Skip to main content

Library

Birds + English

  • Wild Quaker parrots eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, berries and vegetation such as leaf buds and blossoms. Some eat insects and their larva. They also like to raid farmers' crops. Like other birds, Quaker parrots need to eat a balanced diet to stay healthy. Quaker parrots are prone to obesity and high cholesterol issues.

  • Senegal parrots consume a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and some vegetation in the wild. Occasionally, wild Senegal parrots will feed on grain crops. As with all other animals, Senegal parrots need a proper balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. Pellets are the ideal base diet for most pet birds.

  • Summary: Finches are small, active birds belonging to the order of Passeriformes, also known as songbirds. Finches have a variety of feather colours and patterns, and a variety of chirping vocalizations. These petite birds are robust, easy to care for, and demand little attention.

  • Information from Vet-eBooks.com, as well as from Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th Edition, by Donald C. Plumb.

  • Fluoxetine is given by mouth and is used on and off label to treat various behavioral conditions. Common side effects include sleepiness and decreased appetite. If a negative reaction occurs, call your veterinary office.

  • It is suggested that a selection of various fruits and vegetables be fed to your bird every day. A good source of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, fresh produce should comprise no more than 20%-40% of the diet. Bright yellow, red, and orange vegetables and fruits all contain a great deal of vitamin A, which is a critical nutrient in a birds' diet.

  • Furosemide is given by mouth or injection and is used on and off label to treat many conditions, including congestive heart failure and fluid retention. Common side effects include increased urination, diarrhea, or constipation. Do not use in pets that are allergic to it or in those that are unable to make urine.

  • Gemfibrozil is a medication prescribed off-label by veterinarians to treat high levels of fat (lipids) in the blood of dogs and cats when dietary modifications have not been effective. Occasionally, it is also used in birds for the same purpose. As a relatively new drug in veterinary medicine, its benefits, side effects, and adverse effects are still being determined.

  • There are multiple methods of inheritance that determine which characteristics (or phenotypes) are displayed by the offspring, including autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and sex-linked inheritance. There are also many polygenic traits (i.e., associated with multiple genes) as well as environmental factors that make it much more complicated to predict disease or the likelihood of passing disease onto offspring.

  • Hand-raised babies usually make better pets, as they have been completely socialized with humans. Hand-feeding is a job best left for the experienced bird breeder or aviculturist. If you are considering hand-feeding a baby bird, you should contact your local bird breeder or avian veterinarian for help. This article provides general guidelines and best practices.