Bird Care

 Pet birds for various qualities, including their relatively basic requirements. However, bird ownership does carry responsibility. When kept healthy, smaller birds will live for 10 years, while many parrots will see their 60th birthday, so it is important for owners to understand it is a lifetime commitment.
Birds can be fairly hardy animals, but owners should take them to a veterinarian for routine care and annual checkups. It is also a good idea to find an avian specialist in case of an emergency.

Cages

Since the majority of pet birds spend most of their lives in a cage, they need enough room to spread their wings out, at the very least. For finches and other small species, there needs to be enough room to fly from one perch to another, but not enough space between the bars to escape.
The cage should be kept above the floor on a counter or hanging from a secure hook. Wind and drafts can cause serious harm to birds, so the cage must not be near any open windows.
Many birdcages come with perches but, as the bird may gnaw at them, it is a good idea to replace them with natural, pesticide-free, non-cedar tree branches. Safe toys are also important to keep birds stimulated.

Food and drink

Birds need constant access to fresh water. The sipper bottle or bowl must be cleaned regularly, as birds tend to be very messy when drinking.
piece of cuttlefish bone, available in most pet stores, provides an important source of calcium. For other nutrients, there are many formulated pellet diets and seed mixes. These diets are usually provided alongside a variety of whole grains, seeds and fresh vegetables. An avian veterinarian can suggest a healthy combination for the specific type of bird.

Preventative care

With their fast metabolism and short intestines, birds create a lot of droppings. It is important to clean out the bottom of the cage daily to prevent bacterial infection. Many cages come with removable bottoms, so cleaning is just a matter of sliding out the tray and replacing the soiled newspaper.
Daily cleanings give owners the chance to check on their pets’ health by counting droppings. Finding less than 30 in a day may suggest a metabolic problem and the need to visit a veterinarian.

Weight loss, skin problems and other illnesses can be hidden by feathers, but symptoms to look for include:

• Loss of appetite.
• Fluffing up.’
• Depression.
• Discharge from the nostrils and eyes.

Also, changes in behavior should prompt owners to seek medical attention.
A common cause of distress for birds is lack of rest. Some species need 10 to 12 hours of sleep each night. Many owners cover the cage with a sheet at night. It is best to ask a veterinarian about the optimal sleeping pattern for the species.

Flight

Psittacine birds—including parrots, cockatiels and budgerigars—should not be kept in the cage at all times, as their high intelligence benefits from exercise and freedom. Parrots, for example, have strong spatial memory, so they can negotiate closed flight areas and find their cage again much more easily than a canary could.
Meanwhile, trying to catch a free-flying finch is almost impossible, unless the owner tires it out to the point of exhaustion, which could be harmful to it. So, flight freedom depends on species.
When a bird is flying outside its cage, windows should be not only closed, but also covered, as birds can seriously injure themselves flying into clear glass.
Wings can be clipped temporarily to prevent flight until the next moult. Properly clipped wings will allow the bird to soar down from a perch, but prevent mid-air collisions or easy escapes. Again, the appropriateness of this measure varies by species, so it is best to first consult a veterinarian.