Basic Husbandry & Medical Care of Birds in Ellisville, MO

The Best Way to House a Bird

• Sandpaper perches should be avoided. They do not keep nails filed short as previously thought but can abrade the bottoms of the feet, rendering the bird susceptible to foot infections (bumblefoot). Natural tree branches of variable sizes make the best perches. Safe trees include most fruit trees, dogwood, and willow; cherry trees should be avoided, however. Stone or ceramic perches may help to keep the nails from having sharp points but should not replace wooden perches. If natural tree branches are not available, then dowel rods of varying sizes can be used as perches.
• The cage size should allow adequate room for lateral extension of the wings (i.e., width is more important than height). Cages must be made of nontoxic materials such as stainless steel. Zinc-coated metal (galvanized metal, hardware cloth) is dangerous to birds and should be avoided.
• Food and water dishes should be placed so that fecal contamination cannot occur. If this cannot be done, covered dishes will protect against contamination. Dishes and the cage floor should be cleaned daily and the entire cage and its contents should be cleaned and disinfected weekly.
• Wood chips and corncobs as cage liners may be dangerous to birds. Paper cage liners are ideal as they are safe and allow droppings to be monitored. Cutting paper cage liners to the size of the cage and stacking them several layers thick allows an owner to remove the top layer of paper daily, leaving clean paper underneath.
• Cages must be secured to prevent escape or traumatization by other family pets.
• Exercise is essential for proper health. If possible, supervised flight in a safe indoor environment is recommended. Birds should not be allowed to fly in rooms with mirrors, running ceiling fans, open doors, or windows without the shades drawn. Ingestion of lead drapery weights or other foreign objects should not be permitted.
• The kitchen is not a safe place for birds. Fumes from overheated non-stick pans are toxic to birds (as are many other airborne chemicals or pollutants) plus birds have also been known to fly into pots on top of a stove.
• Ultraviolet full spectrum lighting is essential to good health and can be purchased at most pet stores. These lights should be placed above the cage and turned on daily, regardless of what other lighting, (artificial or natural), is available. Full spectrum lighting fixtures should not be covered by glass or plastic as the covers filter out some beneficial wavelengths of light. A sunny room is insufficient as a source of full spectrum lighting because the glass windows filter out some of the necessary wavelengths of light. Poster black lights (BLB lights) and incandescent lights are also not acceptable.
• All tropical birds, such as Amazons and Macaws, thrive if bathed or misted frequently (preferable daily). Canaries like to bathe daily in a shallow bowl of clean water whereas Budgies may prefer to bathe in wet lettuce leaves. Oil-based substances should never be used on feathers or skin.
• Never take a bird outdoors unless it is in a cage. Trimming a bird’s flight feathers does not guarantee that the bird cannot fly, especially outdoors where air currents may aid in flying. Reasonable exposure to the outdoors is ideal with appropriate supervision (i.e. good weather, secure flight cage, available shade, and adequate water supply).
• Bird cages should be covered during the night period to allow for sleep and rest. A light/dark cycle that mimics the normal sunrise/sunset cycle outdoors is best for a bird and helps to promote normal molting cycles.