| Adopting a pet bird will bring many hours of | | | | Check with your vet about the frequency that is |
| companionship and pleasure to you and your family. | | | | best for your type of bird. |
| It's a huge and sometimes lifetime commitment as | | | | Play Area outside the Cage---Even though your cage |
| some parrots can live 50 years or more with proper | | | | may be wonderfully spacious, your bird will stay |
| care. Here are 5 accessories for you bird room that | | | | healthy emotionally if it is allowed to play outside the |
| will help your bird live a long, healthy, and happy life. | | | | cage for several hours each day. The best way to |
| Safe Cage---Regardless of whether your bird is big or | | | | make this safe play is to designate an area of the |
| small or somewhere in between in size, every bird | | | | bird room for perches and toys that are safe and |
| needs a cage that allows it to extend its wings | | | | peak your bird curiosity. |
| completely without fear of hitting the sides of its | | | | This area can be a series of perches, and brightly |
| cage. So the bigger the cage is the better able your | | | | colored toys that get rotated frequently. The more |
| pet is to get exercise even when it is confined to | | | | varied the toys are the more intriguing the play area |
| the cage. | | | | will be for your bird. |
| The cage should be clear of paints that contain lead, | | | | HEPA Air Purifier---Unless you take proactive |
| and zinc, lead and brass metals that can also be fatal | | | | measures, your bird room air will become thick with |
| if ingested. A stainless steel cage will last forever and | | | | tiny bits of feather, dander, and dust. These are all in |
| more than makes up for the initial expense with the | | | | addition to the usual airborne pollutants found in even |
| time and heartbreak that it will save. | | | | the cleanest of homes-dust, dust mites, mold and |
| A Variety of Toys---Swings are great fun for your | | | | mildew spores, bacteria and viruses. |
| bird, and can make fabulous entertainment for you | | | | Air that is thick with particulates will clog your bird's |
| and your family to watch. Edible toys will provide | | | | tiny air passages. This often leads to disease and |
| motivation and stimulation for activity. | | | | infection which can greatly reduce their life span. And |
| Pine cones with stuffed with seeds, nuts, fruits and | | | | family members may become increasingly sensitive |
| other favorite foods can make playing outside the | | | | because there is so much of it in the air. |
| cage a real treat! Adding essential minerals to their | | | | Continuous filtration of the air is the only way to |
| diet can be done in an enjoyable way for them with | | | | effectively eliminate airborne pollutants from the air. |
| a cuttlebone. | | | | The type of technology that has been found to be |
| Shower Perch---This is a fun way to spend time with | | | | most effective at doing this is HEPA (or high |
| your bird and allow it to take a little bath. These are | | | | efficiency particles arresting) filtration. |
| relatively inexpensive, can be purchased at most pet | | | | Many professional aviaries use this type of filtration |
| shops and are painless to install. | | | | to keep their birds healthy giving them greater |
| Allowing your bird regular access to water for bathing | | | | longevity and quality of life. |
| keeps dander down and their skin in good condition. | | | | |