Dennis Cleary, Dennis & Lisa Umstead, Diana Baker, Barbara Engle, Karen Feller, Carol & Elise Mayo
Ask your vet to do a mixed culture of your parrot. (Culture of the cloaca & throat.) One lab fee instead of two. Infection can be treated with just one antibiotic.
Certain types & parts of avocados are POISONOUS. Don't take the chance with your birds' life. Do not give avocado to any parrot.
Give your bird yogurt, plain or with fruit, to eliminate foul smelling droppings.
Toasters, toaster ovens, nonstick pots & pans, space heaters, irons, breadmakers, ironing board covers, selfcleaning ovens may contain PTFE, (Teflon) which emits poisonous gases when heated and can kill your birds.
New carpeting has formaldehyde. Air out before installing. Send birds to a "safe" home for a few days.
Scented and unscented candles may contain lead wicks.
Pampered Chef Cookware may be hazardous to your birds. (Unable to receive definitive answer from them.)
Birds can handle lower temps of 60-65 degrees, if acclimated properly.
Beware of drafts more than cooler temperatures.
Birds require 8-12 hours of "daylight." Use artificial or full spectrum lighting, such as Ott lights.
To stop bleeding, scrape toes or beaks on candles or soap bars if flour or Quik Stop is unavailable.
Birds may drown in toilets, dishpans or in pots of room temp or hot water. Keep lids on all portals of water.
Be aware of swooping eagles or hawks when your birds are playing outdoors. They could become prey.
Create "Homing" conditions for a lost bird, such as gently talking to your bird. Use favorite phrases, such as "Come to Mom," "Want Food", "I Love You". Crinkle cellophane. Reminds them of chips and snacks. Sit outdoors, acting cool & calm, calling your bird by name.
Beware of loose threads, as in towels, shirts, Happy Huts. Toenails can get easily caught. Bird can panic and chew off toes.
Stress can bring out illness such as psittacosis or Psittacine Beak & Feather disease. Introduce birds calmly, into new situations.
If you have a new or sick bird in your home, clean & feed the well birds first.
Quarantine birds for a minimum of 30-60 days, to prevent spread of disease.
Kale, collard greens, spinach, broccoli, peas, cherry tomatoes, carrots, corn & beets are nutrious for your birds.
Give fruits such as oranges, banana, grapes, figs, pears, apples, cran & blueberries. (Beware of the apple seeds.)
Birds also enjoy a variety of foods such as fish, chicken, spaghetti and sauce, brown rice, rice pudding, chickpeas, steak & pork chops. Birds enjoy chewing on well-cooked chicken & steak bones.
Droppings may change color with the ingestion of brightly colored foods, such as beets or blueberries.
Serve as a treat: Crushed hard-boiled eggs & shells, with frozen peas & carrots. (Shells contain nutritious calcium.)
When using the selfcleanng cycle of your oven, it is best to remove the birds from the home. If this is not possible, place birds in the basement, sealing the door with a damp towel. Open all windows. Clean oven on a cool, breezy day.
"Feeding Your Pet Bird" (A good book to read.)
Cauliflower can cause gas. Limit amounts given to your bird. Scrambled eggs, mixed with milk, is OK to give to your birds.
MANY THANKS TO THE MEMBERS OF PFC FOR THEIR IDEAS.
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