Trimming Wings, Beaks and Toe Nails Any bird in your home needs his wings trimmed unless he is an aviary bird, such as a canary or finch. Concussions often occur when birds fly into windows or mirrors. Serious burns result from birds flopping into pots over stove flames. Many beloved birds fly out open windows or doors and are never seen again! Some birds' beaks may never need trimming, but others have overgrown tips or cracks that need smoothing. The beak has a blood and nerve supply and it is a good idea to let us decide how much, if any, should be removed. Birds with "scissor beak," a mal-alignment of the upper and lower beak structures, can be helped by routine trims and shaping. Nail trimming is also advisable when you notice your birds nails getting too long or too sharp, this includes aviary birds because they might get their overgrown nails stuck on a cage wire. Whatever the case may be, we provide your bird with TLC. There is no appointment necessary, just a phone call to let us know your coming. During harsh weather conditions we advise you not to bring in your bird, but if truly necessary then please bundle him/her up. :)

Bird Bathing Bathing your bird is very important to maintain your birds' healthy skin and plumage. Depending on your birds' preference, we carry bird bath tubs where your bird is able to take a bath on their own. We also carry shower perches so that they can shower with you. I know it sounds crazy but most birds do enjoy taking showers with you. If that doesn't sound appealing to you than you can also mist your birds' with a spray bottle. We recommend you use our bird bath spray formula that contains aloe vera, which leaves your bird feeling soft as well as smelling great. We have been using this formula for over 25 years and find that our birds' feathers have a nice shine to them as well as less dander. You will notice the difference in your birds' appearance by using this formula.

Pet Bird Safety Birds are exquisitely sensitive to toxins, especially those in the air they breathe. Remember about the canary in the mine shaft giving warning of gas accumulation? Cleaners, such as those used to degrease ovens, produce dangerous airborne contaminants and can be fatal to birds. Even strong cooking odors and smoke is a risk. Non-stick cookware (TEFLON) is another worry. When overheated, the fumes can kill birds. Birds can drown in small amounts of water. Upright narrow glasses are a danger as is very hot water (birds don't expect the water to be hot). The toilet bowl, uncovered, has been the source of many avian injuries. Birds do like water play, and with supervision, many even enjoy showers with their owners. Bath perfumes and hair spray must be avoided around birds. As you get in the habit of thinking about kinds of things that poison birds, you will automatically avoid the dangers. Remember, things that smell strong to us can often kill birds. Felt tip pens are aromatic and poisonous to birds. Nail polish and remover, paint fumes, cigarette smoke, colored ink and aerosol sprays of all kinds should be avoided. Other pets, such as cats, must be kept safely away.

In addition to keeping your bird's wings trimmed and never leaving it outside its cage unsupervised, it is important to be aware of materials that can poison your bird. "Bird-proof" your home by realizing that birds are curious and prone to mischief, and keep the following items out of their reach at all times: acetone, alcohol, antifreeze, aspirin, ball-point pens, bleach, boric acid, cigarettes, chocolate, cleaning supplies, coffee, cosmetics, crayons, deodorants, disinfectants, drain cleaners, fabric softeners, felt tip markers, fertilizers, firecrackers, flaking paint, hand lotion & creams, herbicides, insecticides (including moth balls), laundry supplies, lead, lead-based paint, liquor, matches, medicines, mercury, mouse & rat poison, nail polish remover, oil-based products (kerosene, gasoline, turpentine), pencil lead, perfumes & colognes, rubbing alcohol, rust, shampoo, hair spray, mousse, shaving cream, shellac, snail bait, suntan lotion, teflon fumes, tobacco, toxic fruits & vegetables, and toxic plants.

Knowing What to Feed Your Bird Most birds can and should eat fresh fruits and vegetables in addition to their daily diet. Most vegetables and fruits are safe to offer to your pet bird. You want to keep away from fruits that are too acidic and mostly keep your bird away from AVOCADO, which is poisonous to your bird as well as NO CHOCOLATE. Bananas, apples, pears, grapes, papaya, corn on the cob are all good treats for your bird and ocassionally you can give them a piece of bagel or spagetti. If you are not sure if you can feed your bird a particular food give us a call and we'll give you good advice.

Knowing When Your Bird is Sick Birds who die "suddenly" have usually been sick and no one knew it. But take heart, there are some good indicators of poor health. You only have to know what to look for. Once you learn the signs of early illness, needed treatments can be performed by your avian veterinarian. Some of the best indicators of health is the bird's droppings. The droppings are made up of feces, normally black or dark green. With this will be urine, which is clear, and urates, a creamy white waste material. Droppings with a mustard yellow liquid portion is not normal, nor is blood or rusty brown color in feces. Healthy birds eat often and make lots of droppings. A sick bird may have fewer droppings, or no fecal portion in them, just white and liquid. Another indicator of illness is change in eating and drinking habits, for example, excessive water consumption. A bird who isn't interested in food indefinitely is ill. A change in attitude or behavior can signal illness. Has he stopped talking, or does he appear sleepy and lethargic? Is he huddled on the bottom of the cage or sitting low and ruffled? Is he hiding his head under his wing? How about his feathers? Are they dull? Has he stopped preening himself? How about weight loss? Any of these symptoms indicates potentially serious problems. Another sure sign of illness is any hint of respiratory distress. Open mouth breathing or any audible sounds, like clicking or wheezing are certain problems. A tail bob is actually a sign of respiratory distress! Vomiting in birds is very abnormal unless it is regurgitating to feed a mate or baby. Any discharge from the eyes or nostrils is a sign of illness, as is a swelling around the eyes. Of course, any injury or bleeding requires immediate care. A broken "blood feather" must be pulled immediately to stop the bleeding. These new, immature feathers are recognized by their protective "cellophane-like" wrap and their visible blood supply. If your bird displays any of these signs, give us a call immediately. Meanwhile, keep the bird warm: 85 degrees is ideal with access to a cooler area. An ordinary heating pad wrapped around on the side of the cage is fine. Offer food and water, placing it on the cage bottom if the bird is weak.