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AHW > Pet bird husbandry > Flashcards

Pet bird husbandry Flashcards

1
Q

Which types of birds are kept?

A

Passerines and psittacines

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2
Q

What is the order of the ‘songbirds’?

A

Passeriformes

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3
Q

How many species in passeriformes order?

A

4900

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4
Q

What are the most commonly kept birds in the passeriformes order?

A

Finches
Canaries

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5
Q

What are canaries bred for?

A

Song, colour, type

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6
Q

How many canaries should be kept together?

A

Best kept singly
Not very sociable
Males will fight

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7
Q

What is the approximate weight of canaries?

A

20g

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8
Q

What is the average life expectancy of canaries?

A

9 - 10 years

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9
Q

Which canaries are able to sing?

A

Only males sing

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10
Q

What are the most popular finches?

A

Zebra
Gouldian
Society

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11
Q

What approximate weight of finches?

A

15-30g

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12
Q

What is the average life expectancy of finches?

A

5 - 10 years (depending on species)

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13
Q

How many finches should be kept together?

A

Should be kept in pairs or small flocks
Almost all are sociable

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14
Q

What is the order of the ‘parrots’?

A

Psittaciformes

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15
Q

How many species in psittaciformes order?

A

350

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16
Q

What are the most commonly kept birds in the psittacines order?

A

Budgies
Cockateils
Cockatoos
Lovebirds
African grey parrots
Amazon parrots
(Macaws)

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17
Q

What are some of the species of small parrots found in Australia?

A

Budgerigars, cockatiels, lorikeets, lories, rosellas

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18
Q

What are some of the species of small parrots found in Africa?

A

Lovebirds, senegals, parakeets

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19
Q

What are some of the species of small parrots found in South America?

A

Caiques, parrotlets, conures

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20
Q

What are some of the species of small parrots found in South Asia?

A

Parakeets, eclectus parrots

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21
Q

How many small parrots should be kept together?

A

Usually kept in pairs or flocks

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22
Q

What is the average weight of budgerigars?

A

35-55g

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23
Q

What is the average life expectancy of budgerigars?

A

Up to 10 years

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24
Q

How do you sex budgerigars?

A

The colour of the ceres
Females have brown/tan ceres
Males have (pale) blue ceres

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25
Q

How many budgerigars should be kept together?

A

Best kept in pairs of colonies
Although, tend to be better ‘pets’ if kept together - transfer need for company onto owner/family

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26
Q

What is the average weight of a cockatiel?

A

70-120g

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27
Q

What is the average life expectancy of a cockatiel?

A

Up to 20 years

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28
Q

What is a unique way to sex cockatiels?

A

Males have bright yellow faces
Females had grey faces with yellow patches

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29
Q

How many cockatiels should be kept together?

A

Best kept in pairs or flocks
Males sometimes fight
Like human company if kept singly

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30
Q

What are the 4 species of larger parrot and where are they from?

A

Macaw, Amazon - South America
West African grey - Africa
Cockatoo - Australasia

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31
Q

Why is there different considerations when keeping large parrots vs small parrots?

A

All large parrots are endangered/threatened
Illegal to import
Only keep birds bred in captivity

32
Q

What is the average lifespan of the large parrots?

A

30 - 50 years

33
Q

What are the common colours of macaws?

A

Blue & gold = most common
Scarlet
Green winged

34
Q

What is the average weight of a macaw?

A

800 - 1200g

35
Q

What is the average height of a macaw?

A

35 inches

36
Q

How many macaws should be kept together?

A

Best kept in pairs
If become bored - chew through things

37
Q

At what age do macaws reach sexual maturity and what does this often lead to?

A

5 - 6 years
Aggression

38
Q

What colour is the plumage of the Amazon parrot?

A

Green

39
Q

What is the average weight of the Amazon parrot?

A

400 - 600g

40
Q

What is the average height of the Amazon parrot?

A

12 - 14 inches

41
Q

How many Amazon parrots should be kept together?

A

Can be kept singly

42
Q

Describe the temperament of Amazon parrots.

A

Good pets
Playful
Outgoing
Friendly
Talk

43
Q

What colour is the plumage of the West African grey?

A

Grey with bright red tail

44
Q

What is the average weight of a West African grey parrot?

A

500g

45
Q

What is the average height of a West African grey parrot?

A

12 - 14 inches

46
Q

What feature is unique to West African grey parrots and what issues can it lead to?

A

Best talkers - coherent conversation
Demanding
Attachment issues

47
Q

What is the colour of cockatoo plumage?

A

Commonly white with yellow head feathers
Many colours

48
Q

What is the average weight of a cockatoo?

A

800 - 1000 g

49
Q

What is the average height of a cockatoo?

A

15 - 20 inches

50
Q

Describe the temperament of a cockatoo.

A

Very affectionate
Intelligent
Sensitive
Attachment issues - can become aggressive if person abandons them
Screech
Can learn to talk
Don’t cope with change

51
Q

What is the legal requirement when housing passerines and psittacines?

A

The cage must be big enough for the bird to be able to fully stretch its wings and flap them.

52
Q

What should cages primarily be used for?

A

Primarily used for confinement overnight or when the bird is unsupervised

53
Q

What material is best for perches in cages of passerines and psittacines?

A

Use wooden perches.
Avoid plastic or covering with sandpaper as this can lead to pressure sores

54
Q

What features of cages should be considered when house psittacines?

A

Cages should be square (round can be stressful)
The bars of the cage should be horizontal to allow for climbing
The door should be large enough to accommodate parrot on hand

55
Q

Where should the cage of a parrot be positioned?

A

At eye level in a busy part of the house (not kitchen - toxic fumes).
Not subject to draughts
Warm (around 25 degrees C)

56
Q

Describe the lighting that should be used when housing parrots?

A

Leave a dim light on at night to allow the parrot to see - reduces chance of panic and damage to feathers and limbs if startled

57
Q

Describe the humidity that should be used when housing parrots?

A

They are a tropical species. Most appreciate regular spraying, or even baths.

58
Q

Describe the breeding of parrots/

A

Should all be captive bred
Illegal to import wild caught parrots

59
Q

In the wild, what is required for females to lay eggs?

A

Suitable nesting site
A mate
Correct environmental conditions

60
Q

What can laying occasionally be trigged by in captivity in the absence of a mate?

A

Environmental/husbandry factos

61
Q

What do passerines usually eat?

A

Seed or grain

62
Q

What should a passerine diet be supplemented with and why?

A

With ‘soft’ or ‘egg’ food which provides extra vitamins/minerals and protein.

63
Q

What else should be supplied for passerines?

A

Grit

64
Q

What do psittacines usually eat?

A

Fruits, nuts, berries, seeds, flowers and even small mammals

65
Q

What are the common dietary problems seen in captive parrot species?

A

Selective eating
‘Seed junkies’
Overeating due to boredom
Malnutrition common

66
Q

What are the two suitable diet types for psittacines and what do they consist of?

A

Home made -
- 30% fruit, 30% veg, 30% sprouted pulses, 10% seeds and nuts. Vitamin and mineral supplement
Pelleted (with additions) -
- convenient but boring
ideally some fresh food too

67
Q

What should you ensure when providing water for parrots?

A

Fresh/clean at all times
Change regularly

68
Q

Which birds require grit?

A

Passerines
NOT psittacines

69
Q

What are poisonous/harmful foods to birds?

A

Avocado stones - persin toxin
Garlic - changes RBCs - anaemia
Junk food
Tomatoes - acidic
Celery - stringy (get stuck in crop)
Mushrooms - micro toxins

70
Q

What should you remember when handling/restraining birds?

A

You can seriously damage a bird due to the lack of functional diaphragm .
Birds can seriously damage you due to their extremely strong beaks.

71
Q

How should you handle birds in general?

A

Without the owner (ensure the bond between owner and bird is not ruined)
Quiet darkened room.
Towel for protection and to prevent flapping
Approach the birds from the back
Easier with two people (especially with large birds)

72
Q

How should you handle small birds specifically?

A

Use bare hands or very fine cloth to allow you to assess grip. Wrap the wings. Restrain the head by holding gently round neck with 1st and 2nd fingers

73
Q

How should you handle large birds specifically?

A

Watch beak and claws
Can offer something to chew to protect fingers - large parrots can chomp through most things.
Hold wings to prevent flapping
Restrain head to prevent biting
Hold legs with other hand above claws

74
Q

What vessels can be used when blood sampling birds?

A

Jugular (right)
Ulnar vein (small)
Medial metatarsal in waterbirds (large)

75
Q

Why is a toeclip sample not recommended?

A

Due to risk of contamination, also painful

76
Q

What is common routine health procedure in birds?

A

Beak trimming

AHW (5 decks)

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