Birds for Dummies

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in This Book
	Beyond the Book
	Where to Go from Here
Part 1 Getting Started with Birds
	Chapter 1 Birds and Humans: It’s Only Natural!
		Getting to Know the History of Birds
			Food, feathers, and (finally!) friendship
			Humans’ enduring involvement
		Deciding If You’re Ready for a Bird
			Putting in the time
			Shelling out the bucks
			Dealing with the noise and mess
	Chapter 2 Narrowing the Choices
		Deciding What You’re Looking for in a Bird
			Judging interactivity
			Considering size
			Making a mess
			Bring in da noise
			Talking ability
			Paying attention to price
		Considering the Species
			The hands-off color and songbirds
			Small parrots
			Medium-size parrots
			Large parrots
			Toucans, mynahs, and some others
			Chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, peafowl, and turkeys
	Chapter 3 Deciding on a Bird of Your Own
		Telling the Girls from the Guys
		Checking Up on a Bird’s Good Health
		Making Mature Decisions about Age
			Weighing the pros and cons of baby birds
			Considering the prospect of an older bird
		Finding a Reputable Source
			Pet stores
			Breeders
			Private parties
		Protecting Your Rights
Part 2 Caring for Your Bird
	Chapter 4 Preparing for Your Bird’s Arrival
		Shopping for Cages
			Considering size: Bigger is better
			Focusing on material: Wood or metal?
			Knowing what to look for in a cage
			Shopping for a travel carrier
		Perch Perfect: Finding the Right Perch for Your Bird
		Diving into Dishes and Waterers
		Keeping Your Bird Entertained
			Play stands and gyms
			Food as entertainment
		Clearing the Air
		Cleaning Up
			Stocking up on cleaning supplies
			Preventing messes in the first place
	Chapter 5 Starting Your Bird Off Right
		Setting Up the Cage
		Settling In
		Managing Introductions
			Kids
			Cats
			Dogs
			Other birds
		Building Trust through Training
			Rules for you
			Teaching the “Step up” cue
			Target training
			Carrier training
		Keeping Things Clean: A Basic Regimen
			Setting up for cleaning
			Everyday cleanups
			The big clean
		Identifying Your Bird in Case He Flies the Coop
			Banding
			Microchipping
	Chapter 6 The New Art, Science, and Fun of Feeding Birds Right
		Understanding Bird Nutrition
			Macronutrients
			Micronutrients
		Knowing What Your Bird Should Be Eating
			Pelleted diets
			Fruits and vegetables
			Food for people and other pets
			Nuts
			Seeds
		Converting Your Bird’s Diet
		Feeding Birds of a (Slightly) Different Feather: Lories and Lorikeets
	Chapter 7 Beyond Food and Water: Bird Basics
		Translating Bird Body Language
			The eyes have it
			Say what?
			Beak bulletins
			Wing things
			Tail tales
			Posture primer
		Getting a Handle on Your Bird
			Meet “Mr. Towel”
		Practicing Good Grooming
			Trimming nails
			Clipping wings
			Raining down with showers, baths, and misting
		Bird Care When You Can’t
			Pet sitters
			Boarding
		Harness Training
			Types of harnesses
			Harness-training tips
		Taking Your Bird with You
			Hitting the beach
			Hitting the road
			Flying with your bird
Part 3 Keeping Your Bird Healthy
	Chapter 8 How Birds Work: The Short Course
		The Outside: More than Just Beautiful
			Built for versatility: The beak
			A bird’s-eye view
			The better to ear you with
			Beautiful, functional feathers
			A leg to stand on, times two
		Finding Your Inner Bird
			Them bones, them bones
			Live and breathe: The cardiopulmonary system
			Ya gotta eat: The gastrointestinal system
	Chapter 9 A Preventive Care Approach to Your Bird’s Health
		Understanding Why Preventive Care Is the Best Care
			What your bird won’t tell you — and why
			More arguments for preventive care
		Following a Three-Part Plan for Preventive Care
			Starting with a healthy bird
			Providing proper care and nutrition
			Working with the pros
		Finding the Right Veterinarian
			Why “any veterinarian” may not be right for your bird
			Special care for a special pet
			Who’s out there, and what are they offering?
	Chapter 10 Your Bird in Sickness — and Back to Health
		Remembering That Birds Are Birds — Not People, Not Dogs
		Understanding the Role of Home Care
		Knowing First-Aid Basics
			What qualifies as an emergency
			Who to call, where to go
			What to do, in what order
			Emergency! The veterinarian’s role
		Looking at Infectious Diseases That Panic Parrot Lovers
			Tiny beings, big problems
			Psittacine beak and feather disease
			Psittacid herpesvirus and Pacheco’s parrot disease
			Avian polyomavirus
			Proventricular dilation disease
			Psittacosis
			Aspergillosis and candidiasis
		Offering Supportive Care
			The hospital stay
			Home care
			Giving medication
	Chapter 11 Lifelong Care for Your Bird
		Why Birds Are Living Longer
			Domestically raised versus wild caught
			New views on nutrition
			The veterinary contribution
		Health and the Older Bird
			Chronic malnutrition
			Cataracts
			Arthritis
			Heart disease
			Chronic pain
		Knowing When It’s Time to Say Goodbye
			Euthanasia options
			Dealing with loss
		What If You Go First?
Part 4 Living Happily with Your Bird
	Chapter 12 Behavior 101: Getting to “Good Bird!”
		Setting the Stage for Good Behavior
			Ensuring your bird’s health
			Being fair to your bird
			Being consistent with your bird
			Becoming your bird’s life coach
		Problem-Solving Unwanted Behaviors
			Feather picking
			Biting and other forms of aggression
			Screaming
		Deciding What to Do If You Can’t Solve a Big Problem
	Chapter 13 Living in a Multiple-Bird Household
		Deciding Between Companion Birds and Breeders
			Choosing birds for companionship
			Deciding whether breeding is right for you
		Understanding the Closed Aviary Concept: Rules to Live By
		Choosing Compatible Birds
			Species and gender issues
			Size and temperament issues
		Recognizing the Joys and Challenges of Breeding
			Pair bonding: ’Til death do us part
			Setting up your birds’ love nest
			Taking care of eggs
			Raising babies
	Chapter 14 Caring for Chickens and Other Backyard Poultry
		Chickens with Benefits: Seeing What Chickens Have to Offer
		Considering Different Chicken Breeds
		Buying Chicks or Chickens
		Poultry Keeping 101
			Setting your chickens up with a proper coop
			Keeping predators at bay
			Feeding your chickens what they need
			Protecting your lawn and garden
			Controlling waste
			Keeping your chickens healthy
			Providing your chicken with enrichment and training
			Outfitting your chicken with diapers, sweaters, dresses, and more
		Keeping Your Chickens Safe around Other Family Pets
		Keeping Other Kinds of Poultry
			Ducks
			Geese
			Turkeys
			Guineafowl
			Game birds
			Peafowl
Part 5 The Part of Tens
	Chapter 15 Ten Bird Myths Debunked
		Birds Are Low-Maintenance Pets
		Birds Are High-Maintenance Companions
		Birds Are Fragile
		A Hand-Fed Bird Makes a Better Pet
		Seed Is the Best Diet for Birds
		Birds Get Mites and Lice Easily
		Birds Catch Colds from People
		A Sick Bird Is a Dead Bird
		Lovebirds Will Die of Loneliness If Not Kept in Pairs
		All Parrots Talk
	Chapter 16 Ten Steps to a Healthy Bird
		The Physical Examination
		Having Your Vet Review Your Caging and Husbandry Techniques
		Feeding Your Bird a Healthy Diet
		Performing a Behavioral Checkup
		Introducing a New Bird to Your Household without Endangering the Birds You Already Have
		Ordering Blood Tests
		Screening for Bacteria, Viruses, and Fungi If Necessary
		Testing for the Specific Causes of Some Diseases
		Determining Your Bird’s Gender
		Considering Vaccination
	Chapter 17 Ten Questions to Ask When Buying a Bird
		Where Do You Get Your Birds?
		How Many Birds Do You Sell per Year?
		What Are the Terms of the Sales Contract and Post-Purchase Warranty?
		What Are Your References?
		How Old Is This Bird?
		Does This Bird Have Any Medical Problems, Past or Current?
		Does This Bird Have Any Behavioral Problems?
		How Have You Socialized This Bird?
		What Have You Been Feeding This Bird?
		May I Visit and Get to Know the Bird Before Buying?
	Chapter 18 Ten (Or So) Must-See Avian Websites
		Fun for Kids — and Adults, Too
		Behavior Help and Then Some
		Enraptured over Raptors
		Help Us Get Home
		Meet Alex, the Star
		Birds of a Feather, Flocking Together
		Sources for Health Information
		Helping Birds in Need
	Chapter 19 Ten Best Birds for Beginners
		Canaries and Finches
		Budgies (Parakeets)
		Chickens
		Cockatiels
		Quaker Parakeets
		Poicephalus Parrots and Parrotlets
		Pionus Parrots
		Pyrrhura Conures
		Amazon Parrots
		Peach-Faced Lovebirds
	Chapter 20 Ten Common Dangers to Your Bird’s Life
		Predators
		Flying Free
		An Open Door or Window
		Inhalants
		Toxic Plants
		Certain Foods
		Heavy Metals
		Over-the-Counter Medications
		Your Feet
		Electrical Cords
	Chapter 21 Ten Disaster-Planning Tips for Bird Lovers
		Consider the Possibilities
		Make a Contact List
		Make Sure Your Bird Carries ID
		Make and Trade Bird-Care Files
		Collect Food and Supplies
		Keep a First-Aid Kit Fully Stocked
		Plan, Plan, Plan, and Practice
		Keep Your Bird Secure — and Separate
		Keep a “Lost Bird” Kit Ready
		Be Prepared to Help Others
Appendix Resources
Index
Supplemental Images
EULA