Q: I just got a new parakeet. Its previous owners fed it just seed. Should I stick to that diet or change it?
A: Change it! A diet of just seeds is not nutritionally complete, leads to obesity, and just plain bores birds! In the wild, a bird spends most of its time finding food. Since the food is provided within easy reach of pet birds, they tend to become bored, which leads to bad behaviors such as excessive chewing, feather plucking, yelling, and aggression. A proper diet for hookbills (parakeets, cockatiels, lovebirds, parrots, etc.) should include fruits, vegetables, grains, breads, even meat and eggs... the key here is variety! The base of the diet should be a high-quality pellet (such as Pretty Bird or Lafeber's) that is always available. Seed should be offered in limited amounts. Your bird can eat just about everything you do, as long as it is nutritious...you might even want to invite your bird to the dinner table!
Q: I have a cockatiel. Even though she is alone in her cage, she just laid an egg! Will it hatch? What should I do with it?
A: It is perfectly normal for females to lay eggs even when they are alone. It is not fertilized, so don't worry, it won't hatch. You can leave it in the cage until she loses interest in it. Just be sure she is getting a good diet that is high in calcium, since she is putting a lot of enery and resources into making these eggs. Offer her a cuttlebone, maybe some scrambled eggs, extra nutritious food, and possibly extra vitamins. An improper diet could result in egg-binding, which is a very serious condition where she cannot pass an egg. If you see any signs of this, take her to a vet IMMEDIATELY. If untreated this condition quickly becomes fatal!
Q: Why does my bird have a metal bracelet on his leg? Should I take it off so he doesn't hurt himself?
A: The band shows that he is a captive-bred bird. Since there is a ban on importing birds from the wild, the bands are used in identification. Do not try to remove a closed band by yourself. It is not usually necessary or even advisable to remove this band, unless there is a medical reason such as an injury. In this case, a vet should remove the band. These bands can be useful for identifying lost birds...write down your bird's band number and put it someplace safe, just in case.
Q: Should I give GRIT to my parakeet?
A: Grit (sometimes called gravel) has become quite the controversial item. Popular opinion has been swinging back and forth for some time now. Grit was thought to be necessary for the birds to digest the seed they eat. For a hookbill, such as a parakeet, the seeds are husked before being eaten, so grit isn't really necessary. There have been reports of crop binding associated with grit, and parakeets seem to be able to digest their food fine without it. It can provide calcium, but a cuttle bone is a more efficient way, since the bird can sharpen and clean its beak at the same time. All in all, I would forget the grit.
Q: I have never owned a bird before, but I saw an ad in the paper for a cockatoo. Should I buy it?
A: Unfortunately, many birds (especially larger birds) end up being sold through the paper because they were bought by inexperienced, uninformed owners that never bothered to train them. By the time these birds start to reach sexual maturity (their "teen" years), they become so out-of-control that the owners decide to "get rid" of them. A bird's psychological development is almost like that of a child. Without the proper attention and training when young, these birds do not know how to act appropriately as they get older.
If you don't have any experience with birds, you may want to reconsider and start with a bird that will be a little easier for you. This bird does not need to be taken to a new home just to be shipped off again in a few months when the owners realize they weren't prepared! If you do decide to invest time and money in this bird, find someone with experience in bird training to help you. Read everything you can on parrot behavior, and be ready for lots of frustration (and probably screaming, and even some bites). Taming an untrained bird takes time, but it is a very rewarding experience.
