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Don't Kiss Your Bird and Other Common Mistakes Bird Owners Make

by Roxanne Hawn
Article borrowed from PetSmart.com

People remain mystified by the magic of our feathered friends. Be it their ability to fly or their fantastic plumage, we just can't seem to get enough of them. So it's no surprise that birds are being kept as pets in increasing numbers. However, because birds are so very different from the dogs and cats who most often live in our homes, their proper care remains a mystery. So much so, that people commonly make mistakes when caring for their pet birds -- even with the best of intentions.

To help set the record straight of these confusing issues, we consulted with Brian Speer, DVM, a board certified avian veterinarian, 2000 president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, and co-author of Birds for Dummies.

Why Mammal Saliva and Birds Don't Mix
Birds mouths are much cleaner than ours. And, ours are much cleaner than say a cat's. When it comes to birds, the most dangerous organism in any mammal's mouth is something called Pasteurella multocida. Once introduced onto or into a bird, Pasteurella multocida can become a "very infectious organism," says Speer, crossing membranes, entering the blood stream, and taking a bird from perfect health to death in as little as one hour.

That means a bird that is attacked by a cat, even if the injuries look minor, can be in serious trouble. The bird's instinct will be to clean the wounds by licking them. Doing so, the bird ingests this dangerous organism and may be starting a chain of events that leads to serious illness and even death.

According to Speer, this same organism can be found to a lesser extent in dog and human saliva. "Unless it's a really wet kiss," chuckles Speer, "It's not a real danger to kiss them." However, he warns that safety precautions should be taken to prevent any cats or dogs (no matter how well-behaved) from "kissing" your pet bird -- even if it does look cute. Sharing food with your bird can also be a bad idea. For example, if you bite off a piece of apple before feeding it to your bird, your saliva is on that piece of food and can be introduced into your bird's system.

"In general, the rule of thumb is that you don't want saliva and pet birds to mix," says Speer. "From an academic sense, there is some risk [to kissing your bird], but I've never seen a sick bird from human saliva. I have seen it with dogs and cats."

To be safe, Speer recommends showing your pet birds affection by talking to them, handling them, and scratching them in a favorite spot.

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Why Seed-Only Diets Can Make Birds Sick
In the wild, birds commonly consume a lot of seed, but these birds are flying miles and miles and facing many other physiological challenges. Pet birds who are fed a seed-only diet, on the other hand, are at high risk of many medical problems from the high calorie, high fat diet, including heart conditions, blood-pressure related problems, fatty liver and kidney disease, and more.

The proper bird diet, says Speer, is 70-80 percent formulated pellet diet for different bird species, with the rest made of up of seeds and fruits. Even animal protein isn't a bad thing for birds when consumed in small proportions on occasion.

Why You Shouldn't Give in to Picky Eaters
Speer cautions to closely monitor what food is consumed, not just what you offer the bird. You can be offering a balanced diet, but that may not be exactly what your pet bird consumes. "They are just as smart as we are, and they get themselves into nutritional trouble just like we do," explains Speer. "They are good at tricking people into giving them junk food."

He recommends treating a bird who is a picky eater like you would a five-year-old child who refuses to eat anything but hot dogs. When they are hungry enough, birds will eat what you give them. According to Speer, birds are not the "delicate blossoms" we think they are, so if your bird is not eating due to pure stubbornness, stay the course. If, on the other hand, you suspect illness may be the cause, contact a qualified avian veterinarian right away.

Why Birds Don't Like Surprises
Birds are prey animals in the wild, and there's a lot of instinctual history that goes along with that. So playing or communicating with your pet bird is very different than with dogs or cats. While jumping out and surprising your dog may invoke a great game of chase, it will severely upset your bird. In fact, behaviors that are bird taboo include:

* Shouting or using a loud tone of voice.
* Squirting the bird with water (Misting is OK, but no corrective blasts like you would use with a cat on the counter).
* Making a rapid approach from behind or from out of their common field of vision.
* Holding direct eye contact and closing the gap between you and the bird quickly like a carnivore would.