Do I need a licence to keep birds?

In Australia you do not need a licence to keep exotic birds, keepers of exotic birds are required however to have adequate information to show how and where they obtained the birds they hold.

Provided you lawfully obtain native birds and keep them under the correct conditions, you can keep many species without getting a licence. These are called exempt birds. When you buy a native bird, as with exotic birds keep a record of the source of that bird so you can prove it was legally purchased. If you wish to keep birds that are not covered by your state or territory exemptions you will need to obtain a licence. If you feel you are experienced enough to deal with protected birds then contact your state or territory government for further details about obtaining a licence, their respective links can be found on our links page.

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Why does my bird pull out its feathers all the time?

There are a number of different reasons why birds pluck their feathers, feather plucking can be caused by disease, parasites or allergy, feather plucking can also be caused by stress, boredom or dietary deficiencies. It may take a trip to the vet to rule out medical causes or an investigation into the bird`s behavioral habits to remedy the situation.

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I want to buy a cage for my Cockatiel, how big should it be?

In the wild birds can exhaust hours in flight to find food and nesting sites, in captivity we can not provide this same environment, however understanding the core elements to keep your cockatiel happy is important. Providing a cage that allows your bird to fly at least three wing beats from one side of the cage to other will insure your bird remains well exercised. When purchasing a cage, know that birds do not fly up and down, they fly across, so purchasing a cage, which provides horizontal flight, is essential. Also make sure the bar spacing are an appropriate size to prevent the bird from getting its head caught between them. Its important to stimulate your cockatiel, so taking the bird out of the cage as much as you can, will insure your parrot has the best possible lifestyle. You should think of your parrot`s cage as a temporary place to confine it when necessary, not as a permanent residence. Even so, your parrot will be spending many hours in its cage, so try to make it as large, comfortable, and homely for your bird as possible.

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Should I clip my bird`s wings?

Wing clipping is a somewhat controversial subject, some owners strongly believe in allowing their bird the right to fly while others prefer to clip their wings. Clipping the feathers on a bird not only can create behavioural problems, depression, obesity but in some cases can shorten the life of your bird. It`s important to way up the odds between clipped wings and allowing your bird to fly.

Allowing your bird to fly not only allows birds to do what they do best, but it means you can strengthen a relationship between yourself and your feathered friend. Flying alleviates a lot of problems that companion parrots can be exposed to, insuring that your bird is naturally stimulated. If you are worried about your bird flying away, there are now harnesses and leads available for your feathered friend.

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How long do parrots live?

Most parrots live a very long life if treated properly and fed a healthy diet. Depending on the parrots size, parrots may live any where from 10 - 100 years, as a general rule the bigger the parrot the longer the birds life expectancy. Most macaws may live to 70 - 80 years of age. Cockatoos may have a similar life expectancy, Eclectus Parrots, African Greys and Amazons are capable of living 50 years. These ranges are based on a healthy bird kept under ideal conditions. In reality there is quite a wide range in the age that pet parrots may reach, it should be noted that some may even live longer than the ages stated.

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What bird is the best talker?

There are some species like Cockatoos, Eclectus, Amazons and African grey parrots, which stand out from the rest. Most will say the African Grey is the best however with time and training all large parrots have the ability to become excellent talkers.

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Should I get my bird a companion?

Some owners purchase a companion for their bird as they believe their bird is lonely. Feathered friends would like you to try a different option. Birds can quite easily amuse themselves, so by having interesting and fun toys to play with in their cages your feathered friend will be kept stimulated while you are out. The interaction that your bird has with you also stimulates them, you may believe that you do not have as much time to spend with your bird that it requires, but if your bird was trained to sit on a stand or your shoulder your companion would be able to follow you around the house for example the kitchen while you are preparing dinner.

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How do birds keep their feathers waterproof?

By using their beak, the birds collect oil, which is then distributed onto its feathers; the oil is collected from their oil gland, which is found, on their rump.

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What do parrots eat?

Parrots require a well balanced diet, which consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds and nuts. Some owners prefer to swap the seed portion of the diet with pellets and utilise seeds as a treat. Never feed your bird avocado, chocolate, rhubarb or Caffeine, as they are toxic to birds. With different species requiring different ratios of a balanced diet, Feathered Friends will supply you with the recommended dietary requirements for your bird when you purchase your bird through us.

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