01329 846521

Helpful Information

Practical advice for looking after your new bird, based on our years of breeding and caring for birds of all kinds. Every species has its own needs, so if you're ever unsure, give us a call on 01329 846521.

Tips on taming

Please check all windows and doors are shut before every taming session.

  • Be patient. Your new bird is going through a lot of change – it has left its family, its routine and its home.
  • Give it a few days to settle before you start taming.
  • Little and often is best – around 10–15 minutes at a time.
  • Use treats as a bribe – most birds are very curious.
  • Please don't disturb your bird while it is eating.
  • Keep calm, and don't pull your hand away if it looks like your bird might bite.
  • Move your hand slowly. If your bird freezes or moves away, keep still until it relaxes, then try again.
  • Find its comfort zone, where it feels secure.
  • Don't let your bird out of the cage until it is hand tame.
  • Patience is the key – handle your bird with consistency.

Signs of ill health

Birds are very good at hiding illness, so it's important to act quickly if something doesn't seem right.

  • Eyes look narrow or slit, rather than round, big and bright
  • Lethargic, or stops eating
  • Droppings turn white and watery
  • Sleeps a lot with its beak tucked into its feathers, or sits fluffed up
  • Laboured breathing
  • Any out-of-character behaviour (sometimes this can be hormonal)

Still within your warranty? Call us straight away on 01329 846521.

Outside the warranty period? Please contact a bird specialist (avian) vet without delay. Birds can go downhill quickly, so don't wait to see if things improve. To find one near you, use the Parrot Society UK Avian Vet Directory.

Hazards

Birds have very sensitive lungs and small bodies, so many everyday things can harm them. Keep your bird well away from the following.

Fumes & household products

  • Aerosols and vapes
  • Polish
  • Window cleaning products
  • Cleaning products
  • Air fresheners, diffusers and plug-ins
  • Candles
  • Paint, especially gloss
  • New carpet and furnishing fumes
  • Teflon (non-stick) pans
  • Self-cleaning ovens
  • Bonfire and cigarette smoke

Food & drink

  • Avocado – poisonous
  • Chocolate – poisonous
  • Apple pips – poisonous
  • Hot drinks – can be fatal
  • Salt
  • Milk products
  • Unhealthy human foods

Other dangers

  • Wasp stings – deadly
  • Human saliva
  • Some house plants

Do's & don'ts

Do

  • Let your bird settle for a couple of days before you start taming.
  • Shut all windows and doors, and make sure family and friends know the rules when your bird is out.
  • Offer a bath regularly, or spray lightly with warm water several times a week.
  • Use a variety of perch sizes – washed apple or hazel branches are ideal.
  • Provide a variety of toys and check them for wear – destroying toys is how birds play.
  • Give treats in moderation.
  • Cover mirrors and black TV screens, and close the blinds, for first flights.
  • Keep early time out of the cage short – around an hour at a time – and build up gradually.

Don't

  • Let your bird out until it is tame.
  • Put the cage near a radiator, in a draught or in fierce sunlight.
  • Clip wings – young birds need them to build chest muscle and stay healthy.
  • Clip beaks or nails unless medically needed – once cut, they need trimming every 6–8 weeks for life.
  • Put a mirror in the cage – it can increase hormones and lead to behavioural problems.

Good to know

  • Covering the cage at night is fine if you'll disturb your bird's sleep, but it can lead to hormonal behaviour in some adult birds.
  • Please check any cage with us first – we cannot guarantee birds going into cages not supplied by us.
  • Stand still when a bird is flying, especially when it's first out.
  • A complete supplement, such as Complete Pet Supplement, replaces an iodine block and cuttlefish. Never use cuttlefish from the beach – the salt is poisonous.
  • Remove cage grilles if possible, checking the gap isn't big enough for a head.
  • Ignore bad behaviour and reward good. A treat when your bird goes back into the cage helps.
  • Watch open cage doors – if your bird lands on top, they can shut on toes.
  • Recall training (using a bell, its name or a clicker) helps in case of escape.

Warranty & refund policy

Please contact us immediately if you have any concerns about your new bird's health.

Bird warranty – 48 hours when bought with one of our unused cages and appropriate seed from us. If your bird is ill, or in the event of a loss, call us – it must be inspected (with its cage) within 24 hours.

Refund policy – we do not give refunds, but will willingly exchange unused items for other goods or credit. Birds are not exchangeable or refundable. This does not affect your statutory rights.

Avian vet – if your bird is unwell outside the warranty period, please see a bird specialist vet without delay. To find one near you, use the Parrot Society UK Avian Vet Directory.

Still not sure about something? Give us a call on 01329 846521 – we're always happy to help.