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Pumpkin Bars

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp flax seeds
  • 1 heaping tbsp raisins
  • 1 tbsp whole or chopped pepitas

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

In a medium-sized bowl, combined all ingredients and stir well. It will be a thick consistency that holds its shape.

Spray a small pan or muffin tin lightly with non-stick spray. Spread the batter evenly to a depth of about 1/2 an inch. If the pan is too large, use foil to create a dam to prevent it from spreading. It will rise a small amount during baking.

Bake for about 18 minutes. A deeper layer in a loaf pan may require a longer baking time. Poke the center with a toothpick to check for done-ness. Let cool before cutting into squares.

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First Aid Preparedness

September is national preparedness month; not only should your family or place of business have an emergency kit, but so should your pets. In many situations, time is the most important factor. If a bird is non-responsive, uncooperative, or if you are in doubt, contact your local avian vet immediately. This information should not be used in place of an avian vet.   A bird first aid kit can be simple, or have many extra components.

Towel: for restraint or padding a box / carrier.

Carrier: to take to vet or to provide a small calm area.

Styptic powder or corn starch: to stop minor bleeding.

Scissors: cutting tape, gauze, or if your bird is tangled in material.

Needlenose pliers: removing blood feathers, splinters, tangled wire.

Cotton swabs: clearing out small cuts or applying topical ointments.

Gauze: to wrap cuts, sores, and burns until inspected by an avian vet.

Hydrogen peroxide: to flush out minor cuts and shallow wounds.  

In your first aid kit, it is recommended to keep a list of your avian vets’ phone numbers so they are readily at hand. Human remedies and medicines are not the same, and in some cases can be harmful to birds; contact an avian vet before administering any solutions or ointments. Injuries such as animal bites, breathing trouble, burns, broken limbs, toxicity and vomiting should be considered emergencies and receive vet treatment right away.

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Pellet Pancakes

These pellet pancakes are an easily customizable treat that are colorful and fun!

Ingredients

  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 tbsp melted butter (optional)
  • ¼ cup applesauce
  • 1 tsp bee pollen or sugar
  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup finch-size pellets (colored or natural)

Directions

In a bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the egg, milk, butter, applesauce, and bee pollen/sugar. Add the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon, and mix again until blended. The batter should not be runny. If too thick, add small amounts of water or milk. If too thin, add small amounts of flour. At this point, fold in the pellets.

Preheat a skillet or griddle to low-medium. For tiny pancakes, fill a ziplock with batter and cut a small piece of a bottom corner off and pipe little disks on the hot pan. If you have extra pellets, sprinkle them on top while the batter is wet. They will cook quickly, so watch for the batter to look dry, and at that point they should be flipped over. A toothpick works well for poking them and turning them over. Once the other side is cooked, remove from heat to cool before serving. These can also be prepared at normal pancake size, but will need to be cooked slightly longer.

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Shoulder Perching

It’s a stereotypical scene, from Pirates of the Caribbean and other high sea adventures, to Baretta, Polly, and almost any film with a parrot involved- the parrot on the shoulder. This may look cute, and it certainly frees up your hands, but most current bird books and advice articles agree with keeping birds off the shoulder, but why?

A common view is that birds that are higher than your eye level will display dominance and height aggression. It certainly seems that way when you ask your parrot to “step-up” from your shoulder or cagetop / playstand and he growls, nips, and lunges. A newer perspective this behavior is that your parrot feels more secure. Sometimes, trying to remove them from their comfort zone will cause them to behave the same way, but it should be interpreted as defensive, not aggressive.

With a new bird, it is best left off the shoulder for a number of reasons:
– The bird may not be trained to sit on shoulders.
– The bird can easily reach out to bite your ears or face.
– You want to keep all your piercings and jewelry intact.
– It is important to first establish basic step-up commands with the bird on your hands.

With a bird that you have an established relationship with, there are still some guidelines:
 – Does your bird step-up from your shoulder when asked without biting or running?
– Does your bird step-up from within or on top of the cage without biting or running?
– Is your bird calm around new people or new environments?

Even when startled or scared, a very tame bird may bite to catch itself from falling or as a warning.

If the answer to any of these is “NO”, it’s a good idea to go back to the basics. Not only is the step-up command an important training tool, it is a way to build trust and confidence. In many ways, the shoulder should be a privilege once a good relationship with the bird has been established.