There is a wide variety of birds available which are suitable for keeping in a cage or aviary. Commonly kept species include; budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds, canaries and zebra finches.
If the aim is to have a tame or talking bird, budgies, cockatiels and other parrot species are very responsive when obtained at an early age. A group of finches or singing canaries are fascinating to watch and provide a pleasant background of chatter and birdsong.
The following information applies to the bird species mentioned above.
FEEDING
A good quality seed mix is important. Remove husks daily to ensure that whole seed is always available. In addition to a seed mix appropriate to the species kept, all birds require a variety of other foods:
Greens such as puha, dandelion leaves and flowers, chickweed, groundsel, spinach, silverbeet. Collect only from areas that have not been sprayed with chemicals. Avoid lettuce.
Fruit and vegetables Carrot, apple, corn on cob, broccoli etc (avocado is poisonous to birds)
Other foods such as seeding grasses (even as large as toi toi seed heads), wholemeal bread, hard boiled egg, fresh branches etc
Introduce these foods while birds are young, as older birds may not accept new foods. Fresh water must be available at all times. A bath is also appreciated by most birds, however care must be taken to avoid chills in winter.
Supplements
Grit to ensure proper digestion of their food, all seed eating birds must have access to grit in a small separate dish. Crushed oyster shell is best.
Cuttlefish - This provides a valuable calcium and mineral source and helps to prevent an overgrown beak.
Song restorer/conditioning food Made from high grade cereals and enriched with vitamins, this is a valuable dietary addition. Conditioning food is especially beneficial when birds are moulting or raising chicks.
Ornithon (or other vitamin/mineral supplement) - A vitamin and mineral additive for drinking water. Ornithon should always be given to indoor birds to prevent plumage from fading and to counter any dietary deficiencies.
HOUSING
Birds may be housed in a large cage or aviary. Many cages sold are far too small for any bird. The occupant should be able to fly freely in the cage, not just step from one perch to another.
NO CAGE IS TOO BIG!
The dowelling or plastic perches that come with a new cage should be discarded. These are very hard and are usually all of identical size. Birds can develop arthritis unless allowed to ‘stretch' their feet on perches of differing widths. The best perches are fruit tree branches, complete with leaves. Two or three branches of differing widths should be used and then replaced at monthly intervals. Fruit tree wood is soft and the birds will enjoy eating the bark and new buds.
Grit covered ‘cage carpets’, cage sand or coarse untreated sawdust may be used for the cage bottom. Replace this at weekly intervals. Disinfect the cage and then rinse thoroughly each fortnight. Ensure food and water dispensers are cleaned regularly.
Worm your bird at least every six months, particularly when contact with wild birds is a possibility.
Take cage birds outside at regular intervals to ensure exposure to sunlight, which will help to keep your birds healthy. Allow some access to shade and avoid draughts.
SOCIAL LIFE
All commonly kept birds such as budgies, canaries, cockatiels, lovebirds and finches are social birds and live in large flocks in the wild. Unless an individual tame pet is given a great deal of attention, it is best not to keep birds singly.
KEEPING BUSY
Mental stimulation is important for birds and without it, feather plucking, self mutilation and other boredom behaviours can result. As well as the company of other birds, ensure the cage is roomy and there is plenty of things to do.
A selection of toys can be rotated giving the bird a new plaything each week. Food items such as honey sticks, millet sprays, toi toi seed heads, corn on the cob, pine cones and fresh branches will all occupy the bird for a time. A handful of fresh hay will also keep most birds busy for several hours.
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