BIRDS

GENERAL CARE OF AVIAN COMPANIONS

This document is meant to be a very general guide for care of pet birds (budgies to large parrots). More specific information would be provided during a consultation.

SELECTION OF A PET BIRD

The best pet birds are hand-raised from babies by a breeder. It is best to obtain a bird from a thoroughly investigated breeder, however Super Pet in Cambridge and Burlington use reputable breeders as suppliers and are responsible sources.  The selection of what breed of bird to purchase is critical. Each breed has strong characteristics which may be ideal for your needs or may be highly unsuitable. It is best to consult with a knowledgeable avian veterinarian about the different breeds before purchase. Look for an active bird with clean bright feathers. Have the bird examined by an avian veterinarian within a few days of purchase. Blood work is crucial to determine the health status of a new bird because birds are very good at hiding signs of illness until they are close to death. A CBC (complete blood count) is required to determine if there are any sub clinical infectious diseases being harbored by the bird.

UNDERSTANDING AVIAN BEHAVIOR

A pet bird can be your best friend or your worst nightmare depending on how you "raise" him/her. We strongly recommend purchasing and reading a book on this topic before you get your a pet parrot. This way you will be able to read their body language accurately and avoid some of the common pitfalls. "A Guide to a Well Behaved Parrot" and "My Parrot, My Friend" are two good references.

For more detailed information about Birds, please see our Client Information Handouts:

Diet

Housing & Handling