A bird needs regular exercise. It can benefit by hopping from perch to perch in its cage, but most birds should be let out for the exercise they require.
Prepare the room for safety before releasing the bird. Close all doors, especially the one to the kitchen where dangers lurk for avians. Not only close the windows but also cover them and mirrors with curtains, drapes or shades so your pet won’t fly into them.
Begin by opening the cage door and gently trying to coax the bird onto your finger, attracting it with tiny bits of food. That could take a week, and some birds may not take to the finger at all and will have to be removed gently from their cages for exercise.
Once the bird is outside, don’t leave it alone, even for a few seconds. Birds need constant watching to make sure they don’t injure themselves or find a way to get out of the house.
Because birds have a very high metabolic rate, they can starve to death if left unfed for more than a day. Store feed in a dry place in airtight plastic or glass containers.
Small amounts of greens and fruit are nutritious, but in large quantities they can cause diarrhea. Depending on the bird, greens might include watercress, thawed frozen peas, plantain, foxtail, thistles, chick weed, dandelion, carrot leaves and spinach. Iceberg lettuce is nutritionally useless. Tiny bits of fruit also are appreciated. Clean uneaten vegetable matter from the cage every day.
Because they can carry salmonella, don’t give birds egg shells for the calcium they need. Provide them with cuttlebone and commercial calcium and mineral blocks. Add vitamins only on the advice of a veterinarian, and never offer them such things as cheese, meat and sweets.
Birds can get sick and die in unsanitary conditions. Change the cage paper and wash, dry and refill food and water containers daily. Every week remove the bird to a small holding cage, or let it exercise while you scrub its regular cage and equipment with a brush, hot water and detergent.
Products containing pine oil and especially chlorine are dangerous. Rinse the cage well and dry it thoroughly with a hair dryer or fan before replacing the bird.
Birds require veterinary care as much as other animals. Write to the Association of Avian Veterinarians for the name of one skilled in treating your species in your area (Linda Harrison, Association of Avian Veterinarians, 5770 Lake Worth Rd., Lake Worth, Fla. 33643.)
