Domesticated Birds Small Animal Care

Objectives Standard: Objective: 9.00- Select the best pocket pet or bird for a given use. Objective: 9.01- Discuss the major breeds of pocket pets and birds.

Parrot family Contains some of the smartest birds Many species can be taught to talk, are affectionate, and make excellent pets Members of the parrot family are known for their large beaks, especially the Macaws

Parrot family Include: Cockatoos Cockatiels Conures Macaws Parrots Parakeets Lovebirds Hanging Parakeets http://images.art.com/images/products/large/10022000/10022337.jpg

Parrot Family Cockatoos Known for crest or tuft of feathers on the top of the head Also, ability to mimic words and sounds. Intelligent birds Range in length from 13-30” Most popular birds Make excellent pets Tame easily http://www.avesinternational.com/cockatoos.html

Parrot Family Cockatiel One of the most popular pet birds Ideal for beginners and youngsters About 12” long Common in pet stores Affordable Gray color is most common Easy to raise and affectionate pets

Parrot family Blue and Gold Macaw Up to 30’ long Most alert and intelligent of all Macaws Very curious and mischievous Prices usually range from $600 to $1,000 Most popular and commonly seen Macaw

Parrot family African Gray Parrot 13” long Primary color is gray. Very alert, intelligent, and affectionate pet Considered to be the best talker of all birds, its voice closely resembles a human voice

Parrot family Budgerigar or “Budgie” Most popular pet bird in the world Often sold as a “parakeet” Can be taught to talk Excellent pet Easy to care for Affordable Prefers to eat food from floor of cage http://www.iransava.com/IMAGES/budgerigar.jpg

Woodpecker family Toucan Fairly rare as pets and may cost $2500 or more Very noisy birds About the size of a Macaw Known for their extremely large bill, which can be almost as long as the bird’s body

Perching Birds Largest family of birds Almost 60% of all birds Perching birds are such good singers they are also known as song birds

Perching Birds Starlings Talking Mynah bird is in this group Black bird w/orange bill Has ability to mimic the human voice and other sounds Require lots of care Prices range from $300 to $500

Perching Birds Common Canary Very important pet known for singing ability Once used as miner’s warning Bred for: Color Singing ability Crested top - feathering on the top of the head

Perching Birds Finches Small birds that are social in nature The Bengalese Finch is most social of all The Zebra Finch is the most widely kept and bred in captivity

Neat bird videos!! Finch Chirping Bird the Mimic All Sounds Einstein the African Gray Snowball the Dancing Cockatoo Frostie Whipping Her Hair Back and Forth

Bird Care, housing & feeding Small Animal Care

Objectives Standard: Objective: 9.00- Select the best pocket pet or bird for a given use. Objective: 9.02- Use care techniques that improve the well-being of pocket pets & birds.

Management Practices for Good Health Proper management begins with a healthy bird Signs of good health: Bright eyes Clean, shiny feathers Good appetite Full of Energy

Proper Environment Location Out of direct sunlight Free from drafts, warm and dry Constant temperature Free from hazards poisonous plants, other pets Minimize stress Other animals, lots of noise Quarantine/Observe period of 3-4 weeks before introducing new birds

Management Practices for Good Health Sanitation is extremely important Should provide fresh food and water Keep perches and cage clean

Management Practices for Good Health Regular bathing and spraying reduces feather dust and dirt cuts down on mites Encourages Preening Helps to prevent feather plucking Small Birds prefer to bathe in container Container may be placed in cage at regular intervals of 30 minutes Large Birds need to be sprayed with a fine mist Mist should be allowed to filter down onto the bird rather than directly on the animal Do not saturate bird, gently spray 2-3x’s per week How to Bathe Your Bird

Proper Management Feather Plucking Preening Boredom Bad Diet Needs mate Lack of bathing Preening Process of cleaning and trimming its feathers w/beak

Proper Management How to Trim Nails Nail Care Overgrown claws can result in injury Clip w/ pet nail clippers Avoid pinkish streak/quick of nail

First Signs of Illness Sign: Feather fluffing Action to take: Sign of chilling Action to take: Cage temp should be between 85-90 ° F Move cage to warmer location Adjust temp w/light bulb or heating pad (under cage) Provide 2-3 perches so bird can find most comfortable temp Partially cover cage to prevent drafts Provide quick energy fluids: sugar water, honey water, or orange juice

Housing and Equipment Requirements vary with the size and general nature of bird

Housing and Equipment Must be heavy gauge metal Example: Mynah Bird Large Birds Small Birds Must be heavy gauge metal Example: Mynah Bird 6’ x 3’ x 3’ Can be smaller gauge metal Bar spacing must be less than 1” Example: Budgie 24” x 24” x 24”

Housing and Equipment Cages Finches need a rectangular cage Allows long horizontal flight to imitate their natural flight Reduces stress from circular flight Finches need a cage larger than canaries and budgerigars http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00008JOL7.01-A16MZ6IWWRWUP5.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

Housing and Equipment Perches Size and style depends on the bird Most store bought cages come with hard plastic perches which may be uncomfortable for birds If birds refuse to perch, replace plastic perches with wood perches that are more natural for birds

Housing and Equipment Perches Larger birds like larger perches, smaller birds like smaller perches Limbs and tree branches make natural perches Insure they are free of mold and pesticide residue Tapered perches work well because they give the bird a choice of the most comfortable perching spot

Housing and Equipment Perches Large birds destroy their perches, so they need frequent replacement. However, the bird exercises its beak and stays busy in the process

Water & Feed Containers Need to be hard/sturdy Easy to clean materials Glass, ceramic, stainless steel Feed containers may be plastic for small birds, but larger birds need metal Gravity-Type Waterers Hand on outside of cage w/metal spout/tube extending into the cage

Toys Prevent Boredom need stainless steel chains with bells Large parrot-type birds need stainless steel chains with bells Smaller birds like canaries and finches can have mirrors, chains with bells, and ladders

Feeding

Feeding Most birds eat one of three things Seed Fruit and/or Nectar The vast majority of birds have a diet of seeds Consist mostly of one of two types of seeds: Cereal seeds higher content of carbohydrates compared to oil. Examples: canary seed, millet, corn, and dehusked oat kernels Oil seeds High content of fat; lower in carbs Examples: sunflower, peanuts, safflower, pine nuts, rape, maw niger, and linseed

Feeding Seed usually bought in a commercial premixed ration of cereal and oil seed Formulated for certain bird species and provides balance and variety Needs to be free of dust, dirt, and dry Moldy seed should never be fed (shelled/unshelled peanuts are real susceptible) http://www.naturespet.com/pics/drhPerfectsm.jpg

Feeding Seeds may be soaked for 24 hours in warm water For young birds who may have difficulty cracking the seed with their beak For birds during the breeding and molting season Stimulates germination = increases protein content Rinse in tap water & examine for mold/fungi Discard any not eaten and clean dishes after feeding

Feeding-other materials Green plant material can also be fed. Examples include: carrot tops, chickweed, and dandelion leaves. Kale and spinach can be fed in moderation Too much green plant material can cause diarrhea Avoid lettuce Wash all greens to ensure no pesticide residue Feed when warmed to room temperature

Feeding-other materials Grit Needed in a bird’s diet at all times, with the exception of Mynah birds Aids in the ventriculus in grinding up food (birds have no teeth) There are two kinds of grit Soluble oyster shell breaks down and is a good source of minerals Insoluble crushed granite provides the base for food to rub and work against to be ground up

Feeding-other materials Cuttlefish bone (marine mollusk) provides a source of calcium will be readily eaten by larger birds Smaller birds may need the cuttlefish shaved or chipped particularly useful to female birds who need calcium for egg production

Exceptions to the Seed Feed Mynah Diet does not include seeds, grit, and cuttlefish Soft bill pellets or foods from pet store Fruit-apple slices, grapes, orange slices, and banana or dried fruit can be fed Mealworms are live food that can be fed also Lories and Lorikeets Nectar and pollen eaters Powdered nectar available from pet store to mix with water Fruit

Feeding When birds approach weaning they can be fed once every 3 or 4 hours Feeding must take place from early morning to early evening

Feeding- Hand Reared In high demand because they are more tame Requires newly hatched birds to be fed every 1.5 hr. Dry baby cereals, fruits, and canned baby food are mixed in water, blended, and heated to a warm somewhat runny state http://www.craigslist.org/eby/bab/66757232.html

Handling and Training Allow birds to adjust to new locations for 2 or 3 days before any handling is attempted Offer a treat at regular intervals to the bird until it will take the treat through the open door of the cage

Handling and Training Press a stick perch up against the bird’s chest above the legs to encourage the bird to step on it Once the bird is comfortable one may substitute a finger of hand for the bird to perch on. Leather gloves may be needed for larger birds that use their beak to climb to perch

Handling and Training When a bird is let out of a cage, their wings can be clipped to restrict their ability to fly and prevent escape Painless procedure where primary and secondary flight feathers are cut just above the base of the feather shaft

Handling and Training Wing clipping Cutting down into the feather shaft will result in injury and bleeding The two outer primary flight feathers are left for aesthetic purposes

Handling and Training Budgerigars, cockatiels, parrots, macaws, cockatoos, and mynah birds can be taught to talk Young male birds are usually the best learners and easiest to teach

Handling and Training Teaching to talk Remove distractions such as mirrors, toys, and feed during lessons The same person needs to work with a bird on a regular basis. Usually women and children are better trainers Lessons should be given at the same time everyday Limit the lesson length to about 15 minutes each day Use short phrases and words and slowly repeat them

Objectives Standard: Objective: 5.00- Discuss the role of major systems of small animals. Objective: 5.02- Discuss the ways that disease processes affect major body systems.

Internal parasites Roundworms Diagnosis is by observing long, thin, white worms. Roundworms are contracted from ingesting worm eggs in contaminated feces, soil, or food. Symptoms: blockage of the intestines, poor plumage, weight loss and diarrhea. Several treatments are available

Internal parasites Tapeworms Diagnosed by observing small rice like segments in the feces. Birds get tapeworms from eating an intermediate host such as house flies, fleas, ticks, or earthworms. Proper cleaning and sanitation practices are the best preventative. Treatment is with piprazine, nicotine sulfate, and kamal powder

External parasites Red mites appear as tiny red specks feed on blood of infected birds at night Causes restlessness, scratching and picking at their feathers Spread through contact with infected birds Adults may be dusted with a pyrethium powder to treat Clean and disinfect all cages and nest boxes

External parasites Feather mites Small, gray-colored moving specks Cause a bird to chew or pick its feathers Feed on the bird during both night and day Symptoms: restlessness, severe scratching, feather picking, and skin irritation TX: Cages and equipment should be treated with nicotine sulfate, malathion, or coumaphos and birds should be sprayed with a mite spray

External parasites Scaly leg mites Mites that tunnel under the scales on the legs of budgerigars, lovebirds, and canaries Live their entire life cycle on the bird Symptoms: White scaly deposits that become thickened, enlarged and encrusted TX: Use Vaseline or mineral oil to kill the mites and loosen the deposits. The mineral oil or Vaseline plugs the air holes used by the mites and causes them to suffocate. Additional treatment is by cleaning cages, perches and equipment http://members.iinet.net.au/~greggles1/scale.jpg

Bacterial diseases Parrot fever- (chlamydiosis or psittacosis) Contracted mainly through feces and contaminated food and water. Zoonotic Treat birds with chlortetracycline-impregnated seed for at least 21 days Symptoms: nasal discharges closing of the eyes Listlessness appetite loss/weight loss greenish-colored diarrhea labored breathing http://www.gregrichdvm.com/gallery/psittacosis.jpg

Bacterial diseases Bumblefoot A painful ailment associated with staphyloccocal infections Symptoms: feet and joints become hot and swollen with a thick, grayish white fluid, and not walking or clasping onto perch Suitable perches and sanitation help prevent Bumblefoot. Treatment is with antibiotics http://www.d1.dion.ne.jp/~akaki_ch/foot.jpg

Viral Disease Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease- (French molt) Viral disease attacks the immune system Symptoms become evident at the first molt when new feathers do not emerge or are deformed and break off The bird’s beak and nails may be soft, overgrown and lose their pigment There is no cure for the disease. TX: Vitamins, minerals, and control of secondary diseases through sanitation

Viral Disease Newcastle disease Viral disease that has high mortality rates and spreads rapidly Imported birds are the main source of possible infections Respiratory difficulty (wheezing) is one of the first symptoms, followed by tremors, wing droop, and a twisted neck. Birds should be vaccinated to prevent the disease Zoonotic

Nutritional Problems Goiter Swelling of the thyroid glands in the neck Interfere with breathing The major cause for goiter is iodine deficiency Goiter seems to be a special problem for budgerigars

Nutritional Problems Rickets (osteomalacia) An imbalance or deficient amounts of calcium, phosphorus, or Vitamin D3 Causes deterioration or softening of the bones Symptoms: lameness, stiff-legged gait, or a constant resting in the squatting position, and decreased growth Adequate oyster shell or course limestone in the diet along with Vitamin D3 supplementation is the best preventative

Nutritional Problems Obesity too much food, not enough activity or seeds high in fat Bird owners need to avoid feeding too many sunflower seeds if obesity is a problem for their bird.

Symptoms of Problems Sleeping on two legs may indicate the bird is uncomfortable or ailing. Birds normally sleep on only one leg A bird who fluffs its feathers out is usually chilled and trying to retain body heat. If feces is runny, a digestive ailment may be the problem Not flying around and lack of activity may indicate the bird is sick.

Symptoms of Problems Eye discharges or continually closed eyes are an indication of a cold, etc. Wheezing, noisy, or irregular breathing may be a sign of a respiratory problem Not eating or very little eating indicates a loss of appetite that is often associated with sickness.

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