Category: Health Tips

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Keeping Your Bird Outside

Summer is approaching quickly, and many parrot owners are taking advantage of our Southern
California climate and leaving their birds outside for fresh air and sunshine.

It is important to keep your bird safe outside, so here are some tips:

– Always supervise your bird if left outside on a stand or perch. Many urban predators like cats, dogs, and even wild birds of prey will take advantage and injure an unattended parrot.

– Even better, keep a small cage for outside use, that way it can be locked and provide added security, whether it is from strangers, or if your bird is full-flight or an escape artist!

– Choose an outside location with partial shade so the bird doesn’t overheat, and avoid taking them out on extremely hot days. Food and water should always be provided.

Many bird enthusiasts in the area also keep aviaries where the birds are outside year round. This is a great time to start acclimating birds to the changing temperatures. Begin by taking them outside in the morning when it is warming up, and bringing them in before dark. Every few days, keep them outside an extra hour or two until they have adjusted. The longer you can acclimate your bird the better. On extra cold, windy, or rainy nights, if you don’t have the ability of transporting your birds inside, make sure they are sheltered from the elements by using tarps, plastic siding, shade cloth, or blankets. If you live in a different state or area, check with other sources to make sure your aviary is set-up adequately for your different weather conditions.

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Cooking with Non-Stick

For years, many concerns have been raised regarding the safety of non-stick cookware around birds. The coating contains polytetrafluroethelyne (PTFE) which is believed to degrade and release harmful fumes when overheated at temperatures around 525°F and above. By comparison, normal, attended, and well-ventilated usage may range between 250°F and 400°F. It is still always important to never let a pot boil dry or cook without contents, especially on high. Other surfaces that may be coated with PTFE include: space heaters, hair dryers, stain repellents, self cleaning ovens, and other non-stick coated appliances such as slow cookers, irons, etc. Other alternatives to non-stick cookware are stainless steel, copper, and glass. Keeping birds out of the kitchen and in a well ventilated area is always safest. This keeps them away from cookware and food fumes, very hot surfaces and liquids, and sharp objects.

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To Clip or not to Clip

It is highly debatable whether parrot owners should have their birds’ wings clipped or not. Is it risky to keep a bird flighted? Is it too stressful not being able to fly? As parrot owners the real matter is keeping your bird safe in its environment.

Flying is a remarkable ability of birds, and extremely advantageous to a life in the wild. It is a means of travel, escape, survival, and more. When kept in captivity and reduced spaces, is there still a benefit? Yes. Parrots that are allowed to fly in controlled outdoor spaces like aviaries, or in large rooms have increased lung function, strong muscles, better fitness, and balance.

But there are also drawbacks to having a full flight parrot. Parrots that become startled or are flying in unfamiliar spaces may get injured flying into walls, mirrors, and windows. In instances where a parrot is a pet with a large family, a family with small children, or one that has frequent guests, a bird that has been clipped is much safer. With so many people it can be hard to regulate open doors, open windows, loud noises, strangers, and more. One of the main causes of bird loss is from flying away, and once outside, it can be very difficult to recover them.

Clipping is also beneficial to new parrot owners that may have difficulty handling full flight parrots and are unaware of potential hazards. A regular grooming every 3 months is recommended. Very independent birds can even become dominant or territorial when they regain the ability to fly.

Every home situation will be different, which is why it is important to take a moment and think critically about what is safest for you and your feathered friend.

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Egg Info & Ideas

There are 3 main parts of an egg: the shell, the white, and the yolk. All parts can be enjoyed by birds and will meet some important nutritional needs as well. Crushed eggshell can be used as a source of calcium. The white and yolk is full of protein, amino acids, and vitamins D, E, K, B6 and 12, zinc, and other trace minerals.

While hard boiled eggs are just fine, try scrambled eggs; they are quick and most anything can be added to them. For fussy eaters, it’s an easy way to sneak in greens and vegetables like minced bell peppers, finely chopped greens, grated carrot, and tiny broccoli florets. It can also be used to incorporate powdered vitamins into the diet.

Depending on the amount of birds you are feeding, you may require 1 or more eggs and more ingredients. Keep in mind the more ingredients used or if they are large pieces, the egg may not keep everything held together. It is best to have all the ingredients prepared before you start cooking, and during this time let the pan warm up on medium heat. For variety, try pre-cooking the vegetables in the pan first if your bird likes soft foods rather than crunchy. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs (here you can also crush in the eggshell). Pour the eggs into the pan with the ingredients of your choice and once the eggs start solidifying, use a spatula or wooden spoon to continuously fold over any cooked egg on the surface of the pan and move around the clear, raw liquid until thoroughly cooked. For safety, check your eggs for any shiny, wet areas, which may indicate it needs a few more minutes of mixing and cooking. Let cool and feed!