When you get a new pet, then it is important that you start with the basics of pet behaviour training. This is helpful when it comes to teaching birds to be petted, or teaching them how to talk if you are the owner of a parrot. Pet behaviour training allows you to learn the behaviour of your pet in order to put this into practice when training with your bird.
Before you begin your pet behaviour training, you should learn your bird’s behaviour and body language so that you know what he likes and dislikes and when he is happy and sad. If you try to reach in to touch your bird on the head, then your bird might see this as a form of aggression from you. Does your bird go stiff and stare back at you? Does he try to bite you or run away from you? These are all behavioural signs of a bird that is not happy about being petted. If you ignore the behaviour patterns of a stressed bird, then you might end up getting bitten on your finder. However, if your bird seems relaxed and turns or bows his head then this is a sign that the bird is enjoying what you are doing. Some birds even bow their heads and closes his eyes which is a sure sign of a bird that is happy about being petted and trusts his owner.
How do you get started on training your bird to be petted?
1 Choose a time when your bird is relaxed and happy
2 Always keep your hand in view of the bird
3 Speak to your bird in a soothing voice before trying to pet him
4 Always be gentle
5 Begin by gently touching his beak and then gradually move your fingers to the skin just behind the beak
6 After touching the beak, move your fingers around to the side of his head
7 When trying to pet your bird on the body, make sure that you stroke with the natural orientation of the feathers because ruffling the feathers can irritate your bird. Pet in the direction that the feathers naturally lay.
8 As your bird begins to relax, work your fingers around to the back of his head and his neck
9 Don’t force your bird into being petted because you might just end up with a sore finger!
10 Don’t let strangers pet your bird it is important that he learns to trust you fully first.
Pet Behaviour Training: For Birds
Red Eared Slider Turtles—Tips On Care And Diet
Taking care of the Red Eared Turtle takes more than just a container decorated with colorful pebbles and filled with water. These animals have specific housing needs, and require special diets and close monitoring; all this in order to ensure their health and safety, and allow them to live out their maximum lifespans. The following tips about the Red Eared Turtle should help you come to a decision as to whether you are ready to become an owner, or, if you are already one, give you useful advice on how to take better care of your pet.
If you are just in the planning stages of purchasing a red eared turtle, there are a few things you should look out for to make sure that your pet is in perfect condition and not ill before you bring it home. Healthy turtles of this species should be alert, responsive, and bright in appearance. You will know if the turtle is alert and responsive if it pulls its legs back into its shell when you pick it up. Otherwise, Red Eared Slider Turtles that seem to be passive when you do this are most likely to be stressed out or sluggish. They are in great shape and healthy if they have clear, open, and clean eyes. Their noses should be free from discharge or mucus, which are signs of respiratory sickness.
Red Eared Slider Turtles may appear delicate and cute when they are just hatchlings, and many novice owners may assume that small, plastic containers or tanks would make adequate housing for them. This theory is a mistake; as the turtles grow into their adult size, they will reach up to twelve inches in length. You must, therefore, prepare a suitably sized dwelling place, ideally a large tank or pond. A red eared turtle that has received the right kind of care and monitoring can live for forty years.
One should always remember that it is never wise to try to return a turtle to the wild when it becomes an adult, because it will not be equipped with the skills necessary for self-preservation and survival, especially if it had been kept captive most of its life.
A red eared turtle can excrete a lot of waste material, and you must keep its housing clean, by placing a good filter into its tank, and by feeding it in a separate tank or container.
Red eared slider turtles are omnivorous, although as young turtles, they show a preference for small animals, such as earthworms, shrimp, mealworms, crickets, and krill. These may have to be cut into smaller portions when fed to the hatchlings. If your pet is already an adult, you may offer it larger prey, such as tadpoles. As the turtles mature, you should shift to vegetables for the majority of their diet; for example, collard, dandelion greens, and green beans.
You can determine the sex of your turtles only when they have become mature. You should allot a nesting area on which the females can lay their eggs. Be sure that this area, and the entire place in which the turtles dwell, are escape-proof and free from predators.
These facts about Red Eared Slider Turtles should serve as sound and helpful advice on how to take care of your turtle pets.
The Terrapin Turtle: How To Buy A Turtle That's A Perfect Pet!
Turtle keeping is not an easy task! It is an endeavor that must be carefully planned, and you should try to have as much knowledge as possible prior to bringing home your new pet. There are several requirements for responsible turtle ownership, such as the provision of proper housing, nutrition, and temperature. Pet turtles may be cheap to purchase initially, but they are definitely not cheap to maintain! Some turtle species are very difficult to care for. You must also consider your family members too, and what their thoughts are about turtle care. After all, keeping a turtle is not that enjoyable if your loved ones are not amenable to it. However, if you are truly serious about your plan to own a turtle, then you ought to look for a species that is easy to care for. The Terrapin Turtle is a top choice for beginners in turtle keeping.
You will discover that the terrapin is a naturally wonderful pet! This type does not require you to feed it on a daily basis, and most importantly, it has a very long life span, allowing you to enjoy your pet for many years. Make sure that your pet will be able to maximize its life span by providing it with the care and maintenance it needs.
Prior to purchasing your terrapin turtle, you must determine the correct size tank in which to house your pet. Bear in mind that small, young turtles will grow, and unless you want to buy another tank in a few months, it might be prudent to consider a larger tank that will eventually hold the adults comfortably. A good quality filtration system is imperative for the proper maintenance of sanitary and clean water. Invest in a quality aquarium heater, and make sure that you also provide a basking area for your pet.
Terrapins are amenable to hibernation, especially during the cold or winter season. Prepare yourself for this dormancy period of your pet terrapin by researching when and how to properly hibernate it, to avoid risking the life and health of your pet. Terrapins are prone to sickness, so make sure to give 100% in caring for them. You must make sure that your pet is fit and healthy, and does not have any injury or illness before you let it hibernate.
The terrapin is omnivorous, and feeds on earthworms, chicken, turkey, fish, beef, and liver. Make sure you balance its diet by providing it with fruits and vegetables, such as lettuce and cabbage, two to three times a week.
Safety is of the utmost importance in terms of properly handling your terrapin turtle pet. Make sure that you never let young children handle or hold the turtles, as they are potential carriers of salmonella, and can infect your kids with a serious ailment called salmonellosis. Separate the containers and other items you use for your pet, and always properly wash your hands before and after handling your turtle.
Keeping Terrapin Turtle pets is an extremely rewarding and enjoyable hobby, as long as you realize that they require proper care just like any other pets. Do some research and educate yourself by reading turtle guidebooks, and consult with veterinarians as necessary.