Bathing

March 16, 2016April 19, 2017 / feistyfeathers / 1 Comment

It is important to allow your birds the opportunity to bathe, though it’s not something you need to force (unless it’s super hot). During those hot summer months it is very important to keep your birds cool. Each species usually has its own preferences when it comes to bathing, and birds from humid climates may do things differently than those from arid regions. Keep in mind that the rainy season signals breeding in some species, and excessive bathing may trigger hormonal behaviors.

Spray Misting

Some birds will run away from the spray in terror while others will flip upside-down and spread their wings in joy. Cockatiels are mist bathers, even if some of them don’t know it. During the summer I mist my flight tiels and most of them enjoy it. One of the ways to get a bird interested in spray baths is not to directly hit them with the spray. Try aiming off to the side, perhaps at another bird. Many tiels get into bathing mode when just a little bit of the mist from the spray next to them floats over. Amazons and other South American species also enjoy this type of bathing. When misting try not to hit the bird in the face or directly unless they are really getting into the pleasure of the bath. Instead spray just above them so that the mist falls down on their back.

Cockatiels enjoy spray misting.

Share a Shower

You can put your bird up on the shower curtain rod (just make sure a towel or something is up there so they don’t slip), or buy a shower perch. Many birds really enjoy showering with their owners.

Dish Bathing

Offering a wide, flat dish with water is a great way to encourage bathing, especially if you don’t have time to mist your bird or let them share a shower. Many pets will try to squeeze into their water dish. This is one of the reasons why I dislike water bottles (always provide a bowl of water in addition to a bottle). If your bird is already trying to bath in its water dish it’s just one easy step for you to provide a larger bathing bowl. Some birds are hesitant about bathing in a bowl. I found that playing in the water with your hand or letting a constant stream of water from the sink trickle in helps. I got my greencheek conure to bath in a bowl I’d hold over the sink or in the sink itself. She always wanted the water running.

One thing you’ll notice is that dish bathers tend to be a bit more nervous about their baths. In the wild this type of bathing is dangerous because pools are great area for predators to catch their prey off-guard. Wet birds also can’t fly as well. Cages are considered by most birds to be “safe” areas so this nervousness usually only occurs when a bird is asked to bath somewhere away from the cage. Reassure your bird by talking to it, playing some soft music in the background or playing in the water yourself. Never leave a dish bather alone during a bath- you are their lookout for predators. Leaving can give them a fright and shatter their willingness to take baths in the future.

A budgie bathing in wet parsley.

Leaf Bathing

This type of bathing is unique to some Australian parakeets, like budgies. Budgies will actually take wet leaves and roll around on them and wrap themselves up in them. You can sometimes mist them while they are doing this or get them to leaf bath by misting first. Provide large, wet lettuce leaves.

Which Bird is Right for You?

March 15, 2016March 20, 2016 / feistyfeathers / 1 Comment

Not sure what bird is right for you? Check these genus profiles. If a ? is noted it means I don’t have enough experience with the species to say.

tiel03_wfcinpearl_cin

Genus/Common Name	Nymphicus
Includes	Cockatiels
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Limited. Good whistler.
Lifespan	20-25
Noise	Quiet, but their contact call may be annoying.
Dimorphic	Yes. See my Guide to Sexing Tiels Visually.
Comments	See species profile for more information. The cockatiel is a good beginner bird that enjoys being pet more than a budgie.

parrots-in-love-1351846-640x480

Genus/Common Name	Lories
Includes	Lories and lorikeets.
Size	Tiny to medium.
Talking Ability	?
Lifespan	?
Noise	Varies.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Very colorful and playful. Specialized diet (expensive and causes squirts).

loki17 Goffin cockatoo

Genus/Common Name	Cockatoos
Includes	Cockatoos
Size	Medium to large.
Talking Ability	Varies.
Lifespan	50-80
Noise	Quiet to loud. Large species are typically very loud. My Goffin is very quiet.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Very demanding pets, but playful and highly intelligent. They are the cuddliest birds you can find. Difficult to breed. Males known for killing, maiming, and trapping hens during breeding.

male-eclectus-parrot-1350890-639x852

Genus/Common Name	Eclectus
Includes	Eclectus
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Varies.
Lifespan	?
Noise	?
Dimorphic	Very. Males are green and females are red.
Comments	Matriarcal. Stunning colors and odd feather texture.

scarletchested04

A female scarletchested parakeet.

Genus/Common Name	Aussie Keets
Includes	Polytelis (suberb, regent, princess), king, Platycerus (rosellas), Psephotus (red-rump, mulga), Neophema (bourke, scarlet-chest, turquoise).
Size	Small to medium.
Talking Ability	Varies.
Lifespan	10-30
Noise	Pleasant.
Dimorphic	Some species are.
Comments	Good aviary birds but not commonly kept as pets. Rosellas are curious as pets and love to whistle.

budgies06 Budgies come in a variety of colors.

Genus/Common Name	Melopsittacus
Includes	Budgie.
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Very good.
Lifespan	5-15
Noise	Constant chattering. Usually not offensive.
Dimorphic	Yes.
Comments	See species profile for more information. Great beginner pets, but they usually do not come tame.

tovi1

Genus/Common Name	Cyanoramphus
Includes	Kakarikis
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Good.
Lifespan	10-?
Noise	Pleasant.
Dimorphic	Yes, but it takes experience.
Comments	See species profile for more information. Kakarikis are high energy pets that require a lot of space and supervision. They rarely sit still for long and make very entertaining pets.

lovebird-1-1379868-640x480

Genus/Common Name	Agapornis
Includes	Lovebirds.
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Limited.
Lifespan	10-20
Noise	Like budgie only higher pitched.
Dimorphic	Some.
Comments	Make feisty and curious handfed pets.

colorful-parrot-1381014-639x957

Genus/Common Name	Psittacula
Includes	Indian ringneck, African ringneck, Alexandrine, plum-head, blossom-head, Derbyan, Moustached.
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Excellent.
Lifespan	20-30
Noise	Loud.
Dimorphic	Yes.
Comments	See species profile for more information. This genus is unfairly labeled “standoffish.” Ringnecks make excellent pets if well socialized. They are highly intelligent, curious and playful. They do tend to be strong willed and require a more experienced or assertive owner.

tovi7

Genus/Common Name	Poicephalus
Includes	Senegal, meyers, cape, jardine’s, brown-head.
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Moderate.
Lifespan	30-40
Noise	Quiet.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Good apartment birds. Senegals are the most popular.

parrots-1380029-640x480

Genus/Common Name	Ara
Includes	Macaws (extinct/endangered ones in other genus).
Size	Medium to large.
Talking Ability	Moderate.
Lifespan	80-100
Noise	Loud.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Not as popular as once were, perhaps due to size, expense and noise level. They are the larger relatives of conures. Intelligent and playful.

jayjay3 Sun conures are very popular due to their color.

Genus/Common Name	Aratinga.
Includes	Most conures. Nanday in another genus but the profile still applies.
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Limited.
Lifespan	30
Noise	Loud.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Very loud for size. Playful, curious pets. Very outgoing and fun-loving. Tend to become one-person birds if you let them.

gc conure Greencheek conure

Genus/Common Name	Pyrrhura
Includes	Green-cheek, maroon-belly, pearl, paint and most other small conures.
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Limited.
Lifespan	30
Noise	Usually quiet.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Good for someone who likes conures but hates noise. These guys are smaller and generally much quieter.

parrot-5-1250337-639x852

Genus/Common Name	Brotogeris
Includes	White-wing, canary-wing, grey-cheek, and other “pocket parakeets.”
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Moderate.
Lifespan	30
Noise	Loud.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Used to be available in large numbers. Very limited supply since importation stopped and these birds are difficult to breed. Known to be outstanding pets. Most of these birds should probably be in breeding programs though.

exotic-parrot-singing-1354249-639x425

Genus/Common Name	Poinites
Includes	Caique
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	?
Lifespan	?
Noise	?
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	South American species. Curious and feisty.

parrotlet-1366819-639x553

Genus/Common Name	Parrotlet
Includes	Parrotlet
Size	Tiny to small.
Talking Ability	?
Lifespan	?
Noise	?
Dimorphic	I think some species are.
Comments	These guys are known as “mini amazons.” They have a large attitude for such small birds. They cannot be bred in colonies.

south-american-parrots-1362496-640x480

Genus/Common Name	Amazona
Includes	Amazons
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Excellent.
Lifespan	50-80
Noise	Loud.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Outgoing and boisterous. Some species more mellow (mealy, lilac-crown, orange-wing). Can be very aggressive during breeding displays. Get hyper easily. Some, like double yellow heads and yellow napes, love opera and will make up their own songs.

pionus4

Genus/Common Name	Pionus
Includes	Pionus
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Moderate.
Lifespan	50-80
Noise	Quiet.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Good apartment birds. Appealing to people who like South Americans but dislike noise.

african grey1

Genus/Common Name	Psittacus
Includes	African grey
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Excellent.
Lifespan	50-80
Noise	Quiet but like to pick up household noises to repeat constantly (much to the annoyance of some owners).
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Highly intelligent and excellent mimics, but shy and sensitive. Can be badly affected by change if normally kept on a strict schedule. Plucking very common if stressed.

Colony Breeding

March 15, 2016March 20, 2016 / feistyfeathers / 1 Comment

aviary2

Set Up
Colony breeding is something that is best done in an aviary. Nestboxes should obviously be provided for each pair but you should also throw in 2-3 extra so the birds can have their pick. Unused boxes can always be removed once everyone has settled in. Several feed stations and water dishes should be placed in various locations to avoid fights. Never place one nestbox or perch higher than the others because everyone will want to use it. Nestboxes should all be at the same height. Perches can vary in height as long as there are more than one “highest perch.”

budgie07

Feed
Keep in mind that you’ll be feeding a single diet. Birds that require special foods should not be kept in a colony. Likewise, if you have some picky birds or seed junkies you’ll have to feed seed. You can try offering pellets in hopes that your junkies will learn to eat them from your other birds. However, even pellet eaters will usually eat seed instead of pellets if they are provided. The good news is that everyone learns to eat soft foods very quickly.

Non-Breeding Colony
Follow the instructions for picking mixed flight species. Some birds are only aggressive during breeding and many different species of some size variation can be kept safely when there are no nestboxes provided. Retailers often keep birds for sale in such a set up. These work well because no one is interested in breeding and since birds are coming and going all the time no one has time to establish territory.

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Same Species Colonies
Some species, like budgies, actually thrive in colony situations. Keep in mind that with this type of colony you’ll get a lot of cheating between pairs. If you want strict control of your bloodlines this set up is not for you.

Mixed Colonies
This is how I breed. Most of the Australian keets like budgies, cockatiels and Neophema can coexist fine with similar species. Very closely-related species shouldn’t be kept together to prevent hybridization. The trick to a mixed colony is keeping birds of similar size and temperament. You want calm, small birds that aren’t likely to pick fights with their neighbors.

yf_kaks 008

Semi-Colony Species
Some birds can be bred in same species colonies only if the cage is very large. These birds should always be watched very closely and pulled out at the first sign of real aggression. Birds that fall into this category are Brotogeris, some lovebirds (Fischers usually do okay in colonies), and some conures (Patagonian).

Aggressive Species
Most parrots can’t be bred in colonies. These birds may be fine in a non-breeding colony but will become very aggressive towards any other birds when nesting. They may nip off toes (make sure there they can’t get to the birds in the cage next door), maim or kill. Aussie keets that should be avoided are red-rumps and rosellas. Always look at how species breed in the wild to best determine how to breed them in captivity.

Shopping for a Bird

March 15, 2016March 20, 2016 / feistyfeathers

What kind of bird do you want?

The first thing you need to do is decide on the right species. This requires a bit of research and involves you knowing exactly what you want. I have a brief species guide here.

Size
How big do you want your bird? Size plays a large role in other bird characteristics. It can affect noise, the amount you’ll have to spend on a cage and toys, the lifespan and the price. The larger the bird, the more expensive it will be to set up and maintain.

Lifespan
Larger birds generally live longer. Budgies can live up to 15 but often die much earlier due to malnutrition or tumors. Cockatiels and other big smaller birds like conures and Senegals can live from 20-30. Most of the parrots like amazons and African greys can live 50-80. Macaws have been known to make it to 100. A larger bird means a much longer commitment.

Price
In general, the bigger the bird the larger the price tag. Species that are less common or more difficult to breed will also cost more. Galahs and Goffins are both similarly-sized cockatoos but Galahs are far more expensive. Newly-developed colors can also cost quite a bit.

Noise
Many parrots scream. If you live in an apartment or can’t handle a loud animal then you need to factor this into your decision. Volume isn’t the only thing to take into account though- if possible, research what your preferred species sound like. Sometimes a particular noise will be bothersome to you but not others.

exotic-parrot-singing-1354249-639x425

Character
Each species varies in character and it’s very important to pick one that you can get along with. Some people like cuddlers while others prefer boisterous birds that are more hands-off.

Availability
It’s no use picking a species that is very rare and belongs in a breeding program (unless that’s why you’re searching for it). Some species are available year-round while others will have babies at certain times of the year. If you’re adopting you may have a harder time finding your preferred species. Certain states in the U.S. breed more birds and will have a better selection.

Speech
This is the last quality in the world to be looking for in a bird. Anyone who picks a species solely on it’s ability to talk is making a grave mistake. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice thing to have, but it’s only the icing on the cake.

Once you’ve decided on a species you still need to buy it. The following are things you need to look for while you’re actually out shopping.

Movement
Birds that are moving around in the cage and making lots of noise are often healthy, happy birds.

Appearance
The bird should look healthy. Colors should be bright. Feathers, eyes, vent, nostrils and everything else should be clean.

This bird is sick. It’s slouching and it’s feathers are a bit ruffled and unkempt.

These birds appear healthy: clear eyes, neat feathers, ACTIVE posture.

Other Birds in the Cage
Check the other birds in the cage. Do they look bad? If so you’d best move along. Maybe they are ill and the one bird you like just isn’t displaying any symptoms yet.

Age
Recently I’ve seen more people pushing others to adopt birds rather than buy a baby. As a breeder I’m obviously biased, but I’ve taken in my share of older birds and I really don’t recommend it to novice owners. You’ll have no idea what kind of behavior problems a used bird may have, nor the experience to combat said problems. Training will be much more difficult. Underlying health problems are also a concern. You just don’t know what you’re getting. If you are new to birds I highly recommend getting a baby from a reputable source. You’ll be starting with a clean slate.

Price
In general don’t buy from pet stores. Their price will be double that of anything offered by a private breeder. Shop around to get an idea of what the usual price is.

Source
Again, avoid pet stores, especially if they are a larger chain like Petco. They have no business selling live animals and often buy animals from large scale wholesalers. The only exception would be a store that specializes in birds and has a good relationship with several reputable breeders.

The seller can tell you a lot about the bird being offered. You want to buy from someone who is knowledgeable, helpful, knows the bird’s history, and is reputable. If the seller is junk most likely the birds will be too.

Feisty Feathers

Educating bird owners since 1997.

cockatiel