The hummingbird fascinates us as we watch it extract nectar from flowers or our brightly colored feeders, because a hummingbirds wings flap at such a high rate of speed they seem to be suspended in air. Watching and attracting hummingbirds to our flower gardens has become very popular. Therefore, dozens of styles of hummingbird feeders have emerged.

Some of the feeders on the market are very artistic, nothing wrong with a nice design as long as they meet the purpose intended, attracting and feeding hummingbirds. So how do we know what to look for in a hummingbird feeder? Read the rest of this entry »

Birds will travel great distances to find water. Besides drinking it, they use it for cleaning their feathers for optimal flight and for keeping them free from parasites. Here are a few tips for bringing nature to your backyard.

Start simple by placing a birdbath near a tree or bush. Trees will give the birds a sense of security from predators. Branches provide them a place to perch and preen after splashing in the water. Adding a bird feeder close by will increase the chance of birds seeing the birdbath as they visit your feeder. Read the rest of this entry »

Cockatiel owners love their birds. They want them to be healthy and happy. However, sometimes they develop bad habits such as plucking their feathers, biting, and screaming. Not only does feather plucking make the bird unsightly, it is not healthy. While other behaviors are certainly annoying, feather plucking can be quite traumatic for both owner and bird. The good news is, training cockatiels not to pluck their feathers is possible, and it is necessary.

Veterinarians estimate that nearly half of all domesticated birds over-preen or pluck their feathers. Cockatiels are more predisposed to doing this. Some veterinarians believe the reason is because they live in large flocks in the wild. Once separated from this large flock, they become fearful and anxious. This may lead them to over-preen. Read the rest of this entry »

Toys for your parrot are an essential part of its development. Store bought toys come in a variety of styles, shapes, colors and textures which add to the appeal of the parrot toy.

Unlike many other animals such as cats and dogs, parrots see in color so variations in color make the toy more enjoyable for the bird. Your parrot will enjoy an arrange of different toys although it is not necessary to put a huge amount in the cage. One good idea that you could try is to rotate your toys at different intervals say every week or month so that there appears to be a constant variety of toys for the parrot to play with.

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There are two different ways to teach your parakeet to talk. One way is to train him/her to mimic what you are saying. This way is far less time consuming as all you need to do is repeat the same words consistently of what you want your parakeet to say whenever you are around him/her.

They other way is much more difficult because you are trying to train your bird to talk with some thought process behind what he/she is saying. This is done by explaining to your bird what you or he is doing in a few small words. For example, my parakeet loves to eat apple every day so every time I am about to get him some i say to him “want some apple” and I will continue to say that each and every time i get him some until he associates those words with the action. Eventually I hope he will ask me for the apple. Read the rest of this entry »