2 ringnecked doves, one quite old and feeble, beak is crossed and should probably be trimmed? 2 budgies, 1 cockateil, 1 lovebird. It is my understanding that some of these birds are not really compatible, but they've been together 2 years, and seem to get along ok. They have been fed only wild bird seed, doesn't seem right to me. Can I put a potted tree in with them, instead of dead branches? Only the doves are tame, can I tame the others? I want to do right by these guys but they are not dogs or cats .......I don't even know what I don't know at this point!
2007-01-09 18:26:13 · 6 answers · asked by kldt7 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
Congratulations! Birds are a wonderful addition to a home if you take a little time to keep them up. Mixed aviaries like the one you describe are not unheard of. If the birds are getting along and are used to one another, you may not need to worry about it if they have enough room. You will need to make sure they are all getting the nutrition and types of food that they need to stay healthy though. I think budgies and cockatiels are both small hookbills, but I'm not sure if lovebirds fall in that category too. The doves do not belong to either of those, and you may need to provide different food for these various types of birds. A decent pet store can provide you with an assortment that will meet everyone's needs. I have budgies and finches in my aviary - which many people warn against (fighting). However, we have lots of room in there and provide for each of their needs and they seem just fine. I also add lots of fruit sections (oranges, apples are popular)and green leafy stuff to the cage a few times a week for interest and supplementing their diets. They all seem to like it, including my green cheek conure parrot that goes in to visit on occasion. It's a good idea to provide cover for the smaller birds. Depending on how much room is in the aviary, plants are not a bad idea. You should check online to find out which ones are okay for your birds. Here is a good starting place with a nice chart. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=15&cat=1912&articleid=2236
Most birds need some kind of cuttle bone or scratch mixed in with their seed for proper digestion and LOTS of fresh water every day. You can probably trim the dove's beak after you receive proper instruction from a vetrinarian or very experienced bird dealer the first time or so. You should have a pro look at it first though to determine what's going on there. Nail trims may be in order too. Easiest clean up is regular maintenance. Spread out paper and roll them up and chuck them very often - 2-3 times a week minimum. This helps prevent spread of disease and if you do this often, you will not have a huge mess on your hands tempting procrastination on the cleaning (believe me I know!). Have a great time with your birds! Ours have brought us many, many years of enjoyment. Sounds like they are lucky to have found you, and with patience, most birds such as these can be tamed. Just expect some chomping in the beginning - try a light pair of wool stretch gloves (helps)! If you can wrangle a bird with gentle, firm handling to your chest in a washcloth or towel, and hold him there with both hands until he quiets down, you will have a good chance at taming. You will save yourself some headaches and chases to have their wings trimmed (have someone show you how to do this as you can badly maim or cause bloodloss to the point of death if you don't do it properly - they do not have a lot of blood to lose!) if you plan to try taming them. Best of luck to you and your new feathered friends. Don't hesitate to ask bird people for help - they want you and your birds to be happy! :)
2007-01-09 19:02:26 · answer #1 · answered by Kristi H 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nice inherited collection! I would love to help you. What you can do is get a nice cockatiel seed mix. This mix will feed everyone just fine. You can also get some Zupreem cockatiel size pellets either the fruit or normal favor. You can also use millet spray. I also would get some cuttle bone to put in the avairy. All birds are able to be tamed, but it will be a lot of patience on your part. I would keep the dead branches. Potted plants can be very dangerous. But I can give you a list of safe or dangerous plants. You have so much to do, but this will get you started.
email me at ( birdhelp4u@yahoo.com)
Good luck!
2007-01-09 18:42:23 · answer #2 · answered by Jusme 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should find a good avian vet to check their health and to advise you. They need more than wild bird seed. You probably should not put a tree in with them. It's not doing them a favor as a perch and 2nd, you don't want to expose them to anything possibly toxic.
Good luck.
2007-01-09 18:35:37 · answer #3 · answered by Vette999 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
One Flu Over The Cuckoo's Nest?
2016-05-23 02:30:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
speak to someone at the pet store,they have good advice and good books
2007-01-09 18:33:18 · answer #5 · answered by johny1punch 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
oh your so lucky!
2007-01-09 18:40:17 · answer #6 · answered by kat_luvr2003 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋