Many people may choose birds as pets, thinking they have less needs than cats or dogs. Claire Caruana learns that this is far from the truth, especially when one decides to get an exotic bird which requires specialised care.

If you’re thinking of bringing home a bird because caring for it may seem to you ‘easier’ than looking after other animals, think again. Not only do birds need as much care and attention as other pets, but each species has its own specific requirements.

With over 4,400 known species of birds, understanding what a bird needs to be happy and healthy is not always easy, says veterinarian Trevor Zammit. Owners should spend time familiarising themselves with the bird’s breed before bringing one home.

“Prior to acquiring a specific type of bird one should get hold of a book or read some articles online about management and husbandry of the specific breed in question,” says Zammit, who operates the San Franġisk Animal Welfare Centre in Ta’ Qali.

“Advice should be sought from a vet prior to buying a bird, as unfortunately we encounter many cases where newly-acquired birds get sick very soon after they are introduced into the household.

“Another common mistake by owners is that of introducing new birds to others that have already settled in the household.”

Routine care is highly recommended as it can be very difficult to spot health problems.

“Beware as unfortunately disease symptoms in birds are usually deceptive and by the time we see them, it might already be too late,” warns Zammit.

Disease symptoms in birds are usually deceptive and by the time we see them, it might already be too late

“They tend to hide their problems very well when there are people around them. “The reason for this is that they behave the same as they do in the wild and try not to show any signs of illness or weakness to potential predators.”

However, a number of telltale signs may show that a bird is unwell.

“Reduced intake of food and water is a main indicator. Also, when birds are unwell, they tend to raise their feathers in order to keep themselves warmer. Lack of normal activity or singing, sneezing, watery droppings, runny eyes and loss of feathers are other common indicators of disease whether infectious or due to bad management or husbandry.”

Parrots’ needs are very distinct from those of pigeons, songbirds and other common birds.Parrots’ needs are very distinct from those of pigeons, songbirds and other common birds.

Zammit also points out that such check-ups allow the vet to examine the bird and discuss its nutrition with the owner.

“Deworming and protection from external parasites are usually discussed during such visits as are any updates with regard to nutrition and husbandry. A thorough examination is usually carried out and depending on the species, blood tests and vaccinations can also be recommended.”

In the past, the most common bird species were pigeons, chickens, budgerigars, finches and other songbirds. Today, however, more exotic species are becoming increasingly popular, especially different species of parrots or psittacines.

Zammit admits that this new inflow of birds has made the vet’s job somewhat harder.

“The keeping of different varieties of parrots, such as African greys, macaws and parakeets has made our veterinary profession very challenging in the past few years.

“We even have to attend to the medical needs of birds such as ostriches, emus and various types of falcons and eagles.”

Zammit emphasises that owners should be made aware that these birds’ needs are different from those of common domestic birds.

“Since parrots are found mostly in the tropics and subtropical regions of the world, their nutritional and husbandry needs are very distinct from those of pigeons and songbirds. And each type of bird may suffer from different diseases,” explains Zammit. “Every type of exotic bird needs its own individual housing, environmental and nutritional requirements and if these are not met, the risk for these exotic birds becoming sick is greatly increased.”

Zammit suggests looking for as much information as possible on the bird one is interested in bringing home before the actual purchase.

“Some general useful advice would be to inform oneself before the exotic bird is acquired, as one of the biggest mistakes we encounter is with respect to new pet owners who have no clue as to how much time and attention these pets require in order to be kept in good health.”

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.