How to take care of your pet birds

In spite of their attractive appearance and good nature, learning how to take care of a pet bird does take a little bit of work and some common sense.

Bird care starts with the same basic approach for all types of birds. They all need a bird cage with one or more perches, and bird feeders to accommodate their appropriate food and/or bird seed. Bird care however, can be a trickier business than caring for other types of domestic pets. Why? Because different types of birds have unique needs. Bird care needs to be tailored to each type of pet bird for its health and well-being.

Cage Specifications

Birds need to be able to stretch their wings and flap them without hitting anything. They should also be able to make short flights, hop around and play with bird toys.
Birds that live exclusively in a cage will need a space of three times their wing span as an absolute minimum, with more space being better.
Horizontal bars on the sides of bird cages are very important for birds that like to climb, such as parakeets, cockatiels and lots of playful parrots.
The bar spacing needs to be small enough that the bird cannot get its head through them.
Metal bars are good for birds that like to chew.
It is really nice if the cage is easy to clean. Many bird cages have a slide out tray and an easily removable grate.
Outside the cage you can provide a playpen along with safe bird toys.

Cage Placement

Bird cages should be placed in a draft free area that is well lit, but not in direct sunlight.
To make your birds feel secure and comfortable keep their cage against a wall or in a corner.
Place your bird's cage so that it is at eye-level or lower for good social interaction. You don't want your bird above your head because for them, being up higher means they are dominant.
You don't want to place your bird in the kitchen or in a room that is too near to the kitchen. Birds are highly susceptible to airborne fumes and toxins. A small amount of smoke or the vapors from Teflon cookware could kill your bird.

Aviary
Aviaries are beneficial because they provide large areas for birds, often with the intent of breeding. Aviaries can be either indoors or outdoors. Some birds are very noisy and can be a nuisance to close neighbors. So if your birds are loud, you may want to keep them in an indoor aviary or in a remote area.

Indoor Aviaries

Indoor aviaries give you the ability to control temperature, lighting, noise and humidity.
An indoor aviary is often a room in a home devoted to birds.
The windows are covered with wire and the door often has a wired porch with two doors to pass through . These are to keep your birds from flying out.
Some indoor aviaries are simply a bird room with extra large cages. Doing it this way, the doors and windows don't need to be screened in.

Outdoor Aviaries

Outdoor aviaries can provide your birds with a natural environment and are designed in a wide variety of styles.
Because the birds kept in outdoor aviaries are exposed to the weather, they must also have indoor sheltering, possibly heated or cooled if conditions get extreme.
Outdoor aviaries always need a shaded area and wind breaks.
Trees or large branches can fit in nicely to create a comfortable home, but must be of non-toxic woods.





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