We're excited to share that we're growing our range of products for small pets and will be focusing on birds and fish for the next few weeks. In this article we share some important aspects of caring for your birds or fish, including recommended food and helpful tips to keep them happy and healthy.
With thanks to Dr Bernice van Huyssteen from the Cape Exotic Animal Hospital for sharing her expertise, as well as Hendrik Louw from the World of Birds and Monkey Sanctuary and Dee Hendriks from Brainy Birds, Parrot Rescue and Rehabilitation.
Our top tips on bird care
PET BIRDS
Birds such as African Greys, Cockatiels, Parakeets and Budgies are popular bird pets and due to their intelligent nature they make for lively companions. With a balanced diet, a clean environment, safe toys, the right care and lots of love and attention your pet bird is sure to live a good life. Here are a few tips to help you provide the best care for them.
Tips for feeding
- A good pet bird diet should be varied (pellets and fresh produce). The ideal diet varies between different species, so it is important that you research your pet’s needs.
- Do not feed your pet bird onions, tomatoes, avocados, mushrooms, lettuce, uncooked beans or legumes as these are toxic to them.
- Sunflower seeds can be offered as a treat but should not be your bird's main diet. They must be high quality, preferably human grade seeds. Soaking the seeds and allowing them to sprout is also a good way to make them an extra healthy addition to their feed, but first find out all you can about appropriate soaking techniques to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Recommended food
- Westerman's range of breed specific bird food for Parrots, Budgies, Cockatiels and more.
- Marlton's Parrot food made from a mix of oats, sunflower seeds, parrot puffs, parrot biscuits, red sorghum, pigeon & yellow maize and groundnut kernels.
- Fruit such as pawpaw, apples*, bananas or grapes. (*Make sure to avoid apple seeds as these are toxic.)
Did you know?
- Pet birds are very social animals and enjoy being in an environment where they will receive lots of love and attention.
- When birds pluck out their feathers it can be a sign of stress, for example, a change in environment or introduction of a new pet. It can also be a sign of an underlying disease so should be medically investigated.
- It is important to keep your birds entertained with toys. This will help stop them from getting bored, depressed or stressed.
- Keeping a calcium block or cuttlefish bone accessible can assist your bird with filing their beaks.
- It is important to introduce a strict routine especially when it comes to bed time. Cover your bird's cage once the sun has gone down, this should keep your bird peaceful until sunrise.
- Keeping your bird’s cage clean is very important for their health. Make sure to clean it twice-weekly and give it a thorough clean once a month but be careful with which products you use (do not use human cleaning products). F10Sc is recommended.
- There are vets who specialise in bird care so we highly recommend seeking out an expert who can help guide you. Some birds will have very specific requirements from a feeding and care point of view.
WILD & GARDEN BIRDS
There are few things as rewarding as a garden filled with chirping, colourful birds and the best way to attract a few avian friends to your backyard is to give them a ready supply of what they love and need, especially food like seeds and fresh fruit. Read on for a few of our top tips for attracting more birds to your garden.
The more common garden birds you may come across are Pigeons and Doves, whereas the wild birds are species such as Sparrows, Canaries, Finches, Mousebirds, Weavers, Robins, Sunbirds & Turacos and more.
Tips for feeding
- For wild birds, it's best to use a bird feeder or raised area as wild birds prefer to be off the ground when picking seeds.
- For garden birds, scatter some seeds on your grass or paved area as these birds prefer to peck their seeds from the ground and enjoy walking around looking for food.
- Fresh fruit is also a great way to attract more birds but make sure to avoid onions, tomatoes, avocados, mushrooms and lettuce as they are toxic to birds.
- The best time to put out bird feed is at sunrise.
- It is important to put out feed in moderation as you do not want the birds in the area to become reliant on you to survive.
- It is always a great idea to put out a mix of Wild Bird and Garden Bird seed mixes, to allow for variety.
Recommended food
Wild Birds
Garden Birds
Did you know?
- It’s important to also have fresh water available for birds in your garden so they can rehydrate (especially after eating dry foods like seeds) and so they can cool off on warm days.
- You need to clean your bird feeders and water fountains regularly as mould can be very harmful for birds.
- It can be dangerous to place your feed too close to your house as birds may be more at risk of flying into windows.
Our top tips on fish care
Aquatic life can be a delightful and fun addition to your home but like any other pet, fish need proper care and a balanced diet to keep them healthy. Take a look at a few of our simple pointers to help you care for your fish. If you are seriously interested in keeping fish, seek expert advice, especially when it comes to their set-up (water / tank / pump needs and which fish can live happily together etc.).
Tips for feeding
- It is important to choose good quality food to ensure your fish receives all the important nutrients and trace elements they need to keep them healthy.
- Feed your fish a small amount of nutritional food 2–3 times a day.
- You don’t want to underfeed or overfeed your fish, so seek expert advice on the feeding requirements for the type of fish you have as a pet.
- Keep an eye on whether your fish regularly leave food behind as this can cause tank decay and affect water quality
Recommended Food
Did you know?
- The health of your fish depends on the quality of the water in their tank. Make sure to monitor water quality consistently.
- You need to protect your fish against harmful substances in tap water and add important vital components to ensure the needs of their skin and fins are met. Dechlorinators are an option but can cause their own issues so you can also let tap water stand for 24 hours as chloride will evaporate after a day.
- You can also use a product like Tetra AquaSafe which makes tap water safe, neutralising chlorine, chloramine, copper, zinc and lead. It can be used in all freshwater and marine aquariums. With added iodine and magnesium it also promotes vitality and growth.
- You should clean your fish tank every two to three weeks. Get good advice on how to do this, as experts recommend not replacing all of your tank water at once, but rather a third at a time. Fish can go into shock if the water is changed too quickly.
We hope you've found this article helpful. If you have any other questions about the well-being of your bird or fish, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@absolutepets.com or pay a visit to your local Absolute Pets store.
With thanks again to Dr Bernice van Huyssteen from the Cape Exotic Animal Hospital for sharing her expertise, as well as Hendrik Louw from the World of Birds and Monkey Sanctuary and Dee Hendriks from Brainy Birds, Parrot Rescue and Rehabilitation.