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There’s nothing more serine than hearing the awakening symphony of singing birds that greet morning’s dawn. Birds are one of life’s most wonderful creatures.
They surround and accentuate life with their delicate beauty…adding a harmony of colors from soft pale yellows to bright blues and greens. In the following pages we will provide you with some essential
information for helping you care for your bird, including information about bird health, common bird diseases, bird feeding, and tips for keeping your bird groomed.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Bird
Available Space: Some birds require room to stretch their wings. Others are content primarily to climb. Of course, much of this depends on the size of the bird. A 22- to 40-inch Macaw requires much more cage space than a 4-inch Finch.
Commitment: An Amazon Parrot may live for 70 years. Are you ready to make that commitment? Make sure that if you are making a bird a friend for
life, you mean for life. Many parrots don't adjust as well to change in ownership; some react worse than the most loyal of dogs, getting so depressed that they become seriously ill. Many Amazon Parrots
never recover from the trauma. If you are not absolutely certain about making a serious long-term commitment, simply consider a bird with less longevity.
Neatness: The good news is that a bird isn't going to match the vacuum-cleaner challenge of a German shepherd. The bad news is that many kinds of
birds are untidy. No matter what you do, debris will litter the area around a Mynah bird cage. Others birds are able to confine their messes to inside their enclosures. Still, "neatnicks" would
probably never own even the most immaculate bird. Birds are messy -- it's just a matter of the degree of messiness you can tolerate.
Noise: Some birds sing soft songs with lovely harmonies, while others create a daily concert of cacophony, screeching and hollering. If you live
in an apartment or condo, Polly may get on your neighbor's nerves -- as well as yours. Shelters often receive birds who were, essentially, evicted. Even where pets are allowed, leases stipulate that they
should not disturb the neighbors. When push comes to shove, some owners will simply move and take their bird with them. But that is easier said than done, and in the war with an unhappy landlord, the
bird usually loses. It always loses when the owner is unhappy, too.
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