 DO |
 DON'T |
| Research the species you are interested in
before you buy one to determine if it is right for you. |
Never buy a bird merely for its color, buy a bird on impulse, or
for the sole purpose of expecting it to be a talker (and then
be disappointed if it is not). |
| Give your bird(s) a lot of love, time, and
patience. |
Do not lose your temper or get frustrated with your bird or its
behavior. Birds, like other animals, are in tune with their
owner's emotions and will react accordingly. |
| Consider subscribing to
Bird Talk
magazine. This is a helpful source of information on
caring for pet birds. | Do not use teflon
or other coated cook ware (fumes from overheated pans
can kill your bird if heated past a certain temperature). |
| Wash fresh fruits and veggies before giving them to your bird
and give him/her fresh food and water every day. | Do not
feed your bird avocado, chocolate or foods full of sugar, fat,
salt, or an all seed diet. |
| Allow your bird to bath frequently at least a
couple of times a week and daily if possible. My bird prefers
a bath taken in a small 5-6" wide (2-3" high) bowl of water
(room temperature). | Do not use soaps or other
chemicals directly on your bird or use aerosols, paint, or other
chemical products around your bird(s); they have very delicate,
sensitive respiratory systems and could die from asphyxiation. |
| Teach your bird the "up" and "down" commands.
Although with grey cheeks, they don't always wish to obey the
"down" command. They sometimes grip their owner's finger even
tighter when one gives the "down" command! |
Do not place your bird directly by a heater or place your bird
in direct sunlight without providing a place for him/her to be in
the shade (sun/heat stroke could occur). Do not place your bird near an
open window or near an air conditioner as birds are susceptible to
upper respiratory infections. |
| Take your bird for regular well-bird check-ups
with a certified avian vet. Also consider keeping an
Avian First Aid Kit in your home and check out
NetVet. |
Do not let your bird chew on jewelry, buttons, dried
paint, metal blinds, treated wood, etc. (paint and costume
jewelry, especially, could contain lead; and wood can be
treated with harmful chemicals). |
 Consider purchasing the following
books to keep as references in your home: 1) The Bird
Care Book: All you need to know to keep your bird healthy and
happy by Sheldon L. Gerstenfeld, V.M.D., 1989--$12.95
and 2) First Aid for Birds: The Essential quick-reference
guide by Tim Hawcroft, 1994--$10.00. |
Do not walk blindly into bird care without
knowing how to care for them. |
| Clip your bird's wings when the primary coverts
grow out and trim your bird's nails when they get long and sharp
(if you are not acquainted with these procedures, please have a
professional do it for you; it is fairly inexpensive to have done).
| Do not let your bird's nails
get too long as they can get caught in frayed ropes or other toys
in its cage or let your bird's primary coverts completely grow out.
Free-flying birds can accidentally escape through an open window
or door, fly into windows, mirrors, water boiling on the stove or
a hot frying pan, or land in the commode and drown. |
| Dismantle and clean your bird's cage completely, including
toys and perches, with hot, soapy water to which a capful of
liquid bleach (like lemon Clorox) has been added. This will
clean and sterilize the cage to provide a safe environment for
your pet. | Do not let your bird's cage go
uncleaned as mites, bacteria, old food, and feces can adversely
affect your bird's health. |
| Consider leaving a radio on during the day when you are
away at work or school to keep your bird entertained and allow
some supervised "out" time for your bird when you are home. |
Do not keep your bird shut up in its cage all the time.
Birds have feelings too and will be extremely unhappy if shut up
constantly and may develop behavioral problems as a result. |
