TRAVELLING HOME

 

When you go to pickup your bird, please do bring something to take it home in. It's always difficult when new owners rock up and we have to quickly find something for their bird to go home in because they forgot- we don't usually have anything special on hand, so the poor bird ends up going home less than comfortably. I'd suggest a box with a towel in it or a travel cage. Travel cages are really handy if you're going on trips with your bird- they're just a smaller cage that's big enough to keep your bird busy in for a little while. Rat and hamster cages (unused by anything other than birds) work quite well for this purpose and are usually cheaper than bird cages.

 

SAYING GOODBYE

 

Soon it will be time to bring your baby home and your baby will have to say goodbye to everything it knows. Some general things to remember when you bring the bird home are: 

• Don’t shout at your bird- it's already frightened. Remember that first appearances count and if the bird sees you as scary the first time it meets you, it may stray out of your path in the future. 

• Understand that your bird may not want to come out of its cage straightaway. A lot of people like to leave their new birds in their cages for a day or two, and this is probably a good idea. If your baby bird seems excited and happy (many baby birds are settled in and keen to play after only a few minutes), feel free to let it out and play quietly with it. If your baby acts nervous (hides at the back of the cage and acts like it will bite), leave it in its cage for a while and let it get used to its surroundings before it begins to meet new people. Once it's comfortable with its new cage and home, it's less likely to lash out at you in fear. 

• They will probably bite. New people, new things, new scenery- new, new, new. It's not easy to remain calm when everything is new, especially when you don’t understand what is going on. Remember that the bird likely isn’t biting because it hates you, but because it is just scared.

• Do not hit them. Even if they bite or you want to teach them the rules, hitting them will freak them out. It is cruel to hit the poor little things, especially when they are traumatised like they probably will be. Just don’t do it. 

• The bird may not eat at first. They will eventually eat, just maybe not immediately as there is a lot of things for them to take in and get used to. Offer a variety of foods- pellets, seeds, fruits and veggies (lots of birds love corn and apple) to tempt your baby into eating. If your bird still isn’t eating after a few days, consult a vet or your breeder and always ensure your bird is fully weaned before bringing it home. 

• Make sure your bird knows where a water source is and is drinking well. You might have to show your bird its water bowl and splash it with some water so it knows where to go to drink- while eating isn't essential on the first day, your bird needs to be drinking.  

• Be aware of windows. By the stage of weaning, most birds should be quite comfortable flying, however, some can still be confused by windows particularly in a new house. Try to keep blinds closed if possible for a little while as your bird gets used to your home, and be cautious when letting it fly around if stressed to avoid window-slamming.