Nursery

Our Nursery is full of a variety of friendly, hand-fed baby birds. We have everything from Finches, to Macaws, and everything in between. If there is something you are looking for, give us a call. If we don't have it, we will try to get it. You are welcome to come in and look around the nursery at all our babies. If you see one you may be interested in bringing home, you will be able to handle them to make sure the bird you choose is the right fit for you and your family.
 

 

Here at The Aviary, we strive to ensure our birds get the best care in our store and when they go home. We will walk you through the whole process and tell you exactly what your bird needs to have a long and healthy life. If at any time you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us. We are here for you and your feathered friends and we will do everything we can to ensure their health and happiness.

 

A PARROT’S BILL OF RIGHTS

1. I AM NOT A DOMESTICATED PET LIKE A DOG OR CAT.  I STILL HAVE THE SPIRIT OF THE JUNGLE IN ME.  I HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS WITCH YOU MAY FIND IT HARD TO SATISFY.  
2. GIVE ME THE LARGEST HOME POSSIBLE WITH TOYS.  I AM USE TO FLYING THROUGH RAINFORESTS OR SAVANNAS.  I HAVE GIVEN UP THIS GREAT GIFT FOR YOUR PLEASURE.  AT LEAST GIVE ME ENOUGH ROOM TO FLAP MY WINGS AND EXERCISE.  I NEED TOYS FOR MY AMUSEMENT AND WOOD TO CHEW.
3. GIVE ME A NUTRITIOUS DIET.  I NEED A WIDE VARIETY OF FRESH AND NUTRITIOUS FOODS, EVEN IF THEY TAKE TIME TO PREPARE.
4. LET ME HAVE A SOCIAL LIFE.  I AM A GREGARIOUS FLOCK ANIMAL – BUT I AM NOT ONE OF YOU.  I NEED LOTS OF SOCIALIZATION TO LEARN HOW TO ACT WITH YOU AND WITH MY SIBLINGS.  I ALSO NEED TO HAVE ADEQUATE QUALITY TIME WITH YOU EVERY DAY – NO MATER WHAT YOUR SCHEDULE OR OTHER NEEDS MAY BE.  I AM A LIVING FEELING CREATURE.  ABOVE ALL, I NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE COMPLETE TRUST IN YOU.
5. LET ME BE CLEAN.  I MAY LIKE TO DROP FOOD OR EVEN THROW IT, BUT I NEED METICULOUS CLEANINESS TO BE HEALTHY.  MY SKIN ITCHES WITHOUT FREQUENT SHOWER. THE BARBS OF MY FEATHERS WON’T SEAL IF THEY BECOME OILY AND, WORST OF ALL, I MAY BECOME ILL IF MY FOOD AND WATER IS NOT ALWAYS SANITARY.
6. I NEED MY OWN DOCTOR.   YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND MY PHYSIOLOGY AND THEREFORE YOU MAY NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN I GET SICK.  I NEED SPECIALIST NOT A “HMO”.
7. PLEASE DON’T PUNISH ME.  JUST AS I DON’T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND YOUR PECULIARITIES, YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND MINE.  I DON’T TRY TO GET INTO TROUBLE. BUT IF I DO, DON’T YELL AT ME AND NEVER HIT ME.  I HAVE SENSITIVE EARS AND I MAY NEVER TRUST YOU AGAIN IF YOU STRIKE ME. WE DON’T LEARN BY PUNISHMENT.  WE ARE GENTLE CREATURES AND LEARN THROUGH PATIENCE AND LOVE.

 


BIRDS AND TOYS

 

Toys are vital to yours bird’s health and emotional well-being.  A minimum of 3 to 5 toys should be offered in the cage including one of plastic, one of wood and one of a shredding material. This way your bird gets a variety which makes for a happy bird.  Extra toys need to be on hand to rotate every 3 to 4 weeks to prevent boredom.  If the old toys are still in great shape, wash, sanitize and put away for rotation at a later date.  Foot toys a must.  Place the toy by a perch or swing.

Toys are meant to be destroyed.  These toys satisfy your bird’s natural instinct to chew and shred.  Foraging toys satisfy your bird’s need to forage for food as well as their need to chew and shred.  Don’t worry, birds do not eat their toys they just simply destroy them.  Most toys are either dyed with cake or vegetable dye that is not harmful to your feather friend.

Play with your bird.  Play fetch!  Put a ball close to the bird and let it throw the toy on the floor.  Go and fetch it.  They love to play games.

PERCHES

 

Perches are one of the most important things you will put into the cage.  You will need to offer a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures.  The straight wooden dowel that comes with the cage should not be used as they can cause muscle problems and arthritis over time.  Correct size is very important. Scatter the branches around the cage for exercise to encourage your bird to climb.  The nails need to be digging into the side of the perch.  The following are our recommendations:  Natural perches (grapevine, dragon wood, bottle brush);  Concrete perches (keeps nails and beak trim);  Rope perches (bungees/twisters) offer lot of fun and exercise.  Swings usually use either a natural wood or concrete perch.


CAGE CLEANING

Change cage paper or bedding daily.  Corn cob can be scooped daily with a cat scooper.  Never use pine shavings, cedar chips or kitty litter because the aromatic oils of pine and cedar are harmful to a bird’s respiratory system and kitty litter produces dust.  Scrub the cage, perches and toys weekly.  Hot water and dish soap together with a touch of bleach is great for cleaning.  PoopOff is a wonderful product for getting off droppings and is non-toxic.  Pet Focus is an excellent disinfectant and non-toxic.  If possible place your wet cage in the sun for drying.

Cage cleaning day is a great opportunity to rotate your bird’s toys.  Here are a few different reasons why this is so important.

Boredom:  Rotating toys can help combat boredom.  If your bird is staring at the same toy day in and day out, your bird can become disinterested.  

Cleaning and Inspection:  Changing toys on a regular basis gives you the chance to clean and inspect them for wear and tear.  Don’t hesitate to trash a toy that looks unsafe or dirty beyond cleaning.  

Changing toys frequently also helps birds to not to be so fearful of change.

 
• Feeding Instructions:  Feed pellets every day. A pinch of seed or nuts can be added to the pellets end of the day for desert  about 4 times a week, never in the morning’s feed as your parrot will rummage thru the pellets to get to the seed leaving behind pellets and waste.  When the sun goes down please remember to remove all dishes as they don’t eat or drink at night.  We suggest fruit 2 times a week and veggies, pasta, rice etc. (see food list) 5 days a weeks.  More veggies than all other foods.


HEALTHY DIET – HEALTHY BIRD

SUGGESTED FOODS

 

VEGGIES:                               FRUITS:

CORN​​​​​​   APPLES (NO SEED)

BROCCOLI                                                   ORANGES

ASPARAGUS                                                   PEARS

GREEN BEENS                                               PLUMS

PEAS​​​​​​   GRAPES

CARROTS​​​​​   MANGO

PEPPERS​​​​​   BANANA

ROMAIN LETTUCE​​​ BLUE BERRIES

SPRING LETTUCE                                      MUSHROOMS                                                PAPAYA                                                           PEPPERS

POTATOES                                                    PINEAPPLE

SWEET POTATOES                                     STAR APPLE

ZUCCINI                                                          RASPBERRIES

EGG PLANT ​​​​   STRAWBERRIES

KALE

SPINACH

COLLARDS

CAULIFLOWER

 

NO: AVOCADO, APPLE SEEDS, CAFFINE, SODA, CHOCOLATE, CANDY, CELERY, BOSTON LETTUCE, SALT, RAW MEATS, CHEESE, DAIRY, ONIONS, TOMATOES, GARLIC.  DRIED FRUITS HAVE SUGAR AND SHOULD BE LIMITED.

 

COOKED:  CAN EAT EGGS, BEANS, RICE, NOODLES, (WHOLE WHEAT PREFERRED) WHOLE WHEAT BREAD, MEAT, CHICKEN AND CHICKEN BONES (THEY LIKE THE MARROW).

 

PLEASE NOTE:    A BIRD’S DIETARY NEEDS VARY SOMEWHAT WITH

SPECIES.  ALWAYS ASK YOUR AVIAN VETERINARIAN OR THE AVIARY FOR RECOMMENDATIONS OF FEEDING YOUR BIRD

 

AVIARY’S RECOMMENDATIONS:  4 0% HUMAN FOOD, 40% PELLETS, AND 20% TREATS.  


Signs of a Healthy Bird

 

• Active, alert, and sociable
• Dry nostrils and bright, dry eyes
• Clean, dry vent
• Eats and drinks throughout the day
• Beak, legs, and feet normal in appearance
• Smooth, well-groomed feathers

 

Signs of a Sick Bird

 

• Beak swelling
• Wheezing, sneezing or coughing
• Eye or nasal discharge
• Fluffed, plucked, or soiled feathers
• Runny or discolored stools
• Red or swollen eyes
• Sitting on floor of cage
• Favoring one foot
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Bleeding
• Grouchy or Nippy
• Change in water consumption
• Decrease or increase in appetite
• Swollen abdomen


THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU TAKE HOME A BABY BIRD FROM THE AVIARY

CAGE TIME

During the first three days, give your baby plenty of cage time to get acclimated to its new family, environment, food containers and toys.Allow your bird to stay in its cage for the first few hours before coming out to play.  Restrict playtime to 15 to 20 minutes at a time, then return it to the cage for 3 to 4 hours. Remember,your bird is still a baby and can tire easily. If your bird starts to get cranky, it may be a sign that it needs to go back in the cage to rest.  Werecommend daily socialization and frequent handling. It is important to wash your hands before handling your bird to protect it against bacteria and viruses. Once you are sure your bird is eating well, maintaining body weight and adjusting to its new home, the length of time the bird is out of its cage and the number of times per day it is out will gradually increase. Remember, stagger your schedule so as to not to make your bird accustomed to coming out at the same time during the day.

PLACING YOUR CAGE

Place the cage away from A/C vents, fans andopen windows, to avoid a direct air current.  If you have limited choices, try to direct the air flow away from the cage. If you have a previously used cage, make sure it is disinfected, including the grill, and replace all wood perches and wood toys with new ones.

 

 

 

 

Our Brands