My Parrot's 12 Christmas Wishes

On the 1st Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 2nd Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 2 Boredom Busters and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 3rd Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and Treat Petite from Golden-en-feast;

On the 4th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 5th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 6th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 7th Day of  Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 8th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 8 Soak & Simmers, 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers,  2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 9th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 9 Pacifiers, 8 Soak & Simmers, 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers,  2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 10th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 10 Bitty Bagels, 9 Pacifiers, 8 Soak & Simmers, 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers,  2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 11th Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 11 Swings a Swinging, 10 Bitty Bagels, 9 Pacifiers, 8 Soak & Simmers, 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers,  2 Boredom Busters, and a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast;

On the 12 Day of Christmas my parrot said to me, I'd like 12 Nutri-berries, 11 Swings a Swinging,  10 Bitty Bagels, 9 Pacifiers, 8 Soak & Simmers, 7 Nuts for Knots, 6 Polly Pirates, F-i-v-e Blin-ky Balls, 4 Sleepy Teepees, 3 Calypso Stackers, 2 Boredom Busters a Treat Petite from Gold-en-feast!

Save the Nuts

If you are a nutty human who lives with a nutty parrot (meaning one who loves its nuts) then knowing how to save a few pennies and keep the nuts fresh and tasty is an important issue.

If you have bought nuts for your parrot lately, you already know how expensive they can be.  During the fall and winter season usually beginning in about October, and especially during the Christmas holidays, you can usually find lots of nuts in the shell in local grocery stores.  Often you can even find them on sale during this time.  I like to stock up on the favorites of my birds and keep them on hand throughout the year.  

Keeping nuts for a while requires a little simple nut preparation to keep them fresh and yummy for your bird.  Without taking that care, nuts can dry out and become stale and not so tasty.  Then can even become moldy, and even wormy if they are nuts you collected yourself and were not cleaned properly  before storage.

Freezing whole nuts in their shells may take up some space in your freezer but will keep them safe and sound for up to a year, and most parrot really enjoy working the nut meats out on their own as a fun foraging treat.

If you don't have room in your freezer, clean the nuts and make sure they are nice and dry and then place them in airtight containers in a cool dark place.  This should keep them fresh for up to about 6 months.   

You can also go ahead and shell the nuts, and then freeze the nut meats in freezer bags.  Chopped nuts, and nut pieces will usually last about 6 months in the freezer as well.

Nuts such as walnuts, chestnuts, almonds, macadamias, and Brazil nuts, are rich in protein and healthy fats and provide not only a tasty treat for your bird, but some beak exercise as well.

So show your bird just how nutty you can be and stock up on the nuts while you can.

Smells of the Holidays

Who doesn't just love the smell of cinnamon and spice and everything nice that translates into the holiday season.  However those of us who share our homes with birds, often feel a little left out because scented candles and holiday air fresheners and plug ins, are almost always totally off limits in our homes.  Most all of these items are deadly to our birds.

A general rule of thumb when it comes to candles, potpourri, plug ins, and air sprays, is the better it smells, the more toxic it probably is for our feathered friends.  Essential oils are very toxic to birds.


So how do we join in the holiday spirit and spruce up our indoor smells beyond the pine scent of the live Christmas tree or fresh pine wreath over the mantle?

It is actually very simple indeed.  Gather up some cooking spices such as ground cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, ground and/or whole cloves, and some ground pumpkin pie spice.  Then find a warming pot such as one for potpourri or a small size coffee pot that has a warm setting, add water to fill and sprinkle a little or a lot of the spices that you prefer.

Now you too can enjoy all the wondrous smells of Christmas and the winter holidays without worrying if it is safe for your birds.

Caution Note:  Do make sure the pot never dries out as it may damage your warming pot, or cause burned smells which would not be good for your bird.  Unplug your unit when you are not at home to keep an eye on it.

Halloween Pumpkin Bird Cake

Bake up this cute little Halloween Pumpkin Cake for your flock.

With fresh carrots, squash, pumpkin, and some blackberries for decoration, this pumpkin can be cooked up and decorated in very little time.

Use your imagination and create your very own special Halloween Pumpkin Cake for your special bird.

Find the complete recipe at Halloween Pumpkin Cake

and many more recipes as well at Nature Chest Bird Shop Bird Recipes

Non Stick Kills

With the fall festivities and holiday season approaching, many people will be cooking and baking more than usual.  It may also be a time when cleaning your oven is necessary.  Because of the above, we felt it might be helpful to remind all bird owners of the deadly danger of PTFE.

What is PTFE you ask?  PTFE stands for polytetrafluoroethylene and it is one of, if not the most,  insidious deadly danger to your bird.

It is the quiet killer.  It has no smell, it has not warning, but it can be 100% guaranteed death for your bird in almost all situations.

In birds this killer is called "Teflon toxicosis" which causes the lungs of the exposed bird to this toxin to quickly begin to hemorrhage and fill with bloody fluids causing the bird to suffocate within minutes.  Death by PTFE happens quickly, so quickly you will not have time to go for help.

It goes by many names but the most recognized ones are Teflon, Silverstone, Stainmaster, and other well known names.  If anything you purchase has the wording of "non-stick" anywhere on the label, then it is very probable that it contains this chemical.  It is hidden in self-cleaning ovens, ironing board covers and irons, some heat lamps, space heaters, and many many other (way too many) common household products.

Virtually all "non-stick" cookware and drip-pans which can be purchased under many different manufacturer's names, contain PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and are extremely deadly to the lives of our birds. Any brand of cookware you are considering which states "non-stick" should immediately send up a warning flag to you as it most probably contains the very deadly PTFE.  Your brain should be screaming "DANGER DANGER" at the mere mention of the those words "non-stick"

Unless the manufacturer of the product in question can state in writing it does not contain any form of PTFE, and can explain exactly how it is a non-stick product, and can guarantee that it will not harm your bird, you would be safer to assume it does in fact contain deadly PTFE.

It has now been proven that these products do not have to overheat to emit the odorless fumes containing PTFE which are lethal to birds and can kill within minutes. So never assume you are safe because you never leave pans on the stove to overheat.  Tell that to the owner whose 18 year old African Grey died suddenly while she was standing nearby in the kitchen cooking dinner.  Nothing there was overheating when she heard the bird fall from his perch.  Tell it to the owner who went upstairs after dinner to find her beautiful 6 year old female Eclectus dead in the bottom of her cage and Necropsy confirmed death by Teflon poisoning from a pan she used in the oven that night.

Whatever utensils you use, rooms should be well ventilated when cooking is in progress. Ventilate the bird's room or area as well as the kitchen. Fumes will travel within your home. Use a range hood, ventilated to the outdoors when you are cooking.

Stainless steel or cast iron cookware is an easily cleaned alternative to pots and pans coated with non-stick surfaces.   Self-cleaning ovens should only be set to clean when all birds have been safely removed from the home.

Having personally witnessed the death of a friend's birds when she innocently used a new drip pan to broil some steaks in her oven, I can say it is a horrible tragedy to happen. Several budgies in a room off the kitchen with a door shut between all died as well as several cockatiels in an adjoining dining room. If you had been the one instead of me who gently reached into each cage to remove a small body from the bottom of the cage after the incident, then you would also know the horror of this chemical.  The only bird to survive was an amazon in a back bedroom with the door closed. He spent several days in the hospital but did survive the ordeal. Nothing can describe the horror the owner went through losing her beloved birds.

Be in the "know", and do all you can to protect your feathered friend this holiday season.

For links to more information about this danger please visit Non-Stick Cookware Dangers

Apple Pumpkin Harvest Bird Muffins

Why not savor some fall harvest flavors and serve up some Apple Pumpkin Harvest Bird Muffins for your favorite bird.

Bake up a batch using Halloween or Fall paper cup holders and serve the muffin with the paper holder. Then enjoy watching your bird peel away the paper and enjoy the muffin inside. Sometimes tearing up the paper is almost as much fun as eating the muffin.

  These nutritious muffins deliver up some wonderful cranberry, apple, and pumpkin goodness.  Easy to bake, easy to freeze, easy to serve.

This and many other birdie recipes can be found at Nature Chest Bird Recipes

How Much should a Quaker Parrot Weigh?

CUSTOMER QUESTION:  My new Blue Quaker looks thin to me.  3-4 mos old. What should she weigh?


ANSWER:  Congratulations on your new Quaker Parrot!  Quakers are fabulous parrots to have as part of the family.  We have several ourselves and really enjoy their talking ability and their fun antics.


The answer to your question can vary a bit depending on the color of the various Quaker color mutations.  Most weaned normal green Quakers weigh in anywhere from 90 to 120 grams on average.  Younger Quakers usually weigh at the lower end of the scale as they are still growing and forming body mass.


Often Quaker Parrots of all color mutations who have recently weaned, ages 3-4 months usually, may actually loose some weight as they loose some of the "baby" weight that they maintained from their handfeeding formula.  This weight loss should not last long before the weight begins to go up again, and should not be more than a maximum of about 20% of their previous total weight at weaning.  As young Quakers begin to eat new foods such as seeds, pellets, bird breads, other cooked foods, fruits & vegetables, they should begin to build themselves up in size and steadily gain the lost weight back.


Some of the color mutations such as the Blue Quakers which your bird is, in our experience can be smaller in size than the normal greens, and they will weigh less as babies and even as adults.  We have seen Blue Quakers who weight about 60-80 grams when young, and not much more when they reach adulthood.  Depending on their genetics, they may appear more petite always than their normal green relatives.  Some do however eventually grow into an overall size that is close in size to the green Quakers so finding out info on the parents should help you know the probable average weight for your particular bird.  Good breeders should keep weight charts and histories on their breeding pairs, and past clutches of babies, which would be very helpful in answering your question of weight.     


If you do not have lots of experience with newly weaned parrots, we would recommend you talk with the breeder if you can of your concerns to get some additional feedback.  Also, if you have not had your new baby health checked by an experienced Avian Veterinarian, that should be a top priority in order to get established with your Avian Vet, as well as ruling out any health issues early on that might cause your bird to loose more weight than normal.


A very good web site for Quaker information is Stanley's Quakerville.


  

Are the Bugs Taking Over?

With the hot hot summer, comes those pesky pests that invade our homes, our bird cages, our dreams.  Ok, maybe a little melodramatic.  However, anyone who owns birds is sure to come face to face with a few moths, the occasional little black seed bug, or some other insect critter.

Since manufacturers cannot use seeds and grains that have been sprayed with large doses of pesticides, nor would we want them to, it is just a fact of life that you will one day come face to face with a bug problem.  Although manufacturers overall do a good job of trying to clean their food mixes of those stowaway insects, even the best of methods can not usually guarantee 100% bug free (even though a few manufacturers claim so).  Having a few moths or seed bugs in bird and parrot food in the summer does not mean the food is bad, expired, or spoiled, or that your local bird or pet store is a bad place.  Unless the bugs have actually been there long enough to hatch out, and produce webs in the food,  freezing your bird and parrot food will eliminate most of the insect problem.  However, for those stubborn insects, actually freezing the food for at least 48 hours, removing from freezer for a couple of days and then refreezing for another 48 hours should do the job.  The little ant-like seed bugs are sometimes a littler harder to kill, and a second freezing usually gets any the first freeze missed.  If your bird food has insect webs in it, you will probably want to remove any webs as they look pretty yucky, and if bad enough you should probably ask the store you bought the food from if they will see if the manufacturer will replace it for you.  Nobody likes yucky food.

There are some natural remedies that can be tried to see if they can control your buggy problem if they make it out of the bird food, or for those intruders who come in from the outdoors.  In general ants, roaches, and many other pests just plain don't like catnip.  So placing some small bags of catnip throughout areas of  your home or aviary might be of help.  Remember however, if you own a cat, this might backfire on your.

MOTHS:
There are two categories of moths, the ones who invade your closet and chew holes in your clothing, and the ones that come from the bird food, or even the foods you bring home from the grocery store.   Be sure to vacuum well the ceilings because they like to set up housekeeping in high places and you might even find a worm or two just hanging around waiting to become a moth.  The natural pheromone  moth traps are very effective at catching the moths that have hatched out.  Totally non-toxic around your birds, just make sure your bird cannot reach the traps as they do have sticky inside that traps the moths.

Some people have had success with homemade moth-repelling sachets made up of some of the following: bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cloves, eucalyptus leaves, lavender, pepper corns, or dried lemon peels.  We find these remedies seem to work better for the closet moths, more than for help with the kitchen/aviary type moths.

ANTS:
Summertime brings all those wonderfully fresh fruits and vegetables and if you are sharing these with your birds, as you probably should be, then you are most likely going to sooner or later have a problem with ants.  Especially if you have a lory or lorikeet in your home.  Try keeping a small spray bottle of some soapy water handy to spritzing those ants with.  We have also recently discovered that ants seem to have a natural aversion to cucumbers, so try setting out some cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen or at the ants' point of entry.

Also recommended are leaving a few tea bags of mint tea near areas where the ants seem most active, some dry crushed mint leaves, or cloves can also work as deterrents for ants.  If you can trace the ants back to their point of entry, try setting out some cayenne pepper, lemon juice, cinnamon, coffee grounds, or cut up a couple of cloves of garlic and stuff into any cracks the ants are coming through.

**A little tip for ant control that we have personally found very effective is using mite spray sold in pet stores for birds.  Although we totally do not believe in using mite control on a bird, mite spray is very effective at killing ants and can be used in the room with your bird safely.  Remember use only on the ants.  Spraying cage legs with mite spray will help keep ants from climbing into cages.  The spray does not last long so you may need to lightly spray every few days to keep ants under control.
  
Fruit Flies/Gnats:
Now these really can be some pesky pests.  Annoying little buggers flying around your bird's home, or your kitchen area.  A few natural remedies include putting a small amount of wine, or apple cider vinegar, in a shallow dish and covering it with plastic wrap.  Poke a few holes in the plastic and flies go in but can't get out.  Change dish as needed.  There are also Fruit Fly Traps available which are very helpful in eliminating these flying nuisances. 

We hope you find some of these suggestions helpful in your fight against the insect world this summer.

Bert's Blueberry Carrot Cake

This Blueberry Carrot Cake created for a little parrot named Bert on his first hatchday celebration, definitely looks like it is for the humans and not the birds.  Made with Harrison's Original Bird Bread which has been baked into a bird-e-licious cake shape, then decorated with nutritious yummy fresh blueberries, shredded carrots, and snow white cauliflower flowerettes. 

Pictured is a double layer version of the Blueberry Carrot Cake but it can also be baked as a single layer.  

Full Recipe Shown Here

Tips for Changing Your Parrot's Diet from Seed to Pellets

If your parrot has never eaten pellets before you will need to make absolutely sure your bird knows the new pellets are really food. After all they may look rather strange and how would he or she really know they are edible. Have you ever tasted a pellet? Most of them taste a lot like cardboard.

Be sure your bird is actually eating the new pellets before you discontinue the old seed diet. If you are just adding some pellets into the diet, along with the current diet, you may need to cut back "some" of any seed mix, to help encourage your bird to eat both seeds and pellets. We do not personally recommend cutting foods such as healthy vegetables and fruits, as these are nutritous and usually a lot of fun for the bird. What parrot doesn't just love to fling a strawberry across the room after he is finished with it?

If you are changing to pellets instead of seed because you have an overweight bird, well that's a whole other subject, and the tips below work for the change to pellets regardless of the reason.

There is no "one right way" to convince your bird to eat pellets, so here are a few tips that might make it easier for both you and your bird. If one doesn't work after at least a week of trying, then move on to the next suggested tip. Some birds will try a pellet the first time you offer one, some may take a few days to taste one, some a few weeks, others a few months, or if your bird is the really hard core rebel bird, he or she may never really eat a pellet if given a choice.

Tips for converting a bird over to a pelleted diet:

Try mixing a small amount of the pellets with the old food and slowly increasing the pellet amount over several weeks watching carefully to be sure the bird is beginning to eat the pellets.

Try feeding the pellets in a special treat dish, or giving them to your bird by hand as a treat to encourage eating the pellets. Make a big to-do about the treat to excite your bird into trying it.

Try feeding pellets first thing in the morning, followed after a few hours by some fresh foods, or the previous seed or prepared diet. Birds are usually hungry in the morning and may even be ready to try new things in their food dish. By giving the regular diet a few hours later, you are making sure the bird does have some food throughout the day and does not go hungry.

You can also try baking some of the pellets into a birdie bread. Although heating may destroy some of the vitamins in certain pellets, it may be a good method to introduce your parrots to the taste of the pellets, and some of the vitamins will still be present as well.

Once you know for certain your bird is eating the pellets, you may want to feed the pellets and fresh foods during the day, giving only a small amount of the old seed diet just before bed time to make sure the bird does not go to bed hungry.

Watch the bird's droppings carefully every day as they may change color as the bird eats the new pellets. Droppings are very important in telling you that the bird is eating certain foods, and often how much. If you are feeding colored pellets, then the poop might also change color which is a good thing if it means the birds likes the red or green or yellow pellets. Some birds will only eat one color even though all colors taste exactly the same. Parrots are not color blind, they are very visual and color is very important to them. They either like it or they hate it.

It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to change a bird's diet. Each bird is different and patience and consistency is the key to success.

Some birds do best with a diet of half seed and half pellets mixed together, and lots of fresh vegetables and some fruit. Some species should not be fed pellets as an only diet.

Birds who eat pellets usually also drink more water so be sure there is always fresh water available.

IMPORTANT!!!

There is no guarantee that every bird will eat pellets just because you buy them.

Just because your bird does not eat the pellets you bought, doesn't necessarily mean the bird will never eat pellets. Again that color thing. If you buy plain looking pellets and they are not a big hit, try some of the colored ones instead. Also do the reverse, if your bird was not impressed with all those colors, try some natural looking pellets instead. Sometimes it is trial and error process to find the "perfect" pellet for your bird..

It's rare but it does happen, you have the parrot who absolutely refuses to ever eat a pellet no matter what you do. Remember with birds it is essential that you are consistent, and extremely patient working with them to help them eat a better more healthy diet. Birds are not quitters, especially when they are determined not to eat something. Keep patient, keep consistent, keep it fun, keep determined, and you too can win the diet war.

One last VERY IMPORTANT NOTE - Birds who are refusing to eat pellets, CAN starve to death, so DO NOT put pellets in the cage and figure your bird will eat them if he or she gets hungry enough. - The result could be you starving your bird to death.

Pet Cancer Awareness Month

May 8 is Pet Cancer Awareness Day, and the month of May is pet Cancer Awareness month. Although many believe cancer is the number one disease-related cause of death for our dog and cat family members, no one is sure yet how fast cancer is increasing in our avian friends.

As the caretakers of several retired breeding parrots, many abused, and some abandoned birds, who have come to our care, we are seeing more cases of cancer in parrots from Budgies to Amazons. Many of these birds are older birds and the increased life span of our pet birds may be one reason an increased number of parrots with cancer are appearing.

We have sadly experienced wing/shoulder joint tumors in a Peach Front Conure and a female Budge. These tumors were inoperable for these birds. We have also experienced a Maroon Belly Conure and a Green Cheek Conure both with tumors in throat areas that were also inoperable due to the location of the tumors. We have also seen two older female Amazons, one a Green Cheeked Amazon, and one a Blue Front Amazon, with multiple tumors on x-ray. Both birds eventually had kidney failure due to the cancer. The Amazons were both believed to be well over 50 years of age. We have seen other cases of birds with non-diagnosed tumors that were suspected to be cancerous but pathology was not done to know for sure.

Here is a link to a very good article written by Dr. Margaret A. Wissman concerning cancer in parrots.

Avian Cancer by Dr. Margaret A. Wissman

Please help support any cancer research if you can, and it is important to have your bird checked out thoroughly by an Avian Veternarian yearly to help prevent, or diagnose early any health problems.

Easter Fruit Bread

This spring inspired fruity birdie bread smells as yummy as it tastes. With chunks of mango, strawberries, and coconut cubes, in a nutritious Harrison's bread mix, this spring time delight will be a winner for any bird's discriminating taste.

Bake in mini size cupcake paper holders for a size just perfect for your bird to hold in its foot, or can be crumbled into the dish for birds who prefer not to get their feet a little messy. Cooked muffins can be placed into freezer bags and then you can remove as many as needed daily for a fun treat every day until gone.

Easy to follow directions here. Fruit Bread

Warm Cozy Carriers

Ever need to take your bird outside during cold weather or rainy weather? The Come Along carrier cover can be the perfect way to travel with your bird and keep your bird warm, safe, and secure on the trip. These covers fit the Take Me Home bird carriers, but they can also be used by themselves if your bird is not overly destructive. If our bird is a big time chewer, then you would probably want to combine the Take Me Home carrier with the Come Along cover.

These smart new carriers are available for small and medium size birds, and can even be used for small animals.

Click here for more information

Should you buy organic for your bird?

As bird owners we usually ask ourselves whether we should buy organic fruits and vegetables for our birds. Is organic better, safer? What about pesticides that may cling to fruits and vegetables? In this day when budgets are tighter, buying organic is not always in the budget.

We came across a very helpful web site that may help you know when to choose organic, and when buying less expensive non-organic fruits and vegetables for your bird is okay too.

This site gives you the current top 15 foods that have less pesticides, or come to market with less than the average of unwanted extras that can be very harmful to a bird if not removed before feeding. The site also gives you a list of the "dirtiest" foods to help you know when to be careful in cleaning these foods before serving to your bird, or to buy organic if possible to lesson the chance of feeding your bird potentially dangerous pesticides.

Check out TheDailyGreen.com

How fat is my Bird's Nut?

We are often asked what nut is a good nut to feed.  Although some species seems to do better with more or sometimes less, fat, we thought we would share some information on nuts in general to help bird owners decide which nuts are best for their birds.

Pistachio nuts, again a very popular treat for parrots, contains approximately 44% fat and 20% protein;
Cashew Nuts contain approximately 46% fat and 15% protein;
Almonds another very popular nut fed to parrots contains approximately 50% fat and 21% protein;
Hazelnuts or Filberts contain approximately 61% fat and 15% protein;
Walnuts contain approximately 65% fat and 15% protein;
Brazil Nuts contain approximately 67% fat and 14% protein;
Pine nuts are a very popular nut treat and contain approximately 68% fat and 16% protein;
Pecans, often though of as a higher fat nut, contains approximately 71% fat and 10% protein;Macadamia nuts are approximately 75% fat and 9% protein.

Peanuts are not actually a nut, but rather a legume and they are considered by some as containing "good fat".  Peanuts do contain approximately 22% fat and 6% protein.

We encourage bird owners to do their own research into the pros and cons of any treats you give your bird.




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