Many people find out how charming quails are quite by accident.  There are often used as an agricultural project to start with, and end up becoming a member of the family. 

The Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) makes a terrific pet.

Quails are easy to keep for many reasons; they are small, quiet and friendly.  Not only that, they don’t need lots of attention or space to live.  They are easy to keep clean and don’t cost an arm and a leg to maintain.  They are not only a rare and unique pet, but they also will lay lots of eggs for you and your family to eat.

If you choose to share your home with a quail, you should know that a female makes a much better pet than a male will.  They boys don’t like to be alone very much and they make their displeasure known by crowing loudly.  The female will begin laying eggs at only 8 weeks old and the eggs hatch 17 days after fertilization.

You can easily house them in a rabbit cage, but remember that a Coturnix Quail can’t perch.  Your pet hen may as live as long as 6 years.  An important factor to remember is that a quail will fly up and bonk their heads on the top of the cage if they are startled.  This is called “The Boink Factor.”  A quail’s first instinct when frightened is to fly upwards if they are startled.  This serves them well in the wild as they need to escape predators.  In a cage, it can mean serious injury or even death.  Be sure that the protective padding covers the entire ceiling.  This padding should be solid enough to protect her from the bars of the cage, yet soft enough to do her no harm.

They eat the same food as a chicken…….. (more…)

Doves have quite an interesting past.  They have been domesticated for thousands of years and have been used for food, raised to be pets and were even used as sacrifices to the gods.  The most familiar species of dove is the white Ringneck Dove which can often be seen in magic acts.

A dove will make anyone a great pet.  They are appealing to look at, quiet, except for the peaceful sound of their cooing, easy to tame and an active yet undemanding birds.  They are usually healthy and hardy that require very little maintenance and can be found at relatively inexpensive prices.

The most common species of doves that are kept as pets are the Ringneck and Diamond Doves.  You can find the Ringneck Dove in more than forty color mutations.  Other names that the Ringneck is known by are the laughing dove, collared dove, turtledove or the Barbary dove.  The white Ringneck Dove is commonly called the peace dove or the sacred dove, as well as sometimes being called the Java Dove.

The Diamond Dove was imported to Europe sometime in the late 1800’s.  As early as 1868, the London Zoological Garden has been raising and breeding the Diamond Dove.  They are very popular as an aviary bird and they are an ideal choice for a beginner.  These doves are quite hardy and can easily be kept with other peaceful birds like finches.
You can also raise them inside your home, but they are best kept in pairs.

The dove has an average life expectancy of 10 years……. (more…)

The hyacinth macaw is a magnificent bird.  The blue color is stunning and the yellow ring around the eye gives them a majestic look.  This gentle giant is the largest of the parrots and also one of the most endangered in the wild.

For many people, it may be hard to imagine these beautiful birds in the wild.  The spectacular flash of blue as a wild hyacinth macaw soars through the sky is becoming a sight that is rare to behold these days.

The hyacinth macaw can be found in southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia and in the northeast section of Paraguay.  These are the places where large populations of Hyacinth Macaws are normally found, but it is possible that smaller populations exist in other areas of its home range.

It is thought that there were more than 100,000 hyacinth macaws before the Amerindians arrived in South America.  The wild population dwindled to about 2500 birds in 1990.  Hyacinth macaws that are captive, number probably in the thousands.  These birds are one of the most expensive species of parrots and can cost as much as $15,000.

The hyacinth macaw makes its home in palm swamps and tropical rain forests.  They nest in holes in trees, and with the destruction of the Brazilian rainforest by hundreds of acres each day, it is no wonder that the hyacinth macaw is an endangered species.

The clutch size of a hyacinth macaw is two or three eggs……  (more…)

Following on from our previous article with regard to bathing equipment we realize not everyone’s familiar with bathing their birds.

It is incredibly important that all birds have access to bathing facilities be in a small bowl of water, the kitchen sink, being sprayed with a fine mist or the "human" shower.

It cures irritation that builds up amongst their feathers and is one of the causes for plucking.

Yes that’s right feather plucking doesn’t always mean the bird is bored but they’re merely trying to correct the "itching". Imagine having unreachable aggravations all over your body for hours, it would be enough to drive anyone crazy.

To some, the idea of taking birds in the shower may seem laughable but it’s a great way to spend some quality time with your bird as most love being in the warm, humid shower.

You can also ensure they receive a good bathing. If you have never taken your bird in the shower but would like to give it a go hopefully the following tips will be of use.

It is important to note throughout this recommended process the aim is to get the bird to LOVE the shower. Skipping steps or moving too quickly can scare your bird which will make it incredibly difficult to make any headway.

THE FOLLOWING PROCESS IS NOT TO BE USED WITH A POWER-SHOWER!

• Buy a shower perch as outlined in our previous article. Let the bird sit on the perch without the shower on for a few minutes a day (roughly 2 days) - this will get him/her used to the environment.
• If you’re bird is happy sitting on the perch and not showing any signs of nervousness continue to the next step.
• Run the shower before attempting to put your bird on the perch
• We recommend not getting the bird wet the first 2 - 3 shower attempts. It is a strange environment for a bird so take it very slow.
• Take one of it’s favourite toys…… (more…)

There are a few products on the market that you can buy that can make taking a bath or shower with your bird even more enjoyable.

One innovative product is called the Perch-N-Sink.  The Perch-N-Sink will mount to any smooth and flat surface like your kitchen sink or even the bathtub.  Many times bathing gets put off because the owner is trying to find a convenient time to shower with their feathered friends.  A Perch-N-Sink is a terrific alternative to a traditional shower perch.  You can also use the Perch-N-Sink like the conventional shower perch.  When you own a Perch-N-Sink, you are covered for just about any type of bathing situation.  You can even use your Perch-N-Sink as a tabletop perch or training stand.

On the more traditional side of shower perches, why not try the "Sandy Shower Perch" that can be used in the shower or in a window.  This Multipurpose Window/Shower Perch has big suction cups to give your bird added security from falls when it attaches to a window.  When you are not using it in your shower, attach it to a window where your bird can watch the world go by while they enjoy basking in the warm sunlight.

The Shower Tower is made by….. (more…)