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Your one-stop guide to caring for your avian companion
Pet birds are intelligent, affectionate, and rewarding companions. No matter what bird you choose, you need to set up a happy home for him with the right stuff. You also need to keep your bird healthy by performing routine care and knowing what a healthy bird looks like and how he behaves.
This friendly guide describes the birds that make the best pets, explains how to select the bird that's best for you, offers tips on bonding with your feathered friend, and provides expert advice on feeding and environmental enrichment that will keep these intelligent pets engaged.
* Benefit from a full-color guide to pet birds
* Choose the right bird based on your budget and lifestyle
* Create a bird-friendly environment that minimizes noise and mess
* Bond with your winged pet
If you're ready for your love of birds to take flight, this book has everything you need.
List of contents
Introduction 1
Part 1: Getting Started with Birds 5
Chapter 1: Birds and Humans: It's Only Natural! 7
Chapter 2: Narrowing the Choices 19
Chapter 3: Deciding on a Bird of Your Own 47
Part 2: Caring for Your Bird 63
Chapter 4: Preparing for Your Bird's Arrival 65
Chapter 5: Starting Your Bird Off Right 85
Chapter 6: The New Art, Science, and Fun of Feeding Birds Right 107
Chapter 7: Beyond Food and Water: Bird Basics 129
Part 3: Keeping Your Bird Healthy 161
Chapter 8: How Birds Work: The Short Course 163
Chapter 9: A Preventive Care Approach to Your Bird's Health 183
Chapter 10: Your Bird in Sickness -- and Back to Health 201
Chapter 11: Lifelong Care for Your Bird 225
Part 4: Living Happily with Your Bird 243
Chapter 12: Behavior 101: Getting to "Good Bird!" 245
Chapter 13: Living in a Multiple-Bird Household 267
Chapter 14: Caring for Chickens and Other Backyard Poultry 283
Part 5: The Part of Tens 311
Chapter 15: Ten Bird Myths Debunked 313
Chapter 16: Ten Steps to a Healthy Bird 321
Chapter 17: Ten Questions to Ask When Buying a Bird 331
Chapter 18: Ten (Or So) Must-See Avian Websites 341
Chapter 19: Ten Best Birds for Beginners 349
Chapter 20: Ten Common Dangers to Your Bird's Life 363
Chapter 21: Ten Disaster-Planning Tips for Bird Lovers 371
Appendix: Resources 377
Index 387
About the author
Brian L. Speer, DVM, is the owner and director of the Medical Center for Birds in Oakley, California, and an active member in and former president of the Association of Avian Veterinarians.
Kim Campbell Thornton has been writing about animals since 1985 and is a recipient of multiple awards from the Cat Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and American Society of Journalists and Authors.
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of
Dogs For Dummies and
Cats For Dummies.
Summary
Your one-stop guide to caring for your avian companion
Pet birds are intelligent, affectionate, and rewarding companions. No matter what bird you choose, you need to set up a happy home for him with the right stuff. You also need to keep your bird healthy by performing routine care and knowing what a healthy bird looks like and how he behaves.
This friendly guide describes the birds that make the best pets, explains how to select the bird that's best for you, offers tips on bonding with your feathered friend, and provides expert advice on feeding and environmental enrichment that will keep these intelligent pets engaged.
* Benefit from a full-color guide to pet birds
* Choose the right bird based on your budget and lifestyle
* Create a bird-friendly environment that minimizes noise and mess
* Bond with your winged pet
If you're ready for your love of birds to take flight, this book has everything you need.
