COVID-19 and disinfectants

COVID-19 and disinfectants

I previously wrote an in-depth article about alternatives to bleach, where several alternatives were compared and fared extremely well against bleach. Due to COVID-19, the EPA has put up a very comprehensive page on disinfectants that work against COVID-19 and also against more difficult viruses. I’ll highlight just bleach and my favorite, thyme oil, just as a comparison.

These all come from an amazing document called List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2, on the Environmental Protection Agency Website.

First, bleach wipes:

Then, thyme oil wipes:

Note that the only difference is the contact time. But as my other article explains, bleach is an insanely toxic substance and I encourage you to read my whole article. Second, thyme oil is safe to use on children’s toys, on food products, and in food processing. Just spray on, wait 10 minutes.

Why are you still using bleach then? Get it out of your household and dispose of it at your local hazardous waste facility.… READ THE REST

COVID-19 and parrots

COVID-19 and parrots

NOTE: This is based on current scientific information at the time of publication. It’s possible the virus or information will change, but it’s accurate for now.

I hesitate to even comment on this because it’s currently a non-issue, but there is so much information and hysteria about everything related to COVID-19. Consider one of the largest bird rescue organizations in the country, Mickaboo and their COVID-19 response on their main page:

We also want to help the Mickaboo community safely support each other throughout this challenging period to ensure their continued good health and that of their birds.

COVID-19 Response from Mickaboo Leadership—Mickaboo

Granted, it doesn’t come out and say that birds carry COVID-19 and we can catch it from them and vice-versa, but it certainly does imply it. This sort of hysteria and lack of science-based thinking is what leads to panic.

Can we spread the virus to each other

Coronaviruses that infect animals can become able to infect people, but this is rare.

… READ THE REST
Using cameras inside cages

Using cameras inside cages

I wrote an article called “Benefits and joys of remote cameras” where I described using a brand of camera called Arlo to observe bird behavior without being present. It’s useful and fun, and sometimes uncovers critical problems.

Inside a cage is a difficult environment to put in a remote camera and get enough coverage, even though the newer Arlo cameras claim a 180 degree view.

Cameras outside a cage are pretty much useless as all you see are the cage bars.

I’ve developed four different methods to attach an Arlo camera inside a cage that I’ll describe here. I’ll mention that I’ve never had problems with any of them, but some theoretically have some risk involved of a camera getting detached.

Strong magnets 101

NOTE: Magnets will NOT work on stainless steel or aluminum cages.

First, a foray into what are called “strong magnets” or “rare earth magnets” — these are no ordinary magnets.… READ THE REST

If you really want to use pellets

If you really want to use pellets

I’ve made many strong cases against feeding birds a processed (pellet) diet:

Those are just a few. But if you really want to feed your bird pellets, I have some suggestions. First off, this is the recommended fat intake for humans from two sources:

National Academy of Sciences: 20-35% calories from fat
US Federal Dietary Guidelines: 20-40% calories from fat (depending on age)

Most pellets have roughly 5% fat content, meaning they have a very high carbohydrate content. Revisit this link for more on why a low fat content is bad.

Some popular pellet brands and their fat content:

If you want to give your bird an amount of fat that is closer to being healthy, consider Harrison’s, which has the added benefit of being organic.… READ THE REST

Natural vs artificial vitamins

Natural vs artificial vitamins

There’s always a tug-of-war going on over whether Mother Nature can nourish us better than science can. Surely, with our giant brains, we can create foods that improve on what nature can provide.

But there exists solid evidence for humans that processed food has led to a wide range of serious diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. The link above references a book that does an excellent job summarizing scientific research on both sides.

But what about food that merely has added vitamins and minerals? There are bird food brands like Dr Harvey’s and TOP’s that don’t use artificial vitamins and make bold statements about their beliefs.

Other pellets on the market contain fillers such as corn, soy,  peanuts, added minerals and added artificial vitamins. TOP’s contains only real food ingredients.

TOPs Parrot Food—FAQs

And here’s the ingredient list for Dr Harvey’s Colossal Cockatiel blend. Note it follows the common advice of eating food whose ingredients you can pronounce.… READ THE REST

Thoughts on mixed-species aviaries

Thoughts on mixed-species aviaries

The consensus about mixed species aviaries includes one or more of the following:

  • Don’t ever do it under any circumstances
  • Don’t mix species unless they are of similar size
  • Don’t mix species from different continents
  • Don’t mix softbills in with parrots

I’ve done the first three and have no experience with the last but it seems reasonable.

My species

At the height of my mixed species aviary, I had the following birds:

  • Red-rumped parrots
  • Cockatiels
  • Turquoise parrots (neophema)
  • Elegant parrots (neophema)
  • Splendid parrots (neophema)
  • Rosellas
  • Budgies
  • Bourke’s Parrots
  • Canary-winged parakeet (South American)
  • Rainbow Lory

So, that’s 9 species from 7 genuses, with all but one from Australia. So, almost all from one continent. It wasn’t all roses.

The Rosella liked to chase the grass parrots around, but gave up quickly and didn’t show outright aggressiveness. The red-rumped parrots were VERY territorial, but not aggressive.

Space

I’ll start by saying that much of this isn’t new, but some of it is, and some of it I proved with my own setup.… READ THE REST

Weighing many birds with the help of a camera

Weighing many birds with the help of a camera

I’m a big proponent of using cameras with birds to solve practical problems.

Weighing birds is a great way to keep tabs on their health and spot potential issues. It’s also another excellent example of employing cameras.

Many birds don’t like to be weighed and if you have multiple birds, it can be tedious and time-consuming to get them to cooperate. I prefer positive reinforcement methods rather than catching a bird and forcing it to stand on a scale.

So, here’s what you need:

  • A scale large enough to accommodate a food bowl
  • Some uncooperative birds
  • Treats

Other than making it easier to record weights, a camera can solve the problem of fluctuating weight readings as birds move around.

For the purposes of making this short, I used three plush toys as stand-ins for birds and a bowl of wooden blocks to simulate the eating of treats while on the bowl.… READ THE REST

What about L-Theanine

What about L-Theanine

L-Theanine is touted as a calming substance for parrots. Like a lot of things you read on the internet, no evidence is given to support any claims. So, let’s change that.

The products

First off, there are a number of products that contain L-Theanine, including one called UnruffledRx Parrot Calming Formula. It’s important to have a long name!

No, it’s not a roll-on.

The claim they make is:

UnRuffledRx Parrot Calming Formula,with the active ingredient, L-Theanine, a Green Tea derivative, enhances alpha waves in the brain to produce a calming, yet non-sedating effect. L-Theanine has been found to improve alertness and disposition.

So, let’s take a look at these.

Theanine is found primarily in plant and fungal species. It was discovered as a constituent of tea (Camellia sinensis) in 1949 and in 1950, a laboratory in Kyoto successfully isolated it from gyokuro leaf, which has high theanine content. Theanine is substantially present in black, green, and white teas from Camellia sinensis in quantities of about 1% of the dry weight.

… READ THE REST
My life with parrots

My life with parrots

I published an article on my personal blog called My Life With Parrots that I thought might be interesting here.

Note that this references my previous life as a breeder and doesn’t demonize breeders, so take that into account before deciding whether to read it. 🙂

… READ THE REST
What do my birds eat and drink?

What do my birds eat and drink?

Knowing that I don’t believe in processed (pelleted) diets, people ask me what I feed my birds. So I thought I’d share. It’s very elaborate but maybe you’ll find in it two interesting things to try.

First, note that I have a mixed flock 21 of the following bird species:

  • Cockatiel
  • Rosella
  • Red-rumped parrot
  • Elegant parrot
  • Bourke’s parrot
  • Budgie

Since many live in an aviary, separate mixes are not particularly practical. However, my mix percentages remain the same but I may use only budgie mix for a cage only containing budgies, but a mix containing cockatiel and budgie mix for an aviary.

Fresh food

Everyone gets fresh food every morning. Only a few birds are fruit eaters, but everyone gets veggies.

Fruit

Apples, pineapple guava, grapes. And sometimes things we buy for ourselves.

Vegetables

Fresh or frozen corn, sweet potato, celery, kale, dill, dandelion, mustard, parsley, basil, collards, cilantro, thyme, watercress, beans, chard, beet greens.… READ THE REST