Housing Requirements: Cages, Aviaries and Accessories.
Cage
Living:
Birds should be housed in a cage that is as roomy as possible, especially birds
that will spend most or all of their time in the cage. Basically birds need to
be able to stretch their wings and flap them without hitting anything. They
should also be able to make short flights.
Horizontal bars on the sides of the cage are very important for birds that like
to climb, such as parakeets, cockatiels and lots of playful parrots. Bar spacing
needs to be small enough that the bird cannot get it's head through them. Metal
bars are good for birds that like to chew.
It is really nice if the cage is easy to clean. Many cages have a slide out tray
and an easily removable grate.
The cage should be placed in a draft free area that is well lit, but not in
direct sunlight. To make your birds feel secure and comfortable keep their cage
against a wall or in a corner, and at eye level if you hang it from the ceiling.
Aviary
Living:
Aviaries are beneficial in providing large areas for birds,
often with the intent of breeding. Aviaries can be either indoors or outdoors.
Some birds are very noisy and can be a nuisance to close neighbors. So if your
birds are loud, you may want to keep them in an indoor aviary or in a remote
area.
Indoor aviaries give you
the ability to control temperature, lighting, noise and humidity. An indoor
aviary is often a room in a home devoted to birds. The windows are covered with
wire and the door often has a wired porch with two doors to pass through . These
are to keep your birds from flying out. Some indoor aviaries are simply a bird
room with extra large cages. Doing it this way, the doors and windows don't need
to be screened in.
Outdoor aviaries can provide your birds with a natural
environment and are designed in a wide variety of styles. Because the birds are
exposed to the weather, they must have indoor sheltering, possibly heated or
cooled, if conditions get extreme. Outdoor aviaries always need a shaded area
and wind breaks. Trees or large branches can fit in nicely to create a
comfortable home, but must be of non-toxic woods.
Accessories: Bowls, Perches and toys.
Bowls are needed for foods and treats, and water. Small birds can use plastic bowls. Ceramic or stainless steel
bowls generally are needed for medium and large parrots. These bigger birds will
often chew up plastic bowls, or even pick up their bowls and dump them or toss
them to the floor. Built in bowl holders are often a part of the cage and may be
designed to keep the bird from removing the bowl. Other bowls are attached with
hooks, bolts or clips, and may mount inside or outside the cage depending on the
design.
Perches not only provide
standing places for birds, but also give them an opportunity to exercise their
beaks and keep their beaks trim. Perch size and shape can vary depending on the
bird, but should fit their feet. A 1" perch is comfortable for most parrots and
a 1/2" perch suits smaller birds. Round and oval wooden perches are often used,
and sometimes plastic perches are used for small birds. Variety in both size and
shape is important to exercise your birds feet. Natural branches are great for
providing this variety. Concrete perches make nice additional perches for
parrots to help them keep both nails and beak trim.
Toys for birds are designed in lots of combinations of woods,
leathers, ropes, chains, bells and even acrylics. Toys such as swings and
ladders are designed for chewing and climbing, while stainless steel mirrors are
for viewing and comfort. The wide range of non-toxic colors, fun textures,
shapes and sizes, sounds (and even smells) that you'll find in bird toys will
keep both you and your bird interested in checking out new ones. A great way to
combat boredom and provide exercise!
Foods and Feeding
Foods available for birds include:
Bird feed mixes (specific to
each type of bird) consist of a mixture of seeds, formulated foods, some
supplements, and usually additional vitamins. Bird mixes are generally regarded
as suitable especially when provided with additional supplements.
Formulated diets provide a good nutritional base, containing all
the necessary minerals and vitamins, so additional vitamins are not required.
However, formulated diets do not contain the phytonutrients (antioxidant
pigments) that are found in vegetables, fruits, grains, and seeds.
Phytonutrients are believed to boost the immune system, help a body to heal
itself, and to prevent some diseases. Many birds also become bored with a
formulated diet due to the lack of variety. Offering supplements can help
provide the phytonutrients and help offset boredom.
Seed only diets offer much more variety but requires
additional vitamin and calcium supplements. In the wild many birds eat seed as a
major portion of their diet. Many birds need not only nutritional requirements
met but also variety for psychological enrichment. All seeds contain protein and
are roughly divided into either a cereal type seed such as millet, or an oil
type seed such as sunflower seed. To provide a balanced diet, minerals, amino
acid, vitamins and trace elements can be added as a supplement to seed or water.
There are pros and cons to feeding only
a formulated diet, or to feeding only a seed diet.
Supplements can be
used to enrich all types of diets.
Supplements include soaked and
sprouted seed, fruits, vegetables and even some green plants (make sure they are
non-toxic). All types of fruits are a good supplement such as apples, pears,
plums, cherries, grapes, oranges, bananas, mangos, papayas, and even berries
such as strawberries and blueberries. Vegetables are also good supplements such
as carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, many garden vegetables, and even dandelions and
chickweed. Do not feed avocado, any fruit pits, grape or apple seeds, as they
are toxic to birds!
Additional proteins can be offered to some birds about every 1 1/2 weeks such as
cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs, cooked meat and yogurt. Many birds will eat
what you eat. Be sure anything you offer is not toxic to your bird.
Cuttlebone and calcium blocks will also provide necessary
minerals for maintaining your birds health.
Some seed eating birds need grit. This applies
especially to birds such as pigeons and doves that eat their seed whole without
shelling it first. It is an essential to aid in digestion to seeds eaten
unshelled, as these birds use it in their crop to grind the seed. Grit also
contains valuable minerals and trace elements, and though not necessary for
digestion will aid some birds if offered in limited amounts.
Birds that are not primarily seed eaters do not require grit or
cuttlebone. Mynah's and Toucan's will eat softbill food. Lories
and Lorikeets eat pollens and nectars. These types of birds major diet consists
of fruits like apples, bananas, pears, and grapes. They also will eat soaked
dried fruits, canned fruits and natural juices. All of these are easy to supply.
There are also commercially prepared pellets and powders available.
Excercise/Activities
A bird's cage needs to accommodate their full wingspan
so they can safely flap their wings and exercise them. If they are kept in the
cage all the time, they need to be able to make short flights.
Small birds, like finches and canaries, primarily flutter from perch to perch
and make short flights. They are generally always kept in their cage or aviary
and can be difficult to catch if they get out.
Parrots of all sorts love to climb on ladders and the
horizontal bars of their cage. Some like to hang from the top of their cage or
from various toys and swings hanging in the cage. Many of the smaller parrots
like swings. . Natural perches not only provide exercise for the parrots toe
muscles, they also keep birds gnawing on the bark and the wood. Cuttlebones are
good for beak trimming as well as a calcium supple.
Toys provide entertainment as well as exercise and
most parrots like to chew. Perches, swings, ladders and toys all become objects
of entertainment and chewing.
Plastic toys are only safe for small birds, parakeets
and perhaps less active cockatiels. Larger parrots will destroy them and can be
injured by the chewed pieces. Various woods, leathers, rawhides and acrylic make
good chew toys for all parrots. Bells are a favorite toy and reflective
surfaces, like stainless steel mirrors, can be enjoyed by some birds.
Playpens are located outside the cage. They have a
variety of perches, ladders and swings that give birds a place to exercise and
play. Playpens usually have food and water dishes. This allows you to leave your
bird out for as long as you'd like.
Most birds love a bath! A bath placed in the bottom of
the cage or mounted through a side door will allow small birds to bathe, and
create quite a splash! Larger birds usually like a light misting from a spray
bottle 2 or 3 times a week. Birds anticipating a bath will often spread their
wings out to catch the mist and call loudly when being sprayed. Often birds will
take a bath in the fresh water of their water dish if not provided with a bath!
Hand-tamed birds often prefer to shower with their owners.
Do's
Learn about different birds to be sure you get a bird
that will fit you and your lifestyle. Some birds can be handled. Some birds have
a beautiful song. Some are just wonderful to watch. Some like to be cuddled and
others just want to talk! Some birds just like one person and others like
everybody! If you know about the type of bird you are getting, then you will
know what to expect!
Take time with you bird everyday. You'll have a happy
pet and a great friend! This will also keep you aware of what's going on with
your bird and you'll know if anything needs to be fixed or changed.
Don'ts
Be sure it is safe when you let your bird out of it's
cage. Don't leave windows and doors open. Don't have any water-filled vessels, a
hot stove or a running ceiling fan. Don't let your bird eat any toxic plants
like oleanders, azaleas, juniper, daffodils, philodendron, lily-of-the-valley,
etc. Don't hit your bird! Keep your bird safe!