Do You Have What It Takes to Hand Rear Baby Cockatiels

Hand rearing cockatiels is no easy task, but there are times when you will need to rear neglected chicks to ensure their survival, or simply to fetch a higher price when you sell them at a later stage.
If you notice that one of the chicks seems to be falling behind its nest mates, you can provide it with supplementary food in order to ensure its survival. You will need to feed it once in the morning and once in the evening. Reduce the time that the chick is away from the nesting box by preparing the food before removing the chick.
Offer the food to the chick on a teaspoon that has the edges bent inwards to form a sort of funnel. A spoon is better to use than a syringe, as it will allow the chick to eat at its own pace. With a syringe, you may force too much food into the chicks mouth and cause it to choke. After the feeding, always wipe the chicks beak carefully to remove any deposits of food. If the food sticks to the soft developing beak, it will sometimes cause the beak to become distorted.
Looking at the crop, which is at the base of the neck, will give a clear indication of whether the chick has eaten or not. If the crop is slack, the chick is hungry, and if it is whiter in color than the surrounding skin, then it is full. Feed the chick until the crop appears quite full, but mustn't look as though it is going to burst.
Hand reared chicks need to be fed regularly. Do not allow the crop to empty completely. Baby cockatiels will need to be fed three to four hourly. Most young parrots will gape for food, but cockatiels will move their heads in a bobbing fashion to elicit food from an adult bird. This will make it difficult to feed the chick until you get used to it.
If you are hand rearing the cockatiel away from its nest, you will need to keep it warm in a brooder. For new chicks the temperature should be at 37 degrees centigrade. Gradually reduce this to 27 degrees centigrade as the chicks get closer to two weeks old.
Although hand rearing cockatiels is rewarding, it is also hard work, so make sure that you are able to dedicate yourself to the task at hand before you take on the responsibility.

My Hummingbirds

There are very few people in the world who do not like to watch different kinds of birds. Birds are one of the most beautiful creatures present in the nature. Bird watching is an interesting hobby which is found in lots of people.
There are certain destinations which are quite famous for different kinds of birds. Among the various birds you get to see hummingbird is one of the most interesting as well as beautiful creatures. This is a tiny bird and is very much fun to watch.
They might seem to be fragile and it is the only birds that have the capability to fly backwards. They usually collide and nosedive which produces a lot of bumping sound. During the spring these birds make their way to North America and stay there till fall. The hummingbirds cannot tolerate extreme cold weather.
The original abode of these birds is South America. So they come to North America from the various parts of South America. There are different species of these birds. These birds usually belong to the Trochilidae family of birds.
They have got their name from their habit of hovering and making noise. These birds are only found in America and nowhere else. There are at least 338 species of this bird found in North and South America. Only 16 of these species are found in the north of America.
Are you interested in hummingbird watching? If you have a home in the northern part of America then you can easily sit in your backyard and watch these birds. While watching these birds you will find that they flap their wings at a quick pace.
All the actions of this bird are very quick. This is the reason why these birds tend to burn their energy quickly and hence they require their fuel constantly. These birds usually require at least 150,000 calories.
These birds usually search for sugar fuel which is usually found in the pollens of fruits and flowers. There are certain people who want to keep the hummingbirds in their backyard so that they can enjoy watching them whenever they sit outside their house.
If you are interested in getting a bird for yourself you must be aware of its food habits. People usually try to set the hummingbird feeders for them. To feed them you can get the nectar mixes from the market. Other than this, you might also get pre made nectar.
You need to feed these birds every 3 to 4 days. You can even create their food at home by mixing sugar and water. You can store their food in the refrigerator. The best time to watch the hummingbirds is during summer.
They will surely come to your backyard if you have flowering plants in the backyard. But if you craze about these birds then you can visit southern Arizona. A large population of these birds can be found in this area. These birds are even fond of insects other than the pollens.

Tips For Taking Care Of Wild Birds

In the world today, birds have a bigger problem than the elements that they have survived for thousands of years. That problem is the chemicals in our environment, foods and everything else. We need to try to help them with this problem.
One thing you can do is to clean and sanitize their Birdhouses and Bird Feeders. Try to minimize the use of chemicals on our yards and property. We also need to try to provide a balanced diet for them.
Have a Winter nesting box in the cold weather to help the birds who stay to survive the elements. Make sure it is maintained and safe from predators. Try to close any ventilation holes so that the birds keep their body heat inside the box. They usually start scouting for their nest in the Autumn.
The Wild Birds need fat, protein and calories in the winter months. At home, our Feeders have Niger thistle seed, mixed seed and sunflower kernels in them. The finches are all over the thistle and kernels but do not go to much for the mixed seed. Another great food for winter is the Suet cakes. There are a few different blends of these. You can get a feeder for those also. A few other choices of food are pieces of fruit, peanuts and millet.
Make sure if you have a bird bath, that you clean it often and keep fresh water for the birds. You can get a warmer for your bird bath to keep the water from freezing in the cold weather. There is also a wiggler that keeps the water moving. The birds like moving water.
I am sure that if you shelter and feed the wild birds in a safe environment, you will get enjoyment out of the experience and just think, you may be a big help in their survival.

7 Parakeet Training Tips

Parakeets are small but exciting birds. These small birds are adorable and are greatly admired by many because of its dazzling colors. Parakeets are not hard to raise because these birds are not picky. You can easily have the best of the training tips below in growing parakeets:
1. Parakeets are social birds. You cannot grow a single parakeet. You need to have several of them in one single cage or place for them to grow the best they can. You can buy a a large cage that can cater several parakeets to let the best company for your bird.
2. Parakeets are food restless. It is a big thing to continually vary the food that you feed to parakeets. Biscuits and small crumbs of foods can be part of the parakeet diet.
3. Parakeets are playful. You need to put some toys in the cage. These small birds love to hang with their mates while they play. You can choose toys from the shop. Moving toys are the best ones.
4. Parakeets are to be tamed. You need to build rapport with the bird. It is a big challenge to gain the trust of the birds. But after that you will be able to have the birds in your shoulder or in your hands and such is a rewarding thing to have.
5. Parakeets are easily scared. These small birds are sensitive. You need to consider the fact that the size of the bird makes them crucial to handle. Do not scare the birds by holding them in force. Be sure to hold them as the bird want it. Avoid grabbing them.
6. Parakeets are neat birds. It is very important to keep the cage of the parakeets clean. Get the waste and food crumbs. Make sure to get fallen leaves out of the cage. Keeping the cage in the right order can help your parakeets to be safe from infection.
7. Parakeets are special birds. Always remember that these small birds are special and they need special places to be with. You need to keep them in a place of good ventilation and the temperature will not choke them.

Treats for Your Pet Pigeon

People spoil their pet cats and dog with treats, so why not spoil your pet pigeon too? Well, you may be asking yourself, "What kind of treats do pigeons eat?" The number one thing you can do to find this out is to experiment and see what your pigeon likes. But I'll get you started on the right track with a few basic suggestions.
Bread
Bread makes a good snack for both people and pigeons alike! However, young pigeons may need you to wet the bread before they eat it. Give this treat to your pigeons in moderation since it is not the most nutritious thing for them.
Tuna
People have mixed feelings on tuna. Some can't get enough and others stay away from it. Your pet pigeon is the same way. Try giving tuna as a treat to your pigeon sometime and see how they like it.
Healthy Cereals
Cereals like Cheerios or Chex may be tasty for your pet pigeon. If you think the pieces are too big then crush it up for them. Once again, you may want to wet the cereal for the young pigeons. Obviously, stay away from sugary cereals.
A boiled egg
While it may seem odd to feed an egg-laying creature an egg, go for it. Pet pigeons love a good boiled egg. Don't be wasteful though -- feed them the eggshell too. The shell contains calcium which is good for your pigeons, especially the females. Warning: avoid feeding them raw eggs. They may start eating the eggs they lay if you do. That is a recipe for some very unhappy momma pigeons.
Nuts and seeds
If you know much about pet pigeon care, you are already giving them a balanced feed. Try feeding them nuts and seeds that aren't in their regular seed mix. They will appreciate the change. Crush up the nuts that are too big for them to eat whole. Pigeons love raw peanuts, but you should experiment with other nuts too. Make sure to only feed the raw, unsalted nuts and seeds. If you can't find any unsalted, just wash them off in the sink.
Especially sunflower or safflower seeds
Your pigeon will have not lived until it tries sunflower seeds. My pigeons scarf them down as fast as they possibly can and then want more. They just can't get enough. Make sure the seeds are unsalted, salted ones may hurt your pigeon. Look in the bulk foods section of the grocery store to find unsalted sunflower seeds.
Vegetables
Pigeons love to eat vegetables such as kale, lettuce, peas, spinach, and sprouts. Experiment some to find exactly which ones your pet pigeon like. However, it is safer not to feed them any potatoes, some parts of a potato can be poisonous to birds.
Fruits
Cut some grapes in half and they will make for an all-time favorite pigeon treat. Almost any fruit will work though. This is another time when experimentation is a must.
Don't give up!
Some birds can be picky, so if you don't find what they like right away don't be discouraged. Just keep trying different pigeon treats until you find the right one.

Pet Birds That Talk - 5 Kinds of Birds That Can Learn to Talk

The fact that birds can learn to speak our language is truly amazing. But there it is--some of them can. Here are 5 types of birds that can learn to speak. Their abilities vary from learning a few words to being able to use them in the proper context. Read on and pick your favorite.
African Grey---This parrot has, without doubt, the most potential to become a fluent speaker by learning a big vocabulary and understanding how to use the words in their proper context. There are some that begin to speak at an early age, but for many, speech is delayed until they are one or even two years old. Most are blessed with intelligence equivalent to that of a 5-year old, and can accurately mimic sounds that they hear in the home or office. With proper care they have a life span of at least 30 and many times 50 years or more.
Amazons-There are many different species, most of which have the ability to speak. They pick up words fairly easily but demand a lot of attention from their owners. They also have the tendency to become aggressive in adulthood if not properly trained by an experienced owner when they are young.
Macaws-These spectacularly colorful birds are what most of us imagine when we think of parrots--and with good reason. They have entertained us in movies like 102 Dalmatians and Rio. Their speech is not as articulate and it is often harder to understand, but they probably think the same thing about people. They are also great at learning and demonstrating new tricks.
Conures---While this is a smaller bird, it makes a big sound and can become great speakers with positive and consistent training. They are active and can be unexpectedly loud for their size. This may not be the best pick if you live in an apartment and your neighbors would be able to hear it.
Cockatoos---Their elegant appearance is what usually draws people to this bird. But they are also known for the above average ability to use words and phrases. They also have an uncanny ability to imitate household sounds such as doorbells, and flushing toilets. They are quite social and need a fair amount of their owner's time to thrive.
Even though a large percentage of the birds mentioned above speak, abilities vary from one bird to the next. If you will be heartbroken if your bird does not speak, rather than take these generalizations, you should wait until you hear the bird speak before making a decision.
If you want to take a chance and adopt a bird from the very early stages, then choosing from list will increase your chances of having a bird that will talk, and hopefully, its ability to talk will not be your only reason for choosing the bird. But with careful research, love, and care, you can have a great relationship with your bird whether it talks or not.

How To Train Parrots To Talk And Do Tricks

Studies show that infant or a toddler has the same learning ability as those smart parrots. The amusing evidence is that you only need to give them attention. Spending time and teaching that's how to train parrots and cooperation will follow. Training parrots and training children is exactly the same principle.
Meeting the needs of the parrots, that's how you make them a cheerful and fantastic pet. But if you can't give that attention they will turn into disobedient and awful parrots with an attitude. Being violent and starting to bite just is their way of getting your attention. "Are you familiar with this?"
Training for parrots
It needs to be taken seriously when planning how to train a parrot. You can build fun things and have an enjoyable outcome when you put in the time and care. For the training time the trainer and the parrot should be concentrating and have a positive mind set for the best outcome.
Keep in mind training a parrot should not be too long at any one time so that both will not be discouraged. Short time spans show an improved and an optimistic outcome rather than longer sessions. The time span with repetitive tricks in a day will be remembered by the parrot.
Teaching new tricks to your parrot
The first trick your parrot can be taught is called "step up". This is basically your parrot getting onto your finger (or arm if it is a larger bird). To do this extended your finger in front of the parrot's feet then instruct "step up". You should be calm and use a comforting voice when you go over this so that the parrot will not be scared. If needed, in front of the bird and out of reach hold some food and as it reaches out it will step onto your finger then give it a reward if it steps up.
The second trick is called "turning around." This you can train them quite fast. This is when the parrot to rotates completely. How to start? First, hold a small amount of food to one side so that the parrot will see it and turn its head. Instruct the parrot "Turn around" as it starts to get the food then move the food behind the bird so that it turns to get it. Then again give a reward.
Parrots like talking
One of the most familiar characteristics that a parrot has is shrieking. You can prevent this by training the parrot to speak. As soon as the parrot builds up a vocabulary it will stop shrieking and be somewhat glad to talk. Moreover, when the parrot knows how to talk it builds interaction with the family members and it will then enjoy chatting with them.
Training the parrot should be done one word at a time and we must use repetition. Encourage the parrot by giving a reward when it starts to repeat the small amount of words that you are saying. Teaching the parrot to sing some words will expand its language and be more enjoyable to interact with.
Training your pet parrot with love, attention and care has something to do with the bonding of your family. How you train your parrot its tricks and the time you give it will lessen its attitude problem and it will become a more enjoyable and affectionate pet.

Choosing a Bird Cage Cover

Did you know that the average parrot spends around 20 hours a day in his cage? This is why it is very important to buy or choose the right cage for your birds at home. Cage covers are also very important. These cage covers create a very real and natural dark environment which birds like parrots and other tropical birds require. This is essential as this helps birds get the rest they need. They need a good 10 - 12 hours of restful sleep to keep them happy and charged up. This would keep them happy, healthy and on their best behavior. Birds making a racket while you are sleeping can be quite a headache. There are a number of bird accessories which you can now buy online. There a number of stores which sell these accessories in a wide range of styles and designs.
Getting the right cage cover for your bird is very important as it can be quite a pain to cover your bird cage. You need to get one that provides sufficient darkness to your bird as well as provides enough ventilation. You can buy a number of these products online. You would receive top of the line products as these are lightweight as well as durable. They are non toxic and can be washed in your washing machine.
When you are looking at cages and choosing the right one for your bird make sure that the one you choose comfortable as well as safe for your bird. It should be the right size for your bird otherwise they would be very uncomfortable. Your bird enough space to do his own thing. They require plenty of room for flapping their wings, climbing, playing and hanging from various bird cage perches. It's important to remember to choose one which is non - toxic. This is because many birds often chew on their cages.
You should also know that birds love to play and chew, so remember to get them some toys to play with and chew. The leading cause for screaming and biting in parrots is boredom which is why it is important they keep them selves occupied by playing. You should also leave your birds outside for a while. Allowing them to fly freely for a while is essential for your bird's mental health. A few toys you can buy for them are swings, boings and ladders. You could also buy treat holders and shoulder bibs to keep them comfortable.