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
Choosing The Right Pet Bird
Parrots are intellegent and beautiful animals, and, in turn, many individuals are fascinated with them. There are billions of birds of almost 10,000 diverse species that live with us on this planet. Birds are also amongst the most beloved collection of animals on the planet. Their vibrant and brilliant array of colors, clever actions and hilarious behavior make them extremely fun to watch and effortless to feel affection for. Birds are found on all the main land masses from the North Pole to the tropics and just about everywhere inbetween. Societies, such as the National Audubon Society of America with over 600,000 members, and the RSPB with more than a million members make evident just how popular birds are to humans. Bird clubs and bird societies contain members who are committed to promoting responsible pet bird ownership, conscientious breeding and share a yearning to advance the study of birds and conservation of bird species. Pet birds have now become the fourth most accepted pet, behind dogs, cats and fish, and the third most common animal companion.
Pet birds can make exceptional companions, but it really does take a special person to be attracted to and correctly care for a bird. There are many things to consider prior to purchasing a pet bird. Choosing the suitable type of bird in support of your lifestyle is a crucial first step. Several birds need day by day stimulation, lots of bird toys and interaction with family or other parrots in order to stay in high spirits. Whether you prefer a larger pet bird or a tiny to intermediate size bird furthermore depends on how willing you are to resign yourself to a little “destructiveness” to your residence. Larger birds, such as parrots, can be real loud and like to chew on furniture and just about anything else they can get their beaks on. This is for the reason that, in nature, parrots chew on big tree twigs all day long. It's moreover imperative to be aware of that parrots are very bright creatures and devoid of proper attention and “things to carry out, ie toys,” they can develop serious psychological and behavioral problems. In a broad-spectrum, the bigger the bird, the extra destructive. However, this doesn't mean you be required to endure chewed up furniture to own a larger pet bird, but you have got to help keep your pet engaged in activities and entertained, which means some creativity and involvement on your part. Remember: In the wild, parrots are social animals and they are on no account solitary.
Behavior and temperament, diet and maintenance are other things to consider prior to purchasing a pet bird. Do you favor a bird that likes to be seen but not touched or do want a pet bird that desires to venture out of its cage and socialize? Since larger birds are normally louder, messier and extra demanding than smaller species, it is often recommended that novice bird owners start out with a slighter species. A number of birds require special diets and a quantity of species live a very to lengthy age, so deciding to own a pet bird means committing to feeding, housing and providing veterinary attention all the way through their lives. All of these factors, and extra, ought to be taken into consideration ahead of purchasing a bird. The additional investigation you complete the better. Choosing to live with a pet bird may possibly mean making changes in your lifestyle that you didn't realize. However, with meticulous research and awareness beforehand, owning a pet bird can be a very rewarding experience.
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Tips and Guidelines for bird pet owners
Birds generally will do a good job of taking care of themselves if provided with some basic needs. However if one is to truly keep his pet in top shape he needs to follow some routine procedures and live to his responsibilities.
First of all one should provide his bird with proper food. There are basically two types of bird categories: seed eaters or hard-bills, like finches and canaries, and hookbills like parakeets and cockatiels. Seed eaters eat seeds of different grasses and plants when in their native environments. Providing these birds with commercial seed mixes and leafy greens such as chicory or dandelions, and slice of apple or orange will nourish them very well. On the other hand, hookbills consume leaves, fruit and berries so preferably they should be supplied with large seeds like safflower and sunflower together with an assortment of fruit and vegetables. They can consume these items very efficiently thanks to their strong, bigger beaks.
Bird cages should have a minimum of one food bowl, one water bowl for drinking and another for bating. These should be cleaned daily as when they eat, birds leave seeds and seed hulls in the feed dish and drinking bowl. Water and food must be replenished daily as what could appear as a full cup of seed might be all hulls. One should make sure bowls are made of a durable material and they allow thorough cleaning and disinfections. Bird cages should also have perches of an appropriate size and placed as such as to encourage the bird to move from one to the other by flying or hopping. In case of larger birds, like parrots, one should avoid placing more than two perches in their parrot cages as they could limit the space available for movement. Food and drinking bowls should not be placed beneath perches, as bird droppings would foul their contents.
Although finches and canaries usually do not use bird toys, parrots enjoy objects that they can manipulate or climb on, or chew up or hide in. Therefore bird toys are critical for parakeets, lovebirds, and cockatiels and should be placed in all parrot cages. There is a wide variety of wooden and plastic bird toys available. Some birds also enjoy their reflection from small mirrors.
Birds tend to keep themselves quite clean, but may need a bit of help. All birds enjoy and require a bath. Most birds self-bathe pretty vigorously in a shallow water bowl within their Bird cages. The bathing bowl should be kept separate from the bird's drinking water. Another form of hygiene that birds maintain is preening. Self-preening is form of caring and grooming its feathers. Preening will ensure that their feathers are neat and nice. It is very important to trim a bird's nails periodically when they start to curl or curve around, as they could have problems sitting on their perch. If properly taken care of, birds live for quite a long time and all members of the family can enjoy their presence.
Shop and buy a small, medium, or large bird cages for you pet parrot and pet birds. All types and sizes of parrot cages and safe bird toys for your pet birds - http://www.birdcagesrepublic.com/
8 Simple Tips For Keeping Your Pet Birds Health.
2. Parrots and birds of the parrot family can eat a variety of different kinds of foods. Seeds should not be a parrot’s only food. This is a mistake many new bird owners make. Seeds contain mostly fat and not enough protein and very few vitamins.
3. Birds can eat most table foods but it is best to stick to healthy items including items containing whole grains, pretzels, and whole wheat pastas and bread. Foods high in fat should be avoided. Never feed them avocados as they are toxic to birds.
4. Good sources of nutrition for your bird include beans and legumes as well as various vegetables and fruits. Some birds resist new foods at first while others are open to trying many new things. Although it may take some time keep trying to introduce your bird to a variety of healthy foods.
5. Changes to a bird’s diet should be done slowly and progressively over time. Provide fresh foods twice per day for approximately an hour each time. Be careful not to leave fresh food in the bird’s cage too long as it will develop bacteria which can make your bird sick.
6. Your bird should be fed two times per day. This will result in your bird getting hungry which will make it more active. Also, a good appetite can make it more likely that your bird will try new foods. Feeding at set times twice per day will also allow you to be able to monitor how much your bird is eating. If your bird is not eating well this can tell you that it is not feeling well or has a health problem.
7. If your bird is a picky eater and you cannot get it to eat a varied diet you can try warming or cooking the vegetables. Take away seeds except at meal time until your bird starts eating healthy foods on a regular basis.
8. Just as water is necessary for people it is also necessary for healthy birds. Keep your bird’s water dish filled with fresh, clean water at all times. Bird bowls can become very dirty and should therefore be cleaned each day with hot soapy water. Once every other week you should clean your bird’s water dish with a solution containing bleach. Also make it a point to pick up some water soluble bird vitamins at the local pet store and add vitamins to your birds water daily.
Birds make wonderful pets for the whole family and they can live a long time if taken care of properly. Proper care of birds includes maintaining a healthy diet of seeds, vegetables and fruit.