Springtime is all about change, and if you haven't been paying much attention to your bird lately, then now is the time to turn your routine around -- spring is here and that means that your bird is going to be needing top notch care more than ever. Spring means more than warm weather to pet birds, it means breeding season, altered dietary requirements, and skin and feather issues, just to name a few. Discover some simple ways to deal with all these issues in the tips discussed in this article. Doing so will help both you and your bird enjoy springtime to the fullest extent!
Do a thorough cage-cleaning.
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Take "spring cleaning" to a whole new level by thoroughly cleaning your bird's cage. Scrub in between every bar, clean around and underneath the bottom cage tray, scrub the floor grate, and scour the cage's stand and the walls around it. Taking time to do so will help eliminate the buildup of bacteria that can occur, even with regular cleaning. Giving your bird's cage a nice deep-cleaning can help prevent several different types of bacterial and fungal illnesses. It's a good idea to do this not only in the springtime, but at the beginning of every season of the year.
Pay close attention to feather care.
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Your bird's feathers are important parts of his or her anatomy, and they need extra special care inn order to cope with the demands that springtime puts on them. When the weather begins to warm up, your bird will likely experience a molt, which will cause your bird to shed his or her old feathers and replace them with newly grown ones. Pay extra attention to your bird during the molt -- any abnormalities can be indicative of dietary or other types of health problems, and should be checked out by a vet.
Watch for signs of hormonal behavior.
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As soon as the temperatures start to heat up outside, avian tempers seem to flare, and this is because of the seasonal hormonal surge that parrots and other birds exhibit during the spring months. In the wild, these hormones signal bird that mating season has begun, so in captivity, pet birds may display many behaviors that are wildly out of character for them, such as biting, territorial displays, and more. Hormonal behavior problems can be a pain to deal with, but it's important to exercise patience and realize that it is no more fun for your pet bird than it is for you.
Feed your bird a nutritious diet.
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Keeping up with providing a nutritious diet for your pet bird is more important than ever during the spring months. The hormonal processes and new feather growth that birds experience during spring can be extremely taxing on their bodies, so it's a good idea to give your bird's nutrition a boost whenever possible during spring. Try offering your bird some new fresh foods that will provide your pet with flavor, variety, and a healthy dose of extra vitamins. If you're feeling creative, you can even use nutritious foods to create new recipes custom tailored to your bird's tastes to help keep things exciting for your pet.
Make sure your bird gets plenty of exercise.
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Normally for a bird, warm weather, raging hormones, and advanced nutrition needs means more exercise in the wild. In captive pet birds the same holds true -- but it is up to the bird's owner to provide safe methods of exercise for their pets. Be sure to allow your bird as much time out of his or her cage as possible during springtime. Not only will this help your bird maintain its muscles, it can be a real boost to the bird/owner bond as well. Try to think of games that you can play with your bird that will help him stretch his legs, and exercise his beak and wings. Being creative is a great way to discover ideas that will help you continue to give your bird ample exercise throughout the year.
