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Elite Parrots Club – Multimedia Resource (Videos & Articles)

Anne — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:41:09 +0000

Learn to teach your parrot how to talk and stop annoying parrot behavior such as biting, screaming and feather plucking. Get immediate access to online videos that show you how. This is an easy way to Interact with parrot owners world wide Via The Elite Parrots Club Forum.
Elite Parrots Club – Multimedia Resource (Videos & Articles).

Latest Conure Auctions

Anne — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:23:37 +0000

I thought I would include these auctions for you to take a look at:
[eba kw="conure" num="2" ebcat="11700"]
They offer some good bargains!

ZuPreem AvianMaintenance Natural Premium Bird Diet for Parrots & Conures

Anne — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:45:23 +0000

3-lb resealable pouch

Product Description
ZuPreem AvianMaintenance Natural Diet for parrots and conures is a premium blend of top-quality, highly digestible grains rich in essential and balanced nutrients for African Greys, conures, Amazons, senegals and other medium-sized hookbills. Naturally preserved with added vitamins and minerals essential to good health.

ZuPreem AvianMaintenance Natural Premium Bird Diet for Parrots & Conures

Doberman getting chased by little bird, Conure

Anne — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:23:37 +0000

My big bad doberman getting chased by our green cheek conure. No animals were harmed during the making of this film.

Sun Conure First Flights Outdoors

Anne — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:59:33 +0000

11 Week old sun conure “Snicket” makes first outdoor flights with Susan Hilliard and Chris Biro. Don’t try this without proper training.

Kiwi The Sun Conure

Anne — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 15:59:28 +0000

Kiwi loves nothing more than taking a bath in the kitchen sink.

How Do You Keep A Hawk From Killing Birds At A Birdfeeder?

Anne — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:50:09 +0000

I feed wild birds throughout the winter for the fun of it and don’t want to quit feeding them, but a hawk keeps killing them. I live in a semi-rural area in Southern Ohio and love my birds. The feeder is near my kitchen window (15ft) and the Hawk swoops in from field and scares the birds. Normally birds fly into the window and the hawk picks them up and carries them away. It has killed over 8 birds and it has left 2 birds to die on my deck. Please help me.
-thanks

What Types Of Birds Are Useful In Eliminating Mosquitoes? And How Do You Lure Them To Your Yard?

Anne — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 06:49:42 +0000

I love working in my yard and have been hanging bird houses and bird feeders this year. I’ve really given no thought to particular types of birds though. Tonight I came inside because the mosquitoes were driving me crazy and it occurred to me that there is most likely some type of bird that eats mosquitoes…what are they and how do I get them to make my home their home?

Cockatiel Help

Anne — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:48:03 +0000

I have a SWEET little cockatiel and I want to get more birds. I have been reading about illigers mini macaws and everyone says they are really sweet and get along well with other birds. That sounds perfect for me! I also want to get a blue crown conure, sun conure, jardines parrot, and a panama amazon. I won’t get all of these, but could I house it with some of the similar sized, species friendly birds? In a very large cage of course.

Treating Parrot Feather Plucking

Cruz Mason — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:33:46 +0000

If you parrot is feather plucking then it is a serious behavioral problem. The real problem is that once it had started it is nigh on impossible to get your parrot to stop. It is a very stressful situation for the bird and the owner. Try to spot a feather plucker early by inspecting the upper chest area to see whether feather are missing if there are then this is a sure sign that you have a plucker, and you have to step in to treat them before the problem gets worse. You should provide lots of toys and branches in the cage. Put your parrot in a noisy part of the house an spend more time with them.

Other illness in a hand reared baby parrot is quite rare, but action must be taken immediately if you feel that your bird is not 100%. This could be indicated by simply not adhering to his normal routines, i.e. if you feed him a certain item in the morning, say toast, if he fails to eat there may be a problem. Droppings are also a large indicator and I believe that an experienced parrot keeper can tell precisely the condition of his birds without even seeing the birds providing he can look at the droppings on a daily basis. If your bird is on a dry diet then obviously the droppings will be more solid green and white. If birds have a fruit diet this will be watery and not as solid as a bird on dry seed. If you feed your bird pretty much the same routine on a daily basis then the droppings will be easily identified as different to the previous day and therefore should causing some alarm. Very watery and dark droppings are a sign of ill health. It is always better to be trigger happy in terms of visiting your vet rather than leaving it too late. Birds deteriorate rapidly once they are ill, if you cannot maintain a level of fluid intake and food consumption.

The standards of vetinary care in the avian world are rising all the time, but it can be incredibly challenging to find a vet that has experience of treating parrots. If your parrot has stopped eating then he will need to be fe intraveniously and this is something that you want handled by an experienced vet. If you have to travel a long way to get the treatment your parrot needs then so be it.

So if we could summarize this article it would be to say that one has to keep a careful eye on one’s parrot’s droppings, and make sure that a highly qualified vet is on standby should the droppings seem unusual to the discerning eye.

For further information on parrot care please see http://hubpages.com/hub/Parrot-Care-How-to-Care-for-Parrots-in-the-Wild After you see how to care for wild parrots you will better appreciate their captive needs

Some Questions to Ask Your Parrot Breeder Before Buying

Conor Williams — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:51:59 +0000

This may seem a bit odd, but if you ask the correct questions, you can learn volumes about your new potential buddy. A good breeder will help you out along the way. A good breeder’s sole motivation is not to make money. A good breeder very much wants his baby parrots to go to good homes. So if in the process you forget a few of these questions, he’ll probably jump in and answer them anyway. These simple questions can help increase the chances that the baby parrot you bring home with you is healthy.

You will need to know when these birds hatched. If a parrot is too young to take home a good breeder will let you know that. You can always reserve the parrot and come back later if it is too young.

Do you keep a closed aviary? Optimally, your breeder tends a closed aviary. A bird raised in this environment has a lower chance of developing a disease. Many avian diseases travel through the air. That means they spread quickly.

Make sure you ask whether the bird has been tested for any diseases. If your young parrot has already been sexed then you will probably find that it was sexed at the same time. If the bird has indeed been tested for diseases then make sure that you ask for a copy of the results from the laboratory.

Whether a parrot is male or female does not make any difference to their qualities as pets, and you should certainly not be too concerned about that aspect of parrot keeping. Unless of course you are bringing your new bird home to live with other parrots in a shared aviary – in those circumstances it is very important to know whether they are male or female.

Make sure that you ask what your parrot has been eating and continue this diet once you bring it home. It is very important that you don’t cause a baby parrot undue stress by bringing it home and making sudden changes in its diet.

Can I view the baby’s parents? You’ll probably discover that, indeed, the baby’s parents are on the premises and you can view them. But the odds are very unlikely you’ll be able to hold them. Many breeding parrots are not raised as pets and the parents of this bird may not be tame. In the parents, if they look generally healthy, then they probably are. And healthy parents most often produce health babies.[youtube:O_Fpad20Zbk;[link:Clever Parrots];http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_Fpad20Zbk&feature=related]

Finally, you should ask whether the baby has been hand fed or parent raised. Even if the bird has not been hand fed, don’t worry as long as it has been socialized.

If you like sexing parrots then check out http://ezinearticles.com/?Sexing-Parrots—How-to-Tell-If-Your-Parrot-is-Male-Or-Female&id=2257223

A Kookaburra with a Message

Damian Papworth — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:29:08 +0000

The day started like any other, up at 6am and straight to the computer and work. 7am arrives finally, the caf is open. I dress my daughter quickly and head off for my coffee. Today was a bit different to most though, as I pulled up sharply once I got to the front gate. There, a mere two feet from us was a magnificent Australian kookaburra.

I admired its courage, we were so close and it had not flown away. These are not tame birds, they typically shy clear from humans. The memory of this encounter will stick for a long time, it is so rare. I alerted my wife to the visit too, so she could come outside slowly and meet our friend and there the four of us stood, enjoying each others company for nearly five minutes.

When I finished my coffee, I reflected on the experience. I wondered at my own actions, blundering my way to the gate without even realizing the king of the kingfishers was sitting there watching me. Was I really so busy that morning that I could not see what was right in front of me? Did I really need to get so close that I almost tripped up on the bird before I knew he was there?

If I had taken one more step I am sure the kookaburra would have flown away. My whole family would have missed this wonderful start to the day. It would have been a terrible loss, seeing these types of bird so close is such a rare experience. It turned out to be a bit of a wake-up call to me. I really need to slow down a bit and pay more attention. Why is it we get so caught up in what we are running towards, that we forget to enjoy that which is in front of us?

My house is close to a river near the bush, so we are blessed with the songs of the kookaburra quite often. This was the first time one of these birds communicated with me so personally though. I will remember this meeting too every time I hear a kookaburra sing, hearing the message in the song. “Take a deep breath Damian” it will sing. “Savor what now has to offer, don’t forget the present in your rush to tomorrow”. This is a message that so many of us can benefit from.

How to Make a Chicken Coop – Five Important Reasons To Consider

Anne — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:49:18 +0000

Farmers raise them. So do hundreds of kids for 4H projects. There are even clubs dedicated to raising chickens in your backyard. So, just what does all this have to do with why you should learn how to make a chicken coop?

There are many reasons why this would be a good idea, but in truth, you can narrow these down to five especially good ones:

You can you can raise hens for healthy, more tasty eggs or feeder hens for the dinner table.

Chickens produce manure that’s high in nitrogen for your garden. Some people go so far as to call it the best fertilizer in the world.

Chickens provide excellent pest and insect control if allowed to roam free for a few hours a day. As they peck around the yard, they gobble up grubs, slugs and other bugs, viewing garden pests as tasty, nutritious treats.

Chickens are great foragers and will scratch around in the leaves and soil energetically, seeking out the delectable tidbits. In doing so, they aerate the soil and break down larger pieces of vegetation with their sharp talons, accelerating the decomposition process.
Raising animals can be a very important source of family time. This is perhaps the most important reason why you should learn how to make a chicken coop. In today’s society quality family time is hard enough to come by so teaching your children how to care for backyard chickens can offer them a way to occupy their time beyond talking on the phone or playing video games.

When you make a chicken coop and get a few backyard chickens you are taking a step toward independence. You are distancing yourself from the mega-egg producers whose methods lean heavily toward polluting the environment and your chickens won’t be pumped full of hormones or chemicals which mean they, and the eggs they produce are healthier for you as well.
There are many more great reasons to learn how to make a chicken coop. Give it a shot and you will find that you will soon have more benefits than you initially hoped for. Raising chickens in a backyard coop is not just for clubs or farmers anymore. It is now a family project that everyone can enjoy and benefit from.

See our section on “Keeping Backyard Chickens” by clicking >>Here<<

Man’s Feathery Friend

Dominic Lawsen — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:55:52 +0000

For years the dogs of this world have stolen the spotlight when it comes being the ideal pet. They’re intelligent, fun, cute, and of course what is man without his best friend? Despite their endearing personalities and soft fur, dogs aren’t the only ones who are able to fill the void of man’s best friend. Birds, too, can make for fantastic pets. The common misconception that birds only sit in their cages and squawk is not only inaccurate, but it fails to credit the sentimentalities and bonds that birds have with their owners. Like dogs and cats, birds are emotional and intelligent pets that, when cared for and treated well, can be just as fun as any other furry animal and certainly more unique.

Before one can turn that feathery puzzle into the perfect pet, there are a few behaviors that we as owners should be aware of. The quickest way to get on good terms with our pet is by understanding each other and birds, like dogs or cats, have unique behaviors that may seem confusing to a new owner but shouldn’t be cause for alarm. Keep in mind that birds are living, breathing, and most importantly feeling creatures. In order to keep a relationship with your bird healthy, remember that birds don’t necessarily have to talk in order to express their feelings. There are many other obvious signs that you will see over time that will tell you how their feeling or what they need.

If a bird becomes excited it doesn’t always mean that it’s upset or angry. However, there are a few behaviors to be aware of and if it does seem your bird is either agitated or exceedingly excited, it’s never a bad idea to keep your finger out of its’ face. Eye pining is when the eye of a bird dilates in and out repeatedly and quickly. This is often a very obvious sign of excitement, as is the flaring of tail feathers. When your bird starts clicking its beak, it is most notably a warning to keep your distance. Wait until the bird has stopped clicking or has been left to calm down over a period of time before attempting to stick your hand in the cage.

Many behaviors, however, are not indications of agitation and instead serve as daily functions for birds. When birds have finished bathing themselves, they will fluff their feathers and look like their flaring in warning. In reality, however, they are simply ridding of the excess debris that has collected between the folds of their feathers. Feather fluffing is also a way to keep warm, so if your bird seems to be doing it outside of bathing, it may be ill. After eating, birds may wipe their beaks on their perch or cage just as another means of keeping clean.

Some behaviors are bird-specific. If your bird has a feather crest atop it’s head, it may flare it when it’s experiencing certain emotions whether it be agitated or happy. Take note of when it happens and try to understand what triggers it. Other birds, such as the Quaker, are named for their unique behavior. Quakers shake frequently for no apparent reason, and some birds will bob their heads out of anxiousness, excitement, or agitation. Most birds will shake after a bath regardless, due to an involuntary muscle spasm in their chest, but take note if your bird seems to do it when in a particular mood.

Other normal behaviors of birds include the grinding of their beak right before they fall asleep, which indicates contentment, or the preening of feathers to keep them neat and clean. Preening is only worrisome when it turns into over-preening and the bird is constantly plucking out or chewing out feathers. Birds also regurgitate food to younger birds and those they care about. So if you and your bird are close enough, you may find that it will regurgitate for you as a sign of affection. Don’t be alarmed. There is a distinct difference between regurgitation and vomit; vomit will stick to the feathers and beak of the bird.

Keep in mind that your bird was not bred to live in a cage, ergo the tight confined environment might bore your pet after a while. Give your bird space to fly free and equipment to play with. Like all pets, birds enjoy some free time and the occasional good toy. If you see your bird attempting to lift off in the cage or shuffling uneasily, it’s a good bet that it’s bored or needing some open air. Consider blocking off a room and letting the bird go. It will appreciate it in the long run and the exercise will relieve a lot of pent up energy. Birds will also nap frequently throughout the day. Birds will usually sleep on one leg, and if the bird looks fluffed and is sleeping on two legs it may be ill.

Other normal behavior includes aggression, whether it’s possessiveness of the cage or jealousy or another pet, as well as hiding, freezing, or begging. Believe it or not, dogs are not the only ones who resort to being adorable when they want something! Any kind of behavior, such as begging, that needs to be changed can be just as soon as you figure out what is triggering it. As with any pet, it takes time to build a bond of trust and friendship with your bird. But once you do, understanding and appreciating their quirky behavior can lead to a life-long friendship with your bird.

If you are looking for premium quality parrot pellets . than look no further then Lafeber Cares. Lafeber cares are experts in the field of parrot pellets .

5 Pointers on Selecting the Right Cockatiel Bird Cage

Frank Froggatt — Tue, 26 May 2009 09:12:06 +0000

by Frank Froggatt

Choosing the right type of birdcage is not always an easy thing, especially if you’ve never owned a cockatiel before. There are some specific things that cocktatiels need in order to live happily. Below are five tips that will help you to choose the right cockatiel bird cage.

1. Give Your Cockatiel the Spacing Needs – Birdcages are not all built the same, and when you’re looking at getting a birdcage for your cockatiel, you need to make sure that it has the right amount of space. You need to make sure that it has enough room to stretch and flap its wings. You also need to consider the height of the cages you don’t want your cockatiels tail to drag on the floor or get hung up on anything.

2. The Size of the Cage – When making the decision of the size of caged you need, you need to think about what kind of items you’re going to put in the cage. you need to think that you’re going to have perches and toys, as well as food and water dishes in the cage so this needs to go into your decision-making as well.

3. The Distance Between the Bars – The next thing you need to make sure when buying a cockatiel birdcage is that the bars are close enough together that the cockatiel can’t get its head through. You could use the general rule of thumb of no more than one half finished three quarters of an inch wide, this is a good guideline to follow.

4. Bar Placement – In order to ensure that your bird can get around the cage well, you need to make sure that the cage has bars that run vertically as well as horizontally. Cockatiels absolutely need these verticle bars on their cages so do not buy a cage without them.

5. Ease of Cleaning – One thing that’s really important when you have a birdcage is that it’s easy to clean. This is not only good for you it’s good for the birds health as well. Having a cage with a removable plastic tray on the bottom is a really good idea. This will make cleaning less of a chore for you and you be more apt to do it on a regular basis.

Using the steps as a guideline to buying any cockatiel cage could help you to make a good decision on which cage to buy. Besides these simple tips there are a lot of different shapes and styles of cockatiel birdcages and in the end it will boil down to what you like, and what you can afford.

About the Author:

Finding the right cockatiel bird cages doesn’t have to be a chore. Check out the listings of quality cages at http://www.cockatielbirdcage.com

The African Grey Parrot: An Introduction

Shelly Mannington — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:06:53 +0000

by Dee LeClerc

The African grey parrot offers intelligence and bonding habits that many other parrot species don’t. The African grey will form a bond with you, talk to you, be playful with you, get angry with you, and love you to pieces! What else could you want from a family pet?

This bird is known by scientists as the Psittacus erithacus–genus and species. It has that one species only; but there are two subspecies. The first of these is named after the species, so it’s known as Psittacus erithacus erithacus, more commonly called the Congo African grey. The second is the Psittacus erithacus timneh, or the Timneh African grey. The Congo greys come from the central and western sections of Africa, and they are the larger of the two going at from 14 to 21 ounces. The Timneh grays are indigenous to Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast area, and they weigh a few ounces less. Avian experts are debating whether the greys found on Principe Island constitute a third subspecies, tentatively called P.e. Princeps, but many believe the Princeps is a variation of the Congo greys.

African greys usually have a grey or white patch of skin around the eyes as well as black feet. They all possess a wonderful, smooth grey plumage, which is soft looking. The Congos are not as dark. They have solid black beaks and dark red tail feathers when they become mature. Timnehs have darker grey feathers with some traces of maroon and taupe. They also have a beak that is two-toned.

In the wild, the African grey lives in a flock. It is the habit of this species to mate for life. This is a bond that is not broken unless death or separation occurs. Because they usually live at the tops of trees, their diet consists mostly of fruits and nuts. African greys are on alert in the wild. They have to be to keep out of reach of predators. They are very intelligent, so they have a lot of success at staying safe.

If you bring one of these terrific birds home, what can you expect to happen? First of all, you will come to think of your African grey as a kid. Usually they will exhibit the emotional maturity of a human child about the age of two; however, their intelligence is actually equal to that of a five year old child. Parrots often bond with one person because it is their natural instinct to bond with a mate. You will often see this bonding behavior when a bird is brought into a household.

You must take responsibility for introducing your bird to your family and gaining his trust. If you are your bird’s favorite, then you must take the necessary steps to be sure he socializes appropriately with other family members. These birds must use keen observational skills in the wild. For this reason, they take great notice of their keeper’s emotions. As a matter of fact, your bird will sense if you are feeling down, and he will be eager to spend some time interacting with you.

He definitely will not respond well if he’s surrounded by constant shouting, loud noises, and unhappy or mad faces. He won’t take kindly to having his beak tapped. Greys are flock animals and will be expected to be treated as an equal… although he may have a strong desire to be the enter of attention!

When you bring home a parrot, it is like adopting a child. Understand that African greys remain immature for approximately 5 years. After that time, it will take another 5 years for the bird to reach full maturity. The grey has a life expectancy on average of 40 to 50 years.

How do you get your bird to play with you? Some tips include getting him to rock or bob with you. Keep in mind you have to move slowly at first because he will be slow to trust you. Other people report that when they bring home a new toy for their bird, they play with it first–and make a big deal over it–so that the bird wants it, too! Many experts recommend keeping them with you throughout your shared time at home. If you’re in the living room, the kitchen, or even the bathroom, take his cage or his perch with you. He’ll enjoy watching whatever you’re doing, and he loves to be praised.

The most fun is getting your African grey to make sounds and to talk. These birds are famous for their ability to mimic the sounds around them. African greys can imitate animals and sound effects to a “T”. They can also imitate human voices.

The African grey parrot makes a wonderful addition to any family. You are going to love having this bird!

About the Author:

Author Dee LeClerc makes her home with Perky the African Grey and a sassy Quaker Parrot, Smeagol. To learn more, visit http://www.anafricangrey.ca

A Healthy Eclectus Parrot

john savage — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:08:46 +0000

by John Savage

Your Eclectus parrot may be able to talk, but he most likely won’t be able to indicate whether or not he feels well. Therefore, you need to know the signs of a healthy bird, so that you can recognize the signs of a bird that isn’t feeling well.

The sign of a healthy parrot is that they are lively, sociable and alert, but if your bird is not showing these traits it is most likely that he is feeling unwell. If he seems in any way to be behaving differently, then this is a warning sign that he might be in pain, and needing urgent attention.

A healthy Eclectus parrot has a dry nose and big bright eyes. If your parrot develops a moist or runny nose, he probably needs the care of a veterinarian. His eyes should be big and bright, but not watery or runny.

Another thing to keep your eye on is your parrots appetite. Is he eating well? He should be, and as long as he is that is fine, but if he starts to refuse his food then that is a sure sign that all is not well.

Keep a regular check on your parrots vent, which is located just under the tail feathers. It should be clean and dry, but if for any reason you discover that it is not clean and dry, then this could indicate a problem and a visit to the vet’s is recommended.

One indication that your Eclectus is healthy is that he will regularly groom himself. He should have nice smooth feathers and a generally smooth appearance, not ruffled. If his feathers do look a bit disheveled, or if the feathers just do not look particularly healthy, then you should consider a visit to the vet’s.

Another thing that you must keep a check on is your parrots legs, feet and beak. Make sure that they look healthy and that they are not dry or cracked in any way. And while checking your parrots feet, take a look at the nails and if they need clipping then do so as this make life much pleasanter for them.

Let me say that just so long as your parrot is getting the correct minerals and nutrients that he needs, any health problem that he might develop should quickly right itself. Often all that is needed is a slight change in diet.

Having said that let me emphasis that these checks should in no way replace a proper diagnosis by your vet. They have a trained eye for health issues and it would not be fair on your beloved parrot if you did not seek your vets advice. In conclusion, part of the answer is to know the sign of a healthy parrot and this will enable you to act quickly when a health problem arises.

About the Author:

Did you find this article interesting? then pleasetake a look at parrot care where you will find more helpful advice

How To Tame Your Parrot – The Basics

Roshan Prasad — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:21:08 +0000

by Roshan R Prasad

A parrot is a wild animal. Since it will take some time to tame the bird, you should know the appropriate steps to make them feel that you are their friend.

Once the parrot is at your home, it is important that he be around people who love birds and that he stay in his cage for at least the first 24 hours. If the parrot appears nervous, slow down and allow it more time.

When you think the parrot is ready to come out, cover all the mirrors and windows then open the cage. Soon, the bird will come out and if it doesn’t, entice it with some food or a branch. Make sure to keep your hair out of the way and wear clothing that will not easily be snagged.

Don’t ever speak in a loud voice to your parrots. Do not look straight into his eyes or he will think you are a predator.

If your parrot does not want to take food from your hands, then use clippings and put them in the cage. You should praise them whenever they eat so eventually, you can feed them using your own hand.

The parrot will have to fly once in a while to exercise its wings. If the bird is still frightened, you can use a low bird stand and two sticks of varying lengths to carry the bird around. Two sticks are needed so the parrot can go from one stick to the other. This must be done slowly but deliberately as sudden movements will frighten the parrot.

The first few weeks of taming a parrot are going to be challenging. Once you have made some improvements, you can now teach it certain commands like “step up”. This will teach the bird that you are the master and if this is said, the parrot is aware that it must go to you especially when there is imminent danger so both of you can get out of harms way.

A very important command that you want your parrot to learn is “NO”. If the parrot does something wrong then correct the bird so it will know not to do it again.

It will take time to tame the bird. After your parrot’s initial fear has been conquered and there is now a bond of trust and friendship, you can begin to teach him to speak certain phrases or even to sing along with you.

About the Author:

Exotic pet birds are a delight to watch, please take time to visit my site to know more about different exotic birds like Cockatoos, Conures, Eclectus, Rainbow Lorikeet and many more.