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  As we move into winter temps across the country, warmth is necessary for us and for our birds.   Whether you use electric or gas powered central heat, having an annual checkup of your unit and/or system is a good idea to make sure everything is safe and ready to go. My birds are in a separate sunroom of my home with lots of windows and sometimes it gets a little colder than the other parts of the house at night.  I often add a little extra warmth to my bird room at night with a portable oil filled radiator.  My oil filled radiator is an older model and I have never had any problem with it.  It is plugged into a separate power surge protector for added safety.  A word of caution if you are purchasing a new oil filled radiator heater, before using the first time, I would highly suggest plugging it in outside your bird area and setting on a high heat to burn off any coatings the newer ceramic units may have.  Allow at least 24 hours of use in a v...

Bird Safe Plants and Trees The following plants and trees listed below are considered safe as long as no chemicals or insecticides have been sprayed on them. Sometimes there are plants and trees that appear on both safe and unsafe lists. I have chosen to leave those particular plants and trees off my safe list, as some birds may be more sensitive to those plants and/or trees, making them more dangerous for some birds. I tend to err on the side of caution. Safe Plants and Trees: Aloe African Violet Apple Trees Ash Asparagus Fern Aspen Baby's Tears Bamboo Beech Begonia Birch Birdnest Fern Boston Fern Bougainvillea Butterfly Bush Camellia Chickweed Christmas Cactus Cissus/Kangaroo Vine Citrus trees Coleus Corn Plant Cottonwood Crabapple Crape Myrtle - ( NOTE: not the same as the broadleaf evergreen myrtle, which is NOT safe) Dandelion Dogwood Donkey Tail Dracena Varieties Elm tree Fiddle Leaf Fig Fig Gardenia Grape Ivy Hens and Chickens Jade Plant Kalanchoe Magnolia Maidenhair Fer...

  Trick or Tweet - Happy Halloween! It's really easy to bake up this cute little Halloween Pumpkin Cake for your feathered flock. With fresh carrots, squash, pumpkin, and some blackberries for decoration, this pumpkin can be cooked up and decorated in very little time. This fun Halloween Pumpkin is a yummy Birdie Bread cake so no worries about using sugary regular cake mixes. Gather the following together before you begin: 1 - package of any Bird Bread Mix such as TOP's Organic Bread Mixes or Harrison's Organic Bread Mixes 1 - 16-ounce can of 100% pure pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie filling - just pure pumpkin) 1 - cup of water 2 - large eggs 1  tablespoon Organic Palm Oil for birds (Olive Oil can be substituted for Palm Oil if necessary) 1 - fresh yellow squash 2 - pounds of fresh carrots 1 - small container of fresh blackberries And the end stem of one banana (maybe use the banana fruit to bake up some banana bread too) Now you are ready to begin: In a large mixi...

  Top Ten Bird & Parrot Dangers 1. Dehydration   This most commonly happens when a water bottle malfunctions. If the tube's ball or bearing sticks, or if a bird inserts an object into the tube (such as toy pieces, food items, and the like), the bird may block the tube and no longer have access to drinking water. If an owner doesn't check that all water bottles are working properly every day, it may be days before a problem is noticed.  If you do not use water bottles but instead use bowls, and a bird empties the bowl, especially one that likes to bathe frequently, and the empty dish goes unnoticed, dehydration can result. Some birds can become critically ill within 24 hours of not having water, and may die within 24 hours after that. Water in a bottle or bowl should be checked twice daily. 2. Flighted Birds When a bird is allowed time outside of its cage, it is very important that the environment is completely safe for a flighted bird. If necessary, properly cl...

  Fall is my favorite time of year. The rich colors of the trees and the spicy scent of the air. I love bringing the outdoor crisp smells into my own home. However living with birds makes me always remember to choose safe ways to enjoy the smells of the seasons. You may be bombarded with ads or store displays for scented candles, potpourri, scented pine cones, table top and plug-in air fresheners, and so on and so on, all in order to make a quick easy addition to the scent of fall in your home. BUT WAIT! A BIG TIME WARNING! Those store bought goodies may not always a good choice as they are not always safe to have around your bird and other pets, as well as someone who has breathing issues. Many of these ready-made items use some essential oils and some essential oils can be very toxic to your bird. Don't fret though, because it's so easy to make your own personal fall fragrances that are safe for your birds, other pets, or anyone with breathing issues or asthma. It doesn'...

  National Pet Wellness Month October is National Pet Wellness month and that should include bird wellness as well as dogs and cats. Most Avian Veterinarians recommend twice yearly bird checkups to help you keep your bird as healthy as can be. As birds can be the focus of predatory animals in the wild, it's just natural that birds hide any illness as hard as they can. Sometimes an owner may not see a health issue until the problem is severe. Even very experienced bird people can miss subtle signs sometimes. Healthy bird checkups can help prevent sick bird emergency visits in many cases. These well bird visits also give you and your Avian Veterinarian a chance to discuss diet, weight, and behavioral aspects of your pet bird. If you do not already have an avian vet, now is definitely the time to begin the search for one.  Ask friends, other bird owners, as well as other veterinarians who may treat your other family pets for recommendations and personal experiences. Veterinaria...