We have always been attracted to birds and love to have them as part of our households. It remains unclear what creates this attraction. Maybe it is because we have watched them in nature appearing so care free as they gracefully move in the sky. Or, maybe we are just attracted to the wide range of colors and sizes, leaving us breathless with their natural beauty. Still, maybe it is listening to them mimick our words and talking to us with such clarity that we are left amazed. Whatever the reason, there is no doubt that we enjoy these beautiful creatures as members of our family.

Yet with all of this in mind, it amazes me how we have learned so little about the proper care of these beautiful creatures. There is not any other species of animal (except possibly reptiles) that we neglect to provide health care. We, as caretakers, spend hundreds of dollars on cages, food ,toys, and a wide variety of advertised heath care products without ever making any honest effort to learn the needs of these feathered individuals. In the last thirty years, the advances in avian care has sky rocketed. Despite these advance, we still feel that if we put seed and water out and buy them a toy, we are good caretakers. There is not anything further from the truth.

Results

Birds, in spite of their possible long lives, often succumb to poor nutrition, neglect, and illness long before they should. Still others often survive in a poor quality of health of which their caretakers are totally unaware of until it is too late.

How do we change this?

We need to learn about bird behavior, veterinarian care, proper nutrition, and early clues to any illness. If a bird changes its behavior or acts different than normal in any way, your bird is ill until proven otherwise. The old adage of I will watch him a few days is responsible for serious illness and death in an untold number of birds.