Monday, December 14, 2009

Accessories For Canary Cage ІІ

After situating your cage or aviary, you should equip it with all the necessary things so your pet bird to be healthy, well fed, and entertained.

SANDPAPER
Avoid sandpaper sheathes never-theless they are often sold in pet shops. They become soiled and moist easily.

WOODEN
Made of different woods, they are fine if they are naturally shaped wavy, gnarled wooden with some texture to them. Canaries don’t chew on the wood, so they last for a long time.

CAGE COVER
If you like hearing bird song in the morning and if your house isn’t drafty then actually you don’t really need a cage cover. On the opposite if you want to put your bird to bed at a reasonable hour, then you’ll have to cover the cage at night and to uncover it in the morning. You can use a dark sheet or cotton blanket or you can buy a custom-fitted cover to cover your canary in the evening.

CAGE SUBSTRATE
You should cover the bottom of the cage or the tray with an easily removable substrate, which can be cleaned easily. There are such products on the market are but they are a waste of money because there is one simple, not harmful and most tidy substrate - plain old newspaper. And the newsprint contains chemicals which prevent bacteria growth and is highly absorbent.
You can find on the market substrates for birdcages like corncob pellets, pine shavings, and recycled newspaper bedding but be careful with them because your bird may swallow them and become ill, even die . Also, they don’t allow you to see bird’s droppings, which is very important to keep him healthy. You should observe the droppings for example there could be blood, worms or undigested food. You can see these things on a newspaper but not on the other types substrates. You also do not need the sandpaper “cutouts”. Save your money for bird treats instead.

SEED CATCHERS
You will need some kind of debris and seed catcher on your cage. Not all cages have these so you’ll have to buy them. A thin layer of plastic can be used for this purpose which you should attach to the bottom half of the cage. Another option is a ”birdie bloomer” which is a kind of fabric shower cap and you can use it to slip over the bottom of the cages. The tidiest cages are those which have a seed skirt as part of the cage stay.


CUTTLEBONE AND MINERAL BLOCK
The cuttlebone is a type of squid which actually adds calcium to the canary diet, the same does the mineral block. The amount of calcium depends on how much the canary likes either of these. They also keep the beak trim. You can find cuttlebone and mineral block in the bird accessory aisle in the pet shop, they are inexpensive and easy to get, so it is good to include them.


Accessories For Canary Cage I

After situating your cage or aviary, you should equip it with all the necessary things so your pet bird to be healthy, well fed, and entertained.

FOOD AND WATER BOWLS
They are often called “coop cups”. Your cage probably has a coupe of metal or plastic cups. Plastic is not good as it can be scratched, and it allows bacteria grow in. Stainless steel is the best material for coop cups as it’s easy to disinfest and scrub.
You can feed and water your canaries with on-demand or tube-style cups, but you should service them regularly because they can get dirty and clogged if. Hooded feeders are better as they prevent a lot of mess, it is not sure that your canary understands that there’s food beneath the hood and might starve.
If you do not want your floor to be full of seeds, buy a perch/cup combo which is normally placed at the end of a long perch and the cup isn’t against the cage bars so your canary will spill the seed into the cage tray not onto the floor while searching for his favorite seeds.
You can use simple clothespins for hanging veggies and millet spray as a canary is unlikely to get his beak caught in them. Clips should be used only outside of the cage.

BIRD BATH
Canaries love to bathe. They will bathe in the water dish, Offer a daily bath to your canary as it is known that they love bathing in flat, shallow dishes like clay or plastic dishes which people usually put beneath a flower pot or ashtrays or you can get a shallow bathing dish from your local pet shop. It is better to use a type of enclosed bath hanging from the cage’s door as it keeps the water inside and the cage doesn’t get too damp.

TOYS
Canaries do not need a lot of toys but they enjoy certain types of toys, like ringing a small bell or pecking at a mirror. The parakeets toys especially the plastic toys are generally suitable for canaries. Wooden chewing toys are not favorite to canaries. Look for toys that incorporate mirrors, shiny and bright objects, bells and moving parts. They should be made for small birds. Too large toys can are a danger to little toes and the bird may get his head stuck in a ring.
Canaries love swinging, so put a few swings in a different sizes and materials.

PERCHES
In order to have foot heath canaries should have a variety of perches. This is exactly the same like people who need a variety of shoes. If people wore the same pair of shoes everyday and all the time day their posture, feet, and gait would suffer. It’s the same for birds. The same is with canaries - their feet can become raw and sore, touching the same places everyday. Here are a few types of perches.

PLASTIC
Not the best but easy to clean and last a time.

ROPE
They are in a variety of sizes and bend to fit the shape of the cage. Be careful with fraying rope, and cut all loose ends as there is a risk to wind around a neck or led.

SAND AND CONCRETE
Place these high in the cage toward the back as birds like to sleep on them. They are great because they keep the toenails in shape, and birds also love to swipe their beak back and forth on them to keep it in a good condition.

Canary Housing Placement

If you want your canary inside your home, it is better for him to be in a room with some activities, this could be the family room or living room. Places, prone to temperature changes and fumes like the bathroom, the garage or the kitchen are bad idea. The child’s room is also not a great idea because he can be inundated with too much or less activity depending on if the child is at home or at school.

Put the cage on a freestanding and sturdy base or onto a piece of furniture. Also the bird’s cage can be hung with a chain from the ceiling, but be careful not to put it onto a hanging stand, where there is a chance that another pet can topple it . The place the bird cage should be as higher as it is possible because birds are nervous if they’re too low and can’t observe the area for predators.

It is better to place the cage against one wall which gives the bird a measure of security. If the cage is out in the open, you should cover one or more sides of the cage with a solid material such as heavy cloth or wood.

Do not put the bird up against the window because your canary could be frightened as he can not escape from of what he sees as a life-threatening danger. Also too much sunlight can overheat your canary. If the area around the window is drafty in the wintertime your bird can become too cold. Also you should avoid the risk that someone sees your bird through the window and steals him.

Some people have dedicated a whole room to their birds, usually known as the “bird room” which is normally well equipped with NEPA filters and ventilated. Paint the walls in the bird room with nontoxic, fresh and free from chipping, paints. The windows of the “bird room” should be double screened to be sure that your bird can not get out and that predators can not come in. You can use pine wood chips or tiles for the floor that you can easily sweep up each week when they become soiled.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Avian Adventures Bird Cages

Midwest Homes for Pets and Avian Adventures provides their customers the most innovative bird cages with the best quality on the market.They combine Avian Adventures innovation and Midwest quality in order to the best bird cage at the lowest price. Their lines of high-end bird cages are designed to satisfy your bird’s needs and its comfort and safety are the main priorities. Their cages have stainless steel bowls for food and water with an access from outside and they are very well designed. They ship their cages with natural hardwood perches which can be found in South East and are constructed from “Yellow Cow” hardwood . They produce powder coated cages in attractive colors which fit with any home décor. These cages provide your pet bird a comfortable, safe environment and an environment to exercise and moreover they are very good looking.

Some of their cages have a doom which provides more space for your pet bird to move around and stretch the wings inside the cage. The playtop which gives your bird the chance to get out of the confined cage space has natural hardwood perch, removable tray, stainless steel water and feed bowls and a toy hook for your bird’s entertaining. What ever pet bird you have, they have the perfect cages for it.
Avian Adventures is one of the most well known bird cage companies in the world today, and for good reason too. They manufacture high quality bird cages that are assembled using no bolts, tools, or screws. Plus, their cages are made in beautiful colors that other brand names don't offer. Avian Adventures bird cages come in multiple sizes and styles. Their smallest model, the Nina Dometop Cage, works great for small birds like Finches & Canaries. Their largest model, the Hacienda, is great for large birds like Hyacinth Macaws.

Avian Adventure Bird Cages are especially known for their lift-off play top bird cages. Unlike other play top bird cages, these playtops can be removed from the cage and placed on a stand or table, away from the cage. Your bird will love the change of scenery while still enjoying the security and familiarity of his or her playtop.
The following is general information on what to look for when comparing Avian Adventures bird cages as well as other brands.

• Avian Adventures bird cages come in a wide variety of styles, sizes and colors and they are made from either mild steel with a powder coat finish or 304 grade stainless steel. All powder coat finishes on Avian Adventures bird cages are bird-safe and have a 6-month warranty covering defects in manufacturing. Historically, Avian Adventures bird cages have been particularly popular with parrots and parrot owners. Some people don’t realize that in addition to parrot bird cages, they make premium quality bird cages for all breeds.

• If you have multiple birds or if you breed birds, then surely you have heard of Avian Adventures Multi Vista Stackers for multiple birds. These stackable & breeder bird cages are designed for maximum versatility and even creativity. You can buy a base unit and later on buy expansion units to make multiple cages. Or, you could make a really big cage because the panels separating the units can be removed! We won’t say the sky’s the limit, but you do get a lot of options with Avian Adventures Multi Vista Stackers for multiple birds.

• For fewer birds you might consider the Avian Adventures Nina which comes in a dometop or with a Liftoff Playtop. These cages are ideal for parakeets, small conures, finches, canaries, cockatiels and lovebirds.

The best selling models for small to medium sized parrots are the Avian Adventures Chiquita Cage with Liftoff Play top as well as their Chiquita Dometop Bird Cages. Both models are ideal for senegals, conures, quakers, lories, caiques and pionus.

• All Avian Adventures bird cages come with natural wood perches made of mangrove or yellow cow wood, which are lighter yet harder than manzanita. Real wood perches have various widths and textures that occur naturally, and that promotes foot health. If a bird has access to only one size perch he or she will be at risk of foot cramping or even pressure sores.

• Part of what makes a cage “suitable” is that it is roomy enough to provide your pet with more than just breathing space. It’s cruel to confine an animal in an area that doesn’t have ample space. Can you imagine living hour after hour, day after day, year after year, in a space that doesn’t allow a little walking around?

So the bottom line is that if you want your feathered friend to be happy in his or her home, it is best to get the roomiest cage your budget allows. America’s Pet Store carries the full line of Avian Adventures bird cages, so we will definitely have a nice selection for you from which to choose.

If you can’t find an Avian Adventures bird cage that is large enough and fits your budget, you might want to browse our Discount Bird Cages section to check out what’s on sale at America’s Pet Store.

• Interior space is not the only dimensions you’ll need to consider. For example, for safety purposes it is of the utmost importance to follow recommendations on the amount of space needed between the bars for a specific breed. If there is too much space, your bird could get stuck in between, or even escape and get lost or injured. If there is not enough space between the bars, a wing, beak or foot could get stuck and could cause injury.

It is also important to choose the appropriate gauge or thickness of the bars themselves. If they are too thin or flimsy, birds could bend them or even break them. Follow recommendations for minimum bar gauge for your breed of bird.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Setting Up The African Grey Cage

Position the cage with its back against a wall as all cages are made of wire on all sides and they do not have very solid section and your bird to be able to see out of a window how other birds come and go. This way the bird will feel safer and more interested. Do not put the cage in full sun as the bird could be overheated. Put it high enough the top perch is at your eye-level. If your bird is often nervous, increase the height of the top perch so that the bird looks down on you. If the cage has a drill just above its floor-tray, remove it because the bird should have access to the floor which you should cover with newspaper sheets and change it day.

HOW TO FIT DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERCHES

There should be a various types of perches with different thickness in the cage to be sure that the bird exercises its feet properly. Most cages are supplied with excessive thick perches Parrots have a special locking mechanism in their feet to grip the perch with little effort which does not work on thick perches. The best (top) perch for a grey, will be about ¾ in (2 cm) in diameter. The bird can wrap its toes around the perch. Other perches can be thinner or thicker. Choose perches from any natural untreated hardwood such as hawthorn, maple, hazel, willow and ash or you can choose rope perches of natural fibers such as jute, cotton, or hemp. Avoid softwood and plastic perches. Perches should be disposable items to be renewed frequently as almost all birds chew the perches to exercise their beak. It will be great if you have two sets of perches for each cage as they quickly get dirty so you will always have a spare set when it is necessary. Sometimes it is advisable to have an abrasive perch to keep a bird’s claws less sharp but place it low down in the cage if your grey need fairly sharp claws to grip smooth surfaces properly.

HOW TO FURNISH THE CAGE

Make the cage as interesting as possible, with different toys in it like larger hanging toys and smaller foot toys. The hanging toys have longer life than the second but they also can be destroyed by the bird. You should keep a collection of hanging toys. Accommodate three hanging toys of it in the cage at a time to keep your bird interested and change them every few days and your bird will not be bored. Foot toys are often a bird’s favorite toys as they are small enough for the bird, they are designed not to be long-lasting.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Marvelous Bird Cages

There is a new bird cages brand which is called Marvelous Pet Supplies.These are top quality bird cages which look like pieces of art. Every single cage reaches for higher quality and higher standards, functionality and style. Bird owners should have something more than a simple bird cage and Marvelous bird cages are those which can accomplish this idea. They have rounded skirts, easy to clean and assemble two toned colors and patent pending unique designs. You can find more information at their Marvelous Bird Cage Selection.

Bird cages are essential for your pet bird as a good living environment. These bird cages are decorative and fully functional and they look great at your home. Marvelous Pet Supplies offers cages which cross style and functionality together. They can be assembled in even less than 15 minutes. Also they are very easy to clean. They have small, medium and large cages which are ideal for all kinds of birds, from cockatiels to parakeets, Amazons to conures, Macaws to Eclectus. Marvelous Pet Suppliesc develop great aviary products.


Marvelous Bird Cages are in all variety of Jasmines, Chateaus, Pavilions, Verandas, Bungalow and Gables. Also they are in different shapes – round or with rotating frames, all made for your birds' needs. Colors vary from black/beige to black/gray, green/gray or green/beige.
Click on the bird cage for more specifications and features.
You can buy online from BirdsComfort.com or at your local pet retail store as they work with independent pet shops, several retail chains and online pet shops. If you are not sure what bird cage to buy and where from or if you have any questions , you can contact admin@birdscomfort.com.

Friday, August 28, 2009

How to Keep Birds As Pets

Having Birds as Pets: Responsible Ownership of Pet Birds
There are a lot of people who think that if you want to have a pet bird, it is like buying it and sticking it in a cage. Owning pet birds is not just feeding them when necessary and sometimes changing their paper. You have to be very responsible if you have decided to keep birds as pets. Even if you consider to give them some bird toys, it does not mean that you will have healthy and happy pet bird.It is a great responsibility and if you really want to acquire a companion, think in advance whether you are able to handle.
Before you start, consider a few things which are important if you intend to have a pet bird and after that you have to make the final decision to keep birds as pets or to choose a different type of pet.

Think about the cost
Depending on what pet bird you are going to have and how big it is, the expenses are different. For example, the larger the cage is the more expensive it is. Also there are other supplies, be ready to pay for some additional things.
Not only the cage, the same is with the food- the larger your pet bird is the more food you will need for it. Probably you think that all this sounds really expensive and you are right, do not forget that there are also toys and maintenance of the cage, all of them very important.
There are unexpected costs, for vets, for example, who are maybe not very helpful with birds and you have to seek for an avian specialist who is very expensive.

Think about the time
You may think that you do not have free time to have a dog so you’d better have a pet bird because they do not require a lot of attention. You are wrong! Some people even do not have time for a nap, they will not have enough time for pets, either. For good bird health it is very important to handle them and play with them as much as you can.

Think about the space
Also there are a lot of people who think that birds do not require a lot of space and they are wrong again. The bigger your bird is the bigger space it needs, so be ready to move out some furniture. They also need to fly so if you do not have space for it, you’d better reconsider the things.
But do not forget the great advantage of having a pet bird - you can have a friend for life if you look after them properly, they are real characters and they bring joy and color in your home. Also they live long and they are commitment for a long period.