Guide to the Canary

Canaries (Serinus Canarius) are originally from the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa. Most people think of the canary as a yellow bird, but the canary also comes in other variations of color. The canary requires less attention and space than parrots. A canary is a songbird that is sure to delight your family.

The male canary is the singer in the family, but the female canary is more social than the male. It is tough to tell the difference between the male and female canary. If you are only interested in purchasing a male that you know will sing, purchase after a year old and make sure you’ve heard the birds singing before you purchase him. Hopefully, you will enjoy and love your canary if it sings or not. Purchase a canary while they are still young.

The Canaries are not overly social birds and can be kept as a single. In fact, male birds are very territorial.

Purchasing a Canary

Prices of canaries vary a great deal. If you purchase from a pet store, they will likely be more expensive than purchasing from a private breeder. The fancier the variety of canary the more expensive the canary will be. Males are usually more expensive than females.

Make sure you pick out a healthy bird from a reputable breeder. I wouldn’t recommend purchasing a canary from an outdoor aviary. Mosquitoes carry canarypox and easily transmit the canarypox to canaries. This is a good reason to make sure your screens are in good condition and are secure.

Make sure you find out what the canary has been eating, and continue to feed the same food, changing over to a different diet gradually; if you feel the need.

Cages and Accessories

The Canaries don’t climb for exercise as parrots do. They need to fly. A good-sized rectangular cage is needed to give them an opportunity for optimal exercise. They enjoy hopping from branch to branch. Never put your canary in a round cage. The minimum sized cage should be 24" long, 16" deep, and 18" tall. The bigger the cage is, the better. The bar spacing should be no bigger than one-half inch.

You should give the canary perches of different diameters from one-quarter inch to one-half inch in diameter for optimal foot health. Do not use the sandpaper perches you find in pet stores. Natural branches are excellent for optimal foot health but make sure they are not from a poisonous tree or have chemicals such as pesticides on them. Wash and dry the branch thoroughly before using. Sun drying is the best drying method.

The cage and accessories should be cleaned and sanitized on a weekly basis. The cage floor covering and food dishes need to be cleaned daily. You can use a newspaper that doesn’t contain colored ink,. This works great for a cage floor covering. You can also purchase cage floor coverings from a pet supply store. The branches need to be washed in hot soapy water, rinsed well and allowed to completely dry.

The Canaries enjoy toys. Most any toy suitable for a parakeet is excellent for a canary. Keep in mind that the male canary may not sing if he has a mirror. The canary enjoys a swing in its cage.

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Guide to Lovebirds

You will never know true love and happiness until you have loved a lovebird. What is sweeter than candy and Valentine’s heart full of love? The answer to my riddle; a lovebird which could be the perfect gift for a loved one on Valentine’s Day. If the love of your life has been contemplating a bird as a pet, it would certainly be a gift of love. A pet for a gift should not be a surprise but something planned, prepared for, which then becomes a romantic outing together to find the perfect lovebird. Then come the tender days of watching your lovebird adjust to his or her new surroundings. A toast of sparkling wine, champagne, bubbly grape or cider listening to mellow music to soothe your soul which also helps your new lovebird adapt to his or her new family and environment.

People have long been fascinated with lovebirds manifested in poetry, sonnets, art, melody, song, and legend. The lovebird needs are the same as people, love sweet love.

Lovebirds mate for life. They form a strong bond with their mate. In the wild, they are never far from each other. The question seems to come up when purchasing a lovebird as a pet. Should we buy two?

“Lovebirds are great little birds,” said Eric Antheunisse owner of Cedar Hill Birds Cedar Hill Birds. “Except when they are bought in pairs, they will go wild on you quickly.” A pair of lovebirds would bond to each other, instead of their human parent. Eric further explained that a hand fed baby bought as a single bird will bond to you. Lovebird breeders www.cedarhillbirds.com - I am a customer at Cedar Hills but am not an affiliate.

Lovebirds are very active birds needing swings, a variety of perches and toys to play with. The lovebird will need plenty of attention since you now are his or her lifelong companion. Perches and swings made for cockatiels are the proper sizes for lovebirds. Remember to have perches of varying diameters for healthy feet. The same size is not healthy. The lovebird will love to perch on branches from safe trees, trees that are not poisonous or have been sprayed with insecticide or other toxins.

Cages should be safe, have a secure lock, and have bars with no more than ½-inch spaces. Birds should always have a rectangular or square cage never round. A round cage can result in a screeching bird with behavioral problems. Always think of yourself living in a cage for the rest of your life, bigger is always better. The birdcage should never be higher than your chin.

Feed the lovebird a combination of cockatiel seed and a feed mix intended for a small parrot. They also love millet sprays. Try to find fresh ones. Some seed should be sprouted for the nutrients and for variety, like the fresh food they would normally find in the wild. They feed on a variety of seeds, not just the dried seeds like found in the store. Proper nutrition will help the lovebird reach their attainable lifespan of 15 to 20 years. It is not rare to hear of lovebirds reaching greater ages.

Sprout seeds by placing them between two damp paper towels. Keep fresh sprouted seed in the refrigerator. The lovebird must be fed a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Never feed foods with caffeine, avocado, chocolate, greasy foods, or food with sugar. Many people feed their bird children the same thing they eat, which is fine as long as we eat a healthy diet. Perhaps we can learn from the birds.

Always make sure the bird has fresh water in a clean dish. More than one dish should be on hand so that the water and food dishes can be cleaned and sanitized. Fresh food should be removed after an hour or so.

The lovebird will need added calcium. Use a cuttlebone. If you use liquid supplements in the drinking water clean and sanitize the dish after a couple of hours. Bacteria can build up quickly in water with vitamin supplements. Supplements should not be necessary if the bird is getting a healthy diet.

Lovebirds love and need baths. Offer a water dish for bathing, removing it after they bathe. They also like to be sprayed. Don’t spray directly at the lovebird but over the bird letting the water spray over him or her. Plan the lovebird’s bath or shower early in the day so that the bird has time to dry before the cool of night. Keep the bird wet or otherwise away from air conditioner outlets or cool drafts.

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Finches - Finch Care

Listening to finches makes me think of the meditation CDs for mind and spirit. Though the finch won't be able to learn to talk, this could be more of an advantage than a disadvantage. They are not raucous and piercing as many birds from the parrot family. Coming home to your own world of timbre and rainbow of colors would be a haven from the flurry of the commotion of daily living.

Advantages of the finch as your companion pet would be fitting into an environment; such as apartment living or mobile home courts. Also, you may have a busy work schedule First, the noise issue would not be a problem as it would be with a cockatoo. Finches are not normally a bird that enjoys physical contact though hand-raised babies can be an exception. If you have a rigorous work schedule, a finch will make a better companion pet than a cockatoo which needs constant love and interaction. In actuality, a finch may stress from too much handling.

Finches are an active bird requiring a flight cage. As you sit back and watch the finches in the flight cage, you will learn to tell them apart because of their unique personalities. There is also a wide range of species of finches ranging in color from golden colors, to greens, turquoises, blues, neutral colors, white, to the more complex combination of colors an example the Diamond Firetail. The Zebra finch is also an interesting color combination as is the Parrot Finch.

If you are looking for an exotic pet bird you can hold and interact with, perhaps you should consider a different bird. To get an idea of what a finch would be most like, observe the common house sparrow what in reality is a Weaver Finch. These little darlings were not native to the United States but introduced to the United States as breeding pairs in 1850.

Purchasing your Finches

Choose a finch breeder that is well-known.

Make sure the eyes are clear and bright, clean, smooth feathers, and no feces around the vent area. Also, no runny droppings, and also observe that the birds have good appetites.

Quarantine all newly purchased birds for approximately 45 days depending on veterinarian recommendations. I also recommend an avian veterinarian to check out all birds preferably before they are purchased.

Housing Needs - Aviary and Cage

Cage size must be considered since the finches are not let out for exercise like many pet birds. The flight cage should be large. Think what it would be like to spend the rest of your life in a cage. I envision a person with hands on bars and nose sticking out of the cage. Finches need an aviary, large aviaries.

The bigger the cage, the better off your finches' will be. They should be kept in pairs or more. Some species of finches can be aggressive toward other species. You can usually keep the same sexes together.

An example of a cage size of 48 inches length by 56 would be suitable for 9 birds. Some finches are more aggressive than others, and this must be taken into consideration when caging multiple finches.

Purchase a cage from a reputable company. You would want a square or rectangular cage instead of a round cage.

Use a variety of diameters and textures of perches for healthy feet.

Finches like to sleep in wicker nests. If you have several finches, you will need quite a few wicker nests. Some baskets will avoid arguments and potential harm to your pets. If territorial aggression takes place, remove the baskets, they can sleep on perches.

Basic requirements are fresh water with no chlorine and changed frequently. Also, be careful about contaminated water. Consider using a filter. The water must be changed at least daily or more often if the water becomes contaminated with droppings or food particles. Warm weather is another reason to change the water more frequently than daily. The water dish must be sterilized often. A bird can become very sick from contamination.

Finches need a wide variety of foods as well as nutritional supplements including vitamins, calcium, and minerals. Feed a seed or pellet mix along with freshly washed greens, fresh and washed fruit along with additional protein boiled crumpled eggs or egg food (recipes can be found online with keywords finch, egg food). Make sure the egg is well cooked; crumble the egg with a mixer or food processor. Mealworms increase protein intake, wax worms add additional fat but are low in nutrition. Finch food should be balanced.

Health Issues

Watching for ailing birds can be difficult; they naturally keep signs of ill health from being noticed, to keep predators from harming them. A bird that looks ill has been sick for a while; get to an avian veterinarian immediately. Signs of poor health are decreased appetite and weight loss, decrease in grooming behavior and activity, feathers fluffed out for extended periods, discharge from mouth and nose, loose droppings, feces around vent area, and sitting on the bottom of the cage. A sick finch is really sick by the time they are showing symptoms.

Find a vet that can handle finch health problems before you purchase your finch.

Sanitize cages, dishes, and miscellaneous objects such as toys frequently. It is your responsibility to keep your pet healthy. Learn what you can on finch care and bird information. Contact me for finch help.

Above all, enjoy your finches in all their glory!

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Guide to Cockatiels

Cockatiel Care

The endearing little cockatiel, the little heckler, which can tug at each and every one of your heartstrings! Once the cockatiel bird learns to wolf whistle, you will hear it all day.

A serious concern I have of cockatiel owners is if a cockatiel is capable of living for 30 years, why is the average lifespan of this companion pet so short? It seems like we all need to learn a great deal about nutrition and safety issues when it comes to the cockatiel. Breeders, as well as pet owners, need to become far more responsible in the care management of the cockatiel.

The coloration of wild cockatiels is the normal gray. There are many color mutations bred into the cockatiel, to name a few, Lutino, Fallow, Whiteface, Pastelface, Cinnamon, Pearl, Pied, Olive, and Silver.

Your New Cockatiel

If you are purchasing your first bird, have the equipment ready first. Make sure you have located an avian veterinarian before making a purchase. If you already own a bird, make sure you quarantine the new arrival for at least 8 weeks before you introduce the new bird to the existing birds. Birds have a strong tendency to hide illness since it makes them appear weak in the wild. Have your vet that deals with avian health look your pet over before introducing him to the other birds.

Find and locate several sources of cockatiel breeders. Check them all out. Make sure you are purchasing from healthy stock.

Look over your selection carefully as well as the surrounding birds. Are they chipper and responsive? Do they have bright clear eyes? Look at the vent area, is it clean? Are they all fluffed up and unhealthy looking? Look at the droppings at the bottom of the cage; do the feces look normal?

When you get your bird to its new house put it in the new cage and let it alone just softly speak and coo to the cockatiel, it will adjust to you and your voice helping the taming process. Use a calm voice. If you run out of things to say, you can always read stories or poetry to the cockatiel! Do not try to handle it for the first few days. Limit the initial play periods to 15 minutes with long intervals of rest in-between play periods. Obtain a book on taming and training. You will need to finger tame it and teach it the up command. Cockatiels are not great talkers but can learn a few words and phrases. Some cockatiels are better talkers than other cockatiels.

The pet cockatiel will live an average of 11-18 years with many cockatiels living to their 20's and 30'. Why the big difference for cockatiel age? How they are raised, genetics plays a small part, diet, and safety. Many cockatiels die from accidents that could have been avoided. The dangers we didn't see!

Cockatiel Food - Cockatiel Requirements

Cockatiel Housing: Cockatiel Cages and Cockatiel Accessories

The cage wires should be a thick wire and run horizontally. Cockatiels enjoy climbing up their cage. The wire should be spaced from 5/8th to 3/4 inch. Any bigger poses a safety risk. Their little heads can get stuck. Make sure the color coating is non-toxic.

The cockatiel will enjoy a playpen on top of its cage or a separate playpen.

Make sure the cage is not in a drafty area. Cockatiels need light but do not put the cage in direct sunlight, if no light is available from natural sunlight, supply a full-spectrum artificial light. They do need 12 hours of darkness so that their internal clock isn’t confused. They will stress, get sick, and possibly die. The cockatiel is in an area with the rest of the family, however, use a cage cover at night. (Cockatiels have a very advanced social structure and should be among their human family in the room they frequent the most.)

Make sure the cage is in a well-ventilated area. Fumes are especially hazardous to all birds. Teflon coated pans emit a deadly vapor when the pan gets too hot. Since it is not possible to know precisely where the overheating point is. I never have, nor would I ever use Teflon coated pans around my parrots. Many products are Teflon coated including, some varieties of heat lamps. Don't use sprays such as air fresheners or other contaminants in the air the bird can getting into their lungs. This includes scented candles.

There should be perches with varying diameters. The different sizes offered are beneficial to the health of the cockatiels feet. Natural tree branches work very well too. Be careful not to use any trees or plants that are toxic or poisonous. Branches that make safe perches are apple, ash, almond, apricot, peach, maple, and elm. If you live in a colder area as I do you may want to consider a Thermo Perch, at least for small birds.

Avian water bottles are significant in that the bird’s excrement does not contaminate the water. Make sure the bird has learned to use the bottle before removing the water dish. He or she will also need food dishes. One dish is for seed and one for fresh foods. Be sure to remove the fresh food after a short period so that the food doesn’t spoil. Keep the cage cleaned. It must be cleaned every day. The cage should be disinfected regularly (weekly). Make sure the cage it is dried and aired out before returning the bird to the cage. A drop through wire cage is the best. Make sure the food and water are changed daily (filtered water).

Dietary Requirements

Cockatiels need calcium. Provide the cockatiel with a cuttlefish bone (cuttlebone). At one time it was thought that just seed was good enough for birds. This is not true at all. Protein is important. Provide a good avian vitamin/mineral supplement. Please remember to follow the instructions. More is not better.

Some pet manufacturers have formulated well-balanced pellets. Many manufacturers have begun offering fortified seed mixes that include the other foods that they need. Dried fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and concentrated food supplements. You should supplement other foods for nutrition and variety after all the same old diet every day is boring for birds too. Supplement healthy people’s food. Serve your birds bean mixes and ready-made bird bread. A good diet helps the bird resist infection and they are stronger and healthier.

Health Management

You must take care of a bird’s wings and feet. Keep the toenails cut. If you cut too close use Clotisol - blood clotting agent.

Cockatiels are very strong flyers. You should trim their wings. Even trimming their wings only slows them down. When clipping the wings be careful to watch for new growth or blood feathers. If you do cut one, the remaining part of the feather will act as a straw and siphon blood. This can cause them to bleed to death. Grab a pair of pliers and pull the entire feather out quickly. If you are unconformable, clipping wings for the first time have your avian vet do so, showing you how to do the clipping. If you do decide against clipping wings make sure you cockatiel is in a safe location. Somewhere where he can't get outside, fly into a boiling pan of water, get a hold of a poisonous plant, get mutilated by a ceiling fan, and dozens of other possible dangers, the worst being, the ones we haven't thought of!

Birds will hide their illness. Birds that are ill in the wild become easy prey to predators. It is difficult without watching your bird very carefully, every day for any signs that something could be wrong.

Safety issues are a great concern for your pet. There are many hazards in your home you might not recognize as a hazard. Watch your pet's access to ceiling fans, hot boiling water, or oil on the stove, toxic houseplants, chocolate, and cedar. I have just mentioned a short sampling of the dangers in a common house.

Summary

Cockatiels are wonderful, entertaining, delightful animals. They are a wonderful choice for most families. People that do not have a great deal of space, a bird could be a perfect pet. Please research before purchasing. After all, we want these little birds to survive as much of the thirty years that they are capable of living. Learn all you can about the cockatiel before you venture into this friendship. Above all else enjoy your pet cockatiel.

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Chinchilla Guide

The exotic pet chinchilla is shy, intelligent, and they have a pleasant personality. Chinchillas have an average lifespan ten to fifteen years. It is indeed not unheard of for chinchillas to live as long as 20 years. Following the right chinchilla, care guide helps the chinchilla to achieve optimum longevity.

The chinchilla is excellent exotic pets. They do quite well if you understand their needs. Especially dietary needs; simple things like not understanding treats can kill them rapidly. Grooming is a whole new ballgame compared to other animals. The pet chinchilla is a remarkable pet, but it is up to you to learn as much as possible about this fantastic animal before taking on the responsibility of caring for one. Understand the remarkable world of the pet chinchilla!

Chinchillas are generally gray but can have many mutations of colors from white to black and many variations in between. The gray is the least expensive because there are more of them. The chinchilla originated in Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina and are of the Chinchillidae family. This family divided into three groups. The chinchilla belongs to the same group as porcupines and guinea pigs, the Hystricomorph family. The two chinchilla species is the short-tailed chinchilla brevicaudata and the long-tailed chinchilla bred for the pet industry of the species the chinchilla lanigera.

The chinchilla harvested for their exceptional fur, which almost leads to their extermination. Gradually chinchillas were bred domestically saving them from the brink of extinction. Short-tailed chinchillas have been on the Critically Endangered list for quite some time and are protected. Long-tailed Chinchilla as vulnerable Always purchase captive bred exotic (domestically produced) pets to preserve the remaining populations.

Chinchillas make a variety of sounds to communicate but are not anywhere near raucous or boisterous. On a care scale, they are reasonably easy to care for.

As with all rodents, the teeth grow continually, and they must have material to chew on to keep their teeth at a safe length. Look in the small animal department at your pet store.

Pet chinchillas enjoy jumping from perch to perch since they must have the means to keep their teeth ground down; it is nice to have the lava perches; a dual function.

They could also chew things they shouldn’t eat. They can’t be taught not to chew your belongings.

They are nocturnal meaning they are up in the evening and go to sleep in the daytime. You have to ask yourself if this is the pet for you. Pets require plenty of care; if you are nocturnal, it may be a match in heaven.

They enjoy toys, wheels, and chew blocks (safe) round nest balls they play with and rest in, cute as a dickens. There is a variety of wheels found in various pet stores and online stores. Which brings us to the subject of cuddling; they enjoy some cuddling, on their own terms but are very energetic and active. They must be able to exercise and run outside their cage for at least an hour a day. This must be supervised play for their own safety and for the safety of your belongings, outside plants and shrubs they will somewhat nimble their way around. Make sure there are no poisonous plants near the chinchilla.

Before buying your chinchilla make sure, you have everything ready before he or she arrives. Look for bright clear eyes, no signs of fur biting, not wet below the chin, and doesn’t feel skinny or sickly. Look for some of the droppings make sure they are dry and firm.

Approach taming the chinchilla slowly and gradually you must gain their trust, and you will. They will love being with you but on their terms. A chinchilla shouldn’t be forced to be a lap pet, it isn’t their nature. Though, when ready they will gladly climb on you.

It bothers me a great deal when I find someone who has written an article on exotic pets such as the chinchilla and states they are not necessarily social creatures. The herd social structure is fundamental, and the knowledge is crucial to prevent aggressive behavior or worst; injuries and death.

Female chinchillas can share the same cage; they are social and live in herds in the wild. Be very careful about introducing a new female to the cage as they have advanced social structures. They will display defensive behavior, as they will also defend their territory. When adding a new female put the new girl in a second cage near the primary cage. Do not put it within reaching a distance of the other cage. Give them plenty of time to grow adjusted to each other, smell, and sounds. She will eventually be accepted by the group.

Add a new hiding box it will not have the scent of any chinchilla; this will help with adding a new chinchilla.

Gradually introduce the new female to the group during out of the cage time; this is a good time for the dust bath. You must supervise this introduction at all times.

Two or more males may live together as long as there are no females nearby (in the same house, NO scent of females) to provoke aggressive behavior. Chinchillas’ are sweet; however, they can kill each other when stirred by female smell. Introduce a new male in the same way you introduce a new female to a female herd. Stick with females or males; not both.

The cage for the chinchilla should be large especially since they are very active animals. They love the large, tall, multi-level cages.

In the wild chinchillas take baths in the dust. They deplore water! In the wild, the chinchilla’s environment is volcanic. The only dust that should be used is dust bought commercially called chinchilla sand. This formula is naturally dust free, and a safe way to groom a chinchilla and they must have the tool to groom. It will remove moisture and fatty oils. This chinchilla sand is excellent for gerbils and hamsters as well. Do not use plain sand.

Dust bathtubs can be bought, or you can use any container that won’t be knocked over. The bowl should be large enough for the chinchilla to roll around in. The dust bath can be removed when the chinchilla is finished with his or her bath so that the dust does not become soiled. After removing the dust container, sift it to remove any impurities. Combing and brushing is an excellent way to bond with your pet. However, this should be done before the animal takes its dust bath. Change the sand after cleaning and sanitizing the container on a frequent basis. With proper precautions, chinchillas rarely get sick.

The chinchilla will need a hidey house within his or her cage. It doesn’t need to be big, just comfortable. Remember, they will chew. A great example, may not be too difficult to reproduce out of safe untreated wood you have at home. Chinchilla food, treats, and grooming, all essential subjects if you want a chinchilla. Learning about the dietary needs of pet chinchillas is essential. Don’t use pellets especially prepared for rabbits and other rodents. Use a specially prepared pellet for the formulated for the chinchilla's dietary needs. If you must change the chinchilla’s food, do so very gradually they have a sensitive tummy.

The chinchilla needs roughage and should have fresh hay daily. Do not place the hay on the floor; keep it in a hay hopper designed for caged animals like rabbits and chinchillas. I like the Super Pet Rabbit Rollin' the Hay Holder because it provides the necessary exercise that chinchillas need. This can be used stationary, hanging from the cage or as a ball. Look in local pet stores.

Timothy hay by far is the best hay for a chinchilla; it not only assists in digestion but also supports the never-ending rodent teeth problem. Remember wild chinchillas came from an environment which gave them plenty of opportunities to wear down their teeth. As responsible pet owners, we must provide the material necessary for their total health and comfort. Timothy hay alone will not be enough to keep their teeth worn down. They should have the lava chews combination perches to do a good job.

The chinchilla needs calcium one of the best forms is a cuttlefish bone used for birds. So many water supplies are contaminated or questionable; I suggest using bottled water or filtered water.

I use bottles not bowls for drinking water. Get the chew proof ones. Either way, the water should be fresh and always full. Frequently change the water and sanitize the bottle or bowl. Bowls should be changed several times throughout the day because of contamination. Bottles cleaned and changed daily. Food or droppings get in the water. Sanitize the bowl daily. Bottles sanitized every few days.

Treats should be very limited. Of course, it helps you bond with your pet, but again the chinchilla has a sensitive digestive system. One or two small treats a day. It can be one raisin, one small piece of apple or a sunflower seed. Give just ONE or two small treats.

Chinchilla can get sick, have colds, get fungus in his or her fur; it can starve to death if the teeth get too long. Since their digestive system can be inflamed very easily, they can get diarrhea leading to severe inflation of the intestine. Find a veterinarian that is very familiar with chinchillas before even purchasing your pet. If there is, a sign of distress take him or her to the veterinarian. It is your responsibility to watch for signs of illness. An animal cannot tell you when it is ill. Having any pet is expensive, and that is something that should be considered before buying a pet.

Do not place the cage in direct sunlight or drafts. Properly sanitize the cage and all equipment regularly. Proper sanitization will go a long way in keeping your pet or pets healthy.

These little fur balls make wonderful pets for the right people. Please pay attention to herd social structure, using the correct pellet for the chinchilla and not for other animals like the rabbit. They must have perches and lava chews. They must be able to groom.

Chinchillas need plenty of love, on their terms. Make sure you have time to spend quality time with your pet. Above all, enjoy your new pet!

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