Needed items


	NECESSARY ITEMS are in red

	*A cage
		-You may want more than one - a main cage, a sleep cage, a travel cage

	*At least 3 perches of varying diameters appropriate to your birds foot size.


	- Wooden, natural branches - if they are slippery you can roughen them with some sandpaper.


	- Grooming or pedicure perch for beak and nails placed near food dishes.- avoid sandpaper


		- Rope perch - cotton or sisal, keep trimmed to avoid foot entanglement.

	*Play area


	- Somewhere were your bird can play away from the cage. - with toys


	- Some kind of playground, play area, playstand, and/or boing..

- Placed in a room where you spend a lot of time.


	- Consider height of play area. - dominance issues are a subject of much debate


		~ Dominance issues have a lot to do with your relationship with your bird and your birds personality.

	*Toys, toys, and more toys

		- Enough toys to rotate between cage and play stand. - At least 4 in the cage and at least 2 on the play area

	- Toys should be of different colors and materials.
	- Toys should be appropriately sized for your bird. - most venders list which size is best for different bird types

	- All birds need toys that are destructible - wood, rope, leather, indestructible - acrylic, perma play, noisy - bird tough bell, swing or boing - a boing is a spiral rope that hangs, preenable - soft cotton rope or cloth toys, foraging - treat holder or food skewer, hand held.


	"Fids" are Feathered Kids



		Bird Breeds


	* Appropriate food.
		~What is appropriate is also a subject of debate. It is my belief that pellets should always be available, veges and fruit are meals, seeds are treats. Vegetables and fruit are best if they are organic. DO NOT feed your bird chocolate, avocados, onions, caffeine, or alcohol. For a list of other toxic household items go to the toxins page on this site.


	- Pelleted food should have no artificial colors - dyes, flavors, or ethoxyquin. - ethoxyquin is often used as a preservative


	- Vegetables, fruit, and legumes. Cooked, raw, blanched, or baked


	- Your bird must have an Avian vet. - dog & cat vets rarely know about problems with birds, some will not even see your bird


	j


	Very important !

		-Birds MUST have an Avian Vet. dogs, cats, horses are mammals, birds are not!
		- Many household items are toxic to birds.

- First Aid kit. tweezers, gauze, scissors, towel, corn starch


					*Learn all you can.

				- Ask your breeder for book or magazine recommendations.
			- Bird rescues & adoption aviaries hold several classes on bird care each year.
		- There are many bird 'groups' on the Internet with people who are more than willing to recommend good books and magazines also.
		- Learn as much as you can in preparation before you get your bird.

	- Consider joining a local bird club.


	*Know your bird.


	- Your birds weight is often the only indication of illness. - weight should be measured in grams, and taken on a weekly basis.


	- Bird scales can be found with attachable perches. - Most food scales also measure in grams


		- A drastic or rapid behavior change can also be an indication of illness.

	* Other needs

	- Full Spectrum lighting - so that your bird can produce needed vitamin D3


	"I've done some research on the Vita Lite / Full Spectrum. There are some differences, but if you buy a Full Spectrum with a CRI (Colour Rendering Index) of 92 or greater that is the lamp for you. The differences are going to be in the CRI numbers only and the brand name. - Barbara" Heavenly Wings Aviary

- A humidifier - especially if your bird's ancestors lived in rain forests


	Alex

	- A harness and leash - not a gaurantee, but it provides a little insurance that your bird will not fly away.

	- An air filter/purifier - birds create a lot of feather dust, even with daily bathing
	- A heat lamp or maybe a heating pad - do not put the bird directly on a heating pad, cover the pad with a towel first.


	Ebay can be a great source for buying at lower prices.


	Be sure to check a sellers 'feedback' and add shipping cost to each item BEFORE you bid.


	Kendi's Story


	Before You Buy


	Needed Items


	Learning About Birds


	Site Map


	Breeders


	Rescues


	Showing Off


	Bird Breeds


	Health Information


	Special Birdies


	Toxic Items


	Disease & Illness