AVES INTERNATIONAL

Your new bird- what to expect, dos and don'ts

Main Page


Please read this as a guideline that we hope will be helpful to you.

When you get your bird home, it will be tired, a bit stressed, and often frightened. This is normal as the bird has never been in a crate, in a car, or in an airplane, and has seen a lot of new and strange faces- all quite disorienting.
Speak quietly and soothingly to the bird and avoid quick movements that could frighten the bird. Sometimes a frightened bird will try to bite- this is not aggressive behavior- it is defensive behavior. If the bird acts really scared, use a small hand-towel to handle /move the bird. If a baby acts really frightened, move it using a small towel and put it your lap. Handle the baby gently and reassure it. CALL US if you have any concerns or questions about how to handle the baby. I DO NOT recommend attempting to do any training until a new bird has at least 48 hours to settle into its new cage and environment. If a bird seems especially frightened, put a large towel over the back/top of its cage, leaving the front part uncovered. The cover will make the baby feel more secure. Then talk soothingly to the bird and sit in front of the cage, letting the bird see you and hear your voice.

Put the bird in its new cage and put food in several places in the cage- in the food cup, by the perch, and on the floor of the cage. You might put a small towel on the floor of the cage with the food on it so that the bird will not be afraid to walk on a strange grate bottom. We recommend spray millet, chunks of raw fresh corn on the cob, and apple slices be placed in these three places in the cage, along with the regular psittacine diet.
We also recommend that dry seed be fed, mixed in with the soft fresh foods. If the bird will not eat soft foods, it is ok to allow the bird to eat as much dry seeds as it wants for the first few days as the important thing is to make the bird feel comfortable and to get it eating well. Slightly warmed canned yams is also a good food item to induce a frightened bird to eat in its new environment. Warm cooked cereal such as Cream of Wheat, Wheatena, Cream of Rice, oatmeal, etc (prepared according to the package directions) with some peanut butter and pureed vegetable mixed in (baby food is ok- creamed corn, peas, carrots, yams are all fine to use) is also a great comfort food to a stressed baby. This can be offered warm in a spoon or a small dish. Often birds will eat sparingly if at all the first day due to the stress of transit. If a baby bobs its head and flips its wings up and down in a quick motion, this is normal baby begging behavior. Do not be overly concerned but do CALL THE PERSON WHO SOLD YOU THE BIRD RIGHT AWAY, if the bird has not started eating within twenty-four hours of arrival! Notice the color, amount, and consistency of the bird's feces. If this is clear or clear and white (the white is the urine component), then the bird is not eating so please keep an eye on this the first few days.

If you have any questions about diet, please ask BEFORE the bird is shipped as the food items should be ready before you take possession of the bird.

Please do not be concerned if you do not see the bird drinking. Birds derive a lot of moisture through the fresh produce in their diet and do not drink as much as you might expect.

Give the bird some time to become oriented in its new cage and environment. It might be clumsy at first in the new cage as the barring will be different from that of our weaning cages. There is no reason that you cannot handle the bird some on the first day but remember that it is tired from the journey and needs to rest and to eat. Do not keep it out of the cage, away from food and water, for hours at a time! Talk quietly and soothingly to the bird to reassure it. Slow movements and a soothing voice will help the bird to feel safe and secure in its new environment. If the bird nips or bites, please understand that this is a FEAR REACTION, not an aggressive one. The most important thing the first day or two is to make the bird feel comfortable in strange surroundings.

The bird should sleep on one foot. If you see a bird sleeping or sitting fluffed on two feet, that can be a sign of illness. If there is a lot of activity or noise in the room where the cage it, you might consider covering the cage on one or more sides with a towel or sheet to give it some privacy.

If you want to have your new bird examined by an avian veterinarian soon after arrival, that is certainly your prerogative.

We do recommend that you read a good book on training, unless you are already very
familiar with working with birds. Click this page to see some of our book recommendations.

Please see the pages listed below for more information on the care of birds.

symptoms of an ill bird
Bathing Your Bird
Why does my bird do that?
dangerous to birds 
answers to questions about birds
The importance of phytonutrients in your bird's diet
spring/summer breeding behavior in pet birds
cold weather warning!
WARM WEATHER WARNINGS!

Bird-related book selections from Aves International (in association with Amazon.com)!

We highly recommend the two books featured below!

Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot, 2nd edition by Mattie Sue Athan and Michele Earle-Bridges Paperback - 143 pages (September 1999) Buy the Book Today!

Birds for Dummies by Gina Spadafori & Dr. Brian L. Speer Paperback - 332 pages (September 1999) Buy the Book Today!

ASSOCIATION OF AVIAN VETERINARIANS

We would appreciate an e-mail to let us know that your bird has arrived safely.
We are always happy to answer any questions you might have about your bird at any
time in the future!

CONTACT INFORMATION

LOCAL LOS ANGLES AREA PICK-UP

 

Our livestock manager, Adan, will call to to make a local arrangement to pick-up the bird. Pick-ups can be arranged in South Bay area (Torrance or San Pedro), Norco/Corona, the Rancho California/Lake Elsinore area, and occasionally other areas (downtown Los Angeles, by the LAX airport, and Tarzana). Our livestock manager makes these arrangements based on his schedule and the buyer's schedule. Usually this is arranged during his normal working hours which are somewhat variable. Overtime pick-ups can be arranged for an additional charge. We can also arrange to have a bird packed in a crate with food and ready to travel by car or on an airplane if you are visiting the Los Angeles, California area. We recommend air shipment over long car rides in many cases.

Please bring an appropriate carrier in which to transport your bird. A cardboard box with breathing holes and a towel in the bottom is ok for all but the largest species. If you do not have a carrier, a crate can be purchased from us for $20.00 - $30.00, depending upon the size required. Please advise us in advance if you wish to purchase one of these reusable and sturdy crates. We do NOT RECOMMEND that a bird be transported in a vehicle without a carrier and will not release a bird to you without a carrier. We recommend that you leave the bird in the carrier until you arrive home.

We will bring fresh food for the day including our freshly made psittacine diet, some spray millet, some dry seed, and sliced apple and corn on the cob chunks. If you have any questions about diet, please ask BEFORE you pick-up the bird as the food items should be ready before you take possession of the bird.

Please see the information above on this page (under shipped birds) for information
on how to handle the new bird.
Please let us know if you have any questions at ANY TIME!
symptoms of an ill bird

CONTACT INFORMATION

Main Page