Bird Articles

Feeding Your Bird

One of the great myths about owning birds is that all they need to eat is seed. This is no more true of birds than it is about us. So what do we feed our birds?

Chocolate can be a killer! Although chocolate is one of our favourite treats, it contains a substance that is poisonous to animals. Toxicity, or poisoning, is most common in dogs because of their habit of rapid consumption, but it may …

Feather Picking in Birds

Can’t work out why your bird is plucking out its feathers? There could be many reasons. Parrots are especially prone to feather plucking and self-mutilation. Why is my bird mutilating itself? There are many possible reasons for self-mutilation and it …

Keeping a Budgerigar

The budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), also known as a parakeet or more commonly a budgie, is the most popular pet bird worldwide. This small and beautiful bird originates from the drier regions of Australia. Their natural habitats are dry open plains, …

Housing Large Birds

Large birds such as cockatoos, African greys and Amazon parrots have special housing requirements. The size of the cage, type of perch and accessories for the cage are important. What size cage do I need? For large birds, the bigger …

Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis) In Birds

Chlamydiosis, also known as Psittacosis or Parrot Fever, is a common disease of birds. The disease can cause chronic infections, asymptomatic infections, or sudden death. The disease can also be transmitted to people. It is not associated with the venereal …

Travelling With Pets

Are you thinking of taking your pet on holidays with you this year? Even a short trip to the vet requires planning to ensure your pet travels safely. Most pets generally tolerate travel well, and can be transported by car …

Taking Care of Your Bird’s Beak and Nails

Most birds are naturally very active during the day and would normally encounter a huge variety of perching textures and perch sizes in their wild environment. This, along with ordinary preening and grooming, wears the toenails down and helps maintain consistent …

Moulting in Caged Birds

It’s moulting time, there are lots of lost feathers in your flights and everything looks a little shabby for a while… is it that big a deal?

Bird Cage Hygiene

Most birds have the misfortune of eating in their bathroom and defecating in their kitchen. It is essential to keep a bird’s environment as clean as possible. The bottom of the cage should be lined …