Anyone who decides to have a bird as a housemate must be aware of some important aspects of keeping them. He dials in first sociable and intelligent creaturethat possible should never be kept alone. It is – also due to its biological character – used to dealing with at least one conspecific. As a loner, it is just as lonely as a human being. Free flight is just as important. It can be done within an aviary or other larger space. A cage alone is not enough. The European Union and the respective individual states have now also taken on this topic.
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Should it be a cage, aviary or bird room?
Minimum standards apply to cages, aviaries or stables in the agricultural sector. These relate to the respective width, height and depth of the accommodation to be set up.
How big does an aviary have to be?
The best way to keep birds is to build an aviary. It is a very large cage in which there are usually several birds. In it, the intelligent and sociable feathered animals can move freely. Aviaries thus correspond to a reduced image of nature in which the inhabitants would otherwise live. They are often built from a wooden or steel frame surrounded by a wire mesh. Inside there are numerous benches and higher branches. There are also bowls for food and water. In addition, a bathing area should not be missing. These free flight spaces often consist of an outdoor and indoor area. While the outside area is used in the warmer months, the birds retreat to the inside when it is cold and raining. In the indoor aviary, UV lamps are usually installed today, which do not disturb the birds but provide heat and light.
The aviaries for budgerigars, agaponids, cockatiels and canaries should each be designed for at least 2 to 3 pairs. They each have a height and base area of two meters. For each additional bird, the owner plans half a meter in height, width and length.
This has to do with the innate way of life of these bird species, which live and fly in flocks. This makes it difficult for a raptor in the wild to focus on a single member of the flock.
Since not every bird owner can afford a luxury aviary, industry and trade have developed various offers that offer the best possible solutions for every budget. If no satisfactory product can be found, the bird owner can commission a specialist company to produce an individual one-off product. Bird lovers can find out which provider is best to contact at numerous institutes, including the Nature Conservation Union.
What should be considered with a cage?
The cage is the smallest form of housing one can choose for one’s bird. However, it should be chosen in such a way that the bird living in it feels comfortable. Since the feathered roommate always flies horizontally and not vertically, only elongated and medium-high cages are suitable for bird-friendly housing. High cages, on the other hand, are too narrow and offer very limited options for frequent flyers.
They are also not allowed to stand on the floor of the respective room. The place should be chosen so that the bird is protected from drafts and dry heating air at all times. Then there is the light. Many birds love the sunlight, which reminds them of the time of day. However, under no circumstances should neon lights, television or computer monitors be activated in direct view of the bird cage. The bird perceives the respective representations as shaky images and is irritated.
If, after thorough consideration, the decision has been made in favor of a cage, the right size and equipment are important. Here the material is of great importance. It should definitely be made of smooth stainless steel. Plastic coatings are used by the bird for beak exercises and then end up in the stomach as an indigestible product. Here they have serious consequences and can affect the life of the bird. There are also important differences between an indoor and outdoor cage.
What is important in the bird room?
Cages should only be used when there are no options for an aviary. They are particularly suitable as an addition to a bird room. In this, however, the roommate needs enough space to be able to move freely. Since the birds should never be kept alone, but only in two or more pairs, a room of 15 to 20 square meters should be considered.
In order to rule out the risk of injury during free flight, the owner covers all windows with paint or covers. This also applies to a door with frosted glass in the apartment. The bird cannot see clear glass due to the navigation it uses. It flies against the obstacle at a constant speed. Furthermore, all spaces between the furniture or other objects are covered or closed. Of course, both windows and doors must remain closed during flight so that the birds do not escape into the wild. If there are still dogs and cats in the household, they stay outside. If there are poisonous plants or vases filled with water in the combination of living room and bird room, these should also be cleared away.
Why are more than two birds in a cage only partially tame?
Bird keepers often opt for just one specimen of a genus, following an old belief. A single bird would become tame quicker since it has no other species to entertain. But that is only partially correct.
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First, humans are not an equal partner to a bird. He does not understand and express himself in the same language. Also, he can’t fly around with his peer friend. Another reason is the species to which the bird belongs. Parrots, for example, are very sociable and definitely need a contact person from their species. In addition, there are individual character traits and the experience that the owner has in caring for the species he prefers. The taming itself is very time consuming. This requires the owner a lot of patience and dedication.
The Taming takes place calmly and in small steps. First, the owner leaves the new bird for a few days to adjust to the new environment. Then he slowly slides his hand into the cage or aviary. If the new resident just flutters around excitedly, slowly pull your hand back. The owner repeats this process until the bird gains confidence and slowly approaches the hand. In the next step he lays Lining on the palm and waits for the bird to eat out of your hand. These steps can take several days or even weeks. That depends on the positive and negative experiences and the curiosity of the bird.
The Parrotthe the intelligence of a three-year-old child should own, can possibly get used to its owner more quickly due to its innate curiosity.
How should the cage, aviary or bird room be equipped?
After the keeper has decided on a number of birds and type of housing, it comes down to one species-appropriate equipment at.
What seating options do the feathered friends need?
Every bird needs to rest between flights and feeding. In the wild, he sits on higher branches, where he is safe from his enemies. To meet these innate needs, placed the keeper in the aviary or cage different natural branches, each with different thickness and length. He can buy them in stores or look for them during a walk in the woods. Experience has shown that maple, birch and willow have proven themselves. Alternatively, beech and hazelnut are possible. If possible, the branch should only be connected to the cage or aviary grid on one side. The other hangs freely. That’s how he can bird maintain its balance on its own. Branches with different thicknesses and lengths offer another advantage. The bird moves on them with different strategies. Thick branches and thin alternatives challenge both feet as well as claws. The birds also train their beaks on the pieces of wood by peeling off the tree bark. Since these funds are used for employment, new tree branches are constantly needed. Seat boards are built into the cage or aviary for the night’s rest.
Which food and water containers make sense?
For the Water as well as the food, stainless steel variants are the best choice. Not only are they easy to clean, they can also be disinfected. This is particularly important to prevent the transmission of bird diseases. However, the container is not put back in the cage or aviary until the smell of the disinfectant has gone.
Both water and food bowls are best located on one middle or higher level. In addition, do not hang them under the branches or benches, otherwise they will be soiled with falling faeces.
Which toy do you recommend?
A Bath is a must for the bird. Here he cleans his plumage and frees it from dirt. That’s why one belongs bath bowl made of stainless steel. It is also not under a perch and thus remains free of falling faeces. Additional toys and mirrors can also be bought and laid out or hung up. Which one is suitable for your own bird depends on its individual needs.
What care, nutrition and occupation do the feathered darlings need?
After the choice of accommodation, care and proper nutrition are important. Once these basic needs have been met, the bird needs to be kept busy. The occupation compensates for the lack of intensive foraging and other activities to which he must devote himself in the wild.
What care is important?
Care begins with cleaning of the plumage. A bath is mandatory. Here he cleans his plumage and frees it from dirt. That’s why one belongs Stainless steel bath bowl to the inventory of each cage or aviary. However, she never stands under a perch and thus remains free of falling faeces. In addition, the holder must an experienced veterinarian at regular intervals turned on the birds on bird diseases examined, which can otherwise be transmitted to other conspecifics.
What must be considered when cleaning?
The birds drop their faeces directly under their perches. Here the excretions settle on the floor. In order to keep this condition and the necessary cleaning to a minimum, the bird keeper chooses…