Brandi T. seeks cockatiel advice:
Hi! I’ve been reading and learning from you guys for the last 8 years.
So I’m really hoping you have some advice for me!
Recently we’ve adopted a female cockatiel, Roxy.
She came from a high profile hoarding case here in Michigan.
She’s one of over 200 animals who lived under garbage, in cages of twenty plus birds, most of which were eating their mates and young.
Lisa K writes:
I have a very hormonal lovebird.
Very. Hormonal.
To the extent that he is wearing the feathers away from his body from rubbing against his perch and his tail is all scraggly from grabbing it with his foot to balance himself.
At first, I was taking him to the “best avian vet in the state” who wanted to give him monthly shots at $45 a pop.
Pam G writes:
I have a 4-year-old male English budgie whose cere has changed from blue to purplish brown.
He also has loose whitish droppings and very large regular droppings.
He recently has stopped talking and doesn’t show interest in his mating rituals with his toys.
I am concerned that he has testicular cancer.
The WHO has Changed its Position on Coronavirus and Pets
2nd pet dog tests positive for COVID-19 coronavirus
Pet cat tests positive for coronavirus in Hong Kong
From the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association)
“Out of an abundance of caution, it is recommended that those ill with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus” Â
Coronaviruses are not particularly hard to please when it comes to potential hosts — they’ve been detected in many mammal and bird species, including dogs and cats, as well as livestock like cows, chickens and pigs. Read more
Hi,
I think your article on birds catching the covid-19 might be misleading.Â
Is there evidence of transmission from humans to birds for covid19?Â
I think it’s highly unlikely.  Â
While these viruses can occasionally jump between distantly related species, it’s not common. Â
This super rare mutation (above) is what is known as the Feather Duster budgie. They are bred for their unusual feather growth which results in shortened lifespans.Â
Cynthia H. asks
I have been raising parakeets for 6+ years and even handfed and took to bird stores to sell, but in the last couple of years I didn’t hand feed and they all crossbred with each other, I did not have the time to take to keep them separated.
From the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) "Out of an abundance of caution, it is recommended that those ill with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known…
Harold Writes: I've been feeding my 12 conure and cockatiel friends Kaytee cockatiel Fortidiet and then top layer with Roudybush pellets for many years. Their doctor objects to the safflower…
Why is avocado bad for parrots?
Before You Reach For That Avocado Oil …
Karen Allen expressed concern over the increasing popularity in avocado-based products —
Hi Mitch,
Have you ever done an article on the true lifespan of parrots in captivity?
When I was first researching parrots (in the early 1990s) I read in Multiple places that Greys and other large parrots lived to their 80s.
But it turns out most don’t get even close to that.
