Are you considering buying a water bottle for your bird, but don’t know what to look for? When buying a bottle for a parrot, you must consider the following:

- durability

- safety

- ease of use

- size

The size of the bottle is very important- consider the size of the bird, size of the beak, in comparison to the size of the bottle and spout. You don’t want to spend twenty or more dollars on a bottle that you later find out to be suited for a canary, when your bird is an amazon! You also want to consider what the bottle is made of. The cheaper alternatives are made of plastic in varying ranges of thickness. While plastic bottles may be OK for smaller birds, birds with larger beaks are more apt to do serious damage to the bottle. Look into the heavy duty glass bottles (that normally resemble old milk bottles) for birds larger then a budgie.

You also want to make sure that the spout is made of a bird safe material. Some of the cheaper bottles are plastic spouts, and something you do not want to risk is your bird being able to bite right through the spout and flooding its cage. Look for bottles that are outfitted with stainless steel spouts.

Is the bottle easy to use? Some bottles appear to be ok, but then the ball sticks or is hard to manipulate within the spout, restrcting water flow. Other bottles may be easy for the bird to use, but hard for the human to change out on a daily basis. Even though the water bottle holds more then your average water dish, you want to make sure to change out the water on a daily basis, so considering ease of use from the humans point of view is beneficial.

There are many brands of bottles to choose from, everything from Oasis brand water bottles, to Lixit. Lixit are the most popular brand, and for good reason. Their water bottles come outfitted with stainless steel trappings, and the bottles are heavy glass that will stand up to a lot of ‘beaking’. My birds each have a glass Lixit bottle and I am very pleased with them- they are easy to clean, stand up well to large beaks, and do not leak. Lixit also offers an interesting alternative to purchasing their bottle kits- they sell the bottle heads/spouts that fit in any standard size glass bottle (such as a snapple bottle), so that you can make your own waterbottles for a cheaper price.

Even if your bird has a water bottle as its source of water, also considering giving your bird the traditional bowl as well. Since many birds are natural ’soup makers’, giving them an outlet to dunk their food will prevent attempted ‘dunkings’ in the spout of the bottle. There are also some species that ‘backwash’ for sanitary reasons, like amazons, so having an open source of water like a bowl is important. I personally use both water bowls and dishes. I’ve found that my birds enjoy drinking out of the bottles, and will dunk their food in the bowls but then go to the bottle to actually drink from. Please remember to carry out the same sanitary precautions with a water bottle as you would a bowl.

Written by Emily Gough of Caique Crazy

Rescue VS Purchase VS Adoption

For some time now, there has been a debate going on about the true meaning behind these three common terms that we hear so often. “I rescued Fido from a pet store” is the general statement that leaves people shrugging their shoulders and asking, “come again?”. You hear the terms rescue, adoption, and purchase, used almost interchangeably these days. What do they really mean?

Rescue is defined as “to free or deliver from confinement, violence, danger, or evil.”  The term ‘rescue’ means to save a bird or other animal, from dire conditions that were hazardous to the animal and/or life threatening. Case in point:, Molly, from Parrot Hope Sanctuary. “Molly is a seven year-old green winged macaw. She was left behind in deplorable conditions, a mobile home that had been repossessed that the owners decided to trash on the way out, as they left their parrot behind. Molly went countless days with absolutely no food and water. Neighbors, who could hear Molly screaming, were unsure what to do to help. Finally, they made contact with Parrot Hope Sanctuary, who worked with local authorities to help rescue Molly. Molly was suffering from starvation and kidney failure due to malnutrition.”

Adoption is defined as “To take into one’s family through legal means and raise as one’s own child.” (substitute child for ‘bird’). When speaking of’ adopting a parrot, this normally refers to going through a rescue organization, choosing a bird, going through the necessary procedures, and filling out legal documents transferring the ownership of the bird from the organization to you. Adoption can also refer to the rehoming of a parrot via a private party. Adoptions normally include an ‘adoption fee’, which is a small fee that covers any medical treatment the bird has received while in temporary care, or reimbursement for food items and/or enrichment. The adoption fee should never exceed the original cost of the bird as a weaned baby. If one pays the ‘full price’ for an older parrot, this is to be considered as the ‘reselling’ of the animal, which is generally frowned upon.

Purchase is referred to when someone pays retail price for an animal from a pet store, or private individual (such as a breeder). When someone comments that they have “rescued” an animal from a pet store- it normally translates into what the animal lover community calls a pity buy. A pity buy is when a human sees an animal in conditions they deem as ‘unfit’ in a retail setting, and to take the animal away from those conditions, they purchase the animal. There can be legitimate cases of rescue from a store, but normally such actions are classified as adoption or purchase.

So the next time you hear someone say they ‘adopted Fluffy”, ask what that really means. If you are dealing with a behavioral problem, this can be crucial. Adoptions, purchases, and rescues all come from vastly different backgrounds, and pinning down the source of the birds previous living arrangements can help unlock any behavioral (or otherwise) difficulty the owner is encountering. And, as always, educate. Encourage people to use the proper terminology when referring to their animals past history.

Written by Emily Gough of Caique Crazy

We as bird owners are always in need of those ‘last minute’ supplies for our feathered friends. Not all shops cater to the needs of avians, however, and when we do find the occasional store that advertises as being ‘for the birds’ we sometimes find that the shop is… less then satisfactory. How to find a good store that you feel confident in buying from? When you enter a bird store, assess the general physical aspects of the store. Then carefully observe the way the employees relate to parrots and customers’ alike.

A Comfortable Ambience

Some of the best shops I have been in are the ones that exude friendliness, for both birds and customers. Many of these same stores have dedicated customers that come in just to visit, or even help socialize the baby birds from time to time. Some stores even encourage such an atmosphere, by placing chairs around the area, and bringing the birds out on stands to interact with the customers. On one them more occasion have I witnessed some of the regular customers enthusiastically helped a store ‘newbie’ make a toy selection, or recommend a certain brand of food. These are not only good social experiences for parrots and humans alike, but good learning experience for both parties as well. When I have a friend that is interested in getting into bird keeping, I take them on a field trip to my favorite local store where they can interact with the birds and gain knowledge from the staff.

The Store Environment

The physical environment of a good store is one that is clean, with good lighting, as well as comfortable temperature and humidity. Cleaning that is done as a part of the daily routine is essential. Do not expect a store to be immaculate at all times because, of course, birds are messy creatures. A good shop strives to stay on top of the stores condition on a regular basis. If you are worried about the cleanliness of the shop, visit several times a day, staggering your visits so you can observe the environment at different times. Do you see anyone cleaning? Are those hulls on the floor recent, or have they been there since two pm yesterday?

Avian Environments

A good representation of the store is to look at the birds cages. Are the cages clean, do the birds have access to fresh food and water? Do they have toys to play with, and a couple of perches? Are cages stacked upon on another in a haphazard manner in attempt to save room? (Quality manufactured stacking cages are acceptable). Another thing to examine is what kind of clientele the shop has. Does the shop just sell avian supplies, or do they offer boarding services, physically sell birds, or both? If the shop sells and boards birds, then make sure to note if the boarding birds and store birds are in a separate area. What about the babies that are still on a hand feeding regimen, where are they kept? It is a good practice for hand feeding babies to be away from traffic and not allowed to be handled by the public.

Educated Employees

One of the best things about a quality bird store, in my mind, is the staff. You can walk into the shop and get educated opinions and advice from the staff about a number of avian subjects. Bird owners, much like their birds, enjoy ‘flocking’ together (pardon the pun, couldn’t resist!) and sharing stories, joys, triumphs, and heartbreak with other bird owners. A knowledgeable store employee can assist with the purchase of items for your bird, recommend veterinary, grooming, or even boarding services. Not only is a knowledgeable store employee a benefit to the shop and customers, a well versed store employee is a benefit to the community. An employee that can educate customers on a regular basis is doing a good service and potentially improving the lives of many birds living at home. Unfortunately many people are still stuck with outdated avian information, and supplying them a source of new and updated information can increase the quality of their animals life.

Happy Shopping

If you are lucky enough to have several stores in your area, take time to visit them all and pick the one that best suits your needs. You will be investing a lot of time and money into the shop, with the purchase of bird, cage, or even just regular items such as enrichment and toys and you want to ensure your money is going towards a facility that you can support and recommend  to others.

If you are in need of pet bird supplies, from cages to cleaners, and have limited local resources consider shopping online at BirdCagePortal.com for quality products, convenience, secure shopping and caring customer service. 

Written by Emily Gough of Caique Crazy

I’ve decided to get a harness for one of my caiques, and have been researching the different types available. Having come upon a great deal of information, I thought I would share with you as well!

Feather Tether – the second most popular harness available, the Feather Tether comes in many colors and sizes. The feather tether comes in one piece, but you are required to snap pieces together once on the bird. Downsides to this model include: the make of the harness, it sits around the birds crop which can be unsafe, the D clip used on the harness is a bit heavy and sits on the birds chest, where he can easily access it to chew. Bird owners that have purchased the harness talk about it with mixed results. Some say that their bird uses it with no trouble, while others say their birds are afraid of it and they have not been able to use it successfully.

Aviator Harness – this harness is by far one of the most talked about harness. Manufactured by Steve Hartman, who strongly believes in full-flighted parrots, this harness was made to accomodate full-flighted parrots; that is, parrots that fly on a long lead. The harness is one piece, making it easy to put on your bird. In addition to the harness comes an instructional DVD, teaching how to properly acclimate your parrot to the harness and how to safely put the harness on. A suprising amount of owners report that they have tried previous versions of harnesses, particularly the Feather Tether, and have had no luck with them, but this harness their bird readily accepted. The Aviator harness does not use a snap clip with leash, like the Feather Tether, Bird Diaper, and Ortho Bird Harnesses do. Instead the leash is bungeed material, so that if a bird were to fall or fly, they would not get pulled back and hurt. Another positive note about this harness is that it is not made to sit around the birds crop, like other brands are. This is much safer for the bird.

Bird Diaper- unlike other smiliar products, this is actually not a harness at all. The Bird Diaper is made to keep your shoulder clean and your bird safe. Bird Diapers come in many different colors and sizes. Most bird owners report more trouble using the Bird Diaper, because it is more restrictive then a harness, and some birds do not do well with it. Owners who have Bird Diapers with birds that will accept them say they enjoy Bird Diapers and feel the Diapers are not too restrictive on their birds, but do not use the Diapers for an extended length of time.

Ortho Bird Harness – Harness made by Ortho Bird. This harness resembles another popular harness, the Feather Tether. One noted flaw in the design is that the Ortho Bird harness sits around the birds crop. It appears to have multiple clips, which could pose a problem when trying to put the harness on the bird. Little information is available about the harness, other then from suppliers. Manufacturers website is down, so no additional information is currently available. Unfortunately I could not tell much about this harness from the photo provided by suppliers, and could find no one that currently uses this harness.

Kaylor Bird Harness – only available at fredbird.com. Harness comes with woven tie rather then easy disconect clip. Said to have been around for fifteen years. Other then information on the site, little information was available about this harness elsewhere. One interesting thing that I was reading in regards to the Kaylor Collar, as it is called, is that the manufacturers of the harness claim it can be left on for days, without harming the bird or the birds feathers. I would not personally recommend anyone leaving a harness on their bird for any extended length of time, as there is always danger that the harness could get caught up in something, or rub and irritate skin and feathers. I could tell little about this harness from photos, and found no one currently using this model to interview.

When doing research on these harnesses, most claimed that the harness had been made in conjuction with an avian veterinarian. Unfortunately no information about the vet was available, so I was unable to interview the vet to find out more.

All of the above harnesses share two things in common: they are made out of sturdy, brightly colored nylon, and they may not accomodate small birds. The Feather Tether does not fit birds under 100 grams, as does the Ortho Bird Harness. The Kaylor Collar says it fits a bird as small as a cockatiel, but does not give a weight chart to go by. The Aviator Harness accomodates birds from 75 grams and up. Bird Diapers say they accomodate birds ranging from petite to colassal, but I was unable to find a weight chart to compare.

After doing this research, I have decided on an Aviator Harness for my caique. Previously we have tried a Feather Tether, and my bird was deathly afraid of it. We got to the point where it could be put on, but he can easily slip out of it, even after I exchanged it for a smaller size. Seeing as how the Aviator compares to others in safety and quality, that will be my choice for another harness attempt.

Written by Emily Gough of Caique Crazy

The concept of foraging and parrot enrichment has been a source of great interest and news in the avicultural community.

Pet bird owners are being taught the importance of providing daily enrichment for their pet birds, and studies are showing how beneficial the act of foraging can be for a caged bird. Do you know, in the wild, many birds will actively forage for 3-8 hours per day? In our homes, our birds are provided with all they need, including a big bowl of food and water. The guesswork is completely taken out of the equation. Convenient for us, bad for them. So what can we do about it?

While there are many good foraging and enrichment sources out there, one thing they fail to mention is this: how time consuming these activities can be for the human. some of the more involved enrichment activities can take time and planning to be able to implement

and are not easily replicable once the bird has gotten through with it. Its not feasible for most working humans to be able to put their birds on a complete foraging system, much less consistently provide foraging enrichments on a daily basis.

So what is a bird owner to do?

The answer? Easier then it sounds- find simple foraging solutions that will entertain your bird, are easily replicable for you, and not put a strain on your budget.

Is this possible? Of course it is! The following are five simple, easy, and engaging foraging activates that fulfill those requirements.

1) Repeat after me.. a skewer is your best friend. Skewers such as the ones made available by Jungle Talk are stainless steel wonders of the avian world. Simple in design, easy on the budget yet they can be used so many different ways! String your birds fresh fruit and veggies on this skewer and hang in the cage.

You can even drill nuts and dried fruits to assemble on the skewer. Outside of any food preparation, this toy takes little to no time

at all and can be refilled to put in the cage another day.

2) The Hollee Roller by JW pet products is another fantastic must have toy. Not only is it durable and comes in multiple sizes

for all size birds, but its lots of fun! You can put it on the cage floor stuffed with nuts and other goodies for the birds to  pounce on and chase after, or a quick link in one of the holes can turn it into a hanging toy. And the fun does not stop there.

If your bird is an advanced forager, you can wrap his food up in coffee filters, or bits of newspaper, and then insert that into the roller for added challenge. Another easy, cheap, and refillable toy that has many opportunities, and takes little time to prepare.

3)  Munch balls are the next greatest thing since sliced bread. Well, for the birds that is!

These balls are not only graet for birds that love to shred, the colors are also visually appealing, and they are good for your budget!

These toys can be used to string up as a hanging toy, or as a single foot toy. What to do for foraging? Grab your birds favorite treat

- I recommend perhaps some bananas or cedar nuts  and stuff a couple pieces inside the ball. the birds will have a blast ripping through the whicker to get to the treat within.

4) Star Bird Holey Kamole … greatest thing since.. well.. you get the idea.

This toy is truly an inspiration. People are scratching their heads asking, ‘now why didn’t i think of this?’ well, we are glad that someone did! This toy is perfect to the medium to large size bird that is not afraid to do some serious foraging.

You can stuff this full of corn husks, shredded paper, cotton, whatever floats your boat. Then just stick some treats in and watch your birds work to get them out. This toy can be hung from the cage, set on the bottom as a foot toy, or even set on a perch!

This toy is perfect for stuffing fresh veggies, and dried foods in

5) Parrot Pinatas are also great for foraging. Premade, they cost a small amount, and can easily be stuffed

with your birds favorite dried food. They are great for birds that like color and shredding, and hold up well to medium and large size birds.

They are the perfect size, large enough to be a challenge for a medium size bird, yet not too small for the bigger beaks as well.

See? Foraging can be replicable and easy on both time and budget! Don’t be hesitant to start implementing foraging activities into your birds daily schedule. Foraging activities such as these take no more time then filling a food dish, but are much better for your birds health and well being.

Written by Emily Gough of Caique Crazy

Join Us for National Bird Day

January 5, 2010

“Why National Bird Day?

• The beauty, songs, and flight of birds have long been sources of human inspiration.
• Today, nearly 12 percent of the world’s 9,800 bird species may face extinction within the next century, including nearly one-third of the world’s 330 parrot species.
• Birds are sentinel species whose plight serves as barometer of ecosystem health and alert system for detecting global environmental ills.
• Many of the world’s parrots and songbirds are threatened with extinction due to pressures from the illegal pet trade, disease, and habitat loss.
• Public awareness and education about the physical and behavioral needs of birds can go far in improving the welfare of the millions of birds kept in captivity.
• The survival and well-being of the world’s birds depends upon public education and support for conservation.

This is the reason for National Bird Day.”

The above is a snippet from the website nationalbirdday.com

National Bird Day takes a stance against owning parrots as pets, the pet trade in general and the many concerns with owning exotic creatures.  Some may or may not agree with the keeping of parrots in households as pets.  In fact, just the other day I commented to someone that I don’t like seeing animals in cages as a general rule. They looked at me kind of funny and asked me “well, then why do you have birds?”  I replied that while I disagree with animals in cages, it is out of my control to do anything beyond providing the best environment for these animals that have been placed in my care.  I don’t have control over parrots in the pet trade, and while I may disagree with it, isn’t it my duty to care for the ones that have already been the victims of human misinformation and ignorance?

For whatever reason you celebrate National Bird Day,  take a moment to celebrate that special feathered friend in your life.  Give your bird an extra scritch and treat, and realize that while you may not have control over what goes on in the pet trade, by educating and informing your community on bird care and donating to a worthy bird cause, you too can make a difference.

Written by Emily Gough of Caique Crazy

Are you in need of a new bird cage for the new year?  Cage shopping can be overwhelming, frustrating, and time consuming.  There are so many brands and models to choose from, not to mention all the little things you have to consider:  bar spacing, cage size, cage model, cage brand, just to name a few.  There are so many options out there, how can you ever narrow it down?

First, decide what you want the cage for.  Is it for a permanent residence, or sleeping cage, or a travel carrier?  Next, consider the size of the bird that will inhabit the cage.  If it is a travel cage you can certainly go smaller than the norm.  Let’s assume for the sake of this article that the cage is a permanent residence.  Rule of thumb is that the cage must be wide enough for the bird to stretch its wings out fully without getting tangled in the bars.  Ideally the cage should also be double the height of the bird.  Of course for a smaller species, this could lead to the conclusion that you can get away with a fairly small cage. This is  not true.  Don’t forget that not only the bird will be in the cage, but should also have multiple perches, toys,  food and water dishes as well as some form of tent or teepee for the bird to roost at night.

Next, consider your budget.  Do you have enough to pay a retail price for the cage?  Or are you looking for something a little cheaper?  Lets lay out our options.

Cheapest

• Craigslist is a great resource to search for a gently used cage at a heavily discounted price.
• Hoobly is another online source for gentle used, or sometimes even new, cages
• Your local newspaper classifieds

Cheaper

• Ebay is a great place to find gently used and sometimes new cages at discounted prices from individual vendors

Moderate

•  Birdcageportal.com has a great selection, excellent prices and fast delivery for brand new cages

If you purchase a gently used cage be sure to check that the powder coating is in good shape.  Disinfect the cage thoroughly with a mild bleach (or other disinfectant) solution before beginning to set it up for its new inhabitant.  If you use bleach don’t let the solution remain on the cage very long and rinse very thoroughly.  Disinfectant products like Pet Focus are excellent and safe to use on bird cages and other washable items.  If the powder coating is not in the greatest shape, you can contact your local motorcycle repair shop and inquire about the cost to re-powder coat a cage.  You may be pleasantly surprised at how economical it is!  

Visit your local yard sales as well.  You may be surprised at what you find!  Whatever venue you choose, be patient. You will find the right cage!  Happy shopping.

Written by Emily Gough of Caique Crazy

The holiday season is a time for travel and for pet owners that can be especially stressful.  Finding kennels for cats and dogs is relatively easy, but how about one that specializes in birds?  One that will recognize the importance of the seemingly small details that are so critical to good bird care? Thinking about it is enough to make you pull your hair out!  Not to fret, while it can be a seemingly overwhelming burden there is hope.  There are many options to choose from.  There are several in-house pet sitting services that have avian knowledge.  Also, boarding is available at a facility set up specifically for avians, at your vets, or you can even entrust your bird to a friend while on holiday.

If hiring a professional pet sitting service to come into your home and care for your animals, consider a few things.

- Is the business/professional licensed

- Is the business/professional bonded and/or insured?

- What prior experience with avians does the caretaker have?

Getting recommendations from other bird owners is a good way to start the search for a professional sitter.  You can also use online resources such as the website for the National Associate of Petsitters located at www.petsitters.org to find a petsitter in your area that meets your requirements.  Many sitters also arrange a pre-meeting so they can come to your house and meet with you.  That way you can review how they interact with your animals.  If you hire through an agency, make sure the agency is in good standing with your local and state agencies. Be sure you get a signed contract of services rendered, and that it explains clearly what liability the company/agency will take if unexpected accidents happen in your absence.

For whatever venue you choose to board your bird while you are away, be sure to ask the caretaker of the bird questions, such as those listed below, to ensure the health and happiness of your pets.

- What type of training do you have?

- Do you have previous experience caring for exotics & avians?

- How many other pet sitting obligations will the sitter have during the period they will have your pet(s) under their care?

- Can the employee provide references?

- What precautions will the sitter take to prevent the transmission of diseases?

- How many times a day will they come to your home, and how much time will they spent at each visit?

- Will they interact with the bird, clean the cage, etc.

- What is the cost of each service?

- Are they willing to cook food for your bird or will all supplies have to be prepared in advance?

You want to also touch base with the employee and find out how knowedgeable they are about your species of bird(s).  If they have general knowledge, it may be a good idea to send home some literature about your birds.  That way you ensure they will will know the differences in species and the particular care each species may require.  A lesson on how to properly handle the bird would be important as well.  Be sure to leave a large flyer in an easy to locate place, i.e. the fridge for instance, detailing the emergency contact numbers, your number, alternate number, and avian vet number in case of emergency.

Good luck in your search for the ideal pet sitter.  While the search may be harder then expected, the reward of leaving with peace of mind that your pet is safe will make your vacation all the better.  Happy travels!

Written by Emily Gough of Caique Crazy

As a bird owner, I’m sure you’ve had someone recommend you place a cuttlebone in your birds cage. Perhaps you’ve seen it in the store, and wondered what exactly this strange, solid-yet-flaky substance is? As far as you are aware, it’s a good source of calcium.

Cuttlebone is indeed a bone. In fact, it is a hard, brittle internal structure found in cuttlefish (yes, they do exist!) The bone is composed primarily of calcium carbonate. If you have cuttlebone, you’ll notice how light it is and that it seems to have small ‘air holes’. This is because it is a chambered, gas filled shell that the fish uses as buoyancy control. In the past, cuttlebones have been used for numerous things, including in polishing powder, toothpaste, and antacids. Ever heard of sepia ink? That was a bi-product of cuttlefish as well. Like squid they expel a dark, almost black ink when threatened. Artists would gather this ink and use it for their paintings or drawings.

But lets back up for a second. What exactly is a cuttlefish? Is it a fish, a squid, or just a really creepy looking animal that floats aimlessly around the ocean? Cuttlefish are actually not technically fish. They are marine animals in the order of Sepiida, belonging to the Cephalopoda class. This class also includes the cuttlefish’s close cousins, squid, octopuses, and nautiluses. Cuttlefish are said to be more closely related to your common variety garden slug, then an actual fish!

Cuttlefish have an internal shell (the cuttlebone), large pupils, eight arms, and two tentacles furnished with suckers, which they secure to their prey. What do they eat? you may ask. Cuttlefish prey on mollusks, crabs, shrimp, fish, and even other cuttlefish. Their natural predators include: dolphins, sharks, fish, seals, and other cuttlefish.

Interestingly, there are few cuttlefish species that are actually native to American oceans, most of which are living in the southerwestern Pacific Ocean. It is said that in areas where there are many native cuttlefish species, a person walking the beach can collect cuttlebones that wash ashore.

Back to the bone.

Cuttlebone can be purchased at your local pet store. Different sizes of cuttlebone come from different species of cuttlefish, but no worries, it all has the same nutritional value! Cuttlebone is a very common way that pet owners get some calcium into their birds’ regular diet. Perhaps you have seen different colored cuttlefish in the store. Some companies flavor the cuttlebone and dye it hues of oranges, pinks, and greens in an attempt to make it more appealing and tasty. You may see different varieties of cuttlebone as well. Recently I’ve noticed that in addition to the dyed cuttlebone, companies have started incorporating a mineral block into the cuttlebone. I picked up a cuttlebone the other day that had a mineral block outer layer, and a cuttlebone inner layer.

White is the natural color of cuttlebone, and one you most commonly see in bulk bins at your local pet store. Cuttlebone is readily available at your local pet store. I’ve even found cuttlebone at a country feed store. It is easy to come across, and an inexpensive way to introduce calcium into your birds diet.

Written by Emily Gough of Caique Crazy

During the holidays there are many new and exciting things we use to decorate around the house that can be as dangerous to your avian friend as they are pretty.  We want your holidays to be fun and safe, so we are addressing the common holiday household dangers for 2009.

Holly

Among the most common decorations for the winter season is mistletoe.  This often seen holiday plant that harbors such a fairy tale legend also has a dark side.  Mistletoe is part of the Viscaceae family, and the form commonly seen in North America is a hybrid plant of both English and European varieties.  Mistletoe is famous for bearing it’s fruit in the winter months making it a popular decoration during the Christmas season.  The red berries that are such a trademark of mistletoe are toxic to our avian friends, as are holly berries.  Another favorite holiday plant, the Poinsetta, can cause GI tract irritation if ingested.

Other holiday decorations such as tinsel, angel hair, and other common Christmas tree adornments are made of plastic.  They should be kept out of reach of your bird(s) at all times, as they are made of plastic and could become impacted in the crop of accidentally ingested.  Your favorite holiday scents can be dangerous to your birds, too.  Burning candles should used with diligence, and birds should always be kept in the cage if a candle is lit.  Candles, which have a bad reputation for lead in the wick are safer now due to new regulations.  More bird owners are beginning to use them again.  If you do use a candle, use one that is made out of a natural material such as soy or beeswax and is not heavily scented.  Remember, our feathered friends have a respiratory system different than ours.  Because of the way the air they breathe travels into their system any scent can be especially irritating.

Remember as you invite guests into your home this holiday season to keep tempting foodstuffs away from your avian companion. Alcoholic beverages, avocado, coffee, and salted foods should not be given to your bird under any circumstances.

Of course, with all these cautions, it doesn’t mean that your feathered friend can’t participate in the festivities of the holiday!  Buying a festive bird safe toy to adorn the cage is a safe and fun way to celebrate and keep your companion happy and entertained.  Many pet owners also have gotten into the spirit of gift giving with their companions.  For added fun, wrap the ‘gift’ in a piece of newspaper and place in the bird’s cage. Watch the bird unravel the present with delight!

Written by Emily Gough of Caique Crazy