FAQ - Birds
Heres some answers to your frequently asked bird questions from Pet Shop owner Steve.
What should I consider when buying a bird?
Birds make wonderful pets, but are not the easy option. Before buying consider how much time you can devote, and how your new pet will fit in with your family. Consider the length of commitment you are making - cockatiels can live for up to 20 years. An African Grey parrot could live for 50 years or longer! Birds are social animals and will want to be part of the family, and some can be demanding and noisy.
Different types of birds have very different needs – you’ll need to research carefully. If you would like some advice, drop into our shop in Aberaeron and ask for me (Steve). I have been keeping, showing and breeding a wide variety of birds - budgies to cockatiels, parrots to ravens for more than 30 years. I’ll be glad to talk the options through with you.
What type of bird would suit me?
Are you looking for a pretty bird, a bird that sings, or a bird you can teach to talk?
Some birds such as finches or canaries are happiest kept in pairs. You will only need to provide a clean cage, water and food. Finches and Canaries can make good pets for older children or first time bird owners. Budgies, Cockatiels and Lovebirds require a little more attention. They will need to spend time out of their cage with you each day and will enjoy your attention.
Parrots are the most time consuming birds to keep as pets and are not a good choice for people with busy lifestyles. Parrots require daily socialisation and “play” time. Without this they can easily become bored and may develop behaviour problems – shrieking, biting or pulling out feathers. Parrots are very intelligent creatures, shutting them away 24/7 is unkind.
How much space does a bird need?
The amount of space a bird needs depends on the species and size. All birds require a good sized cage with several perches at different levels and room to move about. Buy the biggest cage your budget and home will allow.
Most birds will enjoy being let out of their cage everyday. When letting your pet out of its cage make sure the windows are closed, it is also a good idea to restrict the bird to the room you are in.
What should I feed my new pet?
The food your new pet needs depends on the type of bird you have chosen. It is important that you choose the right food as some birds have specific nutritional needs – Mynah birds require a low-iron diet, while Lorikeets need a nectar feed. In addition to his staple food your new companion will also enjoy some treats, depending on the type of bird you have chosen this could be fruit, seed sticks, cuttlefish or even mealworms.
Drop into either of our shops for advice on the best food and supplements for your feathered friend.
How do I choose a healthy bird?Regardless of bread he should be alert with shiny feathers, and bright clear eyes. His beak should be clean, and he should not have any bald patches on his body.A healthy bird should also have tidy feet that are not excessively scaly.
If you are buying an exotic bird you should ask where it came from. Most exotic birds for sale in the UK have been captive bred, but some are illegally captured and imported. Birds caught in this way are unlikely to make good pets as they are not used to human company. Being taken from the wild causes great stress to the animal, and has devastating impact on numbers in the wild. If you are not confident it legally sourced bird, DON’T buy it.
What will my new bird need when I bring him home?
The basic items your bird will need are a large, clean cage positioned away from drafts, placed in an area you will often visit; clean water and food. Most birds will also appreciate some toys to keep them occupied when you are not there. Budgies often like reflective toys while parrots like some thing they can chew on – they’ve got strong beaks so look for something robust to maximum play-time!
I would like to care for wild birds in my garden, what can I do?
Watching the birds in your garden is enormous fun – you’ll be surprised at the variety you’ll see. A great way to encourage visitors is to put food out. A bird table or hanging feeder is an easy way to get started. There’s a wide range of feeders available, including some that stop squirrels or large birds getting to the food. You can even make your own by pouring melted suet mixed with wild-bird seed into a tough container like a coconut shell. Don’t forget to make a hole first so you can hang your feeder on a string when the mixture sets. Not all birds adapt well to hanging bird feeders. Robins for example prefer a bird table while blackbirds and thrushes will feed from the ground.
If you choose a bird table consider one with a roof as this will help to keep the food dry and deter larger birds such as seagulls. Also remember to clean your table at least once a week to avoid a build up of decaying food. You should also make sure the table is not placed near any “launching posts” or hungry cats will make your garden birds their dinner!
Many people like to feed the birds during winter, but stop when spring is on the way. If you want to stop providing food throughout the summer months then gradually reduce the amount, this will encourage the birds to start looking for food elsewhere. Stopping the food supply suddenly can lead to starvation.
What food is suitable for wild-birds?
Peanuts are a good source of protein and ideal for birds such as Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Greenfinches, Nuthatches and Woodpeckers. Only peanuts packaged for bird feeding should be used, other nuts could have been processed for human consumption and include salt which birds can not cope with even in small quantities.
Peanuts should be put into mesh or wire containers, not thrown loose on bird tables – a whole nut could choke a young bird. Feeders ensure only pieces of nut can be taken. Sunflower seeds and millet are also good for wild-birds and is best dispensed in a feeder.
Household scraps such as uncooked fat from unsalted meat, sultanas and stale bread make good wild bird food and can be put out on a bird table or thrown on the ground. If you throw on to the floor for the birds in your garden, only put down enough food for that day. Excess food left on the floor over night could encourage less welcome visitors like mice and rats.
Live food such as worms and beetles are an essential part of the diet of all wild birds. In the winter when live food is scarce you can provide a supply of mealworms, which can be ordered from either of our shops.
I am interested in keeping birds of prey what do I need to know?
Birds of prey such as owls require specialist care and housing. You will need a large aviary and may need to provide live food such as mice or chicks. Training birds of prey is time consuming. Keeping birds of prey is a big commitment and can be expensive, but is very rewarding. If you would like to find out more please contact Steve.