2009-02-09 • by Administrator

Birds, after dogs and cats are the most preferred pets. Parrots, lovebirds, doves, etc. are common pets found in many houses. It is always nice to hear them chirping and singing. Birds are highly intelligent and are extremely social. Caring for birds and making sure they are healthy and happy is of utmost importance to any pet owner. Although birds hide any signs of illness, there are a number of ways to find out if your pet bird is sick. The following symptoms indicate that your pet is ill:

1. The color of the droppings might change.
2. Their appetite can reduce and the feathers might become ruffled.
3. The bird’s cere (top part of a birds beak) might turn red and the eyes might become cloudy.
4. Other symptoms include dirty feathers, weight loss, tail bobbing, changes in vocalization or open mouthed breathing.

If you notice any of these symptoms, make sure you take your pet to an avian vet. Here are some ways to make sure your feathered friends remain happy and healthy.

1. Good and healthy food
2. Proper grooming
3. Access to sunlight
4. Protect them from climatic conditions
5. Provide a spacious accommodation
6. Provide plenty of exercise/out- of- cage time
7. Social interaction

Good and healthy food

Many people have the wrong notion that it is enough to feed birds only seeds. However, this is not true. They lead to premature deaths, as they are one sided diets and lack in several nutrients. So make sure your bird’s diet includes all the essential nutrients. This is the first step towards keeping your bird healthy.

Proper grooming

It is of utmost importance that your pet birds are groomed well. Make sure they bathe often. This helps in developing better skin and feathers.

Access to sunlight

Just like all living creatures, birds too need sunlight for their growth. Do not lock them up in the cage and leave it in a corner. Make sure your pet gets its share of sunlight every day.

Protect them from climatic conditions

It is important to keep them warm during winter and keep them cool during summer. You can use a heater to keep them warm or another option is to use a warming perch. During summer, keep them in a shady place so that the heat does not affect them. Provide them with water to bathe to keep them cool.

Provide a spacious accommodation

It is important that their living spaces are big and spacious. Nobody likes living in small spaces. Do not confine your pets to tiny little cages.

Provide plenty of exercises/out-of-cage time

Even very large and spacious cages will not be enough for proper physical and mental development. Let them out in the open for at least a few hours every day. Everyone likes freedom and your pet birds are no exception.

Social interaction

Birds are extremely social and love being around other living creatures. If you have just one bird, make sure you spend quality time with it.

All this will surely lead to a healthy and happy life for your bird, and with all that love, perhaps, for you too!