Pet advice

Birds

Bird care notes covering housing, diet, sexing, microchipping and common problems by species.

These notes cover many species of birds: backyard poultry, swans and geese, parrots, finches, canaries, budgerigars, lovebirds, parakeets, cockatoos, macaws, lorikeets and toucans, racing pigeons, ornamental doves and birds of prey.

One of the questions we’re regularly asked is: how do I keep them fit and healthy?

To keep them healthy you will need to ensure they are adequately housed and fed the correct diet for the species concerned. Birds may be kept indoors or in an outdoor aviary. Any cage must allow the bird or birds to fully extend their wings in every direction.

Some species will need their beaks and nails clipping, and some will also need their wings clipped. An experienced handler or qualified professional should show you safe technique before you try this yourself.

Male or female?

It’s easy to tell the sex of some species:

Budgies. Male birds have a blue cere (the area above the beak) and females have a brown cere.
Cockatoos. The males have a blue iris and the females a brown iris.
Canaries. Listen carefully — usually only the male bird sings.

Microchipping

Microchips are vital in birds, especially since many birds are very valuable, and a small microchip inserted under the right wing will always identify the bird as yours. The chip has a unique 15-digit number that correlates with your contact details.

What can go wrong?

This varies by species, but the common problems are:

Respiratory disease, especially in budgies and parrots. This is a disease called psittacosis that can also affect humans.
Bowel and liver problems.
Kidney problems, especially in older budgies.
Nervous diseases of pigeons.
“Flying light” disorders of the birds of prey.
Reproductive problems in many birds — egg-binding and other disorders.

Bird essentials

Any cage must let the bird fully extend its wings in every direction
Diet must be correct for the species — there is no universal bird food
Some species need beaks and nails clipping, and some need wings clipped
A microchip under the right wing permanently identifies a valuable bird
Some clipping jobs should be shown by an experienced handler first

Frequently asked questions

How do I tell whether my bird is male or female?

It’s easy in some species — budgies (blue cere for males, brown for females), cockatoos (blue iris for males, brown for females), canaries (usually only the male sings). Where it isn’t obvious, there are two other ways: surgical sexing under general anaesthetic, or DNA testing from a drop of blood or a few feathers.

Can birds pass anything to people?

Psittacosis, a respiratory disease especially of budgies and parrots, can also affect humans. If your bird has respiratory signs, contact a qualified professional.

Which birds do you see?

Backyard poultry, swans and geese, parrots, finches, canaries, budgerigars, lovebirds, parakeets, cockatoos, macaws, lorikeets and toucans, racing pigeons, ornamental doves and all sorts of birds of prey.