If you have a bird, you know how amazing they are as pets. Birds are playful, friendly, and smart creatures that get along incredibly well with humans. Moreover, they're very aesthetically pleasing, very colorful, and a delight to watch. You could make a strong case that birds are the perfect pets!
Since birds can have a very long life (30 years is not uncommon for a bird), it's essential to keep them a healthy bird throughout it. Having a sick bird is never fun, so it's important to know the signs of a healthy bird.
Since it's sometimes tough to figure out what is wrong health-wise with birds, your best bet is to take preventative measures to ensure your pet remains strong and healthy. Here are three valuable tips to keep your bird in good health, both mental and physical!
Provide An Excellent Diet
Unfortunately, the research into pet bird dietary requirements is not as in-depth as the research into other animals (like dogs and cats). However, we do know that birds, like every other animal, require a balanced and a healthy bird diet.
We also know that birdseed and bird feeders alone cannot provide this. Seeds are not the default natural food for birds. In the wild, they eat insects, worms, fruits, and vegetables. When not in captivity, birds have a broad spectrum of healthy bird food they will consume.
Buying birdseed and expecting your pet to thrive on it is likely going to cause problems. Instead, ensure your pet bird has a wide variety of foods. Bird pellets are a good start, but ultimately you want lots of food variation. You can also give your bird table foods like corn or grapes. Don't expect your bird to receive all the nutrients it needs from a single food source.
Teach Your Bird To Socialize
Socializing with your bird will provide them the stimulation they need to develop a positive, happy outlook on life. If you don't socialize with your pet, then they're liable to become sad and depressed. These conditions can have ripple effects on their physical health and result in more illnesses and premature death. Enjoy some interaction with your bird, so they stay motivated and happy!
Exercise
Birds, like humans, need exercise in their lives to be healthy. If they don't have regular exercise, then they can be weak and have health complications. You can't put birds on treadmills, but you can give them exercise in other ways. Adding ropes and fun things to play with inside the cage can provide them with mental stimulation and physical exercise. You can also let your pet bird out of the cage so that they can roam free for a while. Letting them fly in a wide area will give their wings and bodies much-needed exercise!
If Cared For Right, Birds Live A Very Long Time
Birds, just like other pets, can live a very long time if you take steps to ensure that they are healthy. Make sure you give them the right foods. Birdseed won't do it. Ensure you give them a wide variety of healthy options. Teach your bird to socialize so they will be happy. Finally, keep your bird moving! Just like humans, exercise is essential to their well-being!
Birds are family members just as much as a dog or cat are! They can be just as playful as cats and dogs. That being said, they too deserve a special level of care to keep them happy and healthy. Your bird will need a better diet in order to live longer and happier.
Your bird buddy probably comes off as a low maintenance little guy which is why they often make for great small pets, but there are some things he or she does need that they can’t exactly communicate with you.
Some of these necessities include a well-balanced diet, a stimulating environment, and of course, regular physical activity. All of which are essential for promoting a happy and healthy life for your pet bird.
Provide Your Bird with a Balanced Diet
Nutrition is an important aspect for all living beings, birds included. Depending on the breed of your bird, their diet can include anything from a store-bought blend of seeds and pellets to a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
This is where research on your bird’s breed becomes important. If you’re uncertain of what you should be feeding your pet bird to provide optimal nutrition, it would be in your best interest to talk with your veterinarian to get their thoughts on the matter.
Create a Stimulating Environment
Playing with your bird and spending that one on one time with them is the best kind of activity for them. But unfortunately, you can’t always be at home playing with them, as fun as that would be. Instead, you can create a stimulating environment in their cage to keep them entertained for hours on end while you’re away.
Before considering decorating a cage with all sorts of toys and interactive items, take into consideration what size cage would be best for your bird. Once the right cage is picked, you can then fill it up with all sorts of engaging toys and gadgets.
Keeping in mind that birds are similar to toddlers, in that they are easily amused but also can become bored with the same toys after a while. When you have a pet bird, starting a collection of toys and other sorts of stimuli is important. That way you can periodically change out some items to keep things fresh and stimulating in your bird’s cage.
Promote Physical Activity
Birds need regular exercise too. Often, birds in captivity have had their wings clipped, which takes away their ability to fly around freely like they would in the wild. This is where physically engaging toys come into play.
Toys such as ropes and ladders are great additions to your bird’s cage. These will keep your bird physically active and mentally stimulated for hours on end each day. Birds love to move around and do things, so they will be very happy to have these items to play with in their cage.
Conclusion
Birds owners love their feathered friends and want nothing more than for them to be happy and healthy. This can be easily achieved by simply providing them with nutritious food, a stimulating environment, and of course promote regular exercise. All of which can be done during some fun one-on-one interaction with your pet bird.
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