Veterinarian Bernadine Cruz provides pointers on what to look for when purchasing a bird for a pet.
- Always go for a hand-raised bird over an aviary-raised bird. A hand-raised bird is just that, whereas an aviary-raised bird has had minimal human contact.
- Make sure the bird is tame. If you approach the bird with a crooked finger and it bites you, that's probably not the bird for you.
- Cockatiels make a wonderful first choice. They can talk and are inexpensive, relatively small, extremely intelligent and affectionate.
- Canaries make great apartment pets. Their sweet singing is not overly loud and the birds are small.
- Lovebirds are also great apartment pets because they aren't very noisy. Get a lovebird when it is very young, before it has sexually matured. This will increase the chances of the bird bonding with you. If you have two that are sexually mature, they will be more affectionate toward each other than to you.
- Parakeets are easily the most popular pet parrot. They can be tamed, have excellent speaking ability, learn quickly and can speak hundreds of words and phrases.
- A good rule of thumb on cages is the larger, the better. Be sure your new bird has plenty of room to stand up, move around and avoid hitting its tail feathers on the sides. Old cages are not a good choice, as they may be painted with lead-based paint.
- A bird tree is a great idea for your bird. A cage is best when you are not at home, but if you can keep an eye on your bird, a bird tree is a wonderful choice.
- Deodorants, hair spray, perfumes, carpet deodorizers and fresh housepaint can be harmful to birds. Also, do not keep birds in the kitchen--fumes from nonstick pans can be toxic to them.
- Don't forget bird toys. A bored bird can be dangerous to itself and its environment. Choose several bird toys that look colorful and interesting. Ask your local bird-shop employee to recommend a few.
Guests Dr. Bernadine Cruz
Veterinarian, Laguna Hills Animal Hospital
Laguna Hills, CA
Phone: 949-837-7333
Website:
lagunahillsanimalhospital.com Also in this Episode
