Birds in Sri Lanka have always been held in high regard, where currently a number of bird sanctuaries house more than 435 resident species. Sri Lankans of today continue the more than 8000-year-old practice of keeping domesticated birds as pets, continuing to experience the pleasure that comes from caring for their feathered friends.
Keeping a pet bird can be a life-enhancing experience that demands relatively little from new owners. All that’s required is a little understanding and the proper supplies to bring these amazing creatures into your home and enjoy them for many years to come.
Think Like a Bird
The first thing you need to do in order to properly care for your pet bird is to educate yourself about birds in general and understand how their needs differ from other domesticated animals. These pets are highly intelligent and very social creatures and they thrive in an environment where they are intellectually stimulated. Remember that the majority of birds for sale are natural foragers, and spend a great deal of their time searching for food in the wild. Parrots, in particular, respond well to games that encourage this foraging behavior. Try hiding treats and bowls around the house, covering snacks with paper or in special puzzle toy designed to challenge the bird.
Although most people don’t realize it, the majority of domestic birds for sale are remarkably easy to train. Training your bird will not only help you to positively influence good behaviors, it will also ensure that you and your bird are spending valuable bonding time together. Your bird needs to feel as comfortable with you as you would with them, and it may take some time to establish trust.
Realize that pet bird behaviors often mimic the same survival skills they would develop in the wild. Consider your bird’s species and its natural instincts before you try to correct a particular behavior. Your bird is naturally a prey animal, and so dominating your pet can be quite damaging to it. Allow your bird to seek higher perches when they are feeling insecure. Understand that in the wild these creatures are extremely territorial, so try not to force your way into your bird’s cage. Allow it to enter and exit the cage whenever possible, and try to clean the cage when is away.
Understand Your Bird
As you work to develop a positive relationship with your bird, get to know your pet individually. Play games with him or her that simulate the kinds of interaction they would experience in the wild. Many birds respond well to games of peek-a-boo and enjoy hearing their names and imitating snatches of songs or whistling. Your bird may be able to learn games, like catch, and tricks with relatively little training.
Remember, working with your bird will encourage good behaviors and reinforce your connection to your pet. The better you know your new bird, the better you will be able to identify unusual behaviors that may be indicative of sickness or injury, and the more likely you will be able to avoid situations that cause your pet undue stress.
Don’t Clip Your Bird’s Wings
Part of understanding the natural behaviors of your bird is realizing that your bird is meant to fly. In fact, the respiratory, skeletal, and cardiovascular systems of your bird is designed specifically for one thing: flight. Restricting your bird from flying by clipping its wings means that you are also restricting it from performing certain motions necessary for it to maintain its optimum health. It also can be psychologically damaging for a bird to be unable to fly, particularly when flying is the one thing that can make
your pet feel truly safe.
Smaller birds in Sri Lanka, such as lovebirds, cockatiels and parakeets, do very well flying around indoors, lighting on high perches like bookshelves or rafters, but some larger species, such as pigeons, will do better in outside aviaries that are secure from rodents and other predators. Take these factors into consideration when choosing your pet’s breed from the bird classifieds.
Bird-Proof Your House
Allowing your bird to exit his cage during the day not only provides him with much needed exercise and stimulation, it also encourages him to consider you and your family part of his flock, and to become more comfortable as a member of your household. Outside of the cage, however, your pet may face a number of dangers that you may not even recognize as a potential threat.
It’s a fact that your bird will probably try and chew any chord, wire, or piece of furniture it discovers. It’s best to allow your bird access to a room where these temptations are few, and always supervise your bird’s explorations. Teflon products, scented candles, air fresheners and any number of household cleaning products can also be quite toxic, so it’s best to research any products your bird might come into contact with in your home.
Keep More Than One Bird
Your bird is a social being and prefers living as part of a group or, at the very least, with a mate. Carefully introduce your bird to any new addition, as some do not get along well with one another. If more than one bird is out of the question, ask yourself if you will be at home enough to keep your bird company, particularly in the beginning. The more company a bird has, the more comfortable it will feel in its environment. A bird who feels isolated will often become depressed and suffer health issues.
Further educating yourself on the individual needs of particular bird species will help you to purchase the right food and cage suitable for your new bird. Thoroughly research the breeds you discover in the bird classifieds before purchasing the animal. Better understanding your bird will result in a healthier, happier relationship with your new pet.