 Birds usually pluck their feathers to preen and groom themselves. Feather plucking becomes a serious behavioral disorder, when it the birds moderately overpreen, or even self-mutilates itself. READ MOREBirds, like humans, have nails, and when their nails get too long the experience can be annoying, if not painful, when the bird digs its little nails into our skin. Fortunately, this is relatively easy to remedy, but you will need to plan ahead and have all of the tools necessary for the task. READ MOREFeeding your pet can sometimes seem overwhelming. And even though your bird might be able to say "Polly wants a cracker," an all-cracker diet may not be the best thing for our feathered friends. READ MOREFeather Mites are a skin problem outside aviaries birds suffer from. And although this parasitic infestation seldom occurs in the pet birds staying inside, if left untreated, it can lead to the bird's death and be contagious to other birds. READ MOREAirway and respiratory tract diseases are very common in pet birds. One such disease commonly is Aspergillosis, which is a fungal infection of the bird's respiratory tract. READ MOREA bird is one of the cleverest animals you can choose as a companion pet. That being the case, you want to make sure that your bird knows who is in charge (that would be you), and knows how to behave respectably in social situations. READ MOREPsittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) is a viral disease which affects not only parrots, but other birds too. It can be seen in cockatoos, African grey parrots, Eclectus parrots, lorikeets, lovebirds, and parrot species of Asian, Australian and African origin. READ MOREHere are some things you can do to help your bird alleviate any potential boredom. After all, 70 years is a long time to do the same thing, day in, day out -- even if it does have a big cage with a nice view. READ MOREParasites can cause skin problems for birds, just as they do in other animals and humans. Scaly Face or Leg Mite infection is a parasitic skin condition which commonly affects budgies, canaries and finches. In parrots, it is usually only a problem for budgerigars. READ MOREDogs and cats are great, but for people that just isn't enough. Here's a top 10 list for those of us out there that want an animal companion that we can talk to. READ MOREThere’s more to getting a bird than simply buying a cage (although more on that inside). Birds are delicate and complex creatures that need lots of loving care and attention to be happy and healthy. READ MOREBirds can suffer from many different eye disorders. They can be due to an eye injury, or possibly an infection to the area. Occasionally, eye disorders are symptoms of another underlying medical problem. READ MOREWhat's harder than choosing your first pet bird? Hmmm...not much. So we've made it easy for you by choosing three "starter" birds that are perfect for the budding bird fancier. READ MORECancer or tumors refers to an abnormal growth of cells in a tissue or organ. And while humans often suffer from cancers or tumors, a bird is just as likely. Fortunately, most cancers and tumors can be treated if they are diagnosed in time. READ MOREEgg binding is a common reproductive problem that causes the bird to retain the egg in the reproductive tract, unable to expel it naturally. READ MOREHormonal disorders can occur in birds and cause a disturbance in the blood levels of different hormones. See what you can do to help if your bird is suffering from such a disorder. READ MOREFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q: What sort of items should I buy for my bird’s cage?A: There are food and water bowls, perches, mirrors, climbing gyms, chewing cuttlebones and toys, all which are made especially for birds. Check out your local pet store for ideas. Q: How big should my bird's cage be?A: Obviously the size of the bird dictates the size of the cage, but it's essential the bird have enough room to spread both of its wings and move about freely. The wider, the better. Q: What diet should I feed my bird (macaw, cockatoo, amazon, cockatiel, etc.)?A: The diet is usually more dependent on the bird's age and physical condition than on its species. For example, most baby birds need to be fed a diet rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Q: How much and how often should I feed my bird?A: The short answer is that they should have feed available all the time. They will regulate how much they should eat without the need for you to intervene. The exception to this is the time when you are trying to reduce the weight of your bird. In this case some restriction may be needed. You may want to feed your bird only once a day, and then feed only about 3/4 to 2/3 of the feed it would normally eat in a day. Q: What should I do if my bird is biting me?A: Rather than screaming or punishing the bird, try to remain calm, and in the master (standing above the animal) position at all times. Firmly say "no," place your hand, palm out, in front of its face and use a stop gesture. Click here for some other great training tips. Q: What is the most talkative bird?A: The African Grey is widely considered to be the smartest of the talking birds, and one of the most intelligent in the animal kingdom overall. Click here for some more talking birds to choose from. Q: What is pruritic behavior?A: It is itchy behavior. In birds this can be demonstrated by agitated or irritated preening behavior instead of calm, methodical preening. Q: What is egg binding?A: If you expect the hen to lay an egg and you see her on the bottom of the cage in obvious distress or exhaustion, she probably has egg binding. This is a life-threatening condition, so it's important that you seek immediate help from a veterinarian.
PETMD POLL
Spot-on meds
60% (113 votes)
Oral meds
14% (26 votes)
Tick collars
8% (15 votes)
Other
6% (12 votes)
N/A (I do not use tick preventives)
12% (22 votes)
Total votes: 188
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