Let’s start the New Year off with some resolutions for your companion birds! Here’s to their health, well-being, and to your dedication to your feathered friends.

Tasha, HARI’s model resident Yellow Naped Amazon, is ready to get the New Year started with a few suggestions on a timeless New Year’s Resolution list for all companion birds that will result in a winning strategy for ultimate bird happiness!

Remember, it takes a human care taker to make this list possible! As we roll into the New Year, we want to say THANK YOU to all our supporters and customers. And, we at HARI wish all of you-avian and otherwise, a prosperous and blessed 2012!

Top 10 Avian Resolutions for the New Year!

1. I resolve to watch my weight. Hopefully the human caretakers have invested in a scale and will keep track of my ups & downs.
2. I resolve to eat a nutritious diet that includes Tropican, Low-Fat Bean Tropimix.
3.   I resolve to get a peaceful 9-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep & rest each night.
4.   I resolve to encourage my avian caretakers to take advantage of some of the  educational opportunities to ensure I get the best care!
5.  I resolve to forage for food and interesting objects.
6.  I resolve to partake in independent play and to learn new exciting behaviors that stimulate my intelligence.
7.  I resolve to get regular grooming and keep my feet in tip top shape!

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8.   I resolve to bathe regularly in order to keep my feathers in shining condition!
9.   I resolve to exercise at every opportunity that avails me.
10.  I resolve to acknowledge my place as a companion pet-yet be the utmost ambassador to my wild counterparts in need of protection & support.

World Parrot Trust

Parrots International

AFA Conservation Projects

 Be sure to stay tuned …we have a lot of cool things in progress for 2012!

For more information on the Hagen Avicultural Research Institute, please visit our sites: www.hagen.com/hari or search the HARI Blog Archives for other useful information!

Despite the current disasters such as hurricanes, wild fires, and other maladies of Mother Nature that make international headlines, often the most overlooked disaster for a companion bird goes without notice. This is something that occurs often, yet, rarely makes a headline: it’s a storm of another kind. The kind of storm that can be sudden or perhaps it’s an event that’s actually brewing in the not so far distance. It’s the absence of the avian caretaker. Perhaps this is due to family emergency or unexpected death of the caretaker. Maybe it’s the slow decline of health on the part of the avian caretaker that creates comprises in the bird’s daily care. Unfortunately, a disaster from a companion parrot’s perspective is a disaster indeed…it is the interruption of life from that bird’s normal care.

We at HARI often hear about a pet bird or perhaps a collection of parrots, be it a breeder, a pet store, and even some parrot re-homing facilities in need of assistance due to human related emergencies. With that being said, we’d like to make a few suggestions and reminders for all of the avian community to take charge of their feathered companions before a “storm” actually strikes.

What can you do?

Take Charge!

First and foremost, avian caretakers need to take charge of their own flock. The HARI team encourages pet owners and large flock caretakers alike to keep records and prepare for emergencies. While some emergencies are incredibly unexpected, others are much like the storm in the not so far distance. Life has its challenges for all and if you feel as if the care of one bird or several is getting too difficult, ask for help. You know your bird or birds, and you know who you can count on. Take decisive steps in this matter to avoid someone else making decisions for you and your pets or flock.

Companion bird owners:

Companion bird owners can very easily keep a supply box that includes everything needed for caring for their birds in case of emergency. Keep in mind that should an emergency arise that would give cause of for emergency personnel to enter a household, a simple notice on the refrigerator stating: Pet bird profile located in… let’s say, pantry, cupboard or whatever. This bit of information should include your avian veterinarian telephone, plus contact information for someone that can take over the care of your bird in your absence. Please feel free to review one of our older post , “HARI Approved First Aid Arsenal: Are You Ready?” for list of other items.

Strategies for Bird Clubs:

Bird Clubs usually have a network and committee chairpersons set up for education, speaker, pet bird adoption and other services for their membership. Designate an emergency relief team and protocol. We’re not suggesting that a diehard watch dog team be in place, but perhaps a couple of members that can respectfully network within the bird club membership and be available to members in need.

Set up phone calling trees and encourage membership to have an emergency book on their pets filled out. To get started, make use of the Parrot Profile available from HARI which includes basic pertinent information about a particular bird. An Emergency or Disaster Relief committee might want to organize a presentation on this topic for a regular club meeting. Be sure to include an article on the subject in a monthly club newsletter for members unable to attend meetings.

Strategies for Avian Specialty Retailers & Pet Stores

Some of the best retailers are very familiar with their regular customers and the products they buy for their pets or flock. During the normal course of business it’s easy to lose track of every customer-but usually something will trigger that will make one think, especially when it comes to reordering a particular item because they know ‘so and so’ will be in and need…and then they discover that particular item is still on the shelf. A customer database, especially for routine grooming appointment reminders, is one way of not only creating a database for customer contacts, it’s a great way to keep in touch with the store’s area market and support community outreach projects that benefit the business.

Large Flock management

Whether it’s a breeding facility, a re-home facility or even a home with several parrots, large flock management emergency care is a little bit different. In extreme cases, municipal agencies are the ones who are called to these collections in the event of emergency. And, not every agency is equipped with knowledge of caring for exotic parrots. If the situation is temporary, the birds will be easier to manage without moving them from premise. At any rate, a response team will need to know location of food, particular dietary needs of species, as well other supplies such as nets, disinfectants, extra bowls, that are used in every day operation of a large flock management. Please note that most aviaries are very concerned with security as well as bio-security. Respect for the operation is essential to be of benefit overall. Ideally, the response team should be made up of experienced avian caretakers or facility avian veterinarian educated in large flock management. Efficiently operated large flock facilities will have record keeping system unique to the operation.

These types are record systems are often on computers; therefore, it’s suggested to have a hard copy of some kind that includes a map of facility with the location & identification of each bird, flight, cage as well as location of food, and extra supplies. Contact information for food supplier should be included as well to avoid interruption of the flock’s normal diet.

As avian caretakers, we’re very concerned with the quality of care of all parrot species in the avian community. By this post we’re not endorsing anyone particular group of the avian community, we just want the birds to be protected from storm damage…because it’s not always a Mother Nature
event!

The most challenging situation arises when the bird is overweight or suffers from respiratory conditions. We recommend that these challenged birds be sprayed down to cool the body temperature. It is imperative to follow the below listed guidelines when dealing with any broken blood feather!

You’ll need the following supplies plus another person to assist, especially for large birds.

• Tweezers or proper sized hemostats or forceps depending on the size of the bird.
• Towels
• Velcro
• Quick stop, clay paste, school glue or other coagulant
• Spray bottle (to cool down overweight bird and to view the questionable feather)
• Water source for hydrotherapy

1. After restraining the bird safely, use hydrotherapy technique to get a clear view of suspect feather.
2. Determine how damaged the feather is. If the blood feather has matured to more than half the feather being emerged from the shaft, then it can be saved with white paper glue ,corn starch, or clay paste therapy. If the broken feather is bleeding significantly, it should be removed.
3. The trick here is to remove the feather in one swift movement as failure to do this properly will result in complications and profuse bleeding. To avoid this, get a good grip on the shaft of the feather by placing the forceps perpendicular to the growth of the feather. Only grip the shaft, and not the flesh. Apply proper pressure on the skin for approximately10 seconds (where the feather shaft emerges), pull the feather shaft in one swift movement. You should have the feather, complete with inferior umbilicus intact, in the forceps. If the feather follicle site continues to bleed after applying pressure once the feather is removed, consider a coagulant to stop the bleeding and seek veterinarian help. This is a situation that may require stronger methods of blood loss control performed by a qualified avian veterinarian.
4. Check the rest of the bird’s feathers for potential hazards. In flight feathers, especially, the other wing could have a “mirror image” at about the same stage of growth as the feather that was just pulled. In clipped birds, it is recommended to leave adjoining flight feathers in full flight condition to cushion the new growing and emerging feather.
5. Consider re-evaluating the feathers in about a week. Check for any further new blood feather developments.

Primary feathers located on the birds’ wing are usually the culprit in terms of broken blood feather emergencies. In this photo, the tail feather is the suspect. Note the shaft has partially emerged feather and the keratin based shaft is full of blood.

After determining that the bleeding feather needs to be removed, you must ensure a proper grip with hemostat forceps. Apply pressure to the skin at the base of the feather to be removed. Failure to do so could cause pain and rip the skin surrounding the blood feather. This can cause further complications and profuse bleeding. It is recommended to place the forceps perpendicular to the direction of the feather when gripping the feather and pull swiftly. Placement of the forceps in a vertical alignment with the feather, then pulling, can cause the feather to tear.

The pulled feather must be intact, complete with the rounded base or the inferior umbilicus (A). A broken feather shaft left inside the bird can result in a feather cyst or infection. Once the feather has been removed, apply pressure at the feather follicle site (B) for about 10 seconds to ensure the bleeding has stopped. After successfully removing the blood feather, clean the site, return the bird to a clean cage and monitor him closely.

A First Aid technique in hydrotherapy and clay poultice for wound management

If you’ve been caring for companion birds for any length of time, it’s surely happened to you. And, as the odds are typically stacked, blood related accidents usually at the most inopportune moment!  When it comes to discovering a parrot in a blood bath, there really is no opportune time is there?

Unfortunately, many avian caretakers sooner or later find themselves in this situation. And, unless your avian veterinarian lives next door, it’s better to be prepared and know what first aid method to utilize as soon as possible. Blood accidents can happen at any moment and it doesn’t matter if it’s a single bird or a pair of breeding birds. The thing to remember is to act quickly and calmly. First things first;

1. Inspect the bird for source of wound or wounds.  You can do this with your practiced towel restraint method.  If the injury is from another bird, especially in cage mates, be sure to check the bird for injuries as well.
2. After assembling your HARI Approved First Aid Arsenal, and finding the location of the injury, begin treating the injured bird with hydrotherapy techniques.

Why hydrotherapy??

Many of us automatically practice hydrotherapy when we experience a scrape or cut on ourselves. We run over to the sink and run water on or grab a wet cloth to sooth and wash away the blood. So why the fancy name?  Aside from  allowing a better view of the wound, running warm soothing water  removes dirt and debris.  The action of allowing running water to flow onto an injured site will naturally and painlessly remove the dead cells and dry blood from a wound. The movement of the water will also trigger in immediate cell tissue repair response, decrease inflammation and activate circulation and encourage vascularization. This increased blood flow carries nutrients to help repair the damage. In fact, hydrotherapy is beneficial for birds with challenges in skin conditions such as feather plucking and Amazon Foot Necrosis.  Be sure the water source is clean and of cool to warm temperatures.

Now-stop the blood flow!

Sometimes this easy-and sometimes it’s not!  Typical injuries on parrots, and especially finch species, for that matter are often difficult to bandage as traditional bandages are complicated to apply. And inevitably,   the patient, in an attempt to rid the foreign object, can complicate the severity of the injury or delay the healing process.

Here are some HARI suggestions to help …

	Some wounds on birds are often challenging to keep bandaged as seen with the macaw that suffered a bloody injury just under the nail bed.  Traditional bandages are difficult to apply and the bird only tears them off-an instinctive action that complicates the injury and delays the healing process.
	Treatment starts with Hydrotherapy and is then followed with clay poultice. Use cotton tip to apply the clay mixture.  The clay poultice will dry and promote the healing. If the bird picks at the clay “bandage”, ingestion of dried clay will be ok. Repeat hydrotherapy and clay poultice applications as often as necessary. Consult Avian Veterinarian if needed.

Stayed tuned for the next in our series on First Aid: Removing broken blood feathers.

How often do we really look at our bird’s physical appearance? And what are we looking for?

What if you are unsure about something you’ve noticed on your bird? Do you call the veterinarian? You do if it’s critical!  These are questions that are easier to address with an understanding of what is normal and what is abnormal. While the best way to assess the health of a bird is typically through regular avian veterinarian checkups, documented observation and monitoring as well as routine grooming offers the avian caretaker an excellent opportunity to assess the health of the companion bird be it a pet or a breeder bird.

So, let’s take a look at a pododermatitis!

Pododermatitis-normal and not normal!

Evaluating a bird’s feet is critical and is one of the most often missed ailments that affect pet birds and especially breeding birds with mere casual observation. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that the bird is standing on his feet all of the time!

Pododermatitis or “Bumblefoot” can result in many health issues and the severity is rated by grades. The causes of the various grades of pododermatitis are often correctable by the avian caretaker.  Birds challenged with obesity, and lack of perch rotation are most certainly are prone to bumblefoot condition. Other causes include diets low in Vitamin A & E, excessive use of grooming perches, lack of exercise, and exposure to cigarette smoke.

So, while the bird is securely wrapped in proper towel restraint and ready for his routine grooming, be sure to check the condition of his feet for signs of pododermatitis or “bumble foot.”  The following photos show signs of various grades of Pododermatitis as well as suggested remedies. In some cases, it is advisable to consult your veterinarian. Do make a notation in your bird’s records.   For further information on pododermatitis, please check with your avian veterinarian and check out Dr. Petra Burgmann’s article in Parrot Life Volume 1-page 46.

Don’t forget that grooming is an excellent time to weigh your bird and record his weight!

A record of weights on a bird gives indication of “normal.” A variance in a bird’s average or “normal” weight is a sure sign that a bird might need a diet change or new exercise routine or in the case of unwarranted weight loss, a closer look at the bird’s current health condition.  Be sure to take this opportunity to evaluate your bird’s choanal papillae! Have your tools & suggested supplies from your HARI Approved First Aid Arsenal ready before beginning your own health assessment! And, don’t forget to make a record of his feet!

First the definition of Geophagia- The consumption of soil or clay for diet benefit

In the wild, parrots instinctively flock to clay licks. It is believed by many field researchers that birds do this to detoxify their digestive systems after consuming toxic plants or food sources…and to add missing nutrients to their diet.

Without a doubt, most of the avian community is aware of the geophagia activities of wild parrots at the Manu Cliffs in Peru. Several species of parrots, in addition to other animal species, have been observed consuming the clays at the well known Manu Cliff as well as clay licks found all over the world.  Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the existence of geophagy. It is believed that clay consumption by the wild parrot population provides supplemental minerals such as calcium that may be lacking in the routine diet as well as providing the means to eliminate their digestive systems of dietary toxins.

How does Geophagia, or rather, the need for our Living World Clay-Cal fit in with our companion birds?

Well, New Living World Clay-Cal is a clay product that combines the detoxifying benefits of Bentonite Clay and charcoal with calcium for nutrient supplement.

One of the primary benefits of bentonite clay, specifically montmorillonite clay-with superior levels of cation exchange capacity (ability of absorb toxins), is its effect on countering dietary toxins by  binding mycotoxins or fungal toxins, endotoxins, manmade toxic chemicals and bacteria. Because of the clay’s ability to act as an antacid, Living World Clay-Cal can protect the gut lining from corrosion. This alone improves food intake as it protects the GI tract from chemical and biological irritation.  At HARI, our birds are regularly supplied with fresh tree branches for perching, chewing and shredding activities.  And while the wood source is perfectly safe, some of the tannins found in the wood bark can contain secondary compounds toxins. The Living World Clay-Cal helps our birds deal with these possible toxins found in the branches. Living World Clay-Cal elevated PH level plays a critical role in the bird’s ability to remain healthy and resist disease.

What other possible toxins are companion birds exposed to?

Well, there are multiple household chemicals that come from floors, carpets, cleansing agents for example. In addition, think about the possible pesticides and additives found on fresh fruits and vegetables.  How about genetically modified food items? Living World Clay-Cal won’t undo a down and out toxic exposure-but will help your birds deal with the casual exposure that often goes undetected in everyday life.

Let’s not forget the Calcium benefits as well. Living World Clay-Cal also supplements the calcium needs for healthy bone development. And, how about those chronic egg layers?  Typically, in the past, we’ve offered our companion birds, especially the passerines, grit, which has some calcium benefit. The negative aspect of grit includes crop impaction as the grit morsel does not break down. This is especially dangerous with birds displaying pica behavior. (Pica-overconsumption or craving for food or non-food item as a result of deficiency or undesirable internal condition). Living World Clay-Cal can be safely given to birds and pica behavior observations should be an indication to the avian caretaker to seek avian veterinarian advice.

For more information on how your birds can benefit from Living World Clay-Cal, click New Living World Clay-Cal. And, if you have questions, please feel free to ask us!

Living World Clay-Cal is not a substitute for proper avian medical advice.

What is choanal papillae?

When your avian veterinarian examines your bird, one of the first things he or she will inspect is the condition of your bird’s choanal papillae, as this is a fool proof indicator of the bird’s nutritional profile and health. HARI technicians routinely inspect each HARI bird’s choanal papillae. Health monitoring of the HARI flock is an ongoing concern to as part of the research studies in our Tropican products. The HARI flock serves as our quality control testing subjects for each batch of Tropican product produced.  Is this something avian caretakers can do? YOU BET!

“Choanal papillae”  as defined by Avian Medicine: Principles and Applications, Ritchie, B.W., Harrison, G.J. and Harrison, L.R., Winger Publishing, Inc. Lake Worth, Florida, USA, 1994, p. 344-

“The choanal slit is visible as a median “V”-shaped cleft in the palate. There is species variation in the width of the choanal borders.  In pigeons and most raptors, the choana is slit-shaped. In the parrot the borders are more widely spaced, forming a distinct “V” shape. The borders of the choanal slit are lined with sensory papillae.”

In laymen terms: Healthy-sharp, pointed projecting from the choanal borders are characteristic of a sufficient vitamin A assimilation.

On the contrary: The presence of “blunted” shorter, rounded or change in coloration (ex: from a normal black for certain species to a whitish blunted tip) or absence of these papillae altogether is indicative of a lack of vitamin A assimilation.

In our experience, at the HARI facility, chicks can be examined for these choanal papillae at a few weeks of age. Monitoring choanal papillae is part of every health exam performed on our breeding colony, juveniles and chicks.

Hypovitaminosis can reveal other health issues, require an evaluation of the diet offered and actually consumed… i.e caretakers are offering cafeteria style feeding and the healthy extruded granules are not eaten in sufficient amount to ensure optimum nutrient balance.

Individuals birds challenged with obesity, also in our experience, have a tendency to prevent optimum assimilation of vitamins such as Vitamin A.  Monitoring these in your companion bird can be part of your active role as a responsible & proactive caretaker. We encourage you to ask your avian veterinarian to guide you in this routine inspection. And, if you can get a photo of your bird’s choanal papillae, we challenge you to post! Submissions should include species, age, and diet.