Hello bird lovers! Are you thinking about obtaining your first bird or perhaps adding a new bird to your
collection? If so, try contacting some of your local breeders right here in Jupiter. We are an excellent source of knowledge in all facets of bird ownership. Our
opinions are unbiased and come from experience and the heart. It is always best to do research on various
birds before jumping in and purchasing the first little bundle of feathers that catches your eye. There are so
many different types of pet birds available to us, and each offers its own special characteristics. While pet
shops will often have a wide variety of birds, not all are able to give accurate pictures of what to expect with
each species. [If you don't live near Jupiter, FL, check out some of the local breeders near you. Or look in our Pet Links Directory - Editor]
Most breeders, like myself, are primarily concerned with seeing their birds go to good homes where they will be
cared for and loved for the duration of their lives (which can span anywhere from 10 years to 40, or 50 or
more, depending on species!) It is important to also know the needs of the bird you are interested in. For
example, some types of birds are known for their love of interaction with their person, while others are quite
content living in spacious aviaries and admired from afar, not necessarily handled. Some birds are “talkers”
while others are “lookers”. It is always a good idea to speak to a wide variety of breeders, bird owners and
avian veterinarians before making a hasty purchase.
There are many advantages of purchasing a bird from a local breeder. A good breeder will socialize the bird
properly. If you decide to purchase a bird your breeder should guarantee against life-threatening conditions
that can be tested, such as polyoma virus, psittacine beak and feather disease and congenital abnormalities.
You should have your bird examined by an avian vet within days of purchase. A good breeder will stand behind
what they sell. Even if your bird is checked out to be healthy you should quarantine it from your currently
owned birds for a minimum of 30 days to be sure it is disease-free. Although the risk of your bird having one
of the above mentioned diseases is somewhat rare, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Many of you who live in the Jupiter area may already be familiar the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. This fine organization operates towards to goal of
rehabilitation and eventual release of injured Florida wildlife that is brought to them. If an animal is unable to
be repaired and released, it is often used for education. Many programs have been brought to schools and
organizations over the years by Busch Wildlife. Should anyone have an emergency situation with wildlife, or
even their pet bird or exotic after normal veterinary hours, David Hitzig, the Director, has offered their assistance to us. He can
be reached at 561-575-3399. We are very fortunate to have this type of organization available to our community. [For those of you who would like to find a wildlife sanctuary or rehabber near you, an excellent site to check is Wildlife Rehabilitation Information Directory -Editor]
For the Jupiter Bird Breeders Connection call 561-743-5616.
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Finches: Little Jewels
There are many different species of finches, we will narrow the scope down to what we feel are the most
popular and readily available in the pet trade, the society (or Bengalese), zebra and the Lady Gouldian. The
finch makes an excellent pet for bird-watching purposes. If you obtain a finch it is recommended to get more
than one as they are social and do enjoy the company of other members of their own flock. Finches tend to be
hyperactive fast flyers. For this reason it is suggested to house them in as big a cage as possible. Silk foliage
is also widely used in their cages, in addition to being decorative, it provides them with hide-out spots and
privacy. They can provide countless hours of in-house bird watching entertainment.
The society finch was actually derived from one or more Asian finches originally kept by the Chinese. Typically
they are the least costly of all the finches and are extremely easy keepers. Males and females look the same.
The usual color mutation is a chestnut and white. Their singing is not particularly melodious, more like a
warbling. They will breed with little effort, using either a wicker basket or a nesting box. They are not
aggressive birds and do well in colonies provided there is sufficient flight space.
The zebra finch is native to Australia. These a busy little birds who will make a peeping sound throughout the
day. Like the society, they are prolific breeders also. Males can be told apart from females by the orange
patches on their cheeks. They also do best in a colony with ample flight space.
The last, and most often favored, Lady Gouldian. They are often referred to as the “Cadillac” of the finch
world. The most common colors would be the black headed, the red headed and the yellow headed. The breast
is a lilac, with remaining underparts deep-yellow to orange-yellow, running into white around the leg area. The
back is grass green and tails are light blue and black. The males are known for their beautiful singing. As with
all the finches, they do best set up in a large flight cage. The finch diet consists mainly of commercially
prepared seed mix, pellet and fruits and vegetables. Cuttlebone and fresh water should always be
available.
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Lovely Lovebirds
This bird is in the parrot family and they have been kept as pets for over 400 years. There are nine species in
all and they are native to Africa. These birds are about 6 inches 
long, making them about the same size as a
budgie. The “normal” or the color most often found in the wild has a dark green body, iridescent blue rump and
a bright reddish face, otherwise known as the Peach Face. Some other more common types you may run across
are the masked and the Fischers. In captivity lovebirds come in a wide variety of colorful mutations.
Lovebirds make great pets, their small size and relatively low price make them an ideal first pet. They will
form a strong bond to those family members who handle them frequently and reach a life expectancy of 12 to
15 years. It is best to acquire your lovebird just after it has finished weaning. Some people have heard and
believe that lovebirds should be kept in pairs. Actually a lovebird will be more affectionate and less inclined to
be nippy if it is kept as a single pet. As long as you are going to spend a lot of time with your bird out of its
cage, you will substitute as its companion.
The best diet for the lovebird is a pelleted diet with a mixture of fruits and vegetables. They are also partial
to fresh cut corn on the cob cut into 1-inch rounds, leafy greens, carrots and yams. Also be sure to remove
these foods from the cage before having a chance to spoil, this is particularly important in our hot south
Florida climate. Cuttlebone should always be provided to all birds as a source of calcium. Water supply is best
provided by a fountain attached onto the cage as they tend to mess up a water bowl quickly.
Cage requirements should be as large as possible. Lovebirds enjoy playing, so toys are also necessary. They
enjoy chewing soft wood and like swinging from rings and ropes. It is important to remember to keep wings
trimmed in order to prevent injury due to household collision. Also, remove leg bands so they do not become entangled in toys and cause leg fractures.
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Playful Budgies
This is an extremely popular little bird which like the cockatiel is native to Australia where they live in
communal flocks. Due to the diverse climate of Australia, they are also a hardy bird, which quickly
adapts to most lifestyles. Budgies are not a type of bird that is hand fed from a breeder. Typically they
are raised by their own parents and are ready to go at about 8 weeks. It is best to purchase a budgie
under three months of age to have the greatest chance of successful training.
You can usually distinguish a young bird from an older one by physical characteristics. A young Budgerigar has a smooth cere, black stripes (except for the light colored types) on the forehead (giving the term "bar-head" for a immature Keet), and a completely black eye. Within six months, the forehead is white or yellow and the eye has a white iris. The male's cere (the area above the beak around the nostrils) remains smooth. The hen's darkens in color and becomes crusty and flakey in appearance, not to be confused with a mite infestation. This is a normal sign of sexual maturity and can be used to differentiate the genders in Albinos and Lutinos, where cere color is no help.
In general, the color of a budgie's cere is the simplest indicator of sex in adult budgies: males are blue, and females are white, light beige, reddish, or brown. While it is fairly accurate, the color of the cere cannot always be used to sex a budgie. With some color varieties, like albinos, lutinos, fallows, and some recessive pieds like harlequins, both males and females have beige or pink colored ceres. Other visual sexing methods include females having an almost invisible, whitish rings around their nostrils, and males having more rounded, bulbous ceres, both of which are often hard to recognize to the untrained eye. And many people also say that females bite harder than males and that males have rounder heads while females heads are more flat on the top.
The budgie’s wings should
be clipped so that it will not panic and fly away from you during the training sessions. When you first get
your budgie you should spend some time each day holding it close to your chest and letting it wiggle out
of one hand and crawl into another, this is a great beginning for building a trusting relationship. Your
budgie breeder can help you with training tips. These little guys train in a relatively short period of time
and can even be taught to do tricks and become talented talkers. One budgie of record was known to
repeat over 100 words! Always remember to be patient with your bird and to go at its pace rather than
your own.
Cage housing for these birds should be big enough to allow flapping of wings, playing with toys and
climbing activities. Budgies fly horizontally so it is best to look for a cage that offers length over height.
Your bird should be in an area of the house where it will see a lot of the family, i.e. a den or family room.
Do not put your bird in the kitchen area where it could possibly be affected by cooking fumes. It also
should not be in an area where it could experience extreme temperature change, i.e. a full-sun window
that may get very hot in the summer especially. Budgie diet is ideally formulated pellet with some limited
amounts of seed and vegetable. A seed diet may seem OK for a couple years, but ultimately the bird will die
as a result of the excesses and imbalances that are found from the seed diet.
An avian checkup is recommended on an annual basis and routine wing trims are essential. As with
most birds, the budgie will bond quicker to you if it is a single bird. If you have a busy lifestyle and feel
you would not have a lot of time to interact with your bird, you may want to consider having two as they
are flock birds and do like companionship. The typical lifespan is two to seven years.
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The Charming Cockatiel
These little birds are in the parrot family. These birds are affectionate and adaptable to most
lifestyles. Usually they remain tame for throughout their lives as long as they are handled
frequently. They are best when purchased immediately after weaning.
Cockatiels are native to Australia and are adapted to a harsh, arid desert environment with
temperatures that range from 40 to 110 degrees F. Typically they are a very hearty bird, but
like all birds can suffer from various heath problems. The most common concerns for the
cockatiel might be psittacosis, bacterial and yeast infections, giardiasis and parasites. A lab
test is required to assure that your pet does not have any of these conditions. Bacterial and
yeast infections are common and treatable. Giardia is more common in warmer climates. It is
important to keep that water and food bowl clean.
Cockatiels come in a wide variety of color mutations. Their average life span is 15 to 20 years.
Some males will talk, especially if they are the only bird in the family. If your bird does talk
there is a good chance that it will learn several words or phrases. They love to whistle, and
once taught a tune will never forget. Unfortunately, the females are quieter, but that could
also be an advantage to some owners.
Cockatiels remain popular with 40-50% of bird owners having at least one. Their affordability,
adaptability and wonderful personalities keep them as an all time favorite.
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The Cute Quaker
The Quaker (or Monk) Parakeet is actually a small parrot. It is unusual in that it is the only nest builder in the parrot
family. Their nests can reach immense proportions. These birds are native to Argentina. The Quaker parrot
has grown in popularity over the years due to its usually inexpensive price, their talking abilities and their
clownish behavior. They were named as one of the ten top birds to own in a Bird Talk Magazine reader’s survey
in 1998.
The Quaker Parakeet is usually about 11 inches in length. Its forehead and neck are light gray and
the main body plumage is light green. They can also be found in blue and yellow mutations, but are significantly
more costly and hard to find. Their average life span is 15 years. The Quaker is a very hardy bird and over the
years have established feral populations in the United States as far North as Chicago. Because authorities
fear that the parakeet will take over the ecological spots of some of our native songbirds, this species has
been outlawed as a companion bird in some states and strictly regulated in others. There are no legal
restrictions in the State of Florida; however, in the State of Connecticut, for example, they are legal to own
but illegal to sell. The Quaker may be brought in from out of state as a pet there, but breeding is illegal as is
selling. A permit is also required.
Quakers can be talented talkers capable of large vocabularies. They can sing songs, but also have the capability of coming forth with ear-splitting screeches at times. The average age for a Quaker to speak its
first words is 4 months. Like a lot of birds, they are capable of bad moods, hormonal mood swings and
territorial cage aggression. They will usually build a strong and loyal bond to the person who spends the most
time with them and handles them often. They are best obtained right after weaning.
It is also important to
begin a training program with the Quaker as early as possible. The “up” command should be taught and the
bird should be kept below your eye level so that it does not develop the attitude of being the “boss”. Cage
requirements for this bird should be at minimum 20” x 20”. A large cockatiel or conure cage is best. Outside
access to food cups is necessary as the Quaker is very protective of its cage. Diet should consist of pellets, and
fresh fruits and vegetables. Seeds may be offered as an occasional treat but they are too high in fat, and low in necessary vitamins and minerals to be the main source of the diet. A low-fat diet is necessary as these birds can be prone to fatty-liver disease.
Thanks for visiting. I'll see you again next month!
Preventing Bird Accidents
Instead of doing a bird profile this month, I have decided to outline in brief what I feel are the top most
causes of accidents to pet birds. I know a lot of my long time bird owning friends out there are pretty
familiar with these issues, but I hope to help some new bird owners to become aware of some situations they
may not have considered.
First of all is the issue of wing-trimming. Although this can be a controversial issue, and very often a personal
one between bird and owner, the general consensus is that wing-trimming is in the best interest of your bird’s
safety. Aside from household collisions, you run the risk of losing your bird. Please try to avoid the
temptation of taking your bird outside on your shoulder. Trust me, even the best-tamed most loving bird will
not remain on your shoulder should something unforeseen such as a strange sound or movement scare it. The
chances of getting your bird back are slim. I do know of such cases, but they were out of sheer luck. Please
do not take the chance of the heartbreak. Wing-trimming at an experienced avian veterinary office is your
best bet. Please call for recommendations.
It is highly likely that if you own a pet bird you also own other animals. Even if your pet dog or cat has never
acted aggressively towards your bird, it should not be trusted. Never leave your bird unattended outside its
cage. A cat puncture by tooth or nail can result in a fatal infection due to the type of bacteria found within
the cat’s system. Birds will become septic within 24 hours and die. Seek medical attention asap.
Open areas of water such as toilets, sinks, fish bowls, etc. can result in drowning. Do not let your bird near
the swimming pool unattended. Even if your bird should survive a swim in the pool it is always recommended to
have it examined by an avian veterinarian as serious alterations of the blood can occur. Do not deprive your
bird of fresh, clean water. In our climate the water should be replenished several times a day to prevent
bacterial contamination.
Toxic fumes are always a consideration. Birds should be kept away from the kitchen, especially during
cooking. Teflon fumes released are extremely dangerous. Do not use the self-cleaning function on your oven
unless your birds are OUT OF THE HOUSE. Extremely toxic fumes are released during this process and will
kill your bird, as well as other small pets.
Other toxic fumes can come from air fresheners, cleaning products, pesticides, and other household products.
Boiling water and a hot stove are other kitchen hazards and can cause serious and life-threatening burns. The kitchen, while you're cooking, is no place for a bird.
Second hand smoke can lead to a variety of health problems for your bird, namely, eye, skin irritation,
coughing, sneezing and sinusitis. A bird owner who smokes should always wash their hands before handling
their bird as nicotine from fingers can be absorbed into a bird’s feet, which can lead to contact dermatitis. It
is best practice not to smoke around your birds. It is best to smoke outside, as your air conditioner can circulate smoke.
A list of toxic plants and foods is available through this site,
along with a wide variety of additional pet information. It is a good idea to
familiarize yourself with items on this list in order to keep your bird from coming in contact with them.
Hand-feeding accidents do occur involving incorrect mixing, storing and administering of the hand-feeding
formulas. Babies must be kept at proper temperatures. Bacterial infections can prove fatal. Therefore,
hand-feeding of baby birds is best kept to the hands of a skilled breeder. If you are interested in the
breeding process, I suggest picking up various books that are available at local pet stores, libraries, and the
lending library at Harmony Animal Hospital. We have a network of knowledgeable breeders also available to
you simply by giving me a call at 561-743-5616.
Due to our South Florida hot, humid climate, heat exposure should always be a consideration. Even though a lot
of our pet birds are from warm tropical climates, they cannot tolerate excessive heat. Always be aware if you
place your bird’s cage outside, that the sun’s position will change throughout the day and even in a very short
period of time, with no place to escape the sun’s direct rays, a bird may rapidly develop hyperthermia and die.
If a bird should become overheated, it will pant and hold its wings away from its body. A safe way to lower its
temperature would be to gently mist with room temperature water starting from the feet up. All my birds
enjoy a gentle misting, especially on a warm afternoon, they will hold their wings high up in the air as if to say
“boy this feels GREAT, try it!”
Other household hazards include ceiling fans and large pane glass doors and windows.
All birds who have been hand-trained will enjoy their quality time out of the cage, and it is important for their
physical and emotional well-being, but please do not forget that they are out on the loose and always bear in
mind the dangers that your house presents to an unsupervised bird. Accidents only take a few seconds and
can be prevented.
Once again, anyone interested in a new baby bird or simply talking to one of our breeders just needs to give
me a call and we’ll get you connected! Thanks for reading.
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