Investigations Of Parrot Sounds

Have you ever wondered whether or not those marvelous parrot sounds, human words for example, actually mean anything? Some researchers absolutely think they do. One African Grey parrot expert, Irene Maxine Pepperberg, has worked with two very famous parrots, the first whose name was Alex. Because of the huge vocabulary, of over 1000 words, she was able to teach him, and because he could work identically with other trainers, those in Pepperberg's camp believe that the more intelligent parrots are able to genuinely communicate.

Pepperberg and her colleagues use something called the Model Rival Technique, which requires two trainers, one to give the commands, the other to exhibit the desired behavior. The trainer, or parrot's rival, models both the desired and undesired behavior, and then the parrot is enticed to compete with the trainer for the commander trainer's attention. A deeply-seated animal instinct, rivalry can elicit lots of behaviors, and these behaviors, Pepperberg believes, prove that the brilliant birds have the ability to communicate.

Alex proved a marvelous student. Not only was he able to answer questions for his primary trainer, Ms. Pepperberg, but he was also equally able to answer other trainers as well. But not everyone is convinced. They base their disagreements on a case that occurred in 1907 and a phenomenon that came to be called the "Clever Hans" syndrome. A horse was seemingly trained to do arithmetic problems. At first the results seemed astonishing. But then it was discovered that the trainer was giving subtle clues that the horse picked up. Whether or not the clues were intentionally given, it was proved that the horse really couldn't do low-level math. The difference with Alex seems to be that he can answer the questions given by more than one trainer, and he can do it simply through sound without the trainer even being visible. So at this point you'll just have to decide for yourself!

Alex didn't live the long, full life he was expected to, and no one really knows what caused his demise. On September 6, 2007 he was found dead, but he has not been forgotten. Pepperberg created the Alex Foundation to make money to support her research with other African Grey's.

No matter what you believe about the parrot's ability to truly communicate, there can be no doubt about its intelligence and beauty. With a lot of patience, training, and love, they can do many things in addition to just making parrot sounds.

Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot   Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Finches Information: How to Feed Your Finches Correctly   Why Do Gouldian Finches Make for Great Pets?   

3 Steps for Keeping Finches As Pets

There are many different varieties of finches as pets but the common ones are the Society finches and the zebra finches. They remain favorites due to the fact that they are easier to care for and more flexible when compared to other varieties of finches which are more exotic like the Gouldian finches. Keeping Finches as pets are great for bird lovers who would like to keep a charming and magnificent looking bird. Their cheerful singing especially during the mating season is delightful. These birds generally have a cheerful disposition in life.

Color variations for finches as pets

It would depend on the breed and if they are male or female. For example, for zebra finches the males would have a bright red beak, chestnut flanks and black stripes on the chest. There would be slight differences and some of them can be solid whit to gray or have a pencil-line. Some of them have mutations as well as more color. The males are generally more colorful while the females would tend to have lesser variations so that they can easily blend it with the environment.

How do you select finches as pets?

You do not just decide to go inside a pet store and select the finches depending on the color. You would have to check if the bird is healthy. First look for signs of activeness and alertness. Recognize a healthy one by the way they sit, they should sit up tall on the perch with their tight feathering. Some of the birds will have pulled feathers but this is normal and not a sign of illness. If you are going to get a pair make sure that they are compatible at ease with each other without signs of attacking.

How to select a good and quality cage for keeping finches as pets?

If you only have one or two pairs then you can use the cage, the cage must not be made of brass and must be wide enough to have flying space. It must be located safely where it cannot be reached by too much sunlight in order to avoid over heat. It should also be away from too much cold. It must be of the perfect temperature in order for the finches to survive. If you have 3 or more pairs, then you would have to consider creating an aviary in your backyard. Keeping finches as pets you need to have a lot of flying space for their exercise and to prevent stress due to territorial concerns.

The bigger the cage, the better. Make sure that the design that you will make will be enough for all of them as well as for the coming younger birds. If you do not intend to let them multiply and just keep finches as pets, then you must not keep sets of males and females, you can try to place all females and males. For this to work, they must still have other birds to interact with even if they will not necessarily multiply.

Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot   Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   

Bird Feeding - A Cheap And Enjoyable Hobby

As the economy continues to deteriorate, families find themselves having to find entertainment and hobbies that they can afford and yet, still enjoy. As a result, more and more families are rediscovery birding or feeding birds as a fun inexpensive hobby.

Bird watching or birding, which is already one of the more popular past times in the country, is destined to become even more popular. Feeding birds has always been a hobby that many people without a lot of money enjoyed. Walk to any city park on a nice day and you may see city residents sitting on the park benches and dropping bread crumbs for the visiting birds. If you own a home, you can do the same thing in your back yard.

Feeding birds is a fun activity that the entire family can enjoy together - the adults as well as the children. You don't need to buy special expensive equipment, you don't have to spend a lot of money traveling to far away places, and you don't have to build your schedule around the timing of specific events. Birds are pretty much active at some sort of activity practically all times of the day giving you plenty of time to enjoy your past time.

The key to attracting birds to your yard is providing them with food. You can even aim towards attracting specific species of birds by placing their food favorites it your back yard feeders. When birds discover that your yard has food, which they eventually will, you may find your yard turning into a virtual aviary.

And, if you have trees or suitable nesting places nearby, you may even find some taking up residence in your back yard to be near the new source of food that they have discovered. You may find that watching some of these bird families are as much enjoyable a attending the latest romantic or action film in the movies.

Finding nourishment to give to the birds is not expensive at all. In fact, you can make quite a few of the recipes yourself. And, you don't have to provide all of the food that the birds eat, you are only supplementing it. It only takes a little food to attract them to your garden or yard.

Introducing your kids to feeding birds teaches them how connected we all are to nature and teaches them to respect it. Feeding birds is also an activity that brings the family closer together. If history is a guide, your kids will look back on this time you spent with them as some of the best times of their lives.

Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot   Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   African Grey Parrot Facts To Help Make Buying Decisions   Moluccan Cockatoo   

Pets - Deciding on a Type of Parrot

Having a pet is something that most people consider and love doing these days. We have to admit that having pets is one of the things that could help us get rid of stress which is why most people look for the best pets to take care of. In case you are looking for the best pets, you might want to consider getting your own pet parrot. There are different types of parrots and to help you choose one, here are some things that you should consider before getting one:

- You really need to make sure that you consider your parrot's diet since if your parrot has an imbalanced diet, there is a high risk that your parrot would get sick and might even result to death. You need to be able to consult your veterinarian to check out what kind of food would be perfect for your parrot.

- You also need to consider the lifespan of the parrot. Most of the time, pet owners have a hard time accepting the fact especially when it comes to the illness or death of their pets so be sure to pick those parrots that have a long life span. Losing a pet is just like losing a member of the family so you need to make sure that you pick those that live for a long time.

- It is also important that you know what type of parrot you want to consider as a pet. Parrots have different species and it is important that you have an idea on what particular species you wish to consider so you would be able to easily take care of it. You might need some help from breeders so they would be able to help you take care of your chosen parrot specie.

- You also need to consider the reason for getting a pet. If you plan to be a parrot breeder or not. If you wish to breed parrots, then you should consider getting some professional help and you should also ask what particular specie would be best for breeding purposes. In case you just want to have it as a pet, then you can also ask help so you would be able to take care of it properly.

These are just some of the things that you need to bear in mind before you consider having a pet parrot. Make sure to consider these things properly since it will help you take care of your pet properly.

Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot   Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Moluccan Cockatoo   Tips on Buying the Right African Grey Parrot Cage   

Raising Finch Birds

Raising finch birds can be the easiest thing you'll ever do, but it can also be the hardest. It all depends on how you've prepared yourself for the set-up. If you've done your reading and research even before you've taken your new pet home, then you will have been able to make the necessary preparations for them. Not only that, you will have also equipped yourself to handle any potential emergency or problem that you may possibly come across. This is how important preparation is! It can totally alter your experience with these birds!

If you've always wanted to keep finch birds, maybe for future breeding purposes, or simply for household pets, then you can start your education now. We have some invaluable tips on how to raise them right! Read up and learn a thing for too, so your birds go to a happy and healthy home.

Tips for Your Finch Birds

1. Understand the nature of the kind that you get- Finches are social animals, so they naturally look for companions. It would make no sense to buy a single bird. He or she would feel lonely, and probably die in a matter of weeks. Keep your finch happy and engaged by making sure that you get a pair, or even multiple finches.

2. Find out what your pets like to eat- research will tell you what most finch birds eat, but you can also use your powers of observation to see if they prefer one type of food over the other. While you're at it, please don't forget to give them enough water. Lack of either may kill them.

3. Find a way for your pet to get some exercise- a fat or obese finch would not be ideal for breeding. Not only that, in the same way that humans suffer from being fat or obese, finches may also encounter complications from having the same condition. A great way to get your finch birds moving would be to provide them with a spacious cage. Perches and swings are also great additions so they can get some exercise. Lastly, clever placement of their food and water containers may force them to move from one end of the cage to the other to get either.

All these tips amount to finches that are happy and healthy, and believe us when we say that these are the kinds of pet that you want! For more tips on raising finches, don't forget to check our site!

Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot   Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Finches Information: How to Feed Your Finches Correctly   Tips on Buying the Right African Grey Parrot Cage   

Parrot Stands For Every Feathered Friend

There is actually quite a bit to know about parrot stands before you make your choice. Some things, like the necessary size of the perches, are vital. Here is a standard to guide you: For the smaller birds like love birds, canaries, budgies, even finches, you need ones that are about 3/8" in diameter. For the medium-sized birds like African Grey Timenhs, senegals, cockatiels, or medium-sized conures, you need perches that are from 5/8" to 1". For the largest parrots, like Macaws, you need ones that are 1" to a ½" in diameter. Perch size is of vital importance for birds, because perching is the only method they have of supporting their body weight. They don't sit or lie like other animals.

When considering the kind of material you'd like your stand to be made up, you generally have 3 options, metal, java wood, or Manzanita wood. Each has its advantages. Metal ones can obviously come in many, many colors to match your décor, but if more natural is what you like, then one of the two woods is a better choice. Manzanita is especially beautiful because it has naturally curving branches that vary from end to end in circumference. You can even get it with bark for your parrot to chew.

Next you need to consider whether you want a table or a floor model. The size of your bird will largely determine this. Larger birds will naturally need floor models, and you must allow space for that before you even bring a new bird home.

Bird stands can come with many conveniences too, like rollers for moving them back and forth between rooms. It's extremely important that you allow your parrot to be in the room or rooms with the most activity because a bored parrot is a destructive parrot, to furniture, to family, and even to itself. Have you considered whether or not you will travel with your bird? You can get folding ones or ones that come apart, and this might be the best choice for you.

Even a decision as to whether you are willing to get the Manzanita with bark must be made. For your parrot's enjoyment, the bark could be well worth it. Manzanita wood is extremely hard and you won't have to worry about replacing it any time soon. There's a lot to know about parrot stands before you make that final choice.

Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot   Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   

Things To Know About an Outdoor Bird Cage

An outdoor bird-cage is a cage used for housing birds as pets. Birds are truly lovable pets. These incredibly beautiful creatures are very delicate and graceful. Having birds as pets is one of the most enjoyable hobbies. These lovable pets soon become an important part of your family. Birds love dark, comfortable and cozy homes. They also love to play a lot.

In case you are a proud owner of beautiful birds, you will want to give the best possible home to them. Keeping your birds in a comfortable outdoor bird-cage will make them feel relaxed. It will allow them to get fresh air and enjoy the natural surroundings. Further, birds housed in decorative outdoor bird-cages look even more attractive. Visitors and your family members can enjoy watching them during outdoor gatherings.

There are several reputable manufacturers who offer high quality cages suitable for all types of birds. Outdoor bird-cages are available in a variety of styles, designs, shapes and sizes. These cages are also available in customized designs to meet the specific requirements of bird owners.

In case you are planning to buy an outdoor bird-cage, it is preferable to consider few important things. The first thing you need to consider is the bar spacing. The bar spacing of the shelter should be narrow. The head of the birds should not fit between the bars. If the spacing between the bars is too wide, the birds can injure themselves, in an attempt of escaping.

It is also important to consider the size of the cage. It is advisable to purchase a bird shelter depending upon the breed and size of your birds. Large or medium-sized birds like larger cages. Small birds enjoy staying in small cages. Parrots usually enjoy playing with toys kept on their shelters. It is advisable to keep lot of toys and food in their shelters.

Also, make sure that the bird shelter you purchase is safe for your delicate pet. Ensure that there are no sharp edges in the bird shelter. Sharp edges in the cage can hurt the bird. Further, the cage should have enough space for the bird to spread its wings properly. Also, keep checking the food and water supply in the cage. It is important to have a continual water supply in the cage during summers. Without adequate water your pet can die from exhaustion.

Outdoor bird-cages are usually made from stainless steel or iron. They are either painted or powder coated. Painted bird-cages are likely to last longer than powder coated cages. Proper cleaning and maintenance can make these bird shelters to last for several years.

Humming Birds Don't Make Very Good Pets, But They Are Fun To Watch   Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot   Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   

Tips On Feeding Birds In Winter

You don't have to wear binoculars, an anorak and a dodgy hat to appreciate the beauty of birds.

A simple bird feeder in your garden will attract many different breeds like the Robin, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Chaffinches and many more. You will have continual visits from your winged friends if you can provide them with the right bird food for winter.

Water is another necessity for birds that people tend to forget in winter. With the cold weather we all assume water will be readily available but cold winters can mean dry winters and water of course freezes. So make sure there's a fresh, ice free, bowl of water in the garden every day for them to drink from and bathe in. Never feed them milk as they can't digest it. However cheese (grated if possible) is perfectly fine for birds and may attract new varieties of wildlife to your garden.

Selecting the right bird stand is your first job. Not all birds will use the perches on the stand, some will prefer to peck at fallen seeds or feed from individual hanging feeders. The more attention you pay to your visitors the more you will find out their habits and favourite feeding areas.

If you do buy a bird stand then I would suggest a sturdy one that isn't going to wobble. Birds tend to fly off at the first sign of an unstable stand. Place your table away from fences and walls, birds won't thank you if a feline intruder pounces whilst they're eating. Their survival instincts will alert them to any danger of movement and they will be unsure of returning.

Next is the food.

As insects aren't available to birds in the winter, seeds become their staple diet.

There are a lot of mixed bird seeds on the market which are bulked up. I tend to avoid anything with unnatural coloured lumps in them as they're usually dog biscuits which can't be eaten unless softened by soaking. A good mixture should contain millet, sunflower seeds and flaked maize. I also like to feed the obvious choice of peanuts as they are high in fats but don't feed them salted peanuts, it could kill them. As small birds can choke on whole peanuts, I usually crush them before putting them out.

Black sunflower seeds are fantastic all year long as well and they have a higher fat content than the striped sunflower seeds. It's advisable to put the richer seeds like Nyger and sunflower in feeders as they will be more expensive and you will lose a lot to the weather and other animals if you just scatter them on the ground. The Nyger seed contains more oil than your average seed and is high in calories, so perfect for winter feeding. As they aren't a cheap variety of seed you can always mix them in with others. You should find the number of Goldfinches in your garden increases with Nyger seeds.

Wet dog and cat food is a good substitute for earthworms in the cold weather and kitchen scraps can be used as they contain fats and carbohydrates that won't be found in bird seeds. However don't feed them cooking fat that has hardened from your Sunday roast as it will contain bacteria and salt that is unsuitable for birds. Instead use lard or beef suet. It's strongly advised from the RSPB not to leave the suet fat balls in nylon meshes as birds can get themselves caught. Instead put them in hanging feeders and keep them off the ground as you may attract unwanted mammals.

Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot   Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Moluccan Cockatoo   

Choosing the Right Cage for Your Parakeet

Parakeets are great pets. They are low maintenance, fun and can be easily tamed. Choosing your parakeet is the easy part, now it is time to choose a cage and supplies so your new friend can have a comfortable home. There are so many different kinds of cages, accessories, and supplies to choose from. So where do you start?

The first thing you will need is a cage. A cage is really important because you don't want to bring your parakeet home and have nothing for it to live in. Make sure that you choose a cage and set it up before you buy your parakeet. There are so many different cages to choose from and it is important to get a cage that's in you budget and that your parakeet will be happy in.

Cages come in all shapes, materials and sizes. The cage size depends on how many parakeets you will be getting. If you are getting two or three, I would suggest that you choose a much larger cage so that there will be plenty of room for your birds to fly and play in. If you are just getting one parakeet then there is no use in getting a huge cage for your small bird. Another thing to consider is, will your bird be in its cage most of the time or will you be letting your bird out? If your bird will be out of its cage often then it will be just fine living in a smaller cage. If it will be in the cage most of the time definitely consider getting quite a large cage so your bird can be more comfortable and have lots of room. There are many materials to choose from when picking a cage but the best cage for someone on a budget and for someone who likes easy cleanup is the metal cage. These cages are often a great deal and they are also so easy to clean because you can just wash them off and many of them come with plastic bottom trays that slide out and those are very easy to clean. Although metal cages are great for parakeets, other cages work great as well. There are many options to buy wood cages and also plastic cages. Wood cages have more of an aesthetic value to people who are using the cages as a decoration in their home as well as a habitat for their pet. There are also plastic cages that can be really easy to clean and can be a great deal as well.

Cages come in many different forms and shapes. Some are shaped like houses, some like a box, others are rounded at the top. Some cages are white, black and even rainbow. Overall, the shape of the cage does not matter just as long as your parakeet has enough room.

Make sure your cage has strong doors that lock because parakeets are pretty smart and some are cunning enough to open a cage door so just make sure the doors are fully closed and have no flaws in them when you purchase a cage. You will not need an actual lock on the door for your parakeet but be sure that the doors close all the way because parakeets can also squeeze through small openings.

A great way to save a lot of money and still get a quality cage is to buy one online. There are thousands of sizes, colors, and shapes to choose from and most are at the fraction of the cost if you were to but one at a pet store. You can also have custom made cages. Why pay for a cage at a pet store when you could get the same one online for half the price, right?

Overall, getting a parakeet cage is very important and can be a little overwhelming. But consider this article when you go looking for a cage so you can narrow down your search.

Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot   Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   

Tips for Choosing Finch Cages

Choosing the right finch cages and knowing how to set them will make a lot of difference in the long run. For one thing, this will ensure the safety of the finches. You cannot just take the birds home after you purchase them from a pet shop. Make sure that they would be protected from too much heat or cold during the transport process.

Once the finches experience too much heat inside the car they can die. If you will travel on a hot sunny day, make sure to place some towels and provide them shade. You can also use paper sheets if it's only for a short distance.

Finches should be given extra care during long trips. Do not take them on long trips without food or water for more than 4 hours because this could cause possible death. You also have to make sure that you place them somewhere dark enough to reduce the stress and the panic.

If you choose some finch cages, make sure that they are big enough. Do not shove all of the birds in just one cage. In fact, if you decide to keep 4 of them you need to have a 14" x 14" x 24" long with welded wire mesh preferably. In case the finches breed, you would have to transfer them to some finch cages that are bigger or create an outdoor aviary. In the aviary or cage make sure that they would have decent perches and make sure that you clean the cage regularly. The finch cages should also be wide enough for freedom of movement. The finches cages should have a place to eat, a place where they could drink and a place where they can remove their wastes and take a bath.

What is the diet of the finches?

After making sure that the finch cages are wide enough, you have to make sure to provide the birds with the right kind of food. The staple food of birds is millet. You can use the german millet or the proso millet. You can also train some finches to eat other seeds like safflower, oily sunflower, and oat groats as well as soaked cracked corn. You can also provide them at times with fruit like apples and peaches as well as some carrots and lettuce or whole wheat bread soaked in milk.

Make sure to provide them with a source of protein as well like boiled eggs. This is very important during the breeding stages.

You also have to make sure to provide the finches with food that contain Vitamin D3 and A. Vitamin D can be found in cod liver oil.

Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot   Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   African Grey Parrot Facts To Help Make Buying Decisions   

Humming Birds Don't Make Very Good Pets, But They Are Fun To Watch

Suffice it to say that humming birds don't make very good pets, and I know because I've tried. You see, these little combination of insect flight characteristics and bird bodies are so very independent. You cannot tell them where to nest or even suggest a good nesting place, they will seek out and pick a place they feel is safe, it might not be as safe as the one you pick, but it's their home and the way they want it. Stubborn little critters indeed, I'd say. Okay so, let's talk, because we all love to watch humming birds play, defend their nectar food supply and perform incredible flight maneuvers all day.

Now then, if you'd like to get the hummingbirds up close and personal then it makes sense to put a hummingbird feeder right outside your window, and if you are going to put up multiple feeders, you should put them in areas where as you stand under one you cannot see the other, but you will be able to see both from your vantage point when watching these little birds from your window. This is because the most dominant hummingbird will try to also find a vantage point and place to guard from, to prevent the other hummingbirds from homing in on his nectar supply.

Of course, if you have multiple feeders, you will have multiple hummingbirds guarding each one, and chasing away any of the others that come to feed. This becomes quite the territorial war, and it is ongoing and constant all day long, giving you hours of viewing. Hummingbirds like to come out in the morning, and also they come and feed just before dark sets in. Meanwhile during the day various hummingbirds will come and take turns guarding the supply.

When the hummingbirds are very young they often share the feeders if they are with the same nest, but eventually they start fighting over the feeders. They do the same thing with flower gardens or specific flower bushes that have the best nectar. Often little kids call them; "Zoom zooms" which might sound funny to you, but in essence that's what these little birds are as they zoom around all day. If you sit out on the patio near one of the feeders, they will occasionally zoom right past your head and you can listen to them accelerate as the buzzing sound moves to and from.

No, you can't make hummingbirds your personal pets, but you can watch them all day, and they will watch you as well. But mostly, they will be watching the feeder and they have eyesight like a hawk, they can see the other hummingbirds coming from a mile away, even before you do. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Buying A Baby African Grey Parrot   Parrot Illness Symptoms   4 Questions to Ask a Budgie Breeder   How Do Birds Stay Warm In The Winter   Tips on Buying the Right African Grey Parrot Cage