Exotic Med - Avian Husbandry And Nutrition

Front 1

Factors to consider when choosing a pet bird

Back 1

-cost
-noise
-commitment
-space
-mess and destruction
-socialization
-zoonosis

Front 2

Pet bird
-commitment factors

Back 2

-Time daily
-long term (longevity, bonding, changing homes)

Front 3

Good bird options if you do not have much time daily

Back 3

-pair of parrots
-canary/finch

Front 4

Bird cage size
-considerations

Back 4

-largest possible size
-shape
-bar spacing and size
-quality (stainless steel or powder coated wrought iron)
-Safety
-Maintenance

Front 5

Bird cage
-shape differences for small birds vs. large birds

Back 5

-small birds: length

-large birds: height for climbing

Front 6

Bird cage
-safety considerations

Back 6

-no toxic materials (lead/zinc)
-no doors, latches, or other parts that can trap bird
-sharp edges

Front 7

Bird cage
-maintenance considerations

Back 7

-easy to clean (pull out tray)
-stainless steel dishes

Front 8

Perch
-considerations

Back 8

-proper size and shape
-varying diameters
-near food dishes
-different levels
-wood/branch/cement

Front 9

Why is perch size and shape important?

Back 9

-can lead to pressure sores

Front 10

Cement perch use

Back 10

-beak filing

Front 11

Bird mess and damage
-considerations

Back 11

-messy eating
-chewing on objects
-feather dust

Front 12

Problem if the bird is a messy eater

Back 12

-can be difficult to diagnose GI disease because you don’t know food consumption

Front 13

What can be a problem with feather dust?

Back 13

-can affect people with respiratory disease

Front 14

Bird socialization
-considerations

Back 14

-owner-bird interaction time
-handling
-gender preferences (masturbating birds!)

-social birds can be demanding of attention and resort to neurotic behavior (feather picking, damaging) if denied the interaction that they need

Front 15

Birds that bond tightly with their owners

Back 15

-cockatoos
-large parrots

Front 16

Birds that don’t bond much with their owners

Back 16

-finches
-canaries

Front 17

Bird talking and training
-considerations

Back 17

-many parrots chosen for ability to talk
-some species known for mimicry
-ability to talk varies with individual
-many parrots can be trained to perform various tricks and behaviors

Front 18

Bird toys
-importance

Back 18

-enrichment

Front 19

Bird toys
-considerations

Back 19

-toys “designed” for parrots may not be safe
-severe injury and death
-right toy size for bird
-supervise new toy use

Front 20

Bird toys
-potential dangers

Back 20

-toxicity
-entanglement
-ingestions
Bird toys
-toxins -heavy metals (zinc and lead)
-dyes and other chemicals
-poly vinyl chloride
Heavy metals
-commonly found in -quick links and chains (zinc)
-bell clappers (lead)

*look for lead and zinc free labels
**go for stainless steel products even though more expensive

Front 21

Bird toys that are normally safe of dyes and other chemicals

Back 21

-untreated wood
-wood colored with vegetable based dyes
-vegetable-tanned leather products

Front 22

Poly vinyl chloride
-found in what kinds of toys

Back 22

-soft plastic
-vinyl

Front 23

Bird toy
-ingestion problems

Back 23

-digestive tract irritation
-blockage
-perforation

Wood: splinter
Plastic: soft flimsy plastic easily shredable
Bells: clapper can be removed and swallowed
Fabric and Fluff: caught in loos threads, ingestion of fluffy material

Front 24

Reasons pet birds are very susceptible to household dangers

Back 24

-mall size
-rapid metabolism
-sensitive respiratory systems
-curiosity (explore everything with their beaks)

*need parrot-proofing

Front 25

Birds
-household poisoning

Back 25

-wide range of toxic substances can injure or kill via ingestion or inhalation

Teflon, Insecticide, ammonia, bleach, oven cleaner, glue, nail polish remover, paint, perfumes, heavy metals, poisonous plants

Front 26

How does non-stick coating negatively affect birds?

-where is it found?

Back 26

-when overheated, the non—stick coating emits fumes that are toxic to birds when inhaled

-non-stick cookware, waffle irons, bread machines, irons, ironing board covers, curling irons, space heaters, blow dryers, etc.

Front 27

Open water
-bird hazards

Back 27

-Toilets
-sink
-bathtub
-bucket
-water bowl (dog/cat)
-hot water on stove

Front 28

Electrical cord
-bird dangers

Back 28

-explore with beaks, may bite exposed cord

Front 29

Bird electrical cord danger
-prevention

Back 29

-keep cords and appliances away from cage
-cover exposed cords with corrugated plastic tubing

Front 30

Ceiling fans
-bird dangers

Back 30

-flight
-nervous with things moving above them

Front 31

Windows, doors, mirrors
-dangers to birds

Back 31

-may fly into them
-may escape if left open

Front 32

How to decrease risk of birds escaping or injuring themselves on windows, doors, mirrors?

Back 32

-clip wings

Front 33

Other pets
-danger to birds

Back 33

-can attract prey instinct
-can become easily infected if attacked (promptly provide aggressive antibiotic therapy if incident suspected)

Front 34

Air quality
-bird considerations

Back 34

-very sensitive to contaminants in air
-aerosols should not be used around birds
-cigarette smoke can lead to respiratory disease
-carbon monoxide

Front 35

Inappropriate foods for birds

Back 35

-high sugar, salt, fat
-chocolate
-caffeine
-alcohol
-avocado
-rhubarb
-processed meats and food high in nitrates, nitrites, sulfites, MSG)

Front 36

Avocado
-health effect in birds

Back 36

-myocardial toxicity

Front 37

Nutritionally caused disease in birds commonly due to

Back 37

-imbalanced or incomplete diet

Front 38

Recommended diet for birds

Back 38

-pre-formulated pellets (50-60%)
-fresh foods (greens, sprouted seeds, grains, fruits)
-some seeds (10-25%: feed less for larger birds)

-specialized diets for some birds (lories, toucans)

Front 39

Bird
-feeding considerations

Back 39

-remove freshly prepared foods from cage after a few hrs
-offer new foods early in the morning or in the evening when birds naturally forage in the wild

Front 40

Bird Formulated diets
-advantages

Back 40

-grains, seeds, vegetables, fruits fortified with vitamins and minerals
-baked into pallets or other shapes
-provide a balanced nutritious diet

Front 41

Bird formulated diet
-disadvantages

Back 41

-many birds don’t readily take to eating a formulated diet
-don’t provide variety and stimulation that many birds crave in their diet

Front 42

Bird seeds
-considerations

Back 42

-considered junk food
-deficient in nutrients (Vit A and Calcium)
-high in fat
-preferred over healthier choices
-should only be 10% of diet (25% for natural seed eaters)

Front 43

Bird vegetables
-considerations

Back 43

-fresh vegetables are good
-not all vegetables are equally nutritious
-dark yellow and leafy green vegetables are good
-want as much variety as possible

Front 44

Bird fruits
-considerations

Back 44

-feed wide variety
-limit to small portion of overall diet
-more nutrition in deeply colored fruits
-toxicity from pits and seeds

Front 45

Birds
-other food considerations

Back 45

-nutritious grains (brown rice, quinoa, wheat, pasta, etc.)
-whole wheat bread and cereal
-cooked legumes
-small amounts of hard cheese and yogurt (lactose intolerant)

-question feeding lean, well-cooked meat and eggs due to cannibalism, salmonella

Front 46

Bird nutrition
-benefits of sprouted seeds

Back 46

-good nutrition and greens
-vits, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants

Front 47

Bird vitamin and mineral supplement
-considerations

Back 47

-usually not needed if feeding well balanced diet based on formulated food supplemented with a wide variety of home prepared food
-only should be given on the advice of a veterinarian

-Vits A&D are toxic
-Calcium:Phosphorus imbalance