This is how you manage your pet birds

If you keep companion birds for companionship or hobby, you must know and comply with the animal welfare regulations for companion birds. Among other things, you must keep in mind that most birds are social animals. The main rule is that they should be kept in pairs or groups. If you still keep a bird alone, it must have close social contact with a human.

A stimulating environment is an important factor for birds to be able to behave naturally. The environment in the cage or aviary (birdhouse) should be such that the birds can occupy themselves. Things such as flying between sticks, climbing, gnawing on things or looking for food, stimulates them to carry out their natural behaviors. Every day, the birds should also have access to a space where they can fly freely.

Feed and water

Different bird species have different needs when it comes to food. You should therefore adapt the amount of feed and the type of feed to the species and the way in which you keep the birds. If you keep several birds together, all birds should be able to reach the feed without interfering with each other.

Pet birds should have free access to water. Bird species that have high metabolism should have free access to feed. Species shorter than 15 cm and species that mainly eat nectar, fruits or insects often have high metabolism.

Birds with special needs should also have free access to feed. These include birds that are kept outdoors during the cold season. Their feed must contain enough energy for the bird to produce heat itself.

Some of the bird species we hold for companionship and hobby need to have access to digestive gravel. This is especially true of the species that eat seeds without first peeling them.

wing Trimming

For young birds to learn to fly, all wing trimming is prohibited for birds less than a year old. Even for adult birds, flight ability may only be limited if they cannot be trained to use a flying harness. In these cases, wing trimming may occur once a year, e.g. to enable outdoor cages in the summer.

Birds outdoors

It is allowed to keep companion birds outdoors. If the temperature is lower than the species is used to in the wild, the birds must be given time to get used to the lower temperature. They should always have access to a room where the temperature is higher than 0 degrees. You must also make sure that the birds are protected from rain and wind and that they have access to shade during the summer.

It is permissible to use a so-called flying harness. The flight leash must be handled by a human and must not be attached to a fixed object. It is not allowed to attach a bird using a foot ring.

If your birds get sick

A bird that is ill, injured or shows other signs of ill health should be given the necessary care as soon as possible. Contact a veterinarian if you notice that your bird is not feeling well.

Avoid infection

With the right knowledge, you can reduce the risk of infection between animals and between animals and humans. To the right you will find information on hygiene rules for keepers.

The environment where the birds are kept

Minimum space

Pet birds need plenty of room to move around. The width of the space where a bird resides must be at least twice the length of the bird, but at least 45 cm.

The birds should have perches

Most companion birds need perches. The exception is species that only live on the ground. The perches should give the birds the longest possible flight distance in the cage. The sticks should be positioned so that spillage does not contaminate the animal's feed and water and be adapted to the size of the bird's feet. It is good if there are perches that are different rough so the bird can exercise its grip.

Also consider this:

• In cages for terrestrial birds , the bottom of the cage should be covered with litter. The interior of the cage should allow the birds to seek protection.
• Bathing cage birds should have clean bathing water. The bird bath must not be deeper than the birds bottom.
• Birds that are sand-bathing should have access to clean and fine-grained sand.
• You can read more about the regulations in the Swedish Agricultural Agency's regulations and general advice on the keeping, breeding and sale of pets. The regulations are on the right.  

In some cases, you need a permit

If you carry out professional activities with birds, you need permission from the county administrative board. The same applies if you rent, store or feed other cages to a greater extent. An operation is more extensive when it is run with six or more storage areas.

Controls

The county administrative boards are responsible for the local control of the Animal Protection Act.

Parrot cage advice - The best home for our parrots

Perches

In the cage there should be  perches  of different materials and different diameters. It is important for chlorine and foot pads that the diameter be varied. Otherwise, slight pressure ulcers occur on the underside of the feet, and the bird is unable to grind its claws by itself. The pins should preferably be placed both across the cage and along the cage. The sticks should be cleaned daily!

Also, remember not to place the sticks above the food and water bowls.

Food and water bowls

The best cage design for  food and water  bowls allows the bowls to protrude outside the cage through a small window. The advantage of this construction is that the bird cannot contaminate the bowls. Use a water bowl rather than a water bottle. The design of the bottles often causes contamination to accumulate in the neck of the bottle. Food and water bowls should also be cleaned daily!

The basis

The substrate  on the cage base may consist of newsprint or paper towels. This is then easy to replace daily. Previously, it was always recommended that the bird cage's substrate be sand. This is so that the bird can pick up grains of sand to aid digestion. We now know that parrot birds, unlike chicken birds, do not need sand for digestion. On the contrary, it can often pose a risk of sand packing in the stomach or intestine.

Important with lots of toys

A very neglected area in the cage interior is toys . Most birds get their cage decorated with two perches, a food and water bowl, a mirror and a bell. Then we expect the bird to thrive and stay busy! Remember, some scientists claim that our parrot birds have an intelligence equivalent to a child between 2-5 years. For example, how long would a 3-year-old keep himself occupied with a mirror and a bell without having mental problems !!!

All parrot birds must be given a large assortment of toys. However, not all toys should be in the cage all the time. These should be varied often so that they are in the cage for a maximum of one week at a time. Exceptions can be made if the bird has an absolute favorite thing. In that case, it can always be in the cage, while other toys are varied. Many toys can be made yourself. Use wood, sticks, cones, leather ropes, ox skin (dog toys), cotton or hemp rope. And preferably fruits and vegetables. Wooden toys for children also often work well for birds. The basic rule  is to think about varying the supply a lot. Used:

• Different colors.
• Various forms.
• Toys that give off sound.
• Toys to bite / tear.
• Edible toys.
• Toys to peel with the tongue on or manipulate with the feet.

In addition to a well-decorated cage, it is also advisable to have a climbing tree or playground for the bird to stay in the time when not staying in the cage. Diverse employment is also important in these places!

 Hygiene is important in parrot management

Unfortunately, cleaning cages and cage furnishings is often a very neglected detail when it comes to how we care for our companion birds. Many pet owners are content with cleaning the cage once a week. In the worst case, food and water bowls are also rarely cleaned.

Out in the wild, a bird rarely comes into contact with its droppings. In a small cage, the relationship is completely different. As the amount of spillage and food residues accumulate in the cage, the bacterial content in the bird's environment increases. As the stool dries, the bacteria become dispersed in the air around the bird and breathe in easily. Birds often sit and drill down heads and nostrils in food bowls. These often contain a mixture of old food and dried stools. There, the bird easily acquires a variety of bacteria and mold spores.

The cage must be cleaned daily. Remove the substrate material and reinsert. Clean food and water bowls, perches and other cage fittings. Once a week, the entire cage should also be wiped off from residue, feathers and other dirt. All details should also be disinfected at least once a month. For example, dilute chlorine or Hygisoft can be used. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.

Keep in mind that most of the infectious diseases that affect birds are caused by bacteria from the local environment!

Humidity

A healthy parrot can manage to live in our normal indoor environment. They can also stay outdoors during the summer. The biggest problem with our indoor environment is the dry air. Most parrot birds come from tropical or subtropical areas. They are created for a significantly higher  humidity. Dry indoor air can lead to respiratory illnesses and spring problems. To create a more humid indoor environment you can

• Get a humidifier.
• Have very green plants in the room.
• Put out small bowls of water here and there in the room.
• Showering

In addition, you should try to teach your bird to swim or showering. This should then be done daily. Some birds swim by themselves in a bird bath, a shallow bowl of water in. Other birds like to accompany the owner into the shower. Unfortunately, birds not trained to bathe or shower may be hysterically afraid of water. Then it is important to gently teach them to appreciate this. For example, you can use a flower spray sprayer set to the finest water vapor. Keep the syringe hidden so the bird does not see it. Spray so that the water vapor falls over the bird. Over time, you can increase the intensity of the "rain" and also show the bird syringe. Another way to trick the bird into showering may be to soak a salad head / cabbage head or the like in water. Then place or hang it on top of the cage. When the bird is biting and tearing into the vegetable, it simultaneously receives a natural shower.

UV illumination

UV lighting  is another important element that the birds have access to in their natural environment but lack indoors. UV light is especially important for the activation of vitamin D in the skin. Without vitamin D, the bird may be affected by calcium deficiency. Direct sunlight (not filtered through a glass pane) is, of course, the best and most natural source of UV light. In summer time it is therefore good if the bird is allowed to spend a lot of time outdoors. For birds that cannot enjoy true sunshine, you should instead acquire a UV fluorescent lamp to be hung above the cage, but preferably not more than 45-60 cm above the perch where the bird resides most.

Brightness

Parrot birds generally come from very sunny countries, where the  light intensity  is high. It is therefore important that the lighting is very good during the bird's waking hours in its surroundings. Our normal indoor lighting is usually quite subdued in comparison to what the birds require, and you should probably purchase one or more extra lamps to increase the light intensity near the bird. However, it is still important to make sure that the bird can choose to pull away bright light in a hidden corner, if it so wishes.

air quality

Air quality  is also important to consider. Birds have extremely effective respiratory organs, and all substances that are dispersed in our indoor air can also end up in the bird's airways. Birds are very sensitive to various substances that are spread via sprays, such as hairspray, perfume and cleaning products. A common cause of poisoning is also oset from burnt food, especially food fried in Teflon pans. Also keep in mind that cigarette smoke can be very harmful to the bird!

Parrot care advice

The parrot birds as companion birds come from widely different environments and continents. The following parrot management advice is therefore intended as a general description and advice on how to get your bird to thrive and stay healthy. However, differences exist between different species. The best way for you to take good care of your bird is to investigate the bird's native environment. You can then offer the best possible ambient temperature, humidity and feeding.

In general, it can be said that many companion birds unfortunately get pretty bad. Many pet owners find it difficult to get updated information. Therefore, the birds are often managed according to advice and guidelines that came a long time ago. Much of the old information that was available was based on how fowl would be managed. Now we know that there are big differences between the needs of the chicken birds and parrot birds.

Also, many pet owners unfortunately buy a pet parrot without really realizing what this means.

• If you buy a parrot, you must have realistic expectations from the start, and understand that:
• Parrots are by nature noisy. Especially at dawn and dusk it is quite natural for the bird to use the voice.
• They're scraping down. The beak is the bird's third hand. It is used to examine and decompose objects in the environment to search for edible parts and to activate itself.
• Parrots are social animals and need close contact with either species relatives or their owners.

The parrot thus places great demands on its owner. The new bird, which initially received a lot of attention, over time becomes a "piece of furniture" that you spend at least five minutes from time to time. If the bird is then not given enough stimulation and employment, it can quickly develop unwanted behaviors. It can be screaming, biting and spring picking. This often leads to the animal owner getting tired of the bird, which is sold on from home to home.

Parrot care advice - the cage

A parrot requires great freedom of movement. It needs to have an outlet for its desire to climb or fly. Therefore, it would be best to have a large aviary for the bird. Alternatively, it can be left loose in a room. However, most birds also have a security need and therefore need a cage where it can pull away and be at peace.

The cage must of course be as large as possible. Especially if the bird will spend most of the time trapped in the cage. The width should at least be double to the wing width of the bird. It should be able to stretch the wings properly. For a bird with a long tail, the cage must also be quite high so that the tail feathers are not damaged. According to the Animal Protection Act, a coniferous cage must not be less than 50 dm 2.  It can therefore be at least eg 50 x 100 cm in size. For a nymph cockatoo, the cage must not be less than 150 dm 2 , ie 100 x 150 cm. A macaw must have a cage of at least 640 dm 2  . That is to say, almost like an ordinary bedroom!

The parrot needs security

Keep in mind that a bird is still basically a wild animal placed in an unnatural environment. In nature, the bird must always be on guard against possible dangers. Our companion birds can also be extremely disturbed by various factors in the environment. It is important to place and decorate the cage with this in mind. The cage is the bird's home and safe point. It is important that the bird should not be exposed to scary or harmful impressions, such as:

• Other pets immediately near the cage, especially not above the cage.
• Lights and shadows at night, eg from car headlights outdoors.
• Intense sunlight from a window.
• Intense "running" of family members within a meter of the cage.
• Turn on lighting and high sound volume more than 10-12 hours per day.

It is therefore important to find a suitable place for the cage. The bird should be able to participate in the family's activities without being stressed. It should not be intimidated by animals either inside the home or outside. And it should not be exposed to strong sunshine.

Individually how the birds want it

Birds are individuals just like we humans. Some birds love to be in the center where everything happens. The cage can then be placed in the kitchen or living room. It may also be appropriate to have a separate sleeping cage as well. It can be placed in a room where the bird gets 10-12 hours of undisturbed sleep at night. Other birds are more timid and are easily stressed by the impressions of windows, TV or visitors in the home. These birds often feel better if the cage is placed in a bedroom, for example. Then the bird can sometimes spend shorter periods of time on a tree or a climbing post in other rooms.

The bird should be able to regulate how much it wants to pull away. Therefore, the cage should contain a part where the bird can pull away. Either part of the cage can be furnished with separating walls. Or the cage can be placed in a corner and one of the free sides is covered with a wall. The main thing is that the bird has a corner to pull away to where it feels safe and hidden. However, do not make the mistake of inserting a nest as a private corner, except in cases where you really want to try to get chicks. A nest in the cage is a call for the parrot to start laying eggs. It can often lead to illness problems.