Sunday, July 31, 2011

Bird Thought - Handfeeding Revisited

So, I just got another handfed baby bird yesterday that's not really all that tame.  The baby's only four months old and very skitterish, handshy and bites.

The person I got it from handfed it, let it out of the cage every couple of days, but otherwise didn't play with it or socialize it.  She couldn't figure out why it's not tame because she handfed it.

To all of you who either are breeding or handfeeding babies - Please remember IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST HANDFEEDING TO HAVE A GOOD PET PARROT!!!

Please read:  Handfed does NOT = Tame and The "S" Word

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Staring at Birds - "New" Playstand

My husband, the bestest husband EVER made this for me:
 No, I do not own a normal vacuum.
 

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Bird Thought - What I feed

I feed a quality seed base with pellets free fed to some pairs.  Pellets are my "vitamin supplement".  Some pairs don't get pellets (or get limited amounts of pellets) as pellets have been linked to health problems in some birds such a eclectus and mutation parrotlets.

I also feed the following "mash" every day.  In addition to the "mash", seed, and pellets I feed as treats and enrichment whatever interesting thing happens to be at the store at the time - grapes, cantaloupes, strawberries, cactus pads, etc.  Try your ethnic food store for some REALLY interesting fresh produce.

This "mash" is what I feed my birds.  If you only have one or a few pet birds, this is probably too time consuming and a hassle to deal with.  With only a few birds it would work better for you to integrate the bird diet into your routine:  Integrate him into YOUR lifestyle

Small Birds:
(Finches, Bourke Parakeets, Cockatiels, Parrotlets, White-Winged Parakeets)
Broccoli
Carrots
Apples
  
Cook Mix - Raw
Cook Mix - After Cooking
  
Cook Mix

Sprouts
How to sprout: Sprouting

Sprouts
  
Complete and ready to feed.
Large Birds:
(African Greys, Eclectus, Rosellas, Conures, Indian Ringnecks) 
Broccoli - Coarse Chopped
  
Carrots - Coarse Chopped
  
Apples - Coarse Chopped
Cooked Mix
  
Cooked Mix
  
Fruit Cocktail - No Sugar Added
**This is occasionally used.  The eclectus like it. 
Sprouts
How to Sprout: Sprouting
  
Sprouts

Complete and Ready to Feed