Many people like to travel or take road trips during the summer. While some prefer to board their animals, others want to take them with- which can be a fun experience if you are informed and prepared. There are a lot of important individual considerations like length of travel, where you will be staying, weather, etc. The following are some general tips for traveling with your bird whether it is a day out, to the vet, or a mini-vacation:
Macaw-roni Salad
Ingredients:
Directions:
1. Open a can of garbanzo beans. Drain and wash under running water.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add 1/4 cup of garbanzo beans and 1 cup dry pasta. Cook as long as indicated on pasta package, then drain and put into a mixing bowl. Place in refrigerator to chill.
3. Wash broccoli well and cut into small chunks. Include the nutritious stem pieces as well!
4. Wash the carrot well and grate into shreds.
5. Wash and peel the celery. Cut into medium pieces.
6. Wash tomatoes well, and cut into halves, and each half into halves or quarters. Never feed tomato stems or leaves to your birds.
7. Remove the chilled bowl with the beans and pasta from the refrigerator. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well and serve.
* For small parrots like parakeets to conures, try small pasta shapes like stars, alphabets, or small shells and elbows. For conures to macaws, use spirals or large shells and elbows.
Indian Ringnecks
These beautiful long-tailed parakeets are also known as Rose-ringed Parakeets. They are native to Africa and Asia, primarily around India where they are a common sight. In the wild they are bright green, with blue primaries and tail feathers, and a striking red beak. Their name comes from the male’s black and pink ring around the neck which begins to grow in between 1 and 2 years of age. This species is sexually dimorphic, meaning you can tell the males and females apart visually. The female Indian Ringnecks do not get a black and pink collar.
While Ringnecks are not always cuddly birds, they are usually very talkative and engaging with their owners, able to have clear vocabularies and a good ability to learn tricks. Some young Ringnecks go through a bluffing stage, and during this time it is important to continue to work with your bird daily using positive reinforcement and socialization.
The popularity of these birds as pets is increasing, but it is important to keep in mind they can be screechy, and do require a generous cage size to accommodate their long tails and high activity level. Their are also a few color mutations now beyond the wild-type green, such as: blue, grey, yellow, and even violet. With appropriate diet and exercise, these parrots have an average lifespan of about 25 years.
Nesting Behaviors
Parrots can be great companions, but many are still very in-tune with their wild instincts. With Spring arriving, bird of all kinds will be going through hormonal changes and may act differently and exhibit new behaviors.
Signs to Look For:
Many times there are not quick solutions for these unwanted behaviors, but this is a normal period in your birds lifecycle. Some birds react strongly, other times you may not notice any changes. Behaviors can be short-lived, lasting only a week, or much longer, for even a month. Some behaviors, like paper shredding, can be discouraged by changing the type of bedding to walnut shell or corn cob. Prevent hiding in dark areas by closing off gaps under furniture or providing a stand instead of letting them walk on the ground. Some of the bonding and breeding behaviors are actually established and unknowingly encouraged by owners- like constant petting. Try engaging your bird with independent play, foot toys, or training sessions.