Free As a Bird

I promised in the last "Big Little People" that I will share with you more tips in caring for birds. 

Well, a promise is a promise.

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When we're happy, we sing. And so do birds in the sky! In fact, they sing all the time-which simply means, they are always happy where they are. 

Yes, birds are so wonderful many children want to keep them as pets. As such, these birds are kept in lonely and boring cages. I say lonely and boring because birds are born to explore, and to fly free with other birds. 

That's why birds become depressed when they are caged. Many caged birds feel so low they pull out their feathers and hurt themselves-sometimes to the point of death. Bird suicide, we call them.

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Based on this, I wrote a book entitled "Teo's Cockatoo." The story begins with a rude and dirty cockatoo-owned by two rude and dirty robbers-saying awful words.  

The bird spoke the same horrible words spoken by the two thieves. Fortunately, the cockatoo escaped from its filthy cage one day. It landed on a tree where Teo, an eight-year-old boy, was reading a book.

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Kind and well-mannered, Teo taught the cockatoo nice words such as "Good morning!" "Thank you!" "God bless you!"

He also urged the bird to fly free in the woods to meet other cockatoos. Pretty soon, the bird became healthy and happy.  

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The two robbers, meanwhile, went around looking for the bird. When they saw the clean and polite cockatoo, they didn't think it was what they were looking for. It looked like their cockatoo, but it sure acted differently!   

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At this point, I'd like to request you to please avoid, if you can, taking a bird for a pet and   caging it. Birds are better off free. But if you already have one, please remember that birds can get very lonely, so try to adopt another bird of the same species.

Before introducing another bird, take it to the avian veterinarian for a checkup. If the newcomer is healthy and free of diseases, put it in a smaller cage inside your pet's bigger cage so they can can see each other without touching.

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Watch how the two birds get along for at least one week.

Once you think the birds are ready to be friends, open the door of the small cage. The newcomer will come out when he or she feels comfortable enough.

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Until you're absolutely sure that the birds have bonded, do not leave them alone together. Don't assume that they will definitely become friends. Be prepared to house the birds separately if they do not get along.

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Let your birds fly free for long periods of time every day-to spend as much time out of the cage as possible. A bird room for flying is very important for everyone who has pet birds.  

Consult an avian veterinarian on how to make a good bird room, and most importantly, how to make your pet birds happy, so they will sing for you-every day.       

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