By Hiyori Sanaka

Thanks to hospitalization, my Kozakurainko (love bird) lost his weight constantly,and resulted in good health condition, yes, the result is all right.

But I must keep his weight less than the weight at present.

If he again gained weight, I should take him to the hospital again because of liver dysfunction.
How can I keep his weight within 56-57g? After consultation with my bird’s home doctor, I made up my mind to keep him moving everyday. Of course, the best training for the bird is to let him fly for a distinct time.

However, my Kozakurainko loves to walk rather fly, and I gave up… Yes, he seemed to be trying to fly, with his wings open wider, wider, wider,….and runs this Kozakura!
But if so, I must consider alternative way to spend his fat tissue even with running or walking.
So I left him in front of the shoes box and call his name, and walk quickly to the opposite side of my house.
Kozakurainko was surprised to start running like small chicken walk behind his hen.
Length of the walking space is only 8m, but we did twice in a day. At first a few days, it was quite succesful.

He came with running anytime when I call his name.

However, he suddenly found that there is no pleasant in this unexpected play, no feed, no toys.
And he learned that if he did not run, I will come to pick him up.

What a clever bird with this very small brain!!!
Then, I tried to pay my effort to let him walk.
Keeping the distance 30 cm between Kozakurainko and me, watching his eyes in the same height with him,calling his name, I crawled to back, like a cat walking behind keeping his eyes on enemy big cat coming.
“Come on , Piro, Piro, come on!”

What a silly walk was I doing for my bird.
It was very hard training for me to do that everyday.

But with our such efforts for moving, he can keep his weight within expected range without controlling any diet intake.

Yes, just the same as human being, it is also necessary to keep your bird moving when he loves you very much and follow you.

Eating, and walking.
This is the basic, and the supreme for keeping health even in small birds.

Article Source: Hiyori_Sanaka

By Pam Caouette

Bird seed balls are wild bird food. Bird seed balls are made with animal fat and seeds. Bird seed balls can also be called suet. Bird seed balls are a great way to help birds in the winter. Birds need to eat bird seed that has high fat and protein, so bird seed balls are a great choice for anyone looking to have birds around their homes and to help birds.

Bird seed balls can also be suet cakes. Suet is the material that makes the bird seed balls. Suet is the animal fat, usually beef liver fat that has been processed so that it will not spoil nor will it melt and get soft. Bird seed balls can also be made with peanut butter and seeds. This works well too because the birds still get the protein that they need, as well as a flavor which they like. The great thing about bird seed balls and bird seed bells, is that you necessarily do not need a bird feeder. You can simply hang them with a string or a wire using the casing that they come in.

Bird seed balls can also come in different shapes. You can buy bird seed bells as well which serve the same purpose as bird seed balls, only they are a different shape. However you choose to feed the birds around your house, use bird seed that they will like to eat. You may notice that if the birds do not like a particular type of bird seed, you will see it all over on the ground. They will spit out the seeds that they do not like. Also use a bird feeder that best suits them, a hanging bird feeder, a platform bird feeder, a window bird feeder or a suet bird feeder designed for suet cakes. Your bird feeder search can end right here with all the bird feeder information that you need as well as products.

Pam Caouette has had a wonderful garden full of wild birds. Learn more about wild birds and at http://www.aplusbirdfeeders.com

Article Source: Pam Caouette

Why use bird seed when the bird can eat what is found in nature?

Well bird seed is a great way to attract birds to you home. Bird seed also helps keep the birds nourished and healthy. In the winter or in dry seasons it may be hard for birds to find appropriate food so bird seed is a great way to keep birds nourished.

What bird seed do I choose?

When you choose a bird seed for your birds look for ones with high fat and protein content. This will ensure that your birds will be well nourished and well feed. There are different types of bird seed that you can offer the birds around your home. Depending on what type of birds you want to attract will depend on the bird seed and the bird feeder. For some bird seeds hanging bird feeders or tube bird feeders are best. While for others birds platform bird feeders or suet bird feeders are the better choice. To see what kind of bird seed is most preferred by birds, here is a useful bird seed chart.

When do I use bird seed?

Bird seed can be used year round. There is nothing wrong with feeding birds in the summer and spring this way they will receive the nutrient that they need while they are nesting. It is important that if you start feeding wild birds in the winter that you continue to feed them. Once wild birds find a reliable food source they will keep coming back to eat there.

What is suet?

Suet is a great bird food. Suet is animal fat and should be made with the highest quality beef kidney fat. Suet is processed so that it will not spoil or become soft and melt with different temperatures, because if this happens then all your bird seed will end up on the ground. Here is more information about suet.

What is wild bird seed?

Wild bird seed is all of the seeds mentioned above and in the chart. Wild bird seed can be mixed together for different types of bird feeders, or to attract different types of birds. Wild bird seed is made for wild birds, made for the nutrition that they need and how they prefer to eat. When you are looking a buying a bird feeder online, be sure to check out all the different types of wild bird seed for that type of bird feeder.

Pam Caouette is the lead author for www.aplusbirdfeeders.com which offers great information on wild birds, bird feeders and birdseed. Visit http://www.aplusbirdfeeders.com for a wealth of information.

Article Source: Pam Caouette

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Pam_Caouette]Pam Caouette

What are platform bird feeders you may be wondering and what is their purpose with feeding birds? Well to put it simply a platform bird feeder is designed for birds who like to eat bird seed off of the ground. Platform bird feeders can be places slightly above ground, or the can be mounted off a deck a tree or a stump. You can also order a platform pole mount to mount your platform bird feeder on a pole.

The main difference between hanging bird feeders and platform bird feeders is that with a hanging bird feeder the bird seed is dispensed through a crack or a small opening in the bird feeder. With a platform bird feeder the bird seed is placed on a platform, or a plate and the birds peck the food from a pile or scattering.

With a platform bird feeder, or a tray bird feeder the birds that are attracted depends on the seeds, but if you are using a platform bird feeder, or fly thru feeder then you may end up seeing a cardinal and other various birds.

Platform bird feeders can also be squirrel proof. By having your platform bird feeder hang, squirrels are less likely to reach your bird seed, saving you money and allowing the various birds to eat. Some platform bird feeders, or tray bird feeders come with a screen big enough for the birds beaks, but too small for the hands of the squirrels, this is a great feature.

Platform bird feeders and tray bird feeders also know as ground bird feeders are easy to maintain and clean, and will bring different types of birds to your backyard than that of a hanging bird feeder. If you decide to buy a platform bird feeder, be sure that you have an adequate location in your yard before you make the purchase.

Pam Caouette is the lead author for http://www.aplusbirdfeeders.com Buy the bird feeder that will complement your back yard. http://www.aplusbirdfeeders.com/Main_Pages/platform_bird_feeders.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pam_Caouette http://EzineArticles.com/?Platform-Bird-Feeders&id=207182

By Iziah Shumkel

Not all foods are good parrot foods. It has often been said that parrots can eat just about anything that we humans can eat, this is just not the truth. It would be a wise decision, to forget that what tastes good to you must also taste good for your parrot. Many foods are just unable to be digested well by the parrot and may lead to an upset gastrointestinal tract. There are also many foods that are poisonous to some birds.

Some of the things that you should try to avoid feeding your bird in large amounts is anything that contains high amounts of sugar (if however you have a Lory, it’s okay as it is a bird species that normally consumes a lot of sugar). Sugar tends to help the growth of yeast, which can be troublesome to your parrot. A yeast infection is a common ailment which can appear around the mouth and the gastrointestinal tract in your bird. By not supplying your bird with a large amount of sugar you will therefore reduce the chance of this infection. Despite this, if your parrot happens to get a yeast infection, you should go to your veterinarian and follow their instructions.

Another product to look out for our milk products, these are also not good to feed to your birds in large amounts. Milk also contains sugar, which is known as lactose. This is a problem as birds cannot digest it and means that the sugar sits in the gut where it for ferments, which can lead to a nasty case of diarrhoea.

Two more products that you should never give your bird are avocado and chocolate. There have been reported deaths due to these foods being fed to one’s bird. However, for some strange reason, bird owners have been known to feed their birds avocado and chocolate without any ill effect. We are not sure why these two products can affect different bird so drastically, but how advise would be not to take the chance, I mean do you really want to play Russian roulette with your bird?

Article Source: Iziah Shumkel

Too often, bird owners think that a little bird seed and fresh water are all that is needed to sustain their bird. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the Eclectus parrot. In fact, if an Eclectus parrot has to survive only on bird seed and water, he won’t live a very long life.

First, there is a choice to make between regular bird seed and bird pellets. Experts agree that pellets are healthier for the Eclectus parrot than bird seed. You should select a high quality pellet that contains numerous nutrients and minerals, particularly vitamin A.

As mentioned, however, seed or pellets aren’t nearly enough. Your Eclectus parrot also needs fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a source of calcium. The calcium is easily supplied by hanging a calcium block in the cage, and replacing it when it gets too small. The fruit and vegetables, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated. 

First, you should know that avocados are toxic to your Eclectus parrot. Of all fruits and vegetables, this is the one thing that he should not have. Also note that parrots should not have junk food designed for human consumption, as this can not only lead to obesity, but can also cause additional health problems, which may be life threatening.

As for the fruits and vegetables that your Eclectus parrot will enjoy, he should be fed apples, cucumbers, carrots, dandelions, tomatoes, oranges, melon, broccoli, sweet potatoes, mustard greens, spinach, raisins, plums, pears, apricots, bananas, peaches, green peppers, sorrel, chickweed, lettuce, beets, sweet corn, green peas, eggplant, and zucchini. Most fruits and vegetables should be served raw, with the exception of any grains, such as rice, which absolutely must be cooked before being eaten by the bird.

Cooked rice and beans are also a favorite of Eclectus parrots. Fiber is very important, because Eclectus parrots have a longer intestinal tract than what is considered normal. Fiber is needed to keep this long intestinal tract clear.

Fresh fruits and vegetables that are made available to your Eclectus parrot should not remain available for more than twenty-four hours, as they may spoil. Remove the old food and replace it with fresh food. Overtime, you will get a sense of exactly how much your parrot will eat, so that you don’t waste food.

Finally, make sure that water is always accessible to your Eclectus parrot. Instead of providing tap water, however, you should provide bottled water, with no added minerals or nutrients. If possible, stick with the same water brand throughout your Eclectus parrots life.

It is important that you keep an eye on your Eclectus parrots weight. These birds are usually pretty good eaters, and they can easily become obese if you aren’t careful. If your bird appears to be gaining too much weight, you should consult your veterinarian, and determine a proper amount of food to feed the bird in order to get his weight back down.

By Mayoor Patel

Tube bird feeders are given this name for the obvious reason; they are a tube shaped feeder that makes  use of this unique design to offer a little something different to the birds that come to eat. The cylindrical shape makes it harder for a pest to latch on to it if they are going to try to steal seeds, or whatever it is you choose to feed, because they have nothing to grab onto. This means you lose less feed to the squirrels, chipmunks or other rodents who otherwise might see the bird feeder as a free meal. As well these kind of feeders are more likely to bring you the smaller birds, so if you have a preference between smaller birds or larger birds that may be a deciding factor on whether you want this type of bird feeder or not.

Theses tube bird feeders can be a variety of sizes and so hold different amounts of food. But that is not why they attract the smaller birds as opposed to the larger ones. The reason for this is the size of the perches. These feeders tend to have perches up the sides of the tube which allow the birds to eat at different levels on the feeders. This is unlike the platform bird feeders where they all eat on the tray at the bottom. With these there is a tray to catch falling seed, but the birds can eat while sitting on a perch anywhere on the feeder. This means that you must keep the bird feeder full to allow the perches to be useful places for them to eat from.

Therefore if this is the type of bird feeder you want to use you will need to understand that you will not be seeing any jays, doves, cardinals, grackles or other large birds eating from it. If on the other hand you like chickadees, finches or nuthatches then you will be happy with this feeder. Tube bird feeders can hold a variety of birdseeds from the small Niger seeds to the much larger sunflower seeds. Check before you you’re your purchase because some will come with different sized holes for the use of certain types of seeds.

Mayoor Patel is the writer for the website http://www.bird-feeders.wares-are.us. Please visit for information on all things concerned withTube Bird Feeders

Article Source: Mayoor Patel

First, you need to know what to feed your chick. Most pet stores sell prepared formulas for the Eclectus parrots. Some chicks will like these formulas very much, while others will hate them, and want nothing to do with them. In this case, you must mix your own formula. If you find that this is the case, look for a formula that is all natural, and try that first. If that doesn’t work, consult your veterinarian to find out what ingredients he recommends for your particular bird, and mix those ingredients in a blender, until it is the same texture as the commercial brands. Sometimes, baby food is recommended by the vet. Make sure that you also ask how much your chick should be fed, and how often he should be fed as well.

The best method for hand feeding is to use a syringe. The syringe is gently placed right inside of the mouth, and the liquid dispersed. Some breeders force feed the formula, using a syringe with a steel needle, and instantly injecting the proper amount of formula directly through the mouth, and into the crop. This is not advised, as the process of hand feeding should help the chick to socialize as well. Feed him slowly.

After your Eclectus parrot has been fed, he must be burped. This can be done just as you would burp a human baby. Hold him up to your shoulder, and gently rub his back until he burps two or three times. You can also attempt to help your Eclectus parrot burp by using your thump and pushing the air up out of his esophagus, but patting his back is easier and safer. Just be gentle.

For the most part, you won’t run into any problems hand feeding until your chick is about six weeks old. About this age, he starts developing taste, and he simply may not like what you are trying to feed him. At this point, he has become much like a picky child. The key is to find foods that are the proper texture, which satisfy him, all while providing him the proper nutrients and minerals.

In most cases, you won’t be responsible for hand feeding your chick. Most good breeders will hand feed the chicks, and have them weaned before they are adopted. In fact, this is one of the questions you want to ask your breeder, to ensure that your Eclectus parrot is ready for ‘big parrot’ food upon his arrival in your home.

By Lee Dobbins

Winter can be a difficult time for birds as the foods they are used to eating to be covered in snow and not readily available. Therefore, keeping your bird feeder stock proceeds can help keep your feathered friends fed.

So what should you fill your winter bird feeder up with?

Most of the seeds that you feed birds in the summer work in the winter to. You might want to experiment and see which seeds attract birds the best. One thing I don’t recommend, is buying a cheap mix at the supermarket since a lot of the seeds in the mix birds don’t like. Here are some seeds that most birds seem to enjoy:

1. Black sunflower seeds or black oil sunflower seeds will attract many birds to feeder and might even bring in some that you’ve never seen before if you haven’t used these types of seats. These are the seeds that look like a sunflower seed but they’re smaller and all totally black. These seeds have a higher oil content and a softer and easier to open.
2. Safflower is a white seed and one of the few seeds that squirrels don’t like. These seeds might attract Cardinals,- and even the Downey woodpecker and the great thing is you can put it in a platform feeder and the squirrels won’t even bother with it! 
3. Goldfinches are my favorite birds and I especially like to see them in winter and one seed that will attract tons of them is niger. This is a teeny tiny black seed and it is very expensive but well worth it as it may cause dozens of goldfinches to flock around your feeder. You might want to buy a special feeder ( the hanging tube type) and you can get them designed just for the seat with small holes. You can put it right up near the house so that you can get a better view the birds. Goldfinches don’t mind people to munch and can become rather tame over time.
4. White Millet is an inexpensive seed that’s great for ground feeding birds such as mourning doves sparrows and juncos and you can scattered on the ground even in the snow to let these birds have a nice meal.
5. Fat is a great source of energy so hanging a suet feeder out in winter can help give your birds a little boost. you can buy all kinds of different suet feeders some with other things mixed in or you can make your own with fat from the butcher counter in a mesh onion bag.

Along with making sure that your birds have plenty of seed for the winter, you might want to think about getting a heated birdbath. Water is vital to birds and often in wintertime the there is no running water to be found so your birdbath maybe even more attractive than your feeder!

Lee Dobbins writes for http://birdfeeders.topicgiant.com where you can learn more about bird feeders and Feeding backyard birds.

Article Source: Lee Dobbins

Pellets or Seeds? Seeds or Pellets? Which choice is right for your Eclectus parrot? It seems that half of the experts recommend seeds, and the other half recommend pellets. What exactly is the difference between seeds and pellets?

First, you should know that your Eclectus parrot will absolutely adore seeds of all types. Unfortunately, too much seed is not healthy for him, and furthermore, certain seeds should be avoided altogether. For example, your Eclectus parrot should not eat fruit seeds, as they won’t digest properly in his system.

Many people mistakenly think that if they feed the Eclectus parrot seed that is designed for birds, that there won’t be a problem, and for the most part, this isn’t a problem. However, those seeds are typically oily, and since Eclectus parrots are prone to becoming obese, they aren’t good for him in excess. All things in moderation.

It is important to remember that the Eclectus parrot has a long intestinal tract. Therefore, he needs enough fiber to keep waste moving through that intestine. This is why he needs fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as seeds or pellets. Some experts recommend seeds, because they tend to be more natural, while others recommend pellets because they have more nutritional value, with less fat and calories.

The Eclectus parrot diet should consist of more fruits and vegetables than seeds or pellets. Overall, seeds or pellets should only make up about one fourth of the birds daily intake of food. The rest should come from fruits and vegetables. While experts cannot agree, science itself gives us the indication that pellets are actually healthier for the Eclectus parrots, because they are specially prepared with the vitamins and minerals that the bird needs.

Unfortunately, many breeders start the babies on seeds, and then the owner switches them to pellets. While this generally isn’t a problem, the fact that the bird may not recognize the pellets as food can become a huge problem, causing the bird to starve to death.

Also, when you select pellets for your Eclectus parrot, you should avoid pellets that are colored. There have been many problems reported with the use of colored pellets. You may find that your parrot doesn’t grow as well as he should, or that his feathers lose their beautiful coloring when they molt. His beak may also turn a horrible shade of yellow.

When it is all said and done; only you can choose between seeds and pellets. Talk to your veterinarian about this, and see what he recommends for your particular Eclectus parrot. It could also be that the bird determines the outcome of this debate, as he may show you that he prefers one over the other. Finally, realize that there is no reason why you can’t feed him both seeds and pellets, alternating the two, as long as he is still getting more fresh fruits and vegetables than anything else.