Bird Care Q & A

Q: What is the minimum number of pet care visits a bird should have? I’ve had requests to visit every three days.

A: Because it is necessary for a bird to have fresh water available, I would recommend daily visits as a minimum. Birds are especially susceptible to the bacterial illnesses, and bacteria is exactly what likes to grow in water bowls and produces “slime.” Many birds end up with droppings or food in their water bowls by design (mischievous parrots) or by accident. The growth of poop soup is not a good thing!

Another good point about daily visits by a pet sitter is that the house is better protected, with daily activity and mail and paper collection. In addition, birds are one of the more social pets. They relish human companionship and activity, which a pet sitter can supply to some extent.

Q: Can I place my parrot outside on small trees for sunshine and fun? His wings are clipped. Will this expose him to other bird ailments and problems? Many of my clients do this while they are outside with their birds.

A: Do you want the good news or the bad news first? OK, good news first. Many people take their birds outside for both sunshine and fun. The benefit of putting a bird in the sun is that it produces Vitamin D3, which helps with the absorption of calcium. This benefit cannot be obtained from sunshine coming through a windowpane or acrylic. Many owners make outside stands for their birds from tree branches cemented in a bucket or other large container. Another fun thing for birds outside is playing in a tree—chewing leaves, bark and limbs, or climbing. Non-toxic trees include unsprayed fruit trees (except cherry), willow, eucalyptus and oak. Smaller birds outside in cages can enjoy watching the world go by and visiting with wild birds.

However, here is the bad news. There is some risk in having birds outside and it can’t be recommended for the more streamlined birds, like cockatiels or small conures, that fly well even if severely clipped. More bad news is that a bird outside is at risk of being attacked by a predator. This could range from a cat to a hawk or a passing human. You would not want to leave a bird outside unattended. I have had cockatiels outside in a cage contract bird lice. These are harmless, species-specific pests that were easily taken care of with a spray. A more serious health threat to birds is psittacosis (also called chlamydiosis or ornithosis or “parrot fever”), but the possibility is fairly remote they could get it, except by ingesting poop from a wild bird or pigeon. Keep food offered outside covered.

It should be stressed that a bird outside in the sun should be able to get to a shaded part of a cage or have access to shade in case it gets overheated. One of the mysteries of “birdom” brought up by a world authority on macaws, Joanne Abramson, is why do macaws with bare skin patches not get sunburned? I’ve wondered about that ever since she mentioned it. Still, we must be aware of heat. An overheated bird sticks its wings out from its body, slims down its feathers and pants. It can be sprayed with water to cool down or, in extreme cases, you may use rubbing alcohol on the feet.

And finally, birds are very attuned to danger. When they are frightened, they try to fly. It is important to keep wings clipped and to keep checking those wings if a bird goes outside. An extra feather can make a difference in flying ability. Many pet birds become disoriented when outside their home and they don’t know how to get down from trees, even if they want to.

I leave the choice up to you. Knowing the risks, you can minimize them by supervising your bird, keeping it clipped and not having food bowls in the open. Knowing the benefits, you can decide if it’s worth the risk.

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