Is Wing Clipping a Screaming Trigger?
Blue and yellow macaw parrot with clipped stretched wings on branch in bird park

Is Wing Clipping a Screaming Trigger?

Okay all you cage bird keepers whose birds have clipped wings, I can see all of you rolling your eyes from here. “What’s he up to now Virginia? How in the world can wing clipping and screaming be related?”

Today I have science on my side – and who can argue with science? From the blog “the Scorpion in the Frog… It’s in our nature” by Miss Behavior who’s real name is Sarah Jane Alger and she is a biologist

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Some Realities of a Keeping a Flighted Bird in Your Home
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Some Realities of a Keeping a Flighted Bird in Your Home

Mitch,

Are you saying you don’t keep your birds in a cage? Ever? Like they just roam around the house all day?

How do you keep from stepping on them, what about electrical cords that might look like a toy to them while you’re not observing?

What about things like china plates on a hutch they could fly into and hurt themselves?

I would love to let them lose but how would I keep an eye on them say if they’re upstairs and I’m down? They get into EVERYTHING! 

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How Nail Trimming Can Cause a Broken Wing
How Nail Trimming Can Cause a Broken Wing

How Nail Trimming Can Cause a Broken Wing

How many times have you watched in awe as a flighted bird hops off the top of it’s cage – flap flap flap then lands on an inch wide piece of ceiling crown molding or a computer monitor and in bird speak says “What’s up?”

Never giving a thought to that gravity thing that keeps the rest of us tethered to Mother Earth. These are special creatures indeed.

 

It’s been my observation that most caged bird keepers fail (sell, re-home or give to a rescue) because the birds are unable to adapt to the keepers expectations.

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Is Newspaper Print Safe for My Bird?
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Is Newspaper Print Safe for My Bird?

Is Newspaper Print Safe for My Bird?
 
We loving your Sunday morning birdie brunches. Wonderful info, but I do have a question about one of the suggestions.
I have a “teil”. Is it really SAFE to put newspaper on TOP of the grate???
My Merlin would chew the newspaper and maybe eat it. But if it’s safe, this sounds like a great idea.
Also, if I put his food dish on the newspaper, then won’t I wind up with poop in the dish? Thanks for all your info and a great website.
 
Linda W 
 

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Should Other Legumes Be Avoided in Your Bird’s Diet
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Should Other Legumes Be Avoided in Your Bird’s Diet

Thanks for your emails and your products.

We have a 10-year-old Yellow Nape Amazon. He is a constant source of entertainment and wonder. He eats several fresh foods regularly and also enjoys Roudybush medium pellets.

One of his/her favorite activities is to tear into a fresh pepper hanging from a spike in the cage. Anything from Hatch to Jalapeño, to Poblano, and even an occasional Habenero, is fair game. (more…)

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Your Bird’s Beak – What You Didn’t Know
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Your Bird’s Beak – What You Didn’t Know

First, a little semantic housekeeping in these modern times of ornithology. The term beak & bill can be used interchangeably – or so I’m told.

Our new economical bird nail trimmer  has become very popular once pet bird keepers realized how easy it was to trim their own birds nails while saving money at the same time.

From time to time we do have people asking about trimming their bird beaks because they appear to be a little too long or may exhibit a “bump”.

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Your Bird is Bleeding or Oil Soaked – Now What?
Your Bird is Bleeding or Oil Soaked - Now What?

Your Bird is Bleeding or Oil Soaked – Now What?

Let’s circle back to first aid. Now that you’ve taken the time to build your own bird first aid kit, (you did right?) it’s important to remember the basics.

Once you’ve assembled all the tools for your bird first aid kit you should wash them with antibacterial soap or clean them with a steam cleaner and then wrap them in washcloths prior to storage.

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Where to Put a Swing and How to Get a Bird Used to It
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Where to Put a Swing and How to Get a Bird Used to It

Recently I visited a customer to deliver an order and was invited to come in and see their new rescued Macaw named Paulie. A beautiful Scarlet in a huge Prevue 3155 cage, the top third was loaded with toys and a large Booda Rope Swing. They said the macaw had not used the swing set, as he seemed to be intimidated by the movement of it so it hung pristine and lonely.  

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DYK – Your Bird Keeps Better Time than a Swiss Watch?
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DYK – Your Bird Keeps Better Time than a Swiss Watch?

Quick, say “diurnal, circadian, or photoperiodic clock” five times fast. And that my friend explains how your bird can tell time. Although your bird cannot tell what day it is it does know what the month is of each year using its circannual (calendar) clock. It actually knows the precise time of day (just not what day it is).
 
iPhone might have Siri but with no Internet connection whatsoever your bird gets “messaged” on a regular basis, indicating the proper times to change feathers (molt), when to breed, and with migrating birds, when to migrate.

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