
• Always have styptic powder or clay cal on hand when doing trims
Nutritional
Staple diet
•Staple food is the primary diet for birds
• Pellets are considered superior to seeds because they are a complete diet
• Birds, like children, pick out their favorite seeds which means they do not receive all of the nutrients they require
• Either food will meet the basic nutritional requirements
Nutritional
Supplements
• Prime is a powder vitamin supplement that must be used on seed diets to ensure they do not miss essential vitamins and minerals.
• lodine blocks are essential to birds who are found in Australia (like budgies), though it is beneficial for all birds.
• Cuttlebones are a source of calcium that help keep beaks free from cracks.
Nutritional
Spray millet
• Spray millet is a stimulating food for all birds because they must break open the shell to get the food
• This food is considered a comfort food because it is familiar and keeps the bird busy
Nutritional
Salads
• Green salads should be offered on a daily basis
• Fruits should be make up less than 5% of the salad, and a finely chopped cooked egg can be offered 1-2 times a week
• Remove all perishable foods after 1 hour
Behavioural
Sound Toys
• All birds have a behavioural need to communicate with their flock.
Sound toys allow them to stimulate that need
• Though bells and chimes are the most common sound toys, hard toys placed near cage bars can serve as sound toys too
