Having a bird for a pet can be a rewarding experience. Most parrots live for decades, making this pet a lifelong partner and a true member of your family. But in order to enjoy your bird, you have to make sure it’s well cared for and remains healthy for all those years. How can you ensure your bird’s health and well being for the long run? Here are 3 things you need to know in order to properly care for your bird.
- Not just seeds. Bird vets throughout the world will agree on one thing – birds don’t benefit from an all seed diet. In fact, just eating seeds is like humans eating junk food all day long. Seeds taste wonderful to a bird, but are extremely high in fat and low in just about everything else. Seeds don’t contain the levels of vitamins necessary to ensure their health.
- Proper percentages. Seeds should make up a small percentage of your bird’s diet. A bulk of the bird’s diet (up to 70%) should be premium commercial pellets. Another 20-35% should be vegetables. The rest of your bird’s diet can be a combination of seed mix and fruits.
- Clipping your bird’s wings, or not. It’s never easy to choose whether to clip your bird’s wings. Once clipped, it can take an extremely long time for your bird to grow new feathers and be able to fly again. Is your bird in the type of environment where he won’t need to fly? If you have decided that clipping is the only decision for you to make, then it’s recommended that you seek the advice of a professional. Follow his or her guidance until you feel comfortable doing it on your own. If cut too short, your bird can have issues with crash landings, which is why you should always seek a professional’s help. The goal is to be able to allow them to float down from heights, but not achieve any lift. Sometimes you’ll discover it’s a trial and error basis to determine how short to clip the wings.
For the most part, birds are pretty self-sustainable. But they do require some care and maintenance in order for them to live long and happy lives. Making sure you have a reputable bird vet you can turn to will give you the peace of mind that your bird is always in good hands. Many bird owners turn to Unusual Pet Vets for their pet care needs. Learn more by visiting http://unusualpetvets.com.au/.
