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A Guide to the settling in period for you and your new bird...
The first few days with your new bird can be a bit unsettling. It takes time to get used to new surroundings and new people. Here are a few tips to keep in mind after you bring your new friend home.
TIPS
If possible bring home something the bird is used to. The
more security the better. For starters, you can bring your
bird home in his old cage, since he is used to it, and in a
few months introduce him or her to the new cage. This will
help reduce the stress. It never hurts to have two cages.
You can keep one at a babysitters or one in your family room
or basement.
Get the parrot's new cage ready before you bring your bird
home. It's nice to have it setup with all the toys, food,
water bowls and perches ahead of time.
Place the cage in a location where your bird can be near the
day and evening activities of your household, but allowed to
have his own time if needed. He likes to see what is going
on and feel like he or she is a part of the family.
For the first day or two let your parrot stay in his cage
and explore his or her new home. Talk to him and show your
interest in becoming good friends.
Start right away with a pattern (feed at the same time, play
at the same time). Don't give your bird any more attention
in the beginning than you are able to give him in the
future. If you give too much attention now it may be hard to
keep this level up later, and this could result in an
unhappy bird.
Make sure you put some food in the cage that the bird is
familiar with. It is okay to change the diet of a bird once
she or he is used to their surroundings. Wait a month or two
before making any changes. And remember that too many
changes at once can cause unnecessary stress.
When you are playing with your bird, return him to his cage
at regular intervals (e.g. hourly) to give him a chance to
eat, drink and go to the bathroom. Give the bird some space
as the bird may feel uncomfortable doing these things in
front of you right away.
Watch for watery droppings. This is common when birds are
put under stress. However this should stop within a day or
two. If the droppings continue to be watery then contact
your avian vet or your breeder, as it is possible that the
bird may have an infection or undue stress.
The most important thing to remember is that it will take time for your new friend to settle into his or her new environment and keeping stress levels to a minimum will help a lot. This is an exciting time for both you and your parrot. Start out slow and steady and you will be rewarded in the future with a happier bird.
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© 2003 Look Who's Talking Aviaries |
Drayton Valley, Alberta Canada Phone: 780.542.4822 Email Todd |
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