Humming Birds Make Wonderful Pets
Humming Birds Make Wonderful Pets
Humming birds are wonderful birds that are smart, playful, and easy to take care. Many new bird owners are surprised by the intelligence that many birds show. They are also very playful. Make sure you do research on all of the different types of birds. Some types of humming birds are more expensive and require more care than do others.Fortunately, most humming birds require only a little care. If your bird will be alone for most the day, consider buying two birds, so they can keep each other company. Also, bird toys will help pass the time. Birds have advantages over other pets in that they require only a little space for their cage, will never have trouble with ticks or fleas, and will never cut or scratch anybody.How to take care of your Humming Birds.Humming birds require a few basic supplies. The most important is the bird cage. Make sure that your bird cage is large enough for your humming bird to move freely around. No humming bird will be happy if it always cramped. Also, make sure to buy healthy bird food. Be aware that some types of bird food are made for only certain birds. If you are unsure of what type of bird food is right for your humming bird, contact your veterinarian.Although humming birds are usually resistant to diseases, they do sometimes become ill. If you notice that a humming bird is ill, contact your veterinarian immediately. Also, quarantine it from any other humming birds you, to prevent the spread of the disease. If you take proper care of your humming bird, it will be a friend of yours for years to come.About The AuthorMike Yeager, Publisher - http://www.a1-vacations-4u.com/mjy610@hotmail.com
Plants, Birds, Love and Deer Hate-Gardening
Plants, Birds, Love and Deer Hate
Hi Friends;This is the second year in a row I am dealing with a woodchuck.That's a ground hog to some.A youngster that is finding my yard its personal salad bowl.I won't have sunflowers for the finches this fall and other things are getting munched on.Last year I borrowed a live trap and relocated that one.I'll be doing the same thing as soon as I get the trap.Now, I don't know if this furry beast is a problem in your yard or garden but in mine........... it means war.Doing some research, I can't find much of a list for plants that are woodchuck resistant.I have observed what it doesn't eat and the list is similar to deer and rabbit resistant plants.Now what does this have to do with backyard birds you ask?Well, it helps my blood pressure knowing that certain plants won't become Mr Woody's lunch and several plants are for birds.Let's Get StartedSeveral of these plants, you already have in your yard and a few
of them you just may want after this is all said and done.In fact, you may want to beef things up a bit.The four legged creatures seem to shy away from plants that smell or have a scent.Most of these smells are pleasing to our senses yet over power the very sensitive noses of animals.Monardas: bee balms come in several colors and sizes these days. A member of the mint family, you are familiar with the smell of a crushed leaf.A very eye pleasing flower as well, Monarda is a hummingbird favorite.Check out some of the newer varieties that are mildew resistant.Perovskia: Russian sages are known for the tall silver green spikes that are topped with lavender flowers in mid to late summer.A pungent yet powerful fragrance when brushed against. These garden favorites are drought tolerant and hummers will feed from them as well.Lavandula: English lavenders have been a garden favorite in our garden for years.The relaxing smell of lavender and the delicate flowers on the thin spikes set seed for the little birds later in the fall and early winter.Agastache: hyssops come in many varieties to fit most landscapes.Again, a hummingbird favorite for your yard.Salvias: perennials and annuals are a main stay in my garden.Perennials offer up vivid shades of blue and the foliage does have a strong odor.Annual salvias are a prime time target for hummingbirds and these are planted in mass quantity to offer up a sea of bright red.And of course, all the salvia herbs serve as herbs and bloom for the hummers.Are you seeing a pattern here with plants that have a strong scent and plants that Bugs and Bambi shy away from?These prolific bloomers also attract protein for the birds in the way of insects.Nepeta: throw in some catmint and your yard is set with smells only a human could appreciate.These smelly plants offer some soft and bright colors to any yard.They give you texture and offer different heights for backdrops and boarders.Here are a few plants also shown to be deer/rabbit and woodchuck resistant.Paeonia: peonies, the everyday garden variety never gets munched on does it?Peonies offer up protection for birds to scurry under and a place to get out of the summer sun.Astilbes: astilbes are the backbone to any shady garden. They ad color,texture with the foliage as well as the feathery bloom heads.Attractive and soothing, astilbes offer seed late in the year if you leave the seed heads on like I do.Asclepias: milkweed or better known as butterfly weed offers up beautiful heads of orange (rare in any garden) that attract butterflies and caterpillars.The milkweed family is toxic, for this reason, birds have learned to leave monarch butterflies and the caterpillars alone and animals wont munch it either.Aconitum: monkshood is a beautiful flower that offers up nectar and seed for birds. For humans and animals it offers up a very lethal dose of toxins.Very few nurseries tell you just how deadly monkshood isA few centuries back, monkshood was used for poison darts and to put an enemy to death (a warning for those with little kids).There............ my good deed for the day.Animals just seem to know that some plants are dangerous.Stachys: lambs' ears have a soft green gray color that give way to tall spikes of pink flowers.Lambs' ears also offer up a soft downy material used in making certain birds nests.Aquilegia: columbines are famous for being one of the first bloomers in my Michigan garden.An important food source for hummers when little else is blooming.Columbines also produce several hundred seeds if you dare let them go to seed.Now, I'm just a bit curious.Have you ever noticed any of these plants mowed off in your yard?Here is one just because I like them.Iris: German, Siberian, and Japanese iris thrive in my garden.Besides the occasional grub or bug, I can't find a single munch print in my iris.I like iris simply because the flowers are so beautiful.A few more suggestions for you.Grasses: Ornamental grasses of all kinds seem to be critter resistant and grasses offer up seed, protection, nesting materials.Grasses are just way to cool.Ad some fall bulbs like Allium, hyacinth and daffodils and you have a pretty green yet tough barrier for the animals to crack.I'm on a mission, can you tell?Until next time my friend.Smile and confuse someone.Ronhttp://www.backyardbirdingtips.com/Ron Patterson has been feeding and caring for backyard birds for the past 40 years. He is always looking for better and safer ways to feed and garden for birds. Ron is a Michigan Certified Nurseryman as well. This gives him the expert experience and knowledge needed to garden for birds. You can find Ron's weekly newsletter "Backyard Birding Tips" at: http://www.backyardbirdingtips.com/
Acclimating New Birds
Acclimating New Birds
Now that my services have expanded into the "matchmaking" business, it dawned on me that we need to talk about the transition of a bird moving to a new home, whether a hand fed baby just adopted to a new home or an older bird going to a second home. This is a stressful time for any bird, but you can help lessen the strife and make the move easier for both your new bird and the rest of the family.Good planning ahead of time is essential. A pet parrot should NEVER be an impulse buy. Adopting a companion parrot is just that - ADOPTING a new family member - they're not used cars to be traded in when you get bored! They are living, feeling, sensitive beings who should always be considered PERMANENT additions to the family.I'll never forget the first local bird expo I went to after moving to the Northwest. It was winter - cold and rainy, and I saw a person after person exiting the expo, each with a tiny baby African Grey tucked under their coats. There was a vendor inside with lots of cute baby Grays and a cheap price - apparently, many folks couldn't resist. Since no one seemed to have brought a carrier, it didn't seem to me that these were "planned" purchases, but rather spur of the moment purchases.I wonder how many went home to a nice cage, all set up with new toys and the proper diet? Not many, I'll bet. It's a deadly combo - cute, cheap, and baby! I'll bet not too many folks had done their homework either, studying up on African Greys and bird care in general.The other common scenario is the "petshop rescue" - the pitiful bird at some pet store that knows nothing about birds - there he is, in a tiny cage, eating sunflower seeds, no toys, tucked in between the hamsters and the snakes, while the resident shop cat climbs freely through the store. So, on a whim, you take him home.So, whether it's the irresistible baby, the sad ill cared for rescue, or an actual well thought out carefully chosen new addition - there he is, coming in your front door, hoping to spend the rest of his life with you, his ever loving devoted family!! So how do we transition from scared outsider to contented feathered child?First, be prepared. Have the cage, toys, and food all set up prior to his arrival so he can slide right in and not have to stand by while everyone scrambles around, frantically searching for bird stuff. Normally, we advise putting a bird's cage in the busiest part of the house, where he can be the center of attention.But new birds need some space, quiet and privacy during the settling in process, so find him a comfortable safe corner where he can observe, but at a distance. Of course, he should have made a trip to the vet first thing and quarantining him for at least one month away from any other birds is always recommended. So this may not be his permanent location, but rather serve as a "pit-stop" in the beginning. You may want to partially cover his cage, draping a towel over the back and one side to help him feel safe. If possible, have some of his previous diet to mix in with the new (wonderful) cuisine you'll be serving.Find out as much as possible about, not only his diet, but preference in toys, play time, bed time, and daily routine. Keeping some consistency helps for a smoother transitional time. Radical changes don't agree with many parrots, so go slow. Introduce him to every family member, but avoid anyone doing too much "hands on" stuff in the beginning. Rather, spend time just sitting by him, talking to him and offering some treats by hand. Don't force him or expect instant love. Work on building trust with "step-ups". Play "The Towel Game" to have interactive fun, as well as aiding future needs for handling by a vet or groomer.Put your new guy on a regular schedule. Feed him lots of fresh veggies and nice warm cooked grains and legumes. Warm food is "comfort food" and helps strengthen the bond when fed by hand. Share some family dinner with him, preferably on a stand by the dining table.Watch TV together and preen his head feathers for him while you hang out on the couch. Include him in lots of family activities to help him feel a part of the flock. If everyone is gone to work or school during the day, leave a radio or TV on and make sure he's got plenty of interesting toys that provide both chewing exercise and mental stimulation. Talk to him before leaving, tell him he's okay and reassure him that you'll be back. When you do return give him a warm hello and a big hug. If you do have other birds, try to maintain the flock order. It won't help him relax if the other birds are resentful of all the attention the new guy gets.Always address your primary bird first - first one out, first one kissed, first one fed, etc. Don't allow the birds to get together until you're sure everyone gets along. First time together, it's helpful if it's on a neutral new stand that no one is territorial about. If you expect the two to ultimately share a cage, remember that will take time and patience - you don't want the new guy intimidated by an overbearing dominant "resident" who thinks he runs the place.An important point to remember - don't make the mistake of totally doting on the bird at first, then ignoring him after the novelty wears off. He'll definitely need extra attention in the beginning, but try to maintain a balance from the start, to avoid rebound problems down the road. So be prepared, go slow, build trust, and have fun getting to know each other. This is the beginning of a beautiful lifelong friendship.-----------------------------------------
Your Parrot Place
Marilu Anderson, Bird Nutrition and Behavior Consultant, (503) 771-BIRD.
Marilu is a regular contributor to the Your Parrot Place Newsletter.
YourParrotPlace.com
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140 pages! A compilation of parrot articles from 2000-2004.
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