Pet Bird Health, Hygiene & Safety

• AvianWeb.com. "Bird Diseases / Common Health Problems."
• Barras, Wanda. "How Clean is Clean? Sanitation? Antiseptic? Disinfection? Sterilization?," Hotspot for Birds.
• Bauck, Louise. "Tips from the Vet," HARI.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Companion Parrots   Household Dangers, Toxins and Hazards."
• Books and More.com. "Health Issues and Tips For the Bird Owner."
• Kalhagen, Alyson. "Hygiene and Pet Birds."
• Ladyhawke. "Avian First Aid Kit: Why Not Make Your Own?"
• Paul, Lisa. "The New Vet Exam," Winged Wisdom, (July 1997).
• PetMD. "Diseases A-Z: Bird."
• Sherwood, Lou and Sue. "Hotspot For Birds: Bird Care Guide."
• Sweat, Rebecca. "Common Bird Beak Health Problems."
• Wilson, Liz. "Avian Medicine: Why Is It So Expensive?" upatsix.com.

More Publications:

• Anderson, Sue. "The Bird Owner's To-Do List, Bird Talk, 17 (Apr. 99): 14-19.
• Beck, Louise. "Light Makes a Difference," Bird Talk, 17 (Feb. 99): 30-36.
• Chamberlain, Susan. "10 Steps to Bird-Proofing Your Home," Bird Talk, 19 (Feb. 2001): 44-49.
• Chamberlain, Susan. "Dealing With The Bird Mess Dilemma," Bird Talk, 14 (May 1996): 16-20.
• Chamberlain, Susan. "Spring Cleaning," Bird Talk, 13 (Mar. 1995): 108-119.
• Charette, Sally. "A Safe, Clean Sweep: Learn some helpful hints from a fellow bird owner on how to keep your home neat," Bird Talk, 14 (Dec. 1996): 76-83.
• Clark, Pamela. "A to Z Guide to Bird-Proofing Your Home," Birds U.S.A, 2002/03: 16-25.
• Clipsham, Robert. "Preventive Health Care," Bird Talk, 14 (Feb. 1996): 41-50.
• Corbett, Penny. "Ask the Experts: How Clean Is Clean Enough?" Bird Talk, 15 (Aug. 1997): 97-98.
• Downey, Christine. "Is Your Bird Sick? Take Action," Bird Talk, 16 (Dec. 1998): 72-79.
• Halvorson, Joy. "The DNA Analysis To Sex Birds," Bird Talk, 11 (Sep. 1993): 56,58-59.
• Hefton, Donna M.  "The Fundamental Aspect of Care: Bathing the Psittacine," Bird Talk, 15 (April 1997): 16-28.
• Higdon, Pamela L. "Household Hazards," Bird Talk, 11 (Nov. 1993): 62-82.
• Huber, Barton C. "Avian Health Care: Environment and diet are the keys to your bird's good health," Bird Talk, 14 (Jun. 1996): 76-83.
• McWatters, Alicia. "Herbs For Health, Herbs That Heal," Bird Talk, 18 (Apr. 2000): 58-63.
• McWatters, Alicia. "Holistic Healing: Question and Answer," Bird Talk, 17 (July 1999): 54-63.
• Nickolin, Theresa. "Avian Care Tips," Bird Talk, 13 (Mar. 1995): 16-26.
• Rossum, Sharon J. & Anderson, Elizabeth. "Back Talk: Birds Left Together Leads to Injury," Bird Talk, 18 (Feb. 2000): 4 (mentions grey cheek).
• Smith, Jeanne. "First Aid for Avian Emergencies: Learn how to react when your bird needs you most," Bird Talk, 14 (Jan. 1996): 32-36.
• Sweat, Rebecca. "The Air They Breathe," Bird Talk, 19 (Dec. 2001): 38-43.
• Wilson, Liz. "Sleep: How Much is Enough for a Parrot?" Bird Times, (Feb. 99): 11.
• Wissman, Margaret A. "Avian Medicine for the 21st Century," Bird Talk, 20 (June 2002): 22-30.
• Wissman, Margaret A. "The Avian Respiratory System," Bird Talk, 14 (Aug. 1996): 16-23.
• Wissman, Margaret A. "The Birds and the Bees," Bird Talk, 17 (Apr. 99): 50-60.
• Wissman, Margaret A. "Carbon Monoxide: Hidden and Deadly," Bird Talk, 18 (Apr. 2000): 94-95.
• Wissman, Margaret A. "Causes & Cures: Bathing Your Bird," Bird Talk, 18 (Aug.  2000): 76-77.
• Wissman, Margaret. "The Top 10 Bird Killers," Bird Talk, 17 (June 1999): 14-23.
• Wissman, Margaret A. "What to Expect During A Vet Exam," Bird Talk, 14 (Nov. 1996): 126-131.
• Wissman, Margaret A. and Bill Parsons. "Recognizing Signs of Illness," Bird Talk, 12 (Mar. 1994): 14-17.
• Wissman, Margaret A. and Bill Parsons. "20 Do's and Don'ts For Pet Bird Owners," Bird Talk, 15 (Aug. 1997): 88-93.

Handfeeding Baby Parrots

Photo from Sly Parrot.com

• Brinker, Bobbi. "Handfeeding: Cornerstone to a Good Pet," Winged Wisdom (June 1997).
• Brinker, Bobbi. "Handfeeding Methods: Good Methods Yield Good Pets," Winged Wisdom (Feb. 1997).
• Hartman, Steve. "The Science of Handfeeding and Weaning the Baby Parrot," 1988.
• "How to Hand Feed Baby Parrots" (video)
• Maneke, Debbie. "Handfeeding," ACS.
• Wilson, Helga. "Hand-feeding Birds From Conure to Macaw."

Other Publications Mentioning Handfeeding

• Blanchard, Sally. "Parrot Psychology: How Long Should I Hand-Feed?" Bird Talk, 17 (Aug. 1999): 82-83.
• Bond, Mathew W. and Diane Downs. "Handfeeding & Weaning Baby Birds," Bird Breeder, 66 (June 1994): 34-39.
• Chamberlain, Susan. "14 Fail-Safe Hand-Feeding Tips," Bird Talk, 22 (Apr. 2004): 50-55.
• Forster, Susan (Chamberlain). "Covering the Cage: Help With Hand-Feeding," Bird Talk, 11 (May 1993): 16-20.
• Gould, Barbara and Geoffrey. "Nest Box: Faster, Easier Hand-feeding," Bird Talk, 17 (July 1999): 14-15.
• Grindol, Diane. "Hand-feeding and Weaning Baby Parrots," BirdBreeder On-line (Apr. 1998).
• Linden, Phoebe Greene. "Eating as a Social Behavior in Parrots: Implications in Weaning," The Pet Bird Report, 3 (J/F 1993): 34-36.
• Linden, Phoebe Greene. "Eating Skills for Recently Weaned Chicks," The Pet Bird Report, Issue 23: 38-45.
• Vriends, Matthew M. "Hand-feeding and Raising Baby Birds," 1996.

The Tui Parakeet (Brotogeris sanctithomae)

Photo provided by Steve Nekochan

• Arthur Gosset.com page
• Arthur Gosset's pic
• IBC Collection
• IUCN Species list - Birdlife International
• Photos: Google | Flickr
• Species profile - Avianweb
• Species profile - Birdforum
• Species profile - Lexicon of Parrots
• Species profile 
• Species Profile - Wikipedia
• Species Profile, Care & Status in the Wild - World Parrot Trust
• Species Profile - Zeco's page
• Videos: YouTube 
• Xeno-canto's species overview (includes photos and sound recordings of flock calls)

Publications Mentioning Tui Parakeets:

• Brightsmith, Donald J. (April 2006), "The Psittacine Year: What drives annual cycles in Tambopata's parrots?" VI International Parrot Convention in Loro Parque, Tenerife, Spain. [pdf]
• Brightsmith, Donald. (Feb. 2000), "What Eats Parrots?" Bird Talk.
• Brightsmith, Donald J. (2004), "Nest sites of termitarium nesting birds in SE Peru," Ornitologia Neotropical, 15: 319-330. [pdf]
• Burger, Joanna and Gochfeld, Michael. (2003), "Parrot behavior at a Rio Manu (Peru) clay lick: temporal patterns, associations, and antipredator responses," Acta Ethologica, 6(1): 23-34. doi:10.1007/s10211-003-0080-y.
• Clubb, S.L. and Frankel, J.K. (1992), "Sarcocystis falcutala of opossums: transmission by cockroaches with fatal pulmonary disease in psittacine birds," The Journal of Parasitology. [JSTOR]
• Cotton, P. A. (2001), "The Behavior and Interactions of Birds Visiting Erythrina fusca Flowers in the Colombian Amazon." Biotropica, 33: 662–669. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2001.tb00223.x.
• DeLucca, E.J., L.R. Shirley and C. Lanier. (1991), "Karyotype Studies in Twenty-two Species of Parrots (Psittaciformes: Aves)," Revista Brasileira de Genetica, 14: 73-98. (mentions Tui and canary wing). [pdf]
• Gilardi, K.V., L.J. Lowenstine, J.D. Gilardi, and C.A. Munn. (Oct. 1995), "A survey for selected viral, chlamydial, and parasitic diseases in wild dusky-headed parakeets (aratinga weddellii) and tui parakeets (Brotogeris sanctithomae) in Peru," Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 31(4): 523-528. [pdf]
• Gilardi, K.V.K.; L.J. Lowenstine, and C. Munn. (1994), "Viral Diseases in Free-Ranging Dusky-Headed Parakeets (Aratinga-Weddellii) and Tui Parakeets (Brotogeris sanctithomae) in Peru," American Association of Zoo Veterinarians and Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians Annual Conference. Proceedings., 140-141. 
• Harris, Robbie. (Dec. 1992), "The First U.S. Breeding of the Tui Parakeet," ASA Avicultural Bulletin, 10,12-15.
• Samuelson, Phillip. (April 1997), "Iquitos, Peru: A Bird Lover's Paradise," Bird Talk, 15: 30-32,34-38,40 (briefly mentions Tui & canary wing).

Avian First Aid Kit: Why Not Make Your Own?

There are so many things that can happen to your bird in our day to day existence and being prepared can save your bird(s) life. Every seasoned or new bird owner should have an avian first aid kit available at all times for emergency care of your bird(s). There are many kits that you can buy online--just do a Google search on the term avian first aid kit, and you'll get lots of results.

What if you don't want to spend your hard-earned money on buying an avian first aid kit that is offered online? Why not make your own? It is not that difficult. Some items you may already have in your home to add to a basic kit.

First of all put together a list (perhaps on an index card) of emergency contacts and keep it with your kit. Your list or card could include your vet's emergency number, a complete medical history of each of your birds including their ages, and the number of a local poison control hotline (in case your bird ingests something harmful), Another thing to consider is adding the phone number of a friend who is also a pet bird owner or someone you trust.

Secondly, you will need something to house your kit items. If you decide to make your own, you can use anything from a 1 gal. ziploc freezer bag to a small tool box, a document case, a small tackle box or an art supply storage organizer. It's up to you. Whatever you have around that would hold the contents you purchase.

Here are things that I recommend you add to your kit, most of which you can find locally. The links are to examples I found online, but other brands will do:

• 1 - bottle Styptic Powder (for toenail & blood feather bleeding only)
• 1 - pair scissors (to trim feathers or cut bandage tape--I use the Fiskars double thumb scissors 5 in. length, stainless steel. They also work for cutting threads or small strings that become wrapped around a toe. A pair of small medical scissors would work as well.)
• 1 - pair hemostat 5" locking forcephttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ybE0TOLwL._SY450_.jpgs (to remove broken blood feathers)--I found a pair for $1 at a local flea market.
• 8 - cotton swabs (to apply apply ointment or creams prescribed by your vet)--Q-Tip purse pack of 30 or generic brand works well if you don't have any on hand)
• 1 - bottle eye & skin flushing solution, 1-8 oz. (to flush eyes or wounds)
• 1 - roll 1/2" x 2 1/2 yd. adhesive tape (to secure bandages)
• 1 - pair latex gloves (for personal protection)
• 1 - 1" x 6 yd. sterile gauze bandage to (wrap wound areas)
• 2 - iodine antiseptic swabs (PVP) (for sterilization)
• 2 - antiseptic towelettes (to clean wound or hands)
• 2 - pks. 2" x 2" gauze pads (to apply to wound area)
• 1 - anti-bacterial hand wipe (for personal cleanup)

This is by no means an extensive first aid kit to cover all emergencies, but will get you started for minor emergencies until you are able to take your bird to your vet for emergency care. Other items to keep on hand for emergencies are a travel carrier for transportation to a vet. I found a small animal carrier at a garage sale for $2. I cleaned and sterilized it, and it works great. The next is a towel to restrain or secure your sick or injured bird.

Keep your emergency kit near your bird room so that you can get to it immediately.