Training Your Cockatiel to Talk
Posted on 05/25/10 by adminBy Chet Hastings
Once you have become acquainted with your new cockatiel and have come to terms with all the added chores bird ownership can present you may decide to attempt to train your bird to talk. This can be a tedious chore if you are not dedicated to the effort and willing to have the necessary patience. However you will most likely be much more appreciative of your new pet and feel closer to it once it begins to mimic the words you have taught it.
There has always been discussion concerning which sex of cockatiel is the better learner. Some bird owners maintain that a female will not learn to talk or at best will only learn a very few words. Others maintain that they have had success with both sexes. Other inexperienced owners are never really sure whether they have a male or female. Attempting to train your bird to talk is really worth the effort if for not other reason you become closer to your bird and learn more of it’s habits.
Young birds are usually easier to train to speak than older birds who are set in their habits. It is still possible but will normally take much longer and use up a greater share of your patience.So if you are going to try it is best to get started as soon as your bird is comfortable with you and is hand tamed. Keep in mind that cockatiels are not parrots and will never equal their vocabulary.
Make sure that there are no distractions during the teaching sessions. Loud music or other background which distracts the bird will confuse your bird. There are two schools of thought regarding the technique of covering the cage while training your bird. Some owners feel that the bird will have more concentration if he cannot see you. Others feel that the bird does better and is much more attentive and at ease if he can see his tutor. You may try to cover at lest the sides of the cage to eliminate outside distractions and then experiment with a completely covered cage if you feel the training is not showing results.
A good technique is to began the training sessions by very clearly and at the same pitch for about 15 minutes. Then a short break is in order before repeating the lesson. Leave the bird alone for 4 or more hours and then repeat the lesson. remember that your cockatiel does not real talk in the sense that humans do but only mimics what he learns. There is much more involved in training your cockatiel to talk but this short article should give you enough information to begin the process.
The more you learn about your new cockatiel the more pleasure you will have with it. Get some tips and great cockatiel bargains here: Cockatiel Primer and here: Feeding Your Bird
How to Choose a Perfect Parrot For Your Lifestyle
Posted on 05/21/10 by adminBy Lee Dobbins
If you are in need of a unique pet to call your own, you may want to consider getting a parrot. Parrots are known to be intelligent creatures that are great for keeping people company. If you are considering getting a parrot, you might want to keep some of the following in mind to guide you towards finding the perfect parrot.
Prior to any sort of purchase for the parrot itself, you should consider if a parrot is a suitable choice for you. This would be a good time for you to research information about the parrot and what their behavior usually includes. Parrots tend to differ greatly from other birds and also other animals. This is why it is important to make yourself more aware about them before deciding to get one for yourself. This will guide you towards knowing what you will expect from your parrot when you take it home.
You should also try to find out about the different types of parrots that are usually available. There are a large amount of differences between all of the variations of parrots so it’s a good bet that the perfect. You should learn about this and try to find out which parrots are best suited to live in a house with humans. This is one method of learning various traits that you would search for in an ideal parrot in addition to helping you find the right match.
There are also factors that you need to keep in mind when you are searching for the right parrot in the store. You might want to think about factors such as age. If you want to have the companionship of your parrot for a long time, then this is something to consider. You should also consider this if you would like to teach your parrot tricks in the future. But age is not a concern for all people as much as the companionship of the actual parrot is.
You should take an interest in parrots that are wanting to interact with you while you search the store. Finding a parrot that you can interact well with here will help you to find a parrot that will want to keep interacting with you afterward. Try to avoid quiet parrots because these are harder to train and also harder to converse with.
The choice to have a parrot can be a great responsibility. Sometimes people choose to get a parrot and then later realize that they are not prepared at all to take care of it. This is why it can be so important to know what you need to expect when you have one. This will ensure that you make the right choice both for yourself and your parrot.
If you make these considerations, then you should have no problem finding the perfect parrot. Pay attention to which parrots want to interact with you when you are in the pet store and you should be able to find a parrot that you will have a great time spending time with. Parrots have such unique personalities and no two parrots are the same. You will soon realize that parrots can be a great animal to share companionship with.
Nest, find out more about choosing the perfect parrot and get tips on how to care for and feed him at http://www.parrotcareguide.org.
On A Wing and A Prayer
Posted on 05/18/10 by adminby Sharon Seltzer
Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy are a pair of Cockatoos that have lived together like an old married couple for the past 50 years. They were used by a commercial bird breeder for more than 30 years and then discarded when they were no longer useful. That’s when the pair came to the attention of Under My Wing Avian Refuge.
The non-profit bird sanctuary based in New Jersey rescued Ann and Andy along with five other exotic birds. All of them showed signs of neglect. One Amazon named Herbie was in particularly bad shape and could barely stand. The breeder had allowed the bird’s nails to overgrow and curl into his feet.
All seven birds returned to Under My Wing with the organization’s founder, Paula Ashfield. They joined the 130 other rescued exotic birds at the sanctuary where it was assumed they would safely spend the rest of their lives.
But in late Fall, 2009 Ashfield’s world suddenly fell apart when she received word that Under My Wing Avian Refuge was no longer welcome in the New Jersey town she had called home for many years. She and her husband were at a loss about what to do for the birds that they fondly call “the kids.”
“We had to make sure there is always a sanctuary for the kids,” Ashfield said.
Under My Wing is the only no-kill exotic bird rescue organization in the area. They serve New Jersey, upstate New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. They rescue and rehabilitate birds that have been abused, neglected or abandoned. The group is called upon by animal rescue groups, animal control and law enforcement agencies whenever a bird is in trouble. Ashfield has even testified in court cases on behalf of the birds she has rescued.
So on a wing and a prayer the Ashfields’ began a search that eventually led them to the animal friendly city of Wantage, New Jersey and a foreclosed home on 10 ½ acres. Over the past several weeks Under My Wing has been getting ready for “the kids” to arrive in their new home.
Ashfield said it has taken the combined help from electricians, plumbers and carpenters to repair the rundown home on the property and turn it into a safe haven for the birds. In addition, Under My Wing had to install a water heater, alarm system and additional plumbing to filter well water for the birds to drink and bathe.
One by one finally “the kids” arrived at their new home in a rented van. Paula reported that all of the 130 plus birds are doing well. Only a Cockatiel named Tommy had a slight accident after the move when he flew into a window.
All in all Paula is excited about the prospects of the new sanctuary. “The bigger space will allow us to do what we want.”
The larger facility will let Under My Wing expand their humane education program for children. Paula is adamant this is the only way to stop the abuse and neglect of exotic birds. The group’s humane program teaches kids about the special needs of exotic birds and gives them a hands-on experience with them.
The other major goal is to have the organization approved by FEMA so Under My Wing can accept exotic birds that are displaced after a federal emergency or natural disaster.
Like most small animal rescue groups, Under My Wing works on a very tight budget with a handful of dedicated volunteers. Their relocation has used up most of their funds.
Here is a wish list of things this very deserving group could use to make their transition go smoother:
- New perches for every cage
- Chewable toys and hanging ropes for the birds
- Volunteers to get the sanctuary organized and the grounds in shape
- Materials to build outdoor aviaries
- Donations to purchase bird food, vitamins and other supplies
- A van to transport the birds
Click here to read more about Under My Wing Avian Refuge and how to donate supplies.
