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10 Things
You Can Do to Make Your Bird Happy
1. Provide a healthy and varied diet — not just seeds, but grains, beans,
vegetables (cooked and raw) formulated pellets, and some fruit. (Harmful
foods include chocolate, avocado, highly processed or overly salted foods,
human junk food, and caffeine.)
2. Give your bird the largest enclosure possible — no space is too big for
a creature adapted to flying through jungles and across savannas.
3. Provide daily exercise and ample out-of-cage time, preferably to
include free flying in a safe, supervised environment. (Bird-proofing a
room for out-of-cage time includes keeping birds away from items
containing lead and zinc, and from paint chips, ceiling fans, electrical
cords, cats and dogs, and open windows.)
4. Offer a variety of toys and enrichment activities. (Buy toys from "Out
of this World Bird Toys" and help support bird rescue.)
5. Provide plenty of socialization with other birds and/or human
caretakers.
6. Give access to unfiltered sunlight and/or full-spectrum lighting. Birds
need exposure to UVA and UVB rays from direct sunlight (windows block
necessary UV rays) or full-spectrum lighting to synthesize vitamin D
necessary for bone health.
7. Offer daily or weekly misting with a clean spray bottle of water to
promote feather and skin health and for fun! Some birds prefer to bathe in
a small container (like their water dish); others enjoy being misted with
water. It is important to allow the birds to air-dry in a warm room or in
the sunshine.
8. Develop games and teach your bird skills ("jobs") like foraging or
treasure hunts (this can be done in the house or with creative toys in the
cage), cleaning up toys by putting them in a basket.
9. Provide a secure enclosure, carrier, or harness so your bird can enjoy
the outdoors with you.
10. Place multiple perches/stands throughout the house so that your bird
can benefit from ambient "flock time" while being included in family
activities like watching TV or movies, preparing meals, playing cards or
games.
Submitted by the Animal Protection Institute - founders of National Bird
Day.
Article courtesy of
the
Animal Protection Institute - founders of
National Bird Day.
National Bird Day is a day to appreciate our own native wild birds
flying free outside our windows, and a day to reflect on how we treat the
native birds of other countries which are commonly kept in cages. National
Bird Day also aims to raise awareness about the abuse of birds in the
retail pet industry and the difficult reality of caring for birds as pets,
as well as to expose the cruelty of the wild bird trade and the importance
of keeping birds wild.
National Bird Day was founded by the Animal Protection Institute. Visit
www.NationalBirdDay.com for more information.
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