There are no ways to predict the lifespan of any bird. The American Veterinarian Association says that 50% of all pet bird deaths are the result of malnutrition.
I was at a seminar where nationally known avian veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker spoke. She related a story of how an 80-year-old woman brought in a budgie for a wellness check.
Pet food manufacturers as well as Internet “influencers” somehow associate the word “holistic” with “healthy” which indicates (to me) they clearly never read the definition of “holistic“.
ho·lis·tic – adjective
PHILOSOPHY – characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole.
Thus from this point forward, you will go forth and snigger the next time someone tries to sell you holistic anything.
When you interact with us,
whether it be here, on our website, social media, email, or any other form of communication, we try to introduce you to holistic bird health as a way of succeeding with captive bird care – meaning:
Your African grey may have upwards of 8000 feathers. Feathers keep a bird warm, and dry and enable flight.
For a molt to occur, the old feather must be removed. Before molting begins blood vessels that support the feathers dry up so the attached feather becomes loosened by the surrounding tissue.
Anatomy and function
The upper respiratory system (URS) consists of the external nares, operculum, nasal concha, infraorbital sinus, and choanal slit.
The nares are paired symmetrical openings with an operculum within each. The nares each communicate with the nasal cavity containing the concha.
The left and right nasal cavities are separated by a septum. The nasal cavity communicates with the left and right infraorbital sinus.
Editor’s note: you will read these words later in the post:
Hi Catherine. Peaches has always been in my small bird room with the cockatiels, lovebirds, Meyers, Quakers, conures, and a very skittish white-capped Pionus I adopted last year. It’s been a long road to get her to accept me. Peaches doesn’t like to be near (within 2 feet) other birds.
Otherwise she tolerates them so I am sure she is loving all the attention Mitch is giving her. She was out of her cage (24 X 22) morning and afternoon for a total of two hours. She also enjoyed being on the jungle gym in the kitchen area. I have never used a water bottle with her. She doesn’t throw food in her water. Since I am home all day. Water dishes get changed twice a day if needed.
jellenp@……..
Mitch, I learned sooooo much from you in today’s message about bird safety. I’m seeing my household with completely new eyes now. Thank you so much.
We are first-time bird companions of two one-yr-old beautiful little male budgies acquired at the same time from the same breeder when they were still youngsters. They are healthy and active.
Aloha!
I am truly enjoying your email newsletters. Very informative.
Need some of your advice, I have a Timneh African Gray named “Saber”, now I think about 30 years old. I ended up buying him when he was about 3-4 years old. For several months I would visit the pet shop and always stopped by Sabers cage to play and talk with him.
It’s OK for a perch to be a little smaller or larger in diameter. Basically don’t install a perch too large that a bird’s foot can’t grab comfortably (except for manicure perches) and may cause a bird to fall. Conversely, too small a diameter may allow a bird’s foot to wrap all the way around and cause pain or injury to its own foot.
(more…)
We buy mortgage insurance for our homes and auto insurance for our cars.
We buy cars with airbags because they’re safer
We wear bicycle helmets.
We make our kids wear bicycle helmets.
When we have a babysitter watch our children we provide a list of numbers where we can be reached.
We bring a bird into our home who could conceivably be with us for decades and yet we fail to take the fundamental steps to help us cope with avian emergencies that will – eventually happen.
