Lost birds are often found near homes as they are scared and confused by their unfamiliar surroundings, and over and above the fear of not knowing how to return home, they are hungry and thirsty. One can almost always lure a pet bird into your home or near enough to place a towel over them for capture with food, water, calling and a lot of patience. Once captured, it is essential to remember the basic needs of a bird and to reduce stress as it can be fatal. Trying to touch the bird or befriend it can cause an aggressive reaction, which is due to the stress of a new environment and fear.

It is suggested that a lost bird be placed in a small bathroom or unused room, without a lot of noise and disturbance, where it is able to relax and feel safe. Any room should be made bird friendly, by removing any toxic bottles, closing all toilets and taking away any item that could be damaged by the bird through chewing on it. Birds are also more comfortable if they are perched and with food and water be placed near to where they perched. A backed chair can be useful in this regard. Getting down to a pet shop to get a packet of seeds is recommended, but if that is not an option, fruits, unsalted nuts, vegetables and cooked pasta (without sauce or seasoning) can also be offered. Foods to stay away from, which can cause serious harm to a bird, include onions, alcohol, avocado and chocolate. If a bird is not perching itself or it is suspected that the bird might be injured, the assistance of a veterinarian is strongly advised. The reunion between a grateful owner and lost pet is always worth the effort.

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Birds make wonderful companion pets and many bird owners go to great lengths to ensure that their feathered friends remain healthy. Nevertheless, just as with humans, birds do become ill from time to time. Unfortunately, unlike humans, birds do not always show symptoms of illness until it is too late. Caring for a sick bird really starts with identifying the fact that the bird is sick in the first place and then taking action without delay.

It is thought that birds have a natural instinct to hide signs of illness. This instinctive behavior is understandable, as in the wild an injured or weakened bird becomes an easy target for a predator. However, this instinctive behavior often hides signs of illness from a loving owner. Getting to know your pet bird and its day to day behavior right from the beginning of your relationship, gives you a better chance of noticing when something is wrong. Pay attention to your bird’s normal eating pattern. Any deviation in this pattern could be an indication of illness, especially if it rejects favorite treats. Also a decrease in the amount of talking or singing, as well as activity, could be a sign of illness. A healthy bird tends to perch with one leg tucked under when resting, whereas a less than healthy, physically weak bird may need to perch with both feet.

If you pick up any signs that are a cause for concern, the first step in caring for a sick bird is to ensure that it is kept warm. This can be done by means of a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, or by means of a grow light, which must be positioned in such a way that the bird can move away if the heat is too intense. The additional warmth and security provided by a hospital cage (a glass aquarium is ideal) may be necessary if your bird is too ill to perch. The bottom of the hospital cage should be lined with something non-slip, such as newspapers covered in paper towels. Also provide a free-standing perch and shallow containers of food and water. Make sure that your bird’s environment is kept quiet in order for it to get plenty of rest.

Steps should be taken to ensure that your pet bird does not become dehydrated if it has stopped eating and drinking. Spoon or syringe feeding small amounts of a sports drink, which is generally well received, will provide the patient with essential electrolytes. Small amounts of formula can be mixed with some of the sports drink with the same results. Wrap your bird gently in a towel before putting a few drops at a time into its mouth. If your bird is still eating, a small spray of millet will likely provide it with a boost of energy.

If your bird is injured and bleeding, try to establish where the bleeding is coming from. Is it a broken feather – only new feathers will bleed – or a ripped nail? Styptic powder, or cornflour, should be applied to the injury without delay to stop the bleeding.

Bearing in mind that an illness is often only detected once it has become quite serious, if you are in any doubt with regard to the health of your pet bird, it is best to contact your avian vet without delay.

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There are a lot of good people out there who open their hearts and their homes to pet birds in need of a new home. They do this with the best intentions but often find themselves facing a number of difficulties when the bird arrives. Birds sometimes pick up certain behavioral problems at their previous home and you will need to understand that trying to help an adult bird settle into a new environment is no easy task. This is especially evident with parrots.

Some people find that it helps to view their new pet bird as a foster child. The animal does not understand why its environment has changed or where its previous owners have gone. It will likely be confused and, considering the circumstances, that is completely understandable. It will also take her a while to learn that she is in a safe environment and so you might find that initially she will get nervous of the new owners or movement in her immediate vicinity. There are things you can do to try and help the situation. If for example, the bird panics whenever someone nears the cage, it might help to move the birdcage to an area that receives less traffic, such as away from doors, walkways and windows. If you need to place the bird near a window, ensure that the cage is only partially next to it so that it can hide away from the window if it feels threatened. Another thing that may help is to provide the bird with a hidey-hole to where it can retreat if it feels threatened. A sheet draped over part of the cage or providing a large toy are two ways to do this.

You can also try to minimize stress when it comes to cleaning the cage. When you approach, do so slowly and talk quietly so the bird knows you are there. Do no be sneaky about anything you do. It will also help to use the correct body language: keep your head slightly down and averted and don’t make direct eye contact for more than a second. Handling the bird may initially be out of the question. You will likely have to take the time to build up a relationship and may have to face from the beginning that your bird may never be ready to be handled. One way to get better acquainted is to take a chair and slowly move it closer to the cage over a series of days or even weeks. Allow the bird’s behavior to determine how fast you can approach. If it gets nervous, you are moving too quickly. You want to try keep that chair just within a comfortable range of its cage. Once you have moved it you can sit down on it, read aloud and chat to the bird to help it get more used to your presence. You want to do this for between five and ten minutes every day. While doing so you can try to watch the bird out the corner of your eye and see if it is getting more relaxed or more tense. Once you’ve finally gotten the chair right next to the cage for a few days, you can try bringing her favorite treat with you every time you visit to further help ease the transition.

At the end of the day patience will be the critical factor in determining how successful you are. If you give the bird time and allow it to choose to interact with you, you will likely soon find that it seeks out your company. You will need to move the process along at a speed that suits that particular bird and not rushing it will be the key to ultimately building a great relationship that you will both enjoy for years to come.

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