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Keeping your feathered friends pleased and healthy takes a commitment of time and area, as well education. How you manage your aviary, and whether you take a chaotic or distinct method to health management, will determine the health and well-being of your birds.
Look, Listen and FeelFrom a medical standpoint, birds can be challenging. It is a bird's natural impulse to conceal any signs of disease to avoid being isolated by the flock. The community of the flock gives them protection, and birds will hide indications of health problem to prevent losing that defense. For the animal owner, this behavior is meaningful since by the time you discover your bird is ill, he may have in fact been sick for a long time. This will make healthcare and treatment more difficult.
It should be part of your daily regimen to observe each bird in your aviary. Try to find any abnormal signs, no matter how subtle.
Birds ought to be evaluated for appetite, activity, feather irregularities, labored breathing or increased breathing rates. Very ill birds may seem fluffed up or they might have trouble sitting on their perch. They may also be discovered at the bottom of the cage.
If your birds are social and can be easily managed by hand, inspect regularly for body condition. Breast muscles must feel firm and rounded; loss of this important muscle mass implies an issue with disease or nutrition. Inspect beaks and nails to see if any nail cutting needs to be done. Observe your bird's droppings to make sure they appear typical, and do a direct examination of the bird's "vent" or cloaca to search for sign of diarrhea. Make yourself an everyday list of these crucial health issues and maintain a health journal. If a problem does develop, you will have the details to provide your veterinarian to assist in a medical diagnosis and treatment plan.
Environment
Supplying a safe and comfortable environment will do a lot to promote health. The majority of aviculturists go a long way to offer similar conditions in the aviary that the birds would have in their natural environment. Take this into consideration prior to picking your birds. It may be best to limit yourself to a specific species from one geographical region to streamline husbandry and environmental requirements. For example, the requirements of passerine birds such as finches and canaries will be extremely different than those of psittacines. All surfaces need to be made of products that are easily cleaned and sanitized. This is necessary for illness and parasite control. Natural wood must be limited to types that are non-toxic, non-resin producing and pesticide free. Natural wood products are usually restricted to perches, and need to be replaced if substantially used or infected.
An important part of your birds' living quarters involves air circulation and air quality.
Avian diseases are quickly spread and may be brought into your aviary from outside sources or quarantined birds. Your aviary needs to be established for laminar air flow, a system of positive pressure that avoids outdoors air from entering the aviary. Central air can recirculate air from infected areas into your bird's environment.
Quarantine and Veterinary CarePrior to any bird being introduced into the collection, a quarantine period ought to be enforced to acclimate your bird to his new environment and to guarantee he is in good health. This area ought to be separated and on it's own air handling system than the rest of the aviary. Birds must be observed for appetite, mindset, posture, diarrhea, trouble breathing, etc. A health check from a vet that has experience with birds is important. Issues are often found on routine physical exams that might need treatment or a prolonged duration of quarantine. If you keep a large number of birds, you may want to talk about with your vet about making frequently set up housecalls to prevent the stress of transportation and possible injury.
Emergency situations will almost always require a journey to the veterinary hospital, so be prepared with an appropriate cage for transportation.
NutritionTo neglect a bird's nutritional requirements is to welcome catastrophe. Lots of illness that claim birds are connected to persistent poor nutrition. A seed-only diet is insufficient for any types of birds. Seeds are high in fat and lack numerous essential nutrients and appropriate protein. Many aviaries offer seed just in small amounts and at particular feeding times. They are given in minimal gain access to as birds will establish a preference for them and disregard healthier items. There are lots of balanced foods developed for different types. Fresh foods and breads or prepared biscuit need to also be a part of your bird's routine diet. Meat, milk and vitamin supplementation may also be required. It will take a little research on your part to discover the diet that is right for the birds you raise and discover the foods they will accept.
You need to be prepared to offer fresh food on a daily basis, which means preparation time and frequent trips to the supermarket or produce stand. These are but a couple of issues to think about when keeping an aviary. Prior to acquire your birds, make the effort to have all housing, supplies, diet, isolation and veterinary care in location before adding your birds. Get your birds from trustworthy sources that raise them with the same care and concern that you will provide. Birds can live a long period of time; some parrots can live well beyond 50 years of age, so really, these family pets can require a life time dedication.
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