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How to Pick a Chick

There is nothing that can catch an admiring eye quite like an oversized beak bobbing expectantly with wide black eyes behind it or a round downy body with its tailless, blunt bottom wiggling as it hobbles around on awkward legs…at least to a parrot lover.

One of the wonderful things about Parrots is that they are beautiful and comical at birth and they do not outgrow it. When a person decides that they are bringing a baby bird into the home their most important decision is not choosing how to set up a welcoming environment in a new cage or even choosing what kind of bird they are going to get. The most important decision is where to get their new baby. Knowing about a chick’s past helps inform a pet owner about the bird’s future. Knowing the right things to look for and the right questions to ask will assure a happy and healthy match.

When choosing a breeder there are several signs that a future bird owner should notice and consider when trying to understand how the aviary cares for their birds. The first thing that a bird owner should find out is the hatch date of their prospective pet and an estimation for when the bird will likely be ready. An experienced and loving breeder will not force a baby out of the nest; they will give them sufficient time to become weaned and to grow strong enough to be taken away from the protection of their avian mother…this a good breeder will do whether or not they have an understanding and patient adoptive parent or a nagging parent that calls every day to see if the baby is ready yet. Good breeders put the babies first.

Asking a breeder what they feed their birds is a great question for a few different reasons, one, if you have done your research you will understand whether the babies are growing up on a nutritious balanced diet that will welcome good health or on a poor diet that will leave them stripped of vitamins and minerals. It is also important because it will give you an idea of the foods that your baby enjoys eating. It is also helpful to inquire as to what kind of testing has been done on the chicks; have they been gender tested? Have they been tested for disease? Be sure to get the paperwork that goes along with these tests. If a breeder has done no testing it can be a sign of a lower quality aviary. Those who really want to be sure that their chick has been kept sheltered from disease should look for a ‘closed’ aviary where birds have been kept in seclusion to avoid the introduction of airborne pathogens and contact diseases. The parents of the chick can be a helpful guide to the conditions that the baby was raised in as well as the future health of the baby, so if at all possible request to see the parents.

After you have found your breeder and before you will be asking some of the questions above, it is time for the fun part, choosing a baby. First off, choose a baby from a clean cage. Clean cages mean less chance of disease and sickness. Look for a baby that is alert and has clean, shiny eyes that are opened wide, avoid weak and tired looking babies. Also look for healthy feathers, ones that are clean and vibrant. Make sure the baby’s cere and nares are free of discharge. Look for a bubbly personality, a chick that is curious and interested in you. Also look for a bird with a healthy appetite. Weaned birds are recommended for all but the experienced hand feeder.

There is of course, many a bird lover who would see a sickly, unhappy baby and want nothing more than to scoop them up and whisk them off so to love them and nurse them back to health. For those who take this path it is important to understand that many of these situations end in heartbreak and financial difficulty and this should be understood and accepted before taking this leap. Baby birds are a delight but when looking for a bird to add to your family do not forget all the wonderful rescue birds that are out there and in need of their own loving home! Super Parrots

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By BirdBrain
August 3, 2011

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Pet Birds and Children

The decision to get a child a pet is one which deserves a great deal of thought. As we all know, ‘with pets comes great responsibility’. Namely, cage cleaning, feeding, vet check-ups, emergency cash for, well, emergencies, not to mention the money to supply a cage and everything that goes with it, and of course, the time to devote to the pet, to nurture them, train them, and make them feel loved and appreciated. All of these subjects need special attention when it comes to pet birds and so too do the following questions; Is your child mature, gentle and responsible enough to care for a bird? What kind of bird is right for your child’s attention span and level of commitment?

Like birds, children differ drastically; a nine-year-old child may have learned to crawl, walk and talk amid feathered family members. They may know more about them than most adults, including that their bird cannot eat Avocados, needs the house to be at an absolute minimum of 68 Degrees, and that they rub food on the roof of their mouth because that’s where the taste buds are…yup, kids are smart and when they are interested in a pet they can commit the same kind of enthusiasm toward that pet as they do to completing the new Zelda game before all their friends. On the other hand, another child, say a fifteen year old, may want a bird because ‘they’re cool’ and teaching them bad words is funny and may not consider that it will make the bird harder to place in a new home when they get their license and decide that it is more fun to be away from home with their friends. This is not a judgment based on age but one based on lifestyle. It is an example of why it is vital to know your children when considering their request for a pet bird. Think about where their future is leading them and how a pet plays into that life. There are stages in life that naturally become more complex, becoming a teenager, going off to college, etc. and all these things occur (whether or not you want them to) in every child’s life. So it is important to ask yourself, will my child take this pet along for the ride or leave them behind? And am I willing to take on the burden if they make a decision I didn’t anticipate?

As all bird owners know, birds are fragile creatures, physically and emotionally. Children must be able to understand this if they are to have one as a pet. If a child is too young to safely handle a bird or put the time into handling and training a bird then it is best to stay away from parrots and steer your child towards a canary or a pair of finches, birds that require little to no contact but can be entertaining for the whole family to watch. However, if your child is ready for the challenge, effort and care required to nurture a parrot then the smaller parrots with shorter life-spans are the way to go (a bird with a long life-span is an incredible commitment and one that would be extremely difficult for a child to fully understand).

Lovebirds, Parrotlets and Parakeets are the parrots of choice when it comes to children. These three birds are playful, colorful and have gentle and happy personalities. Parrotlets are among the most trainable of parrots; though they have quiet voices they have wonderful speech ability and will learn tricks very quickly. Lovebirds, especially the peach-faced variety are cuddly, smart and hardy birds that will delight any child. Of course Parakeets are the most popular starter bird and it is not hard to see why. Parakeets are playful, chatty and beautiful, and they are readily available for a moderate price.

Birds are a wonderful addition to any home and when a child is ready to become a loyal and loving companion to one it can be the start of a wonderful life-long understanding and love of birds. Likewise, all (human and bird) parents out there must use their own understanding of their child and the needs of a bird to judge clearly when the time is right for both little creatures.

Super Parrots

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By BirdBrain
July 21, 2011

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Birds in Ancient Cultures

In the arid deserts of Egypt, the tombs of ancient kings and the pillars of long fallen temples remain a silent visage to an ancient world of myth and magic. Ornate carvings and paintings offer clues to understanding this ancient world through symbols. A visitor gazing upon the depiction of a pharaoh would notice a familiar form behind the king’s head, an image that appears in numerous locations throughout Egypt…the bird-god Horus. The image of Horus, the Falcon, appears with wings spread over the head of the Egyptian ruler, a symbol of protection. This is one of the many symbols throughout the world that expresses the long held belief that birds have otherworldly abilities that make them more than just an animal, but a connection to other worlds, deeper emotions and even the heavens themselves.

The people of ancient Egypt revered birds of prey so much for their perceived connection to Horus that they built catacombs for the purpose of housing mummified falcons and hawks. Vultures, like the Falcons and Hawks were considered creatures of protection and their likeness often adorned the ceilings of temples. The Ibis, particularly the sacred Ibis and the Glossy Ibis were one of the greatest symbols of Egypt, and represented the God Thoth, who was considered the wisest of the gods and the god of writing and magic.

The use of birds as symbols is by no means unique to ancient Egyptian culture, in fact, for thousands of years ancient cultures have considered birds to be a connection to the heavens because, simply put, to lift off from the Earth and seemingly soar into them. This belief influenced the images of ancient gods; Mercury and Hermes were both ‘messengers of the gods’ who had wings on their shoes and hats. The Norse Goddess Freya was said to have a feathered cloak that bestowed its wearer with the ability of flight. The Mayan’s hero, Popul Vuh was also called ‘Seven Macaw’, a mythical creature said to be the highest of all birds in the world. In the late 4th Century CE, the idea of birds riding aloft to heaven caused artists to begin depicting angels as having wings and doves were a symbol of saved souls long before that. Asian and Middle Eastern civilizations saw birds as a symbol of immortality a belief that was also represented in the form of the mythical ‘Phoenix’.

Native American Cultures in the Southern continent have and continue to hold birds in sacred tradition. The Mayans revered raptors, hummingbirds and parrots and portrayed them in various works of art. The Mayans as well as the Incas and Olmecs hunted parrots for their powerful feathers which were used for headdresses, clothing and religious ceremonies. They refrained from eating the sacred meat of the animals and were horrified when the Spanish invaders did not treat the birds with the same respect.

The idea of life and death being carried on the wings of a bird is a prevalent idea throughout the ancient world. Shamanic ritual in South America sees the exquisite Toucan as a vessel for traveling to the afterlife and an omen of death. Likewise, birds of the Corvid family such as Ravens and Crows were also considered harbingers of death, especially in Celtic mythology. And the Owl, along with being a symbol of wisdom is considered a symbol of death and darkness. Chinese cultures saw the owl as an omen of coming misfortune and for ancient Christian cultures the owl was a symbol said to be representative of the Devil. Many ancient cultures believed that after death souls would turn into birds so that they could fly into the underworld and Egyptian burial chambers were often built with a shaft so that the bird could fly from the tomb and begin its journey. Hope and life also arrived on wings; the idea of a stork bringing babies came from this very idea. The Egyptians believed that when the ‘chaotic waters dispersed and land appeared’, the first deity rose in the form of a bird.

Even in the absence of magic, myth and ritual, birds have been cherished as intelligent and unique companions for thousands of years. 4,000 years ago ancient Egyptians kept African Grey parrots as prized pets and the Greeks and Romans did the same, housing them in bird cages made of precious metals. In ancient China, Parrots have long been depicted in forms of art from pottery to hair pins and were considered symbols of love and fidelity. As companions to women they were meant to carry their secrets for them. In our day, the admiration and affection for birds is no less. It is no wonder to any bird owner why ancient people would believe that the powers of birds were somehow beyond our human world.

Super Parrots

Posted in Parrot pop culture.

By BirdBrain
July 8, 2011

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Toucans as Pets

To the native people of South America, Toucans are many things. They are considered harbingers of death, bad omens and a form that witch doctors can take so to fly to the spirit world and back. To people who live outside of the native traditions and beliefs that surround this bird, the name ‘Toucan’ conjures up very different images of lush rain forests, large, brightly colored bills and yes…a bowl full of fruity, ring-shaped cereal.

Toucans are amazing birds; their beaks which are, of course, their most distinguishing characteristic, can make up a third to a half of a Toucan’s body length. The beaks are very light weight and they lack the crushing strength that parrots are known for. Toucans eat a variety of foods in the wild, from soft fruits to insects and small lizards. They use their beaks to pull berries and fruits off of branches while staying safely nestled on strong branches. Their beaks have a serrated edge that gives them a little help with fruit that is tougher to pull free. Once a Toucan has its food it tosses it to the back of its beak and swallows it.

Male and Female Toucans share nesting responsibilities. They take turns sitting on the eggs, which they leave uncushioned in their tree hollows. They also have a habit of leaving their eggs exposed as they have a reputation for being ‘fidgety’ and they will only sit on their eggs for short amounts of time before fluttering off. Babies are born entirely unfeathered and they are ready to leave the nest in about 8 weeks.

As pets Toucans are wonderful companions for those who do not feel the need to own a talking bird. Toucans do not speak but they are loveable birds. They enjoy being touched and held closely and Toucan owners are constantly entertained by their silly stunts and active personalities. Toucans are intelligent birds that learn tricks easily and enjoy showing off what they have learned. Because of their playful personalities, they need a large bird cage to house them and plenty of time outside of it. The minimum cage requirements for a Toucan are 8 feet by 4 feet, but as always, cage dimensions must be in accordance with the particular species; a Toco Toucan is going to need a lot more room than a Guyana Toucanet.

If you have decided to bring one of these wonderful birds into your life you can rest easy, you will not have to catch lizards and toss them to your Toucan so that they can get their needed protein. Pellets developed specifically for soft-billed birds should supply about half of a Toucan’s diet. This will assure that the Toucan gets their daily dose of healthy vitamins and minerals. The other half of the diet should be fresh fruit and the occasional veggie. Citrus fruits should be entirely avoided. Citric acid allows a Toucan’s body to store too much iron which can lead to health problems and premature death. The typical ‘parrot food’ such as nuts and seeds are also absent from a Toucan’s diet.

The price of taking on a Toucan varies by species. A bird lover can expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for a bird, minus the usual care and housing expenses. A poor attention to diet is the biggest culprit in a Toucan’s life being shortened. If fed and cared for properly a Toucan will fill a household with fun and beauty and can live to delight their owners for around twenty-five years.

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By BirdBrain
June 22, 2011

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Creating a Stimulating Environment

In the wild, parrots are embraced by a world of vibrant colors, challenging activities and a wide array of environmental stimulus. Daily activities can include climbing trees and bushes to pluck food from their branches, gathering nesting material to care for their young, problem solving to survive their environment and tap into the rich resources of their habitat. Pet parrots still have the instincts of their wild cousins and a desire for the same kind of stimulus. In the flightless world of captivity it is even more vital that the environment of a parrot offer unique challenges and experiences to stave off boredom and keep a bird in a healthy state of mind.

No matter the place where the parrot originates there are universal similarities in a parrot’s natural habitat, there is always a sun, shining brightly or cascading over forest leaves in speckles of gold. The sun hangs in a blue sky that stretches on as far as the eye can see and envelopes a bird as they rise into it. There is green and brown, either the vibrant green and wet trunks of a forest canopy or the darker green of low brush across a dusty ground. Colors, as all bird owners know, are vital stimulants to a bird’s senses; they can mean the difference between life and death, a mate and a solitary life… In a home environment, these common colors of nature, yellow/gold, blue, green and brown offer the same kind of emotional comfort and security as they do in the wild. Providing an area or bird room that includes these colors, either with paintings, fresh (and safe) flowers and plants, or décor, will offer a soothing ambiance that both comforts and stimulates a parrot. On the other hand, the color red, a color synonymous with many poisonous plants can have the effect of unsettling a parrot.

For pet birds, climbing is an essential form of exercise. Appropriately large cages are, of course, required for all birds to allow for full extension of wings and for climbing, but parrots who are allowed a wider area of exploration will also thrive from a wider range of mental stimulants. Parrot owners who have the room and the ambition can utilize the virtually unused area of their homes…the ceilings, to provide their birds with unending happiness. Braided ropes and rope ladders strung securely across the ceilings and upper walls give parrots a wide play area where they can flap their wings, climb, grab, strengthen their feet and practice their balance. Adding knots and stringing ropes through the center of wooden pieces offers more interesting things to find along the way, as does the occasional ‘treat station’ where foraging toys can keep a parrots occupied for quite some time. If your home does not allow for such an elaborate play-place, bungies and hanging play cubes make a nice and simple alternative, especially since they can be placed throughout the house allowing the parrot to go along with you as you are moving about the house. It should be cautioned, however, that this set-up may not be right for all birds, as being high up can make a bird feel dominant and can cause aggression problems. Know your bird and give them as much as you can within their threshold.

When it comes to toys, homemade toys are one of the best ways to stimulate your bird’s senses. Who knows your pet better than you? You know their favorite shapes, their favorite treats, their favorite colors. Make toys more interesting by placing them in unique areas, reserve special toys for the play gym rather than moving toys from the cage to the gym, hang them from the ceilings, from secure shelves that are free of hazards. Offer natural textures and shades as well as bright colors. Be inventive with creating challenges, braid ropes and strings which are not too thin to become wrapped around a toe, and let your bird figure out how to unbraid them, go online and learn a few knots then put them to practice, interweaving other items or snacks inside the knots to provide a challenge. Kids have a swing-set? Let your bird join in the fun. Give your bird a rope swing or pick up a tire dog toy and make them their own tire swing so they can play along.

The stimulation of touch and movement in itself is very therapeutic to a parrot. Misters, showers and running water not only help feathers to stay clean and healthy but feel wonderful to a parrot. Preening toys, especially for a single bird, offer a comfortable and natural activity. Similarly, allowing a bird to preen its owner’s hair will make them feel as if they are an important part of the flock, strengthening the owner/bird bond.

Lastly, never underestimate the importance of sound. When the weather is warm open the windows and let the sounds of the wild birds come in from the outside. Play recordings of running water, relaxing music and speech training CDs to give your bird something to occupy their time with. Birds love sound. Even something that may seem boring to us to listen to over and over can be very interesting to a bird who can hear notes and sounds that we are unable to detect.

Creating an environment full of stimulus is not only fun for the bird but also for the bird owner who can do wonderful things for their pet’s happiness and health by letting their creativity shine. Surround your bird with beauty and give them a sense of adventure, as always, Superparrots.com is here to help!

Posted in Parrot Information, Parrot training, Products for Parrots. Tagged with , , , .

By BirdBrain
June 8, 2011

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Understanding Birds from the Inside Out

All living things are made up of similar components and often have similar senses, drives and systems. It is the details that make each species unique, fur, scales…feathers. If a person looks closely enough they would find that beneath the surface there are testaments to all of Earth’s environments hidden in the adaptive bodies of the creatures that live on our planet. These marvels are not lost in the bird kingdom, in fact, the traits that make them, well, birds, are the same things that have made them the most adaptive animal on the planet.

As intelligent, cute and cuddly as they are, it is sometimes hard to remember that birds do not share the same family as the household dog, cat, guinea pig and any other pet that lives under a person’s roof. Physiologically, though, birds are very different; the first thing that anyone would notice is that rather than being coated in fur, their thin skin is covered with feathers. These wonderful feathers help allow flight, protect the bird and contribute to their bonding and mating rituals. Flight is also made possible by the fact that birds are not burdened by our heavy bones but are blessed with airy, light bones. These bones are known as Pneumatic bones and contain air sacs that are a part of the birds respiratory system. The large sternum (breast bone) coupled with the red muscle of a bird’s pectorals, give them the strength and power to vault into the sky. These massive pectoral muscles account for around 20% of a bird’s body weight. No matter how powerful the muscles, flight would be impossible if it were not for strong lungs and a strong heart. Birds have rapid breathing, up to 40 breaths per minute (for larger parrots) against our dozen or so. Their heart rate is just as impressive, with a resting beat of up to 300 BPM (same size parrot comparison) which is almost four times as fast as the maximum resting heart rate of a human.

The ability to fly has given birds an effective method of migrating while also allowing them to travel over vast stretches in search of food and proper nesting sites, not to mention the fact that it also gives them a fantastic advantage over prey on the ground, in the trees or even beneath the water. Birds are able to spot their prey with sharp eyesight and swoop down, sometimes at remarkable speeds and snatch their prey from the ground and carry it to a safe place away from predators.

Though some people feel that the feathers make the bird, the underlying skin is also fascinating, especially to Macaw owners who may find it very charming that the bare cheek patches will actually blush when a Macaw is excited. A bird’s skin is without sweat glands and they must shed heat by panting and fanning their wings. They do however have a preening gland which secretes the oil that birds spread over their feathers while grooming to keep them strong, healthy and water-proof. This oil also serves as a barrier against infections of the skin.

Any aviculturist will be happy to know that the brilliant colors of Parrots and other birds do not go to waste by merely being beautiful. Birds rely heavily on their eyesight and not only distinguish color but also see shades reflected in the feathers that are beyond the human eye to interpret. The eyes, like many reptiles and fish, work independently of each other but are limited as far as mobility which is why birds have such a wonderful ability to seemingly move their head free of their body…actually, they can rotate their head about 180 degrees. Their precious eyes are protected by bristly semi-plumes and three eye-lids, the third being a membranous eye lid that sweeps across the eye up to thirty-five times a minute. As all bird lovers will understand, a bird loves to be heard and to hear, they are better able to distinguish varying sounds than their human companions but have a smaller range of tones that they are able to hear. Both taste and smell are lacking in avian anatomy, they have fewer taste buds but can distinguish between salty, bitter and sweet flavors.

Like humans, hormones play a very important part in a bird’s life and seasonal cycles. The endocrine system with the pituitary gland, pineal, adrenal, thyroid and Parathyroid glands is in charge of most of the hormone distribution in the body, including sending signals that tell a bird’s body when to molt and lay eggs. These glands are also important for the control of calcium metabolism and keeping a balance between carbohydrates, fats and electrolytes. If a hormone dysfunction occurs, the resulting influence on the body is dramatic.

Remember to build healthy bones and muscle for your pet parrot with proper nutrition and regular exercise through the use of bird gyms and foot and climbing toys. Also, stimulate their senses with lots of colors, shapes and materials of toys as well as treats of varying flavors.

Posted in Parrot Information, Parrot News, Products for Parrots. Tagged with , , .

By BirdBrain
May 31, 2011

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Parrots in Miniature: Parrotlets

Darting amid the trunks of the giant trees which spread their canopies beneath a hot, humid sun, perching on ancient stone pyramids that rise to salute the gods and living amid the rainbow of feathered giants that grace the trees with their colors, there lives an emerald beauty…one of the smallest parrots in the world (the second-smallest in fact), the Pacific, or ‘Celestial’ Parrotlet.

The Parrotlet is very literally a miniature parrot, in that they have the bright and bold personality of a full sized parrot wrapped up in a tiny little body. They grow little more than five inches in length but they do not seem to realize that the world around them is so much larger than they are. They explore their world with the kind of fearless bravery of a creature ten times their size. In the wild, Parrotlets live in flocks ranging in size from around four to a hundred. They form very strong bonds with their companions and so it is vital to make time, every day, to handle and play with a single bird. Pairs kept together will, of course, entertain each other (and most likely want nothing to do with you), but like singly kept birds, pairs require an interesting environment to keep them happy.

Like all birds of high intelligence, the Parrotlet needs a good variety of toys to stave off boredom. Toys should be switched out often. If new materials and objects for chewing and handling are not provided regularly, a frustrated Parrotlet can be quite destructive and will chew and tear apart their perches and food cups (you won’t like them when they’re angry). Provide lots of wooden toys for tearing and offer challenging toys to keep them occupied. Foraging toys and toys with hidden treats such as Parrot Pinatas are excellent choices for stimulating a Parrotlet. Parrotlets who roam outside their cages must be supervised as they can quickly get themselves into trouble.

Energetic and extremely intelligent, a Parrotlet must have a larger cage than most birds that share a similar size as they will not be happy unless they have a lot of room to climb, jump and play. Some studies have suggested that Parrotlets have intelligence and speaking ability similar to an African Grey Parrot. They have been described as being as intelligent as a four-or five year old and are one of the easiest parrots to train and can even learn complex tricks. Their ability to learn words and phrases varies from bird to bird, as it does in all species; some Parrotlets will only learn a few words and others will have extensive vocabularies. Unfortunately, their speech can be difficult to decipher because they have such small, peeping voices and a Parrotlet owner may assume that their bird is only making methodic chirping rather than distinguish the sounds as speech.

A Parrotlet’s overall quiet natures make them ideal for apartment dwellers, as even when they get vocal they tend to have a non-abrasive call and announce their excitement with intense chirping rather than screaming. Those with large aviaries may also delight in these bossy little miniatures but should keep the little bird away from other birds as even large birds will fail to intimidate the Parrotlet. For bird lovers looking for all the fun of a large parrot in a compact size, the Parrotlet is a fitting and fun option that will be a loving companion for 10-20 years and an unforgettable joy for a lifetime

Super Parrots

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By BirdBrain
May 16, 2011

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Something to Talk About: Speech and Intelligence

In 1977, Dr. Irene Pepperberg, working on a research project at Purdue University, walked into a pet store in Chicago, Illinois and purchased an African Grey Parrot. This unassuming, one-year-old parrot would become part of a thirty year experiment that would ultimately provide evidence that parrots could not only mimic sound but actually understand language, a talent that was believed to be exclusive among primates with large brains. Alex would become the most famous talking parrot in the world and from the date of his acquisition in 1977 to the day of his unexpected death on the 6th of September, 2007 he would learn 150 spoken words, and understood the meaning of all of them.

For most parrots, mimicry is the extent of their ability to speak. Like human children parrots learn sounds by listening to their environment. Speech starts out as indecipherable noises that form into words and even short sentences. The source of a parrot’s voice, however, does not lie in vocal chords as it does in humans. Instead, speech is a result of air flow through the medial tympaniform membranes of a bird’s syrinx, air passing through the air sacs of a bird’s respiratory system provide the vibrations in these membranes that allow for sound. The more a bird is exposed to language the more their vocabulary will grow and just as in human children, once they begin learning speech, it is important to be careful of the words that are spoken in front of them.

Different birds have different capabilities for speech. The Congo African Grey, thanks to Alex, has becomes most admired for their speech ability. Alex was said to have had the intelligence of a five-year-old child and the emotional development of a two-year-old. Alex understood the concept of ‘Zero’ when counting and could identify objects by shapes and colors. Two other African Grey parrots who were also subjects in the same experiment as Alex, however, did not come close to having Alex’s capabilities for speech and understanding. African Greys are well known for their ability to mimic sounds perfectly and even speak phrases in the same voice that they were originally spoken. Timneh African Greys are not as well known for their speech but are still considered among the best talkers and Macaws too have remarkable abilities. The Greenwing is, perhaps, the most talented, followed closely behind by the Hyacinth, Blue and Gold and Scarlet. The smaller Macaws such as the Military and the variety of mini-macaws do not have the same level of speech ability as their larger family members.

Amazon parrots have the ability to learn speech rather well, but their abilities vary depending on the type of Amazon. With Amazons, frequently, the louder the Amazon the better they are at speech. For instance, the Lilac crowned, is considered the quietest of the amazons but also has the least speech ability in general. Cockatoos, as well, have skills in mimicry which should not be overlooked, the beautifully crested birds love to talk almost as much as they love attention (OK…maybe not quite THAT much). In the smaller species of parrots, conures do not have as notable an ability as the larger birds but can learn a few words. The Blue-Crowned conure is considered the most ‘talented’ and Quaker parrots who are similar to the conures in size may be the best mimickers within the size category. Smaller birds, such as Parrotlets and Parakeets also have the ability to speak, but mimicry is often difficult to decipher because of the birds’ tiny voices.

Speech is not reserved only for the colorful and intelligent beauties of the parrot world. Birds in the corvid or crow family, which include the American Black Crow, the Pied Crow, Ravens and Blue jays, to name a few, have a remarkable talent for speech and mimicking sounds. They are also extremely intelligent, Ravens in Japan have been witnessed placing nuts in the roadways and waiting patiently for cars to drive over them and crack them open so that the birds can make a meal out of the inside meat of the nut. New Caledonian Crows, named for the Pacific Isles of their home, are known for using tools of natural materials in the wild to extract food, such as larvae from hard to reach areas of trees. They have also shown a stunning ability to problem solve and even to use unfamiliar materials to do so. In an experiment done by scientists at the New Zealand University of Auckland, New Caledonian Crows were able to not only use wires to extract an object from a tube, but knew enough to change the shape of the wire into a hook shape to pull the object out.

Scientists have discovered that birds use an area of their brain called hpertriatum, a section of the brain that is not present in mammalian brains. The larger this section of the brain is, the more intelligent the species of bird. Songbirds, though unable to mimic, have also displayed obvious intelligence. Magpies have shown self-recognition. Some songbirds show superior social behavior, such as Chickadees and nuthatches who have been known to work together to chase off predators. Of course, one of the most obvious and enjoyable displays of advanced social interaction in birds, especially parrots, is their desire to play and their ability to bond and show affection.

The day before Alex’s sudden death, his last words to Dr. Irene Pepperberg were “Be Good. I love you”…Whatever the species and whatever their intelligence and ability, birds have a way of capturing their owner’s hearts and showing a kind of love and companionship that is incomparable and sometimes indescribable. A relationship with a bird is a truly unique gift and one which should be accepted with relish, a high level of responsibility and an appreciation for the pure magnificence of the experience. Super Parrots

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By BirdBrain
April 13, 2011

1 comment

Basic Training for Your Parrot

Training your parrot is vital for you and your bird’s happiness and safety. Whether you have acquired a baby bird or an adult bird there are a few lessons that your bird needs to learn and it is a bird owner’s responsibility to teach them in a patient and gentle manner. Training is also a valuable bonding experience and the manner with which it is done can either cement or break the trust between parrot and owner. For this reason, parrot owners should be certain that they are in the right frame of mind to begin a training session; nervousness, stress and tension are all emotions that a parrot will pick up on and react accordingly. Both you and your bird should be set up for success; just as you should not train while in a bad state of mind, you should not ask your bird to train when they are having an off day or are enjoying their own activities such as preening, playing or eating. Training sessions should be kept short. Doing multiple short sessions in a day will be more beneficial than doing long sessions which can become tiring or frustrating. Once you have found the proper time to train, start with the basics!

The Step-up command is the most common training technique and for good reason, it is the most important. This simple command teaches trust like no other. Your hand becomes the parrot’s perch and thus its security. Through this activity a parrot is not only allowing close contact but it is trusting you to keep it safe and on solid footing. This kind of trust often expands to allow an owner to extend their hand into a bird’s territory and even convince the bird to leave the security of their home and put their trust in you to keep them safe out in the world beyond. For young birds this training technique will come relatively easily. It can begin as simply pressing your finger gently against the bird’s breastbone and pushing up. The parrot’s natural reaction will be to reach out and grab the slightly higher ‘branch’ that is close to it. This can also be done with perches, especially if you are working with an older or territorial bird which has not yet begun to trust you or simply will not allow a hand inside their cage. Once the bird is on the perch, they should be quickly, but steadily, brought outside their territory to continue work, preferably in a separate room than the one where their cage is located. Once they are accustomed to this process a trainer can move on to stepping up on hands outside the bird cage (with a glove for aggressive birds to protect against fear bites). Always be patient, reward good behavior and ignore mistakes. Training a parrot to Step-Down can also be a beneficial command and is done much in the same manner as Stepping-Up and is easily done once they have mastered stepping up as they will naturally reach out for perches when you move your hands towards them. Step-Down is also a great way to let your parrot know that the training session has ended and that they are now free to go play on their own.

Most parrot owners acquired their pet partly for the companionship that a bird can offer. Getting a bird to accept and even enjoy petting can take some time. This is not a natural experience for birds and some birds may be hesitant to accept it. Certain species may protest more strongly than others. Petting your bird is also about trust. Though it may feel risky to put your hand out in the direction of that intimidating beak it is essential for your bird’s comfort for you to do just that. In the wild, predators attack from behind, avoiding the powerful beak just as it is our instinct to do and sneaking in behind the parrot’s field of vision. Approaching a parrot from the front allows the parrot to see what you are doing and tells them that you are not trying to hurt or attack them. Once they have become comfortable with your hand coming up over their head most birds will quickly fall in love with neck scratching and will be grateful to you in molting season for helping to work out some of their new pin feathers.

Parrots have been prized for centuries for their ability to speak. It is, perhaps, their most alluring quality. Speech ability varies across the parrot world and even some who can learn many words may have voices so small that their speech is difficult to decipher. For those wishing to create or increase vocabulary in their parrot, repetition is key and so is avoiding baby talk. Just as in human children, speaking to your parrot intelligently and with the belief that they can and do understand what you are saying will more quickly teach speech. Explain to your parrot what you are doing or what you are holding and when they are exploring an object tell them what it is. Training CDs can be used to supplement your bird’s learning but teaching your parrot to speak is a wonderful bonding experience and should be approached with enthusiasm.

One of the most desirable behaviors for parrots is the ability to ‘poop’ on command and in the proper place to avoid mess. The best time to start this kind of training is as soon as your bird wakes up in the morning, as elimination is one of the first things that they will do upon waking. Hold your parrot over an appropriate ‘poop place’ and give them a verbal command such as “Go Potty” and wait for them to do so and then praise them when they do. Larger birds will be easier to train as they do not need to go as frequently as smaller birds. Learn your bird’s body language when they are ready to poop and be certain that your verbal command is not a word that is common in everyday conversation.

When training, it is important to establish a ‘pecking order’ in the house. Commands should be just that, commands, not requests. If a bird does not understand their place in the family it can result in behavioral problems. To keep them responding to their training it is important not to confuse them by giving them more power than their owners. Allowing a bird to sit on a shoulder or to perch higher than their owners communicates that they are superior. Keep in mind that those beaks can snap thick branches (and bone) like twigs and tear open thick fruit skin (and a person’s skin) as if it were paper. It is important not to neglect the power of the animal in your possession. Miscommunication leads to mistrust. Equally important to remember is that training sessions should always be positive. They should be fun and interesting to your pet and to you and should never be an arguing match between parrot and owner. Find ways to make these times special, stock a stash of bird foot toys or colored blocks just for training sessions and keep plenty of treats at hand so that you can let your parrot know just how proud you are of them.

Posted in Parrot Information, Parrot advice, Parrot training. Tagged with , , , , .

By BirdBrain
April 1, 2011

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How Do You Know When Your Bird Needs Help?

                Your bird is perched on his favorite T-Stand, enjoying some afternoon playtime. You listen happily to the jingling of his toy and his comforting chattering as he explores his surroundings. Then, suddenly, he is startled by the sound of a motorcycle jetting by from outside and he decides to take a flying leap into the air. You had not realized that his flight feathers had grown in enough for him to keep to the air but now a blur of green feathers swoops across the room and ends suddenly with your pet colliding with the wall. Panic stricken, you run to your pet and quickly scoop him up into your arms. He seems alright, but when you place him back in his cage he seems unable to keep his balance, his eyes do not focus quite right and he is moving his head in an unusual fashion. Your bird has sustained one of the most common injuries that strike captive birds; he has a concussion. Do you know what to do next?

Every bird owner fears the day when their beloved pet may have an accident or need unexpected medical care. As every bird owner knows, parrots are experts at hiding symptoms of illness and accident can happen even when you think that you have fully ‘bird proofed’ your home. Hazards inside a home abound and a bird’s curious nature can quickly land them in trouble. It is vitally important for bird owners to know and be able to recognize the signs of distress in their bird so that they can respond quickly and appropriately to help their pet…or even save their life.

Serious injuries, such as a concussion should be immediately evaluated by an avian vet. An injured bird should be handled gently and restrained so that they cannot inflict further injury on themselves. Trauma such that illustrated above could also cause a bird to seize. A bird may grow restless before the onset of a seizure and when it strikes it may either cause the entire body to tremble uncontrollably or it may affect only one body part such as a wing or a leg. To keep a seizing bird safe, all toys and perches should be removed from the cage and a towel or cage cover should be placed over the cage to calm the bird. If it is a first time that a bird has seized and/or they have not been previously diagnosed with recurring seizures due to an underlying brain malfunction, they should be immediately taken to a vet.  It should be noted that physical trauma is not the only cause for seizures. Seizures can also present themselves due to an imbalance in body functions; low blood sugar, nutritional deficiencies, infection or even poisoning could be the culprit.

Loss of blood is always a concern with birds as they have little to spare and any number of accidents can cause blood loss that must be immediately dealt with. Any evidence of blood in your bird’s cage or other belongings should be closely explored. Look for blood on feathers, nails or on the bird’s beak. When you have determined where the blood is coming from you must ascertain the cause of the bleeding, bite wounds, either from another pet or another bird may be coupled with fatigue and unsteadiness and blood may be accompanied by matted feathers with bite marks hidden beneath them. Bites should be directed to an avian vet without hesitation. If you have determined that the bleeding is coming from a beak or broken toe nail you must apply direct pressure. If the bleeding does not stop, use styptic powder (cornstarch will also work and is preferred for beak injuries). Be very careful not to allow the styptic powder to get inside the bird’s mouth, it can cause their tongue to numb which can cause problems with eating. If you cannot stop the bleeding, take the bird to the vet immediately so that the beak/nail can be cauterized with a grinding tool.  Broken blood feathers must be removed from the follicle to stop the bleeding and prevent infection. Two people should be used when doing this, one to hold the bird and the other to perform the removal. Special care should be taken to support the wing if the feather is located there. Tweezers or needle nosed pliers can be used and the feather should be removed close to the skin with firm, even pressure. If the follicle bleeds after removal then apply pressure with cotton for approximately one minute. There is a risk of breaking bones when removing feathers.

As always, if you feel mentally or physically unable to do this yourself then do not attempt it. Take them to a vet. All birds that are experiencing blood loss should be handled gently and calmly and should be observed for an hour after the bleeding has stopped for further signs of distress such as weakness or difficulty breathing (presents itself as stretching of the neck, wheezing, clicking sounds or loss of voice). All bleeding that cannot be stopped and signs of continued distress require immediate veterinary assistance. Do not hesitate. Bleeding that comes from inside a bird’s mouth or nares or feces that are bright red or tarry and black can be a sign of internal bleeding. Internal bleeding should always be considered a medical emergency and the bird should be carefully transported to the vet wrapped in a towel to keep them still.

Burns can occur from a number of sources; hot water or oil, chemical substances and electricity are all burn hazards. In most cases an owner would hopefully see such an accident occur and the manner with which the bird was injured plays an important role in determining how you should proceed with first aid. If the burn occurred from exposure to hot water you should mist or immerse the area with/in cool water to alleviate the pain. A topical anti-inflammatory medication should be used but you should avoid greasy or oily substances as they can be damaging to feathers. Grease and oil burns should be treated by applying cornstarch or flour to absorb the grease. The following instructions may need to be carried out repeatedly and should be done under the supervision of a vet as it is a long procedure and your bird may also be suffering from shock. Coat your bird by placing the bird and flour in a pillow case and gently shake the pillow case to coat the bird in flour (yes, it sounds a little like shake and bake but it is the best way to get your bird coated) allow this to stay on for a half-hour and then wrap your bird in a towel. Remove oil from eyes, nares, etc with q-tips and cotton balls. Fill a sink with warm water with a little bit of dish detergent (Dawn works well and is also used for cleaning seabirds after oil spills), protect your bird’s eyes and slowly dip them in and out of the water, gently covering all of their feathers. Rinse them in warm water and repeat. Afterwards wrap them in a warm towel, increase the heat in their environment as much as possible and if you have a hair dryer you can use low heat to dry their feathers. You may need to follow this regimen for several days. Once you have given your bird first aid, call your vet. For burns caused by acidic chemicals the area should be covered with warm water and then a paste of baking soda and water should be put on the wound. Alkali substances should be rinsed and then given a vinegar coating. No home first aid should be attempted for electrical burns, all care should be remanded to your avian vet.

Eye injuries and fractures are among the medical injuries that require an immediate trip to the vet. A bird that is seen squinting or who has a swollen eye may have an eye injury. The surface of the eye may appear hazy. Obstructions in the eye may be flushed out with tap water or with human eye wash but if an object cannot be seen and the symptoms are anything more than a speck of some object causing irritation the care than the treatment should be handled by your vet. Fractures are most common in the legs and wings. Fractures in the spinal column and skull are less common but much more serious. Poor nutrition can contribute to brittle bones that fracture easily which stresses the importance of a varied and healthy diet. Legs or wings that are fractured will hang limply and the bird will not apply pressure to a broken leg. They may not be able to move the injured body part and there is usually swelling and sometimes bruising. In the extreme case where a spinal fracture has occurred a bird may lose consciousness and/or may experience total paralysis. If your bird is displaying any of these symptoms wrap them in a towel and place them in their carrier. Do not handle them any more than is necessary to do this. Bring them to the vet so that they can be evaluated and treated. Keep in mind that dislocations, injuries of the tendons and ligaments as well as arthritis can present in much the same way as a fracture.

Despite their ability to hide symptoms birds can often reveal that there is a problem by changes in their unique personality. As parrot owners we see and interact with our birds every day and there is no better source in the home for determining your bird’s health than your knowledge of your pet. If your bird is acting unusually, follow your instincts and seek help immediately.

Now I know how tense you feel after reading this so go get your bird and give them some extra loving. It will make you both feel better.

Super Parrots

Posted in Parrot Information, Parrot News, Parrot advice, parrot health. Tagged with , .

By BirdBrain
March 16, 2011

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