Cool off your curious birds with this simple frozen treat!
1. Chop your bird’s favorite fruits or vegetables into small 1/2 inch pieces.
2. Distribute fruit and vegetable pieces evenly into an ice tray. Fill almost full, but do not pack them in.
3. Gently fill the ice cube tray with water or 100% juice. Do not overflow.
4. Place tray into the freezer for 2-3 hours, or until cubes are frozen solid.
5. Place cubes in a dish and let your bird pick up, play, and crunch the frozen snacks!
Spring is a great time to take advantage of the beautiful, warm weather and let your birds enjoy it. For small birds, aviaries are a good way to let them exercise and fly, and the natural sunlight is good for their health and feathers. Whether you are just setting-up, buying or building an aviary- or even just maintain an existing one, here are some things to consider:
The Birds:
The Aviary:
When breeding birds, it is important for the parents and the babies to have a nest and quality nesting material. In the wild we observe nests constructed of twigs, grasses, bits of cloth, fur and hair. Small birds in captivity, like finches and canaries, also enjoy using a variety of materials to supplement their nests.
Hay and orchard grass: A stiffer, natural material that many birds, like grass finches, enjoy adding to their nests.
Coconut fiber: Prefered by canaries, coconut fiber is very fine and attention must be given so long pieces do not get tangled around the birds. Help prevent this by snipping it into smaller sections.
Fine string: One of the most commonly available materials, this can usually buy it already cut to appropriate lengths and inside a box you can attach to the cage.
Feathers: Some birds will use down feathers or molted feathers to line their nests, but sterile feathers can be offered as well.
*** Do not use feathers collected from the wild as they may contain harmful pests.
Cotton: A soft and light material, untreated cotton fiber is also a popular natural nest building material.
All of these materials can be offered in a bundle tied to the side of the cage, or in a box with a few large openings on the sides that the materials can be pulled out from. Sometimes finches and canaries will have preferences, so it may help to offer small amounts of different materials so they can choose what they like best.
For most parrots, they do not build nests, instead they prefer to find hollowed out logs or abandoned tree cavities. As pets, parrots use nest boxes, and most breeders use a layer of pine shavings in the bottom.
Perches are a must for any bird cage, and there are a variety of types to choose from. Simple wooden dowels come with most cages, but they are not ideal if they are the only type of perch in the cage. Birds that enjoy chewing may also gnaw them in half quickly! For birds, perch variety is important, and replicates the different branches and tree limbs they climb on in the wild. Popular wood choices include manzanita and ribbonwood for their durability, and grapevine for its unique style.
Some perches, like pine dowels and some hardwood perches are made to span the full length of the cage. This generally makes for easy access to food and water. Other perches attach only at one side, encouraging climbing; it also makes it easier for you to rearrange them within the cage. It is important to offer perches of various diameters so the foot muscles can stretch and exercise while standing or climbing. Also when selecting perches, make sure to to provide perches of the appropriate size diameter for your bird’s feet. There is a lot of flexibility, but the two best guidelines are:
1. Diameter should not be so small that the bird’s toes are overlapping or crossing at the underside of the perch.
2. Diameter should not be so large that the bird slips off because it can not grip properly.
Having a variety of perch sizes and materials is a good way to provide textural enrichment for your bird, and many people also find them visually appealing.
