Your Questions Answered

The Crystal Parrot - Due to the wide variety of questions we have received lately, we would like to touch upon a variety of subjects this month!

Please do not allow your bird outside without the safety and sense of being in a carrier. If you insist on putting your bird’s life in jeopardy, make sure the bird has a proper wing clip. This will not guarantee your bird will not fly away, but can lessen the chances of him becoming a meal for a predator!

If you have your bird enjoying the weather on a screened in porch, make sure that the bird is not too close to the screen itself. It is no match for a sharp beak! He can get loose and, again, become prey. Even if he makes a small hole in the screen, this can allow mosquitoes in. If your bird contracts West Nile Virus-there is no cure-only an untimely death!

If you do not already have a vet- you need to find one and get your bird on track with at least yearly visits. If your bird appears sick, you will already have a vet that knows him and you will not be scrambling to find medical care!

Birds do NOT!!! bite because they “are mean.” In most cases, someone has been mean to them and they are defending themselves the way nature intended. If you had only two feet to stand on, no hands, and a beak-how would you defend yourself?

No-lovebirds do NOT need to live in pairs! Single birds will bond to their owner rather than each other.

Buying a mate for your bird because its breeding season is not the answer to his erratic behavior at this time!  Your bird puts up with you when you have PMS- you can put up with your bird when he has a similar issue!

PLEASE…when you call looking for information or answers-when asked what type of bird you have-do not say “a parrot.” Most all birds are considered parrots with the exclusion of Lories, canaries, and other soft bills. The advice or information you are looking for is going to vary depending on which type of  parrot  you have!

YES!!! Companion birds do lay unfertilized eggs! Birds do not need a mate to produce an egg-most of us buy and eat chicken eggs!

A screaming bird is NOT! a bad bird! It is a bird that has been taught bad manners by  his owners! Take responsibility and work WITH your bird to correct the issue-not throw him away!

Moths are generally a fact of life when you have seed eating birds! You can keep the numbers down with diligent vacuuming and cleaning the cage on a daily basis and refrigerating the seed.

Grates are necessary in cages. They keep your bird from coming into contact with their feces and discarded food matter. Birds are actually very clean animals and work hard at keeping themselves immaculate! If your birds environment is dirty-it is not of his doing-it is from your lack of doing!

A culture is very necessary to your bird’s health! If you are a bird owner and do not know what this is- it is your responsibility to find out!

Do not kiss your bird on the beak!!! This is the best way possible to give your bird E.coli!

Your bird should be on a probiotic regime.

Seed and water is not an adequate diet for any bird!

Birds do not need grit! This is outdated information and this material can actually cause a bird’s crop to become impacted.

If you have any questions about any of these subjects or others, please feel free to call us or stop in at our new location at 220 College Highway Southampton MA.