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!

First, the HARI Team wants remind avian caretakers that the decision to use a vitamin supplement begins with a health evaluation or assessment by a qualified avian health provider.   In addition, other factors should play into this decision, such as species predisposition, as well as the percent of Tropican verses the  percent of seed based diets consumed by the bird.  If you have concerns, please contact us or consult your avian veterinarian.

As Prime was developed for companion birds on a predominately seed based diet, we’ve always recommended Prime be sprinkled on a bird’s moistened food for optimal nutritional benefit.  The fruity flavor and aroma of Prime homogenizes with fruits and vegetables and creates a nutritious morsel to complete the missing essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in traditional seed diets.

 Often we hear of some birds that do not eat a lot of fruits and vegetables for one reason or another. We’d like to recommend some creative suggestions in giving your bird exactly what he needs!

We invite our readers to comment on their favorite and most successful method!

Play into the foraging behaviors!

Who doesn’t love searching for yummy mealworms?  Finches, canaries, and even some of the smaller parrots really enjoy an occasional “crunchy on the outside and soft-n- squishy on the inside” bug. In fact, many passerines really benefit from a diet of bugs due to the protein.  Not excited about live mealworms…that’s ok. Fortunately, canned mealworms make a great substitution!

HARI Tip: Slightly moisten mealworms with spray bottle of fresh water. Put the mealworms in a small plastic bag, and dust them with a scoop of Prime…shake gently. Place the dusty critters in a shallow dish with assorted rocks or pebbles. Please be sure to use appropriate size pebbles to prevent bird accidently ingesting the rock!  Place the loaded dish in flight or cage for an activity filled with foraging and nutritional enrichment your bird is sure to enjoy!

Add some exotic fruit flavor to plain old Spray Millet!

Spray millet offers the ultimate sprig of happiness for many companion birds. And, yes, even some macaws have been known to nibble on the millet sprays so this vehicle in administering Prime supplement is pretty universal for many companion birds!

HARI Tip:  Slightly moisten the Spray Millet with fresh water from a spray bottle. Dust the required amount of Prime on the millet so that the supplement sticks to the individual seed pods in the millet. The fruity flavor of Prime might make plain old millet a thing of the past!

Putting a Spin on a mischievous behavior!

Our feathered companions are really intelligent-that’s one of the benefits in sharing a life with a bird. However,  getting a reluctant or stubborn bird to eat a nutritious diet often leaves the avian caretaker feeling helpless and well, quite frankly,  outsmarted by the bird! Such is the case with a particular caretaker and a budgie that absolutely refused all attempts to eat fruits and veggies loaded with Prime.  As it happened, this particular budgie’s cage was moved a little too close to a window with a cotton sheer one day. It didn’t take long for this little bird’s natural curiosity and tendency for shredding behavior to make mincemeat out of the curtain. Fortunately, this bird wasn’t harmed by the  mischievous behavior, but the bird’s natural lure to shred the curtain inspired the caretaker to seize a new opportunity for nutritional supplement!

HARI Tip: Wash some  fresh Kale or Romaine lettuce leaves, slightly pat dry. Dust the required dosage of Prime on the leaves so that the supplement sticks. Take a bird safe clip, gather the leaves with Prime, and attach to OUTSIDE of bird’s cage with just a little of the leaves slightly sticking through the bars of the cage …yeah…so it looks as if he’s not supposed to have it.  Avian caretakers are sure to have their “winning power” restored  once they turn their backs and hear the crunching of the leaves!

Prime is HARI Approved! …A little more information on Prime?

Each package of Primes comes with dosage recommendation based on size of bird as well as instructions for the less preferred method of dosing in water dish.  While Prime has a fruity aroma that blends well when applied to fresh fruits and veggies, the reaction when Prime is mixed in drinking water is entirely different. The high levels of calcium and essential amino acids do not dissolve in water very well and a few harmless particles may float or settle in the bird’s water dish.  Plus the sulphur molecule from the amino acids will be released by the beneficial bacteria after 6 hours of being in a water solution. This may give off a medicinal odor that can deter some birds from drinking enough water to derive nutritional benefit. The water dish with fresh  Prime solution will have to be changed frequently during the day-especially in warm climates.  Not only does this add to the cost of supplementing a bird’s diet, this method  may not be convenient for the caretaker.

Interested in more the Research and Development of Prime? Please visit the HARI Web Site: Prime Data Sheet

Aside from having feathers, the stories of the Imperial Woodpecker, “Rio”, and 517 Parrot chicks in Brazil do have some things in common. These are topics of conservation that have been trending in the avian community these past few months. Many of us in the avian community are fined tuned into these stories probably with more awareness than the non avian community. And there sure is a story to be told with each… one of total peril, one of a fictitious character that represents a far off truth of a species in true peril, and one of an interception of more than five hundred amazons on their way to a state of potential peril.

85 seconds of the Imperial Woodpecker

While the Imperial Woodpecker is not a parrot species, the many in the parrot community know about the plight of the Imperial Woodpecker as many of us have viewed that rare 85 second video footage from Cornell University. This video is described as the only video in existence of this amazing creature that is now a distant memory of past generations. In short, this was a common bird that thrived in unique and virgin timberlands. The timberlands were destroyed for the purpose of man’s need for paper and wood products: therefore we eliminated this majestic two foot tall bird’s unique environment. Oh, to encourage the woodpeckers’ s demise, timber companies gave the locals poison packets to set out as it was believed that the bird was destroying the timber when in actuality, the bird was feeding off the larvae of the pine beetle. Today, the pine beetle still plagues the timber industry.

96 Minutes of “Rio: The Movie” released by 20^th Century Fox

How about “Blu” the loving and fictitious character portrayed as the last male of his species? In case you didn’t see it, “Rio” has a happy ending. Blu and his mate fly off into the sunset presumably to carry on the species. While entertaining, there are some hints of truth with this story-in that it’s about a blue bird that is deemed as the last male of his species. In fact, some sources indicate that Blu’s character is based on a real live Spix’s Macaw discovered in a pet setting in Colorado years ago. The parrot community compares this character to the condition of the now “extinct in the wild” Spix’s Macaw. While believed to be extinct in the wild, it is the parrot and avian community that regularly discuss the increasing numbers of Spix’s Macaw held in managed captive breeding facilities such as Loro Parque and Al Wabra. Interesting that “Rio: The Movie” based on a plot that nearly touches the truth, brings in nearly 500 million dollars at the box office alone. We can, with a reasonable amount of confidence, assume that it was more than just the parrot community that got a taste of ‘near truth’ about a parrot being the last of its kind. One should question the real message here. But alas, the parrot community did put a spin on this. Reports indicate that the story of Blu opened the doors to parrot awareness, as well as conservation matters. We can only hope that other conservation organizations also took advantage of this acclaimed entertainment value and educated captive audiences in order to fuel public awareness of parrot conservation and perhaps to acheive some fundraising.

Now, the 517 Amazon chicks rescued in Pernambuco, Brazil

In recent weeks, the Brazilian officials thwarted smuggling attempts of over 500 Amazon chicks and the plea to help these chicks spread everywhere in the avian community. The parrot species in this particular interception included Blue Front amazons, Yellow Shoulder amazons, as well as a few smaller indigenous species of parrakeets.

Well, some of these species are endangered. Some species are rather common. And, for the record, this group of parrots was not the only group of parrots destined for anything other than living wild that made parrot conservation headlines this year. Who is to say what is more important-saving a group of highly endangered birds or some species commonly found flying in native lands as frequently as… let’s say…the Imperial Woodpecker 100 years ago?

We at Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. and at HARI salute organizations and individuals that protect our planet’s birds-especially parrot species. And yes, as a corporate ambassador of the avian community that serves the pet industry, we are also proud to support various conservation projects such as World Parrot Trust and Parrots International to name a few. This year alone we have sent Tropican diets, and other HARI Approved products to various conservation projects to promote and encourage the study of parrots in the wild. Yes, the companion bird we love and hold dear is probably a mere generation or two removed from the wild…and that’s ok. After all, our pet birds, be they cherished members of the family or an unpredictable pair of breeding amazons in an aviary setting, really can’t go back to a life in the wild, like “Blu”. There are too many other global conflicts within native ecosystems that makes this idea too challenging- if not impossible. However, there is indeed an obligation to help preserve these bird species in their native lands. Imagine your future generations of offspring watching a video of the last known brown throated conure.

What can you do? Some folks give up their funds allocated for their daily coffee fix for conservation donation. No amount is too small and any funding towards these projects is appreciated and needed. However, you can do something else that would be good if not better… share these stories with one of those out of the parrot community-you know the ones that contributed to the gross profit of fiction-except tell them the truth!

Weight

Monitoring the weight of youngsters in the weaning process is a very important tool in determining weaning success. Quaker fledglings should be weighed daily until you are confident that they have successfully weaned. The weight monitoring can then be done every second day. Most baby parrot species should have a 10% daily weight gain until they reach a “plateau-level stage” which usually coincides with the emergence of the pin feathers. Once the “plateau” is reached the chick will usually maintain his weight or lose a few grams from then throughout the end of the weaning stage. The allowable weight loss should be no more than 10% of the “plateau” weight by the end of the weaning process. It is critical to be especially attentive to the weight loss, as too much loss can be indication of unintentional starvation weaning.

Introduction to the Weaning Stages

Syringe feeding continues as spoon-feeding is introduced. At this point the fledgling’s crop has reached its maximum potential and will now decrease in size.

Quaker chicks are syringe fed exclusively with the Tropican Hand Feeding Formula until approximately 5 weeks of age.  At this time gradual introduction of soaked Tropican High Peformance Granules will start to replace the hand feeding formula, spoon fed a few times a day with a following small quantity of syringe fed hand feeding formula. Abundance weaning is recommended; chicks thrive best when syringe fed prior to spoon-feeding of the soaked, warm weaning granules. A chick will regress if it is too hungry, or fed a diet lacking in the optimum fat content. A record of each chick’s progress is monitored by nursery technicians and noted in the Weaning Chart

Pre-fledglings will become increasingly inquisitive nearing their fifth week of age. It is most important to take advantage of this very narrow window of opportunity of curiosity when the pre-fledgling is starting to mnove around and explore the nest substrate to offer a a small bowl of dry Tropican High Performance Granules in their baby pens. As the pre-fledgling is not agile enough to allow climbing or perching, food must be placed in a stable dish on the nest substrate. (note: substrate should never be corncob granules as these are easily ingested and are a playground for yeast infection). Pre-fledglings at this stage should be spending most of their time sleeping, nibbling on dry granules or preening other clutch mates. There should be no toys to distract them from the essentials. The chick pet is covered with blanket top and 3 sides to encourage exploration within the cage.

It is important for the young chicks to start digesting more solid food to prevent the GI tract from becoming lazy. Soaked granules enhance the tonus and motility of the young bird’s crop and should ideally be of the same formulation as the hand feeding diet at this age, a high performance formula.

Weaning Cage Food Set Up

The Weaning Cage only contains Tropican and occasional spray millet to encourage limited independent foraging. The importance of stimulating their young minds at this age must not be overshadowed. Fledglings that are offered over stimulation in the way toys, excessive foods, lose their focus on weaning which can lead to dietary problems in their future. Many nursery caregivers often make the mistake of offering an assortment of foods that do not meet the fledgling’s still developing needs. There is plenty of time after the fledgling has weaned and learned to eat a nutritiously sound diet to then experiment and try other foods such as fruits and vegetables.

We recommend that all feedings be done in the weaning cages, as this will facilitate the successful weaning process. Young birds must understand that food comes from within the cage.

The success of one method over the other depends on the number of birds, the compliance level of the owner, and most importantly, the consistency of the caretaker. Usually a diet change is necessary to prevent malnutrition in parrots, and a veterinarian is usually the instrumental party to a bird’s diet change. Here are some suggestions to get your birds on a healthier diet!

A simple and safe way to convert most pets to a better diet is to start by cleaning the cage each evening, and leaving ONLY Tropican in the feeders (you may sprinkle some on the floor or place a small dish on the floor as well). The following day (usually mid morning to start with), add some of the birds regular food on top of the Tropican. Birds that like fruits and vegetables should have the dry Tropican sprinkled right in with favorite items such as oranges and fresh cut corn. Some birds will start on this moistened form more easily. Sprinkling seed kernel such as shelled sunflower on Tropican will also help some parrots get the idea (i.e. you don’t have to take a shell off all foods!).

Every evening, all of the remaining food should be removed and replaced with fresh Tropican. Seed may be added later on the following day. (As long as seed is provided sooner or later each day, safety is maintained). Most birds are powerfully motivated to search for food each morning and sample Tropican within a few days. You can tell when your pet is eating the new food as their droppings will become a paler color and Tropican will usually be found in the water dish.

Once your pet is eating the Tropican well, keep seed OUT of the cage. Seed can still be given of course, but as a treat fed by hand. Feeding high water content items such as oranges, fresh corn, green peppers, spinach, broccoli, and berries will not unbalance the Tropican diet significantly as the majority of calories will still be taken in from Tropican.

Your bird is sure to enjoy an improvement in feather quality and overall health on such a modern diet. Just ask your pet retailer or avian veterinarian!

Every Other Day Method

Since birds are creatures of habit, they will usually look to their dish for their favorite foods. The owner should place only the new diet, Tropican, in that very dish. In a separate dish, on alternate days, offer the old diet. Always keep Tropican in the bird’s regular food dish. Once the bird is accustomed to the Tropican and the owner can observe the bird consuming the Tropican, the old diet can then be given every two days, then every three days and so on. This method of conversion usually takes about two weeks. If the attempt to convert a bird to Tropican fails, continue with the old diet for two weeks, then repeat “The Every Other Day” method. Even the most resistant bird usually converts after the second attempt. The main thing to remember with this method is to never mix the seed with the Tropican. This promotes picky eating. Once the bird is successfully converted, then the old diet, most commonly a seed mixture, can be offered as a treat or as an incentive for behavior modification.

Flock Conversion

This method of diet conversion plays into the natural instinct of a flock of birds’ desire to survive. A “flock” can be an entire aviary or it can consist of a multiple bird household. Parrots in the wild will eat together. If one bird finds food, he usually calls out to the others and they share food. If a bird chooses not to eat in this situation, he is usually sick and he will not survive. While our domestic pets may be a generation or two removed from this actual behavior, the instinct is still there. Pets or breeders do not have to see each other eat, but they should know that others in the “flock” are eating and they will all soon eat. The caretaker should feed Tropican to everyone in the “flock” at the same time. Offer only Tropican. Out of curiosity, one or two members of the “flock” will pick at the new food while others may show some resistance. In most cases, the ones who start eating it will send vocal signs of eating, and the others will follow. “The Every Other Day” method can also be used with this method of conversion.The caretaker needs to observe the resistant members for signs of starvation. In an aviary situation, this might be a bit more challenging depending on how the birds are housed.

Tropi-Mix Method

For birds that are resistant to above mentioned conversion methods, try moistened Tropi-Mix.  (1 part Tropi-Mix to equal part hot water)  The hot water softens the fruit, corn, legumes, and most importantly, softens the Tropican morsels in the Tropi-Mix.  The softened Tropican coats your bird’s favorite seeds with the nutty Tropican flavor, therefore the bird becomes better accustomed to the flavor.  Since all of the nuts and seeds in Tropi-Mix are already hulled, this can help break the bird’s habit of hulling seeds.  Be sure to remove moisten food from your bird’s cage after one hour. As your bird eats more of this mix, add a higher ratio of Tropican to Tropimix for ultimate nutrition!

Enrich and Forage

This method plays into the instincts of most parrot species and can even be used in combination with Flock Method.

Place a morsel of Tropican, dependant on the size in appropriately sized foraging toy, such as a puzzle box, or Living World Learning Block center. Most parrots natural curiosity takes over!

Keep in mind that not all species forage in the same manner. Cockatiels, and often African Greys, for instance, are ground foragers. If such is the case, have a table top tray with various items that are bird safe; toy pieces, appropriate size stones, and sprinkle Tropican in the mix. As your bird investigates the items on the tray, he’ll soon find something edible-the Tropican! Often when our parrots work at getting their dinner, they embrace that morsel even more!

While HARI serves as the testing and quality assurance facility for HARI Approved Products such as Tropican and Tropimix, the spirit of sharing Avicultural information based on scientific research at HARI  Team continues!

The HARI site is a place for parrot enthusiasts to discuss and be part of a shared avian community. We believe that embracing our avian customers and offering them an opportunity to reach out to HARI and the HARI Team will result in our development of better bird products, and happier, healthier birds for you.

Whether you are an aviculturist, pet owner, or pet retailer, we encourage your input as well as your concerns. We will challenge avian enthusiasts with variety of topics based on scientific research at HARI, as well as current trends in bird keeping on a global level, and we look forward to learning from you! When it comes to our “Parrot Passions,” we all have something to learn and something to share!

We’re planning to post regular updates to the  blog, so be sure to subscribe to our email list or RSS feed above. And Welcome!