Pet birds are very sensitive in moving or changing locations.  Small changes in the rooms can make a big impact on birds and can even stress them out.  But sometimes moving is inevitable and travelling is unavoidable.  There would be times when you cannot afford not to move.  How can you make moving and travelling easy on your pet birds?

To make changing addresses easier on your pets, here are some tips to lessen stress:

• Moving is extremely stressful not just for pet owners but also for the pets as well.  The birds will sense that something is going on just by seeing you packing and getting busy.  This would already start the stress, so you can talk to your bird and explain things.  Seeing your assuring face will somehow ease the stress.Your pets may not be able to understand you , however they read and understand your body movements.When you are calm, they would also remain calm.  It would be better to move your bird in a quiet and secure place while finishing the rest of the packing.

• Your companionship with your bird will give you hints if your pet bird is more sensitive than other birds.  You can identify if your bird is a nervous traveller.  There are also some birds who find riding a vehicle very enjoyable.
 
• Once the movers are already in your house and picking up your things, put the bird away in a quiet and calm place.  Your pet bird should be the last to leave and should be in travel bird cages.  Upon arriving in the new home, put the bird in a quiet place first before bringing the boxes and the things inside your home.  To relax and calm the bird, you can play some music.  This would also lessen the sounds coming from the unpacking.

• If moving to a new place requires a long drive, the stops should be kept to minimum.  You can just buy food at a drive-thru.  If you prefer eating in a restaurant, consider the weather conditions when leaving your pet in the car.They may not be comfortable if they are left inside since it may be too hot or cold.

It would require a very long move, when you are moving from one state to another state.  You also have to check the state regulations about your pets.  Sometimes, a certain state might have laws that could prohibit your bird, especially if you are taking care of an exotic bird.

Check hotels or motels you would be sleeping in if they have pet regulations, when you go for a long distance.  They can charge additional for bringing pets.  You do not want to leave your pet outside in the car at the mercy of predators.

• Also when moving, whether it s state to state or just to another city, make sure to have a health certificate from your veterinarian.  You would find this handy when getting a new vet in the new location you have moved to. 

When travelling with your pets, preparation is an important factor.  If you are going to fly for instance, it would require a great deal of preparation.   Make sure that the airlines you are flying with allow birds, if it is international flight birds are mostly placed in cargo area.  You have to make sure that the birds are comfortable throughout the flight.

Actually, you can help your pet get used to travelling, you can take it out in short day trips.If you are taking your bird out for a drive, remember that it is not put in the front seat.  If the air bag suddenly opens, the impact could result to severe, even fatal, injuries.

When taking your pet bird out in car, be sensitive.  There are some birds who prefer to have the cage covered, while there are some birds who would like to know what is happening around him.  Be careful with the noise inside the car like the music and also be careful of the fumes they can inhale like air fresheners or cigarette smoke.  

When travelling or moving, it is important to make sure that your pet birds are comfortable throughout the travelling period.

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Your pet bird should visit the vet on a regular basis. While you might think any doctor can best treat your bird, it is better to consult with someone who specializes in these creatures.

Such a person is called an avian veterinarian. When you go around looking for one, it is best that this person belongs to the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV).

Specialists who are members of this organization have 6 or more years of experience dealing with birds. In fact, there are only 100 certified avian veterinarians worldwide and you are lucky to have one who happens to be residing near where you live.

But what if you are not able to find a doctor who is certified by the AAV? When this happens, you have to consult with a veterinarian based on the recommendations of other bird owners or through word of mouth.

If you don’t have friends who own birds, try talking to bird breeders and organizations which are into owning and caring for birdsjust like you. Your other options will be to look through the phone directory or online and then set an appointment.

When you visit their clinic, discuss what you expect from them and pay attention to the answers they give you. It will be nice to know how long they have been working on birds, what equipment or training do they have and how your bird is behaving with them.

It is important for you to find out, if they can be contacted or consulted whenever there is an emergency. If they are not available, someone they know and trust should be able to give you and your bird the same amount of attention.

One other thing you should check before or after talking to a potential avian doctor is to see if the place is clean and if the people who work there are friendly. Naturally, you don’t want your bird to stay overnight for observation if the place is unsanitary as a disease from another bird could infect your own.

Once you have finished interviewing a list of potential candidates, it will be easy to choose which one will be the doctor for your pet bird.

A good bird doctor will not only talk to you whenever your pet has a problem but also offer tips so you can handle minor problems on your own. You might be taught how to sense if something is wrong and what to do until you are able to bring the bird over.

A right avian wold supply first aid at home besides doing other things. This includes having a carrier large enough to carry the bird since the cage may not always fit in the car. Some cotton swabs, gauze tape, tubing, betadine and a host of other things are also needed so make sure you have a sufficient supply of these items at all times.

The veterinarian is your best friend whenever there is something wrong with your pet bird. Given that they know more about this creature, you just have to trust them and hope that everything works out for the best. There are many veterinarians around, but it mostly depends on your skill to choose an efficient one from.

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Pet birds just like us need to take a bath. This helps keep them clean and remove excess oil on their feathers. Doing this on a regular basis also promotes good health as they are also affected from household air conditioning and heating.

To go for it, it is required that the pet bird is brought to a room that is warm and has no drafts. It is also best to do this early during the day so the bird will be able to dry itself before bedtime.

The materials you will using will be a heavy dish filled with one or two inches of water. The reason for this is to create an artificial puddle which is what birds in the wild go when they feel the need to cleanse themselves.

The cold water can chill them therefore the water should be lukewarm or room temperature. Once inside the bowl, they can already bathe themselves.

Birds of bigger size will have much difficulty in taking proper bathing themselves in a bowl. This is why it is a good idea to bring the bird out of its cage, let it stand on the perch and then you run the water lightly on them.

One of the most ideal places in the house to do this is the bathroom or the kitchen. With the hose is in your hand, never spray the water on their face. Never make the mistake of saturating your pet bird's feathers. Doing so can lead to a loss of body heat and flight impairment.

While bathing them inside a bowl or on a perch, take note that it was never mentioned to use shampoo or soap on them because water is enough to cleanse them. Using ordinary cleaning products is bad because it may remove the bird’s natural oils.

After giving your pet bird a bath, you can let them dry on their own or wipe them gently using a towel. If you are going to do it, make sure that you only rub in the direction of the feather growth. Never use a hair dryer because you could burn them.

Don’t forget to clean the sink or the tub with water and mild unscented soap after giving your pet bird a bath. This will ensure protection for you and your family who also use it when they brush their teeth or do the dishes.

Before you put the pet bird back in the cage, don’t forget to change the bird cage bedding. Most of the time, this gets wet from the splashing as the bird washes itself and you wouldn’t want bacteria to grow there that could get your bird sick.

Your pet bird must have berthing once or twice a week. You can do this more often especially during the molten season because it helps remove itching. You got to notice by observing your bird if they prefer to take a bath.

Some birds do not like taking a bath. If you encounter such a situation, you should gradually try to introduce them to it so that they can get to enjoy it. One way is to get yourself wet and since they trust you, in time they will understand that it is perfectly alright.

A bath is always a refreshing experience and your pet bird should also have one every so often.

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Every pet bird needs to be properly groomed. Most of the time, this simply involves clipping their toenails, their wings and giving it an occasional misting.

To clip your pet bird, you will need a pair of animal clippers, a towel, styptic powder and a helper. If there is no styptic powder available, you will have to use household flour because this is a good blood clotting agent.

Before you begin, put the towel over your bird’s head because if they get scared by what you are doing, there is a very good chance that they bird will bite you. It must be ensured while putting towel over the head, that they do not feel difficulty in breathing. It will also be a good idea to speak to the bird in a soothing tone and hold them securely.

The part of the toenail that will be clipped is the little hook that is found at the end of each toenail. Never go for further cutting because this will make your bird begin to bleed.

If the bird begins to bleed, apply the styptic powder immediately over the affected area and make sure the bleeding stops. Once you are done, return the bird back into the cage so it can calm done rather than being beaten by the bird.

As you can see, clipping a bird’s wing is very easy. But if you don’t have anyone around to assist or you are not that confident yet to do it yourself, bring this over instead to the vet for proper care and handling.

The next thing you have to do when grooming your pet bird is clipping their wings. The reason why you have to clip your bird’s wings is to prevent it from flying into mirrors or windows which could them a concussion. To do this, you will need again a towel, styptic powder and a pair of scissors. 

To clip the wings, you will have to restrain the bird using the towel while leaving one wing exposed. Once the bird is secure, expose the wing gently until it is extended.

You will soon notice that there are two rows of feathers. The long row of feathers on the bottom half is what is used by bird to fly. From here, you will now have to decide whether to do a severe wing clip or a moderate clip.

The severe wing clip is done by removing all the ten long feathers at the end of each wing. The moderate clip leaves the first 2 weathers intact while removing the last 8 feathers.

There is another method of clipping the wings known as pinioning that happens to be a permanent method of wing clipping and this should only be done by a veterinarian.

Clip carefully so the bird does not bleed. If it does, pull it out so you remove the feather and the shaft then apply styptic powder. When you are done with the first wing, same must be done to the other, otherwise it will make the bird to feel unbalanced.

Lastly, mist your bird with water as this helps them stay sleek and smooth. This is a faster way of cleaning them if they don’t like taking a bath regularly.

Clipping the toenails and wings as well as misting are the proper ways of grooming your bird. These are chores you have to learn how do so you don’t always have to drive over the clinic.

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Do you think that your pet bird is sick and tired of just eating pellets and seeds? It is possible and to spice up their diet, here are a few things you can give them on occasion.

Fruits are great because they have vitamins and minerals. Some examples which you can give your pet bird include bananas, grapes, melons and oranges. Just remember it is fresh and whatever they do not eat after an hour should thrown away to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

Fruits and without any doubt vegetables are also very good for the health of your pet bird. Some examples are broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and peas. Just be sure to wash them first so any pesticides that were used in planting them are removed.

Beans are also good to give to your pet bird. Before you give it, make sure to cook it first because there are certain varieties of beans that are harmful if they happen to eat this raw.

We love pasta and your pet bird can enjoy that too. This is because pasta is rich in carbohydrates and it can go well with the fruits or vegetables that you are giving. Best of all, this can be eaten raw or cooked.

Your pet bird can also eat bread as this provides them with a good source fiber. It is best to give it to them in smell bites first rather than a whole piece if you are giving this for the very first time.

Another ideal snack to give your pet bird is popcorn. If you decide to serve this unpopped, boil it first in plain water so you can soften the tough hull. Before giving this cooked it is to be made sure that this is heated using the microwave because these have high fat and salt contents that is harmful to their health.

Cereals and grains can also be given to your pet bird. Such treats contain carbohydrates and protein so just fill up their plate and then watch them munch it away.

Nuts are also a tasty treat that your pet bird will enjoy. If they don’t eat it, this can also be used to exercise their beaks. Just be sure the variety of nuts you give is both clean and unsalted.

At the last, it is recommended that your pet birds be given some pepper. This is because they can easily take it since they lack the taste receptors that we humans have. If you don’t believe it, try giving your pet bird either some fresh chili or banana pepper.

Birds need proper nutrition and in order for that to happen, it has to be ingested, digested and absorbed. You can get this from many products and if you want to know what else they can eat, ask your veterinarian or do some research. That way, you are sure that what you are giving them is safe and that they will not experience any side effects.

If they do not like what you have given, don’t force them and offer them something else. In time, you will figure out what treats they like and do not like so they can get to eat other stuff not only seeds and pellets.

To help your pet bird digest whatever they just ate, make sure that they have a sufficient amount of water inside the cage.

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