CAM - birds

• Companion birds


  Range from £15 to around £3000 depending on species and condition
• Purposes for keeping birds

  • Hunting
  • Companionship
  • Food
  • Sport
  • Deliver secret messages
• Psittacine


  Parrots, cockatiels, cockatoos, macaws. True parrots. Long lived - up to 60 years
• Passerine


  Perching birds, finches, canaries. Short lived 4-8 years
• Columbiformes


  Pigeons, doves. Racing, breeding, companionship. Can live over 15 years
• Raptors


  Birds of prey = owls, hawks, falcons. Often used for sport/ hunting. Larger birds live longer, eagle owl up to 50 years
• Where to house birds

  • Outside - if keeping raptors or columbines
  • Indoor - cage should be as big as possible
• Outdoor housing requirements


  1. Sheltered space, dry and draught free for nesting

  2. Flight area should have a range of perches

  3. Sufficient length and width to accommodate airborne movement

  4. Escape proof

  5. Intruder proof to prevent food debris attracting wild animals

  6. Birds receive health benefits from natural sunlight

  7. Higher risks of escape and theft
• Indoor housing requirements


  1. Cage should be as big as possible

  2. Horizontal space is more important than vertical space

  3. Out of cage time should be given if possible

  4. Cage should not be made of galvanised metal - zinc poisoning

  5. More perch space than there are birds

  6. Wooden perches are most desirable material

  7. Sand perches can cause pododermatitis (bumble foot)

  8. Cage should have a hiding place for the bird to feel secure

  9. Some birds may require UV light

  10. Encourage exercise and activity
• Location of indoor enclosure

  1. Somewhere there will be opportunity to interact with owner - living room

  2. Away from windows and doors

  3. Against an opaque wall is recommended

  4. Sudden movements outside can startle birds
• Substrates


  • Newspaper/ paper
  • Wood shavings
  • Corncob
  • Recycled paper
  • Shredded paper
• Issues with substrates


  • Respiratory problems
  • Gastrointestinal blockages
  • Mould growth
• Cleaning requirements


  1. Outdoor enclosures should be cleaned at least once a week

  2. Indoor cages should be cleared twice weekly

  3. Use disinfectant formulated for avian enclosures
• Diet requirements


  • Carnivores - day old chicks, rats, mice
  • Omnivores - variety of vegetable and fruit, pelleted diets, cuttlebone
• Issues with seed-only diets


  Can cause serious nutritional deficiencies and up to 90% of all avian veterinary causes
• Never feed - avocado, onions, rhubarb, garlic and squashes/ as they are toxic to birds
• Water


  Consider location carefully to avoid contamination, water bowls with covers are useful
• Birds


  • Very intelligent and social animals
  • Self mutilation takes the form of feather pucking, caused by serious mental distress
  • Enrichment is very important
• Handling birds


  Should not be restrained from the front, can use hand as perch or towel, 'claw' method for small birds, darkness can calm, ear defenders recommended for parrots
• Grooming birds


  Many birds enjoy being groomed, can help keep feathers in good condition, some birds like to be bathed or sprayed
• Nail trimming


  Most will require regular trimming, bird should be correctly restrained, use small animal nail trimmers, be careful to avoid the quick
• Beaks should rarely or ever need trimming, providing plenty of chewing material should keep the beak at the correct length
• Wing clipping


  Passerine and psittacines need their wings clipped to avoid escape, should be a 2 person operation, trim primary feathers but beware of blood feathers
• Health issues


  • Respiratory problems
  • Gastrointestinal issues - crop stasis
  • Beak deformities
  • Psittachine beak and feather disease (PBFD)
  • Chlamydia - zoonotic
  • Egg-binding
  • Cloacal papillomas
  • Parasites - mites and lice
• Carnivores


  • day old chicks
  • rats
  • mice
• Preparing carnivore food


  1. Eviscerate

  2. Remove limbs
• Carnivore food should be prepared before being given to the bird
• Make sure diet is varied and species specific
• Vitamin supplements should not be necessary if diet is balanced and of high quality
• Store food carefully to avoid poisoning
• Omnivores


  • Seeds
• Feeding seeds alone can cause serious nutritional deficiencies - cause up to 90% of all avian veterinary causes
• Birds need variety of vegetable and fruit
• Many birds prefer vegetable to fruit
• Suitable food items


  • apple
  • sweet potato
  • grated carrot
  • grapes
  • pumpkin
  • broccoli
  • spinach
  • mango
• Foods never to feed


  • avocado
  • onions
  • rhubarb
  • garlic
  • squashes
• Pelleted diets


  Offer higher levels of essential nutrients and can increase your birds lifespan, but are less palatable than traditional seed diets
• It is recommended to give birds a cuttlebone
• Cuttlebone


  Provides extra calcium and iodine to diet
• All birds will benefit from cuttlefish bone in their enclosure