1.  What type of bird should I buy?

•  The first thing you should do is research what kind you think would be best for you. There is no easy way to care for a bird.  They all make a mess. They all make loud noises. It has to be a commitment. This cannot be a spur of the moment decision. You have to really research and decide what kind you think would be best for you. Then usually what we do, is ask the people what characteristics they would like in a bird, we then try to match the person with a bird. 

2.  What type of cage and accessories should I buy?

•  The type and size of cage would depend on the type of the bird, and whether it's a big or small bird.  You probably want to get the biggest cage you can afford. A wooden perch for the bird is absolutely necessary. Replace the perch if it is a round dowel, with natural wood (such as Dragon wood). Round dowels, if used over a long period of time can cause arthritic feet. Another good wood to use is Citrus. They must be clean and baked in a 225 degree oven for 20 minutes to kill insects and bacteria. As for toys, you don't want to buy any toy so small that your bird might swallow and choke on it.  Because birds are so intelligent they need a job to do everyday. Chewing and tearing apart a leather or wooden toy would be ideal.    

3.  What about my birds health?

•   Your bird needs to go to the vet once a year. The veterinarian will do cultures to test your bird for bacteria and infection. This is common in birds and will only take some antibiotics to cure it. You should use newspaper on the bottom of the cage to monitor the droppings. They should be tubular with white or tan urates and a large wet spot surrounding it. There should not be a bad odor.

4.  How do I train my bird?

•  You should start  by teaching your bird to "Step up".  If you don't use a command they will have no idea why you have your finger in front of them. Be patient. Birds only have an attention span of 10 - 15 minutes.  It is dangerous for a bird to be unclipped. There is always a concern for flighted birds because they could fly out/ into a window, or fly into a ceiling fan.   

5.  Why does my bird scream?

•  Your birds screams because it is in his nature to do so.  In the wild, your bird would call to members of the flock.  Your bird recognizes you as a member of it's flock and is it's  way of communicating with you.  When you are not around it misses you, when you return it is glad to see you and is saying, "Here I am".

6.  Why does my bird like me and not anyone else?

•  Since you are  the only one to feed your bird , it looks to you as a parent figure.  If you had allowed others to handle and feed the bird, the bird might react to others the same way he reacts to you. Birds need to be socialized, other wise they shy away from others. 

7.  Why does my bird waste food?

•   Birds are just like us, in that, they like some foods and not others.  Here, at the Pet Corner, we feed pellets instead of seed.  Some birds like one type of food and not another and will eat only that type of pellet or seed.  At times they can be very messy and will toss pellets out of their cage and onto the floor. Sometimes it is  a play for attention.  If you want to have a bird then you will just have to get used to their little idiosyncrasies, especially if you have carpet.