 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Foods Which are Dangerous To Your Birds
Although we all try very hard to provide the best nutrition for our birds, there are times when they may get into something they shouldn't have. We may even have children or well-meaning adults feed them something because they don't know it is dangerous. Please be aware that the items listed here should be avoided.
Alcoholic Beverages - Avoid completely! Consumption can lead to brain damage and death. Inhalation of ethanol should also be avoided as this can also cause intoxication and death.
Avocado - Avoid Completely! Consumption is known to have caused death within hours.
Rhubarb Leaves - Avoid Completely! Consumption will cause death.
Caffeine - Includes caffeinated beverages, coffee grounds, and tea bags or iced tea crystals. They must love the smell of coffee. I once had an African Gray try to take a travel mug away from me. He almost succeeded. See symptoms and treatment below under chocolate.
Chocolate - Avoid Completely! Consumption of small quantities can cause rapid onset of hyperactivity, vomiting, diarrhea, heartbeat irregularities, seizures, and death. The active ingredients causing problems are theophylline and caffeine, the higher the concentration in the chocolate, the more rapid the progression. Usually, the less sugar present in the chocolate the higher the concentration of toxic active ingredients. If you suspect your bird has ingested chocolate, administer 1 cc. of Pepto Bismol and rush your bird to your avian veterinarian.
Fat - Avoid feeding high fat foods. Excess fat over time can cause fatty liver disease, obesity, diarrhea and oily feather texture. Excess fat in the diet can also interfere with the absorption of other nutrients. Some birds are more easily affected by fat than others. Younger birds may require a little more.
Salt - Consumption can cause excess drinking and urinating, depression, neurologic hyperactivity, tremors, and death. When necropsied, birds with excessive consumption of salt have a great deal of fluid buildup in the brain and are hemorrhaging. Remember-A bird eating one potato chip with salt is comparable to our eating 50 chips.
Although we all try very hard to provide the best nutrition for our birds, there are times when they may get into something they shouldn't have. We may even have children or well-meaning adults feed them something because they don't know it is dangerous. Please be aware that the items listed here should be avoided.
Alcoholic Beverages - Avoid completely! Consumption can lead to brain damage and death. Inhalation of ethanol should also be avoided as this can also cause intoxication and death.
Avocado - Avoid Completely! Consumption is known to have caused death within hours.
Rhubarb Leaves - Avoid Completely! Consumption will cause death.
Caffeine - Includes caffeinated beverages, coffee grounds, and tea bags or iced tea crystals. They must love the smell of coffee. I once had an African Gray try to take a travel mug away from me. He almost succeeded. See symptoms and treatment below under chocolate.
Chocolate - Avoid Completely! Consumption of small quantities can cause rapid onset of hyperactivity, vomiting, diarrhea, heartbeat irregularities, seizures, and death. The active ingredients causing problems are theophylline and caffeine, the higher the concentration in the chocolate, the more rapid the progression. Usually, the less sugar present in the chocolate the higher the concentration of toxic active ingredients. If you suspect your bird has ingested chocolate, administer 1 cc. of Pepto Bismol and rush your bird to your avian veterinarian.
Fat - Avoid feeding high fat foods. Excess fat over time can cause fatty liver disease, obesity, diarrhea and oily feather texture. Excess fat in the diet can also interfere with the absorption of other nutrients. Some birds are more easily affected by fat than others. Younger birds may require a little more.
Salt - Consumption can cause excess drinking and urinating, depression, neurologic hyperactivity, tremors, and death. When necropsied, birds with excessive consumption of salt have a great deal of fluid buildup in the brain and are hemorrhaging. Remember-A bird eating one potato chip with salt is comparable to our eating 50 chips.
A Little Information About Cockatiels
Except for the Budgerigar (parakeet), the cockatiel is rated as the most popular and widely kept of the approximately 340 species of psittacine birds. They have a life span of 15 to 20 years and are a hardier bird that the Budgies that have a life span of 7 to 10 years.
Cockatiels are a very social and gentle bird. They are happy, cheerful and very inquisitive little birds that quickly become very devoted to the owner that cares for them. The male birds pick up whistles, words and phrases easily. Repetition of 2 or 3 word phrases is the best way to teach your bird to talk. Occasionally the females will also whistle and talk. There are a lot of opportunities for families to learn about and enjoy cockatiels and to become a part of a huge family of devoted cockatiel owners. We recommend joining the National Cockatiel Society. There is an NCS application in this booklet and you can also visit the website at www.cockatiels.org <http://www.cockatiels.org/>. NCS will be your valuable link to cockatiel enthusiasts all over the United States. If you are interested in possibly getting involved in showing your bird then please let me know. I will steer you in the direction of show-quality babies.
Common Color Mutations
Normal Gray-The normal gray is the forefather of all the many mutations which have been developed. There are three shades of the basic gray. Dark, medium and light gray are all common. All normals will have deep orange cheek patches, the males developing a yellow face at maturity The crest in the male is usually entirely yellow, tipped with gray. The mature female it is usually all gray. Both sexes have a narrow band of white along each wing. The Normal gray is dominant over most of the mutation colors.
Cinnamon-Is similar to the normal with gray areas being replaces by a light brown or darker cinnamon color.
Lutino - has a yellow face and crest and orange cheek patches. The rest of the bird will be either white with some underlying of a pale yellow or a deep yellow color.
Fallow - The body color is a very pale cinnamon with a heavy yellow wash, the face yellow, and the eyes red.
Recessive Silver - The plumage is a light, silvery gray, the eyes red. The females are darker, almost a cinnamon color and have red eyes.
White-faced - Resembles the normal very dark gray with lighter gray and white markings. There are no orange cheek patches and no yellow.
Normal Pied - A striking combination of yellow or white with light or dark gray-a must see.
Except for the Budgerigar (parakeet), the cockatiel is rated as the most popular and widely kept of the approximately 340 species of psittacine birds. They have a life span of 15 to 20 years and are a hardier bird that the Budgies that have a life span of 7 to 10 years.
Cockatiels are a very social and gentle bird. They are happy, cheerful and very inquisitive little birds that quickly become very devoted to the owner that cares for them. The male birds pick up whistles, words and phrases easily. Repetition of 2 or 3 word phrases is the best way to teach your bird to talk. Occasionally the females will also whistle and talk. There are a lot of opportunities for families to learn about and enjoy cockatiels and to become a part of a huge family of devoted cockatiel owners. We recommend joining the National Cockatiel Society. There is an NCS application in this booklet and you can also visit the website at www.cockatiels.org <http://www.cockatiels.org/>. NCS will be your valuable link to cockatiel enthusiasts all over the United States. If you are interested in possibly getting involved in showing your bird then please let me know. I will steer you in the direction of show-quality babies.
Common Color Mutations
Normal Gray-The normal gray is the forefather of all the many mutations which have been developed. There are three shades of the basic gray. Dark, medium and light gray are all common. All normals will have deep orange cheek patches, the males developing a yellow face at maturity The crest in the male is usually entirely yellow, tipped with gray. The mature female it is usually all gray. Both sexes have a narrow band of white along each wing. The Normal gray is dominant over most of the mutation colors.
Cinnamon-Is similar to the normal with gray areas being replaces by a light brown or darker cinnamon color.
Lutino - has a yellow face and crest and orange cheek patches. The rest of the bird will be either white with some underlying of a pale yellow or a deep yellow color.
Fallow - The body color is a very pale cinnamon with a heavy yellow wash, the face yellow, and the eyes red.
Recessive Silver - The plumage is a light, silvery gray, the eyes red. The females are darker, almost a cinnamon color and have red eyes.
White-faced - Resembles the normal very dark gray with lighter gray and white markings. There are no orange cheek patches and no yellow.
Normal Pied - A striking combination of yellow or white with light or dark gray-a must see.
Cockatiel Cages and Diet
Cages: The minimum size cage for a Cockatiel who has the opportunity for frequent play times out of the cage is 18" x18" x18". This allows room for flapping of wings and moving around. If the bird is to spend much of the day confined in the cage then a minimum of 34"in length x 24" in height x 18" width allows for sufficient room. The bars should be no farther apart than ¾ ". Be very careful of ornamental or curved cages. Make sure that no part of the cage wires converge or would allow a bird to become trapped. Little feet and toes can get hung up easily. Cockatiels especially enjoy brightly colored toys, bells, and swings. Give new toys often and keep old toys in good repair or replaced. Place your cockatiel in a draft free area of your home. The area also should be one that allows you to put your bird to bed sometimes before the rest of the family goes to bed. Cockatiels should have 9 to 10 hours a night of sleep. Since cockatiels are very prone to "night frights" I advise that you either cover the cage at night or provide a night light.
Diet:Good nutrition is a very important factor in maintaining a healthy bird. The studies and research into cockatiel diet is on-going. It has been found that cockatiels will not do well on a complete pellet diet. Our birds are given Roudybush pellets and a good seed mix. There are several varieties available for cockatiels. Be a label reader. Look for mixes containing a variety of seeds such as millet, hemp, oats, canary, wheat, safflower and striped sunflower seeds. A diet to high in fat content has been linked as a contributing factor of fatty liver disease. A fat bird is not a healthy bird. We provide occasional treats of fresh dark green vegetables such as raw spinach, thawed out frozen vegetable mixes, cooked brown rice, whole grain breads, corn muffins and millet sprays. If your bird has not been exposed to any of these treats it may take a few offerings before he is brave enough to give it a try. Small fruit pieces and chopped up hard-boiled egg are cockatiel favorites but be sure to take any un-eaten food out of the cage well before it spoils or could become full of salmonella or e-coli bacteria. Fresh, clean water is essential. Water bottles help keep water free of uneaten food and feces but care is needed to be sure your bird goes to the water bottle and that it is always full of fresh clean water and in good working order. We have actually had birds that find a way to stuff seeds up into the drinking tube. That of course blocks the dropper ball and contaminates the water. Please check, clean and refill water bottles daily. If water dishes are used they should be washed with dish soap and water at least once a day and refilled. If you have a bird that likes to make "soup" in the water dish, you will need to do this more often. Cockatiels do not need grit. Cockatiels hull their seeds and eat the softer seed meat inside. Grit has actually been known to cause serious digestive illnesses or death. Providing occasional cuttlebone will keep the beak healthy and provide additional calcium.
Avoid feeding chocolate or avocado in any amount. It is poisonous to birds. Salt consumption can cause excess drinking and urinating, depression, neurologic hyperactivity, tremors, and death. Alcoholic beverages consumption causes brain damage and death. Inhalation of ethanol can also cause death. When sharing your food with your bird keep in mind low salt content, low fat content, and if fresh-thoroughly washed. You have probably noticed by now that your bird seems to have an abundance of energy and a high metabolic rate. With this in mind it is easy to see why a caffeine free diet is a must. If you are feeding a pellet and a good quality seed mix with occasional bird-friendly treats it is not necessary to add vitamins or other additives. Be careful not to overdose. To many vitamins or calcium supplements can actually be harmful to your bird.
If at all possible, keep your bird seed and pellets in the refrigerator, stored in a moisture proof, air tight container. This helps retain freshness and keeps the pesky little bugs and moths away.
Keep your bird away from Teflon. Teflon fumes from an over- heated pan or iron will kill your bird. The Teflon material if chipped and ingested will cause death. So I ask you-why are YOU using Teflon?
Enjoy your bird and enjoy learning about your bird. For some of you it is a whole new adventure. Share your excitement with others.
Cages: The minimum size cage for a Cockatiel who has the opportunity for frequent play times out of the cage is 18" x18" x18". This allows room for flapping of wings and moving around. If the bird is to spend much of the day confined in the cage then a minimum of 34"in length x 24" in height x 18" width allows for sufficient room. The bars should be no farther apart than ¾ ". Be very careful of ornamental or curved cages. Make sure that no part of the cage wires converge or would allow a bird to become trapped. Little feet and toes can get hung up easily. Cockatiels especially enjoy brightly colored toys, bells, and swings. Give new toys often and keep old toys in good repair or replaced. Place your cockatiel in a draft free area of your home. The area also should be one that allows you to put your bird to bed sometimes before the rest of the family goes to bed. Cockatiels should have 9 to 10 hours a night of sleep. Since cockatiels are very prone to "night frights" I advise that you either cover the cage at night or provide a night light.
Diet:Good nutrition is a very important factor in maintaining a healthy bird. The studies and research into cockatiel diet is on-going. It has been found that cockatiels will not do well on a complete pellet diet. Our birds are given Roudybush pellets and a good seed mix. There are several varieties available for cockatiels. Be a label reader. Look for mixes containing a variety of seeds such as millet, hemp, oats, canary, wheat, safflower and striped sunflower seeds. A diet to high in fat content has been linked as a contributing factor of fatty liver disease. A fat bird is not a healthy bird. We provide occasional treats of fresh dark green vegetables such as raw spinach, thawed out frozen vegetable mixes, cooked brown rice, whole grain breads, corn muffins and millet sprays. If your bird has not been exposed to any of these treats it may take a few offerings before he is brave enough to give it a try. Small fruit pieces and chopped up hard-boiled egg are cockatiel favorites but be sure to take any un-eaten food out of the cage well before it spoils or could become full of salmonella or e-coli bacteria. Fresh, clean water is essential. Water bottles help keep water free of uneaten food and feces but care is needed to be sure your bird goes to the water bottle and that it is always full of fresh clean water and in good working order. We have actually had birds that find a way to stuff seeds up into the drinking tube. That of course blocks the dropper ball and contaminates the water. Please check, clean and refill water bottles daily. If water dishes are used they should be washed with dish soap and water at least once a day and refilled. If you have a bird that likes to make "soup" in the water dish, you will need to do this more often. Cockatiels do not need grit. Cockatiels hull their seeds and eat the softer seed meat inside. Grit has actually been known to cause serious digestive illnesses or death. Providing occasional cuttlebone will keep the beak healthy and provide additional calcium.
Avoid feeding chocolate or avocado in any amount. It is poisonous to birds. Salt consumption can cause excess drinking and urinating, depression, neurologic hyperactivity, tremors, and death. Alcoholic beverages consumption causes brain damage and death. Inhalation of ethanol can also cause death. When sharing your food with your bird keep in mind low salt content, low fat content, and if fresh-thoroughly washed. You have probably noticed by now that your bird seems to have an abundance of energy and a high metabolic rate. With this in mind it is easy to see why a caffeine free diet is a must. If you are feeding a pellet and a good quality seed mix with occasional bird-friendly treats it is not necessary to add vitamins or other additives. Be careful not to overdose. To many vitamins or calcium supplements can actually be harmful to your bird.
If at all possible, keep your bird seed and pellets in the refrigerator, stored in a moisture proof, air tight container. This helps retain freshness and keeps the pesky little bugs and moths away.
Keep your bird away from Teflon. Teflon fumes from an over- heated pan or iron will kill your bird. The Teflon material if chipped and ingested will cause death. So I ask you-why are YOU using Teflon?
Enjoy your bird and enjoy learning about your bird. For some of you it is a whole new adventure. Share your excitement with others.