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Free Range Parrots

How captive birds can have freedom

What about bee pollen?

What about bee pollen?

2021-01-12

The supplements section of a grocery store or health food store can be filled with over a thousand products, each with their own health claims. As a consumer, it can be hard to sort through it all, especially since there is little regulation in many countries.

This blog is about birds, though, which makes…

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This is your bird. This is your bird on SEED.

This is your bird. This is your bird on SEED.

2020-12-24

Many of the companies that make pellets have pictures such as these on their websites or as handouts that are given to vets. They purport to demonstrate what birds look like on seed diets and their radical transformation after being switched to pellets.

If a vet gives you a handout like this, now you know…

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More on fat and carbohydrates

More on fat and carbohydrates

2020-12-15

What are the top chronic diseases that parrots get?

  • Obesity
  • Metabolic disorder (e.g. Fatty Liver Disease)
  • Heart Disease
  • Cancer

Sound familiar? We can’t ignore the fact that parrots get the same chronic diseases we do. Yet we feed our parrots the same way we are told to feed ourselves. Eat a low fat diet,…

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Remember to eat your herbs

Remember to eat your herbs

2020-12-02

Most people agree that fresh foods need to be part of a healthy bird’s diet. In addition to leafy greens and fruit, an essential part of my birds’ daily diet is both fresh and dried herbs. I’m continually surprised how few people feed their birds herbs, despite the strong evidence for their healthy benefits.…

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Ultimate list of 1,400+ bird-safe and toxic plants

Ultimate list of 1,400+ bird-safe and toxic plants

2020-10-16

Click here for more info on the data used in this table.

Some tips on using the table:

  • Always search rather than scroll through the list. The list is very long and there are often differing names for the same plant so it’s just easier to find what you are looking for.
  • Pay attention to the column indicating
…

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How do I know whether a plant is safe or toxic?

How do I know whether a plant is safe or toxic?

2020-10-16

I’ve long been frustrated that there are so many lists out there of safe and toxic plants, but nearly all of them don’t cite ANY references. It doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. On top of that, many of them disagree with each other and offer black-and-white answers when …

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Variety and enrichment in a dry diet

Variety and enrichment in a dry diet

2020-10-05

I’m defining a “dry diet” as either pellets, seeds, dried chop, and other dry ingredients—or a combination of them. Regardless of the dry diet, most people know the importance of giving your bird fresh vegetables and fruit every day.

This article is closely related to a number I’ve already…

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Learn bird training from the experts (addendum)

Learn bird training from the experts (addendum)

2020-09-25

I previously wrote an article about Avian Behavior International (ABI), where I attended two week-long bird training workshops a couple of years ago. I also mentioned that they offer an on-line version of their training for a monthly fee.

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the value I’ve gotten…

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Is feather plucking worse than decades ago?

Is feather plucking worse than decades ago?

2020-09-15

Feather plucking is something I’ve always been curious about. There isn’t much research into it and no magic bullets. But if you search the internet for it, you’ll find dozens of proposed remedies, none of which have any scientific backing.

With one exception. Here’s one study …

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Do we know our parrots are happy?

Do we know our parrots are happy?

2020-08-14

I suspect most people would say their parrots are happy and cite some evidence:

  • They sing or talk
  • They play with toys or do tricks
  • They willingly interact with us and let us scratch their heads

But sometimes we mistakenly think other human beings are happy when they really aren’t. So, can we really…

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About cricket


cricket with Guiness the owl

I’ve been a bird owner since 1980, including a few years as a bird breeder and many years doing bird rescue. Many bird owners turn to the internet to learn how to care for their birds and they find information not backed by research or bird experts.

I’ve spent a lot of time battling against this and decided to write down all my thoughts so I could point people to them in one place.

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About cricket


cricket with Guiness the owl

25 years in tech. I like to write manifestos. I like to offer interesting tips. I like making fun of things. Everyone copes differently.

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