avian husbandry

how to improve a cage setup

• not exposed on all sides

• away from extremes of temp

• not exposed to aerosols

• quiet at night

• perches need variety of diameters and textures to prevent nail overgrowth and foot problems

• natural branches best and rotate regularly

UV lighting

• how long

• what behaviours is it important

• why is it important physiologically

• most parrots are used to 12hrs light 12 hours dark so need adequate sleep

• can see UV light that is a part of natural sunlight

• exposure to uv is thought to encourage natural behaviours such as reproduction and feeding

• uv b s also important for vitamin d and calcium metabolism especially in grey parrots

free roaming

• flight is an important natural behaviour

• must ensure this is in a safe area

• wing clipping is not performed by most avian vets nowadays

• consider potential hazards- some metals (eg lead, zinc) are toxic if chewed, traumatic injuries, escape

enrichment and training

• house with a companion if has one

• consider birds intelligence level

• provide suitable toys ideally to encourage natural behaviours such as foraging

• may be scared of new objects

• start training from a young age

• will choose to work for food

birds of prey setups

• what was the setup previously?

• when is this banned

• measures taken to prevent pododermatitis

• where kept in summer

• traditionally tethered to a block or bow perch during flying season by equipment known as furniture

• no longer allowed under a zoo license from 2027

• perches often covered with astroturf to prevent pododermatitis

• restrict birds ability to move and fly normally

• should be flown daily if tethered (legally 5 out of 7 days)

• ensure protected from weather and other animals an have access to water in a bath.

• kept in aviaries in summer while moult feathers ± reproduce

• Latest BVZS position statement “Free-lofting of raptors should be considered standard practice whenever possible”

• many falconry centres now fly from aviaries rather than teher

• consider variety of perches and ensuring proected from weather and oher animals

• must be able to perform natural behaviours

backyard chicken set ups

• ensure secure from predators

• as much space as possible

• protected from weather

• suitable nesting area and perches for night time

• dust bath

• easy to clean

waterfowl set up

• free access to water for bathing (deep enought to submerge head)

• water and surrounding area should be easy to drain and keep clean

• need to be trained to use house at night

avian hospitalisation including the ideal temperature

• warm, 25-30 degrees ideal

• quiet

• away from predators

• easily cleaned

• secure and escape proof

parrot nutrition

depends on species, season, agem reproductive status, whether moulting/not etc

may include

• seeds

• nut

• fruit

• leaves

• flowers

• nectar

• insect

common captive diets

• usually seed based and or nuts

• only limited seeds available commercially compared to wild

• often supplemented with human food types

problems with seed diet

• allow selective eating

• seeds selected are often high in fat

• amino acid, vitamin, and mineral deficiencies including low vitamin a, low vitamin d, low calcium

• incorrect seed storage can be associated with fungal infections eg aspergillosis

alternative to seed diet

• seed pellet hybrid diets

• complete pellet formulas

complete pellet diets

• how much of the birds diet should this make up

• what does it prevent

• a pelleted diet should make up approx 80 percent of a birds diet

• prevents selective feeding, ensures nutritional needs met

• many birds/ owners not keen to transition

• perseverance needed

• can take week-months

• careful monitoring needed to ensure weight maintained

methods of dietary conversion

• gradual introduction of new food an phasing out of old

• substitution with new food at time of day when they eat most

• use flock foraging behaviour

• pretend to each pellets yourself

• soak in fruit uice

other food types

• supplement pellets with variety of fresh food

• look at what bird would naturally eat in the wild

• seeds should be training rewards only

passerine diets

• will depend on species

• often seed based for canaries and finches

• susceptible to same dietary issues as parrot

bird of prey diet

• whole prey

• diffeent species perfer small mammals, birds, fish or occasionally insects

• indigestibel parts of carcass regurgitated as castings or pellets

chicken diet

• feed commercial pellet for age and reproductive status

• starter, grower, layer

• grit

• supplement with veg (not kitchen scraps)

waterfowl diets

• feed appropriate pellets for age and reproductive status

• ensure fresh waer freely available

• grit

• supplement with veg (not kitchen scraps)

preventative medicine

• regular vet health checks

• opportunity to review husbandry and nutrition as well as detecting underlying disease

• discuss behavioural problems and training

• how can we improve animal life

• quarantine new animal

toxins

• avocado

• onion

• garlic

• chcooclate

• caffeine

• nicotine

• heavy metals

• some household plants

• teflon

obesity and how can body condition be evaluated

• associated with innappropriate human foods and high fat seed diets

• body condition can be evaluated by palpation of pectoral muscle mass and observation of subcutaneous fat deposits

• regular weighing is important

hypovitaminosis A

• what is it associated with

• what does it do to mucous membranes

• what does it do to epithelial

• other effect

• associated with seed based diet

• keratinisation of mucous membranes

• squamous metaplasia of epithelial tisse

• poor feather condition

• respiratory infection eg aspergillosis

• poor reproductive performance

low dietary calcium/ vitamin d

• leads to metabolic bone disease (nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism) as bird tries to mainirain blood calcium levels

• especially in young grey parrots kept without UV b light

• fractures, bony deformitites, seizure

risks to human health

• psittacines and pigeons can carry chlamydia psittaci bacteria

• can cause respiratory sign sin birds, green droppings, non specific illness (psittacosis)

• can cause serious disease in human

• always warn owners of potential zoonotic risk

• potential risk of bites and scratches