Parrotlet

Periodical-issue #13, Dec.'23 

Tips and tricks for your flying family member...

In this issue:

  • Practices promoting the health of your parrotlet

  • How many hours of light/darkness does your bird need?

  • Using eggshells as a calcium source for your companion pet 

  • Featured P'lets

  • Need a cage?

  • Previous Newsletters 

 

Promoting your bird's good health!

Practices that I employ on a regular basis.

 

I am often asked about my care regimen for my flock. Throughout my previous newsletters I have included bits and pieces of this information, but decided that I should put them all together in one newsletter edition. It goes without saying that I do not have any formal veterinary training, but you just can't help but learn a few things with years of research and practice.

 

About the care of your parrotlet, or any bird for that matter, I have a few habits that I think serve to promote a healthy life for my birds, besides keeping a very clean cage environment. A clean environment can not be over emphasized for the welfare of your pet.

 

Here are several additional practices that I swear by:

1. One thing that I do, is put a drop or two of unfiltered apple cider vinegar in my birds drinking water when I change it daily. The apple cider vinegar helps to prevent yeast infections and promotes healthy gut function. The Apple Cider Vinegar needs to be "unfiltered", (with the "Mother"), so that it provides beneficial enzymes.

 

2. Another habit that I utilize, is filling a container with tap water and letting it sit out, uncovered, for about 12 hours before giving it to my birds. This allows time for the chlorine to evaporate while still leaving the minerals that are found in the water. Needless to say, I refresh the water in the container daily.

 

3. I give my birds a probiotic in their water once a week to promote healthy immune function and combat stress related illnesses.

The probiotic that I like is: Probiotics Plus from VET1 Labs. I get it from allbirdproducts.com - Here is the link.

https://allbirdproducts.com/collections/vet1labs

 

4. I provide my birds with a product called "Herb Salad". This product is a mix of medicinal herbs that birds can forage for in the wild, but can not do so in captivity. They pick through the "salad" to find the things that they need. I keep a dish of this available for them at all times in their cage so they can eat it as needed.

Here is the link to the source where I buy my "Herb Salad". The owner of this small business is a long time bird acquaintance named Laraine. Here is the link:

https://ladygouldian.com/Herb-Salad

 

5. If a bird appears to be ill, (sitting on cage floor, no energy, feathers fluffed up, etc.), here are some steps you can take immediately:

a. Move him/her to a smaller hospital cage. Place a heating pad under half of the cage. Placing the heating pad under half of the cage allows the bird to get as close, or far away, from the heat source as they need. Staying warm when ill takes a tremendous amount of energy on your birds part. Giving them this additional warmth can be the life saver needed to get your baby's health back on track. In addition, I like to provide a lamp whose bulb shines down into the cage. I place the lamp so that my bird can feel the warmth from the light provided. One important factor to consider when providing a heat source, whether from a lamp and/or heating pad, is that you also need to provide a shaded, cooler area to which the bird can retreat if desired.

 

b. I start adding an antibiotic to my bird's drinking water. It is critical that there be only one drinking source since if given the choice, your bird may not drink from the water with the antibiotic in it. This may leave you believing that your pet is getting the antibiotic, when in fact, it is not. Since your bird may be dehydrated, you can give them several drops inside their beak via a syringe to assist them. Be careful not to squirt this, or any liquid, down their throat, since this can be aspirated into their lungs and cause pneumonia. If you are not comfortable with this process of using a small syringe to administer this medication, simply dipping your bird's beak into water with the antibiotic may be enough. Usually, when ill, they will not provide much resistance to this action. The same all allbirdproducts.com is my source for medications such as this. Doxycycline is a good all purpose antibiotic for many respiratory illnesses. Again, here is the link:

https://allbirdproducts.com/collections/vet1labs

 

5. Find a good avian vet prior to confronting any illness for your pet. This may be a harder task than you would imagine since most vets do not specialize in avian veterinary medicine.

 

*Please note that I do not have any educational background in veterinary science but provide this information solely through my own research and personal experience in keeping and raising my own parrotlets.

** Also, I do not receive any compensation for any recommendations. My own personal experience with these products motivates my recommendations.

How many hours of light/darkness does your bird need?

Do they need a night light?

As with most living creatures, light has a tremendous influence upon our mood, energy, and general well being. As important as our need for light, so too is our need for the calm and restful dark. What do our birds need? Here is a helpful article by Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital regarding this all important topic.

Light/Darkness Needs for P'lets

Calcium from discarded eggshells?

One thing that is beneficial for birds is calcium. A cuttlebone provides the calcium that they need while also helping to trim their beak. Since birds, like people, enjoy variety. Calcium with a different texture can provide a subtle, yet welcome, change.

Although the following videos give good general information, I sanitize my eggshells differently, using the method described in column two.

Making calcium from discarded eggshells...

Here are the steps that I use:

  1. Wash eggshells in water with a small amount of dish detergent. Rinse well and place on a paper towel to dry. You do not need to remove the membrane from the shell.

  2. Place eggshells on a cookie sheet and place in the oven. Cook for 20-25 minutes at 225 degrees.

  3. Grind eggshells into a fine powder. Provide for your bird in a small dish.  

Why calcium from eggshells works well...
Homemade calcium from eggshells...

Featured Babies...

These little beauties are vividly colored! They are hand tamed and ready for adoption. They have been socialized daily and will make wonderful companion pets!

Contact me for additional information and/or pictures.

Need a cage?

I have several cages that are either not used, or barely used, that I would like to sell. Take a look and if you have an interest just contact me for more information and pics.

 

Mcage flight cage model:

I have 2 of this model that have never been used.

Approximate measurements:

30"long x 36"tall x 18"deep

Amazon cost: $60. + $20. shipping

My cost: $70.

I will also include a never used mesh seed catcher that fits this cage for free. ($10. original cost)

 

 
Mcage flight cage - white
 

Hagen Vision - medium size

This cage features an acrylic shield that contains most of any debris. It has doors that form a landing pad, covered food dishes, a perch, side openings for easy food access

Approximate measurements:

24"long x 21"tall x 15"deep

Amazon cost: $145. (no longer available)

Barely used cost: $100.

 
Hagen Vision cage - white
Contact Me
Previous Newsletters

As always, I welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and questions.

Wishing you the best,

Carla

 
peachstateparrotlets.com
Peachstate Parrotlets
peachstateparrotlets@gmail.com
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