Did you know that pets outnumber people in the United States? Recent statistics have shown that 62% of homes have a pet, and that 46% of homes have more than one pet. That adds up to 380 million pets in a nation with a human population of 290 million people.

The first three categories are cats (78 million), dogs (65 million), and birds (18 million). Also popular are fish and small animals but their number is far behind the numbers of cats and dogs.

More and more people are buying pets because they realise the great advantages of having a pet, a pet is a great companion, a loyal friend and a part of the family. Since a pet has such an important role to play in your life it is important thinking hard to pick the right pet for you.

Carefully considering what pet you will get before getting it will pay off in the long run, that way you wont pick a pet you are incompatible with, you will get on well with your pet and you wont have problems with it in future. A poorly chosen pet may eventually have to leave, and the blame for the imcompatibility will be with you.

If you are choosing a pet the real choice you are probably making is whether to get a dog or a cat, perhaps you are considering a pet that requires less effort such as a fish or bird also. If you decide to opt for a dog you must then choose what breed of dog toget, with over 150 breeds you are spoiled for choice!

A dog will probably prove to be a better companion than a cat – it will be more of a friend, however a dog will also need more care than a cat. Dogs like to be around people whereas cats are more autonomous, they will generally spend their day off by themselves. Cats are more attracted to their home then to their owners generally.

You will need to carefully consider how much space you have, cats and dogd reuire quite a bit of space, so if you live in a small apartment then even a small breed of dog or a cat will feel restricted. If you have very little space perhaps you should go for a bird or fish, or may be a hamster?

Bear in mind that a dog cannot be left alone for very long, they need feeding, walking and attention. This may be a problem if you are away often and there is no one else around to mind the dog. Perhaps a kennel or neighbour would be available to care for the dog while you are away. Cats, though independent, do not like being left alone either although they can cope better than a dog.

Dogs need a lot of attention, they must be walked at least once or twice a day, on top of that they are full of energy and need space in which to live and play. Obviously the larger the breed of dog the more space it needs, large dogs such as shepherd dogs and Saint Bernards need a lot of space. Also consider how much your dog will eat – big dogs eat big meals!

Big dogs have the advantage that if trained properly, they can protect their owner and home, while small dogs (like poodles) are more like a joyful toy at home. Small dogs are also suitable for children or for elderly people, who do not have the energy to walk a dog for miles and miles.

No matter what pet you decide on, ensure you have thought your desision through properly, a badly chosen pet will be unhappy if it doesn’t suit you, so pick carefully.

Alyssa Hallam is the webmaster and operator of AH Pet Her site has a great collection of information on all different kinds of pets, including a free newsletter, pet resources and articles. For great pet information, go to: http://www.ahpet.com

Most parrot people are aware of some of the basic body language out companions use to communicate with us. But it’s usually the more negative ones! However, our buddies use a multitude of moves to express lots of emotions, both positive and negative. So, let’s look at a few:

EXCITEMENT/AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS
Although most of these activities are associated with aggressive/defensive attitudes in our birds, they can also simply signify any excitement, good or bad – so you have to know your bird, and observe closely to differentiate between aggressive postures that mean Stay away! and those that simply mean I’m over-excited! even in a good way. (Of course, even with those you need to be careful, as an over-stimulated bird can still act out by biting.)

Eye pinning: The pupils dilate and constrict rapidly, back and forth, indicating excitement and interest. Definitely means you need to pay attention and look out.

Feather Puffing: The bird fluffs his feathers out all over, but especially the head and neck, and with Cockatoos, the crest is erect. In the wild, birds use this to appear larger, and thus be more intimidating to foes.

Tail Fanning: Especially in Amazons, the bird fans his whole tail out (like a mini-horizontal peacock), again, to appear large and scary.

Blushing: Bare-faced birds like Macaws, allow you to visually observe the facial redness that accompanies excitement. (Actually, ALL parrots so this – we just can’t see it through the feathers! Some birds blush a light pink, others (Like my Amber), go a deep red. I find babies blush more than adults, as they experience new things in the world.

Head Bowing: The bird, while puffed up, eye-pinning, tail fanning, and blushing, also lowers his head, stretching out his neck. Often accompanied by a growling sort of sound, or with African Greys and Cockatiels, it’s more of a hissing sound.

Stretching/Wing Spreading: The bird raises up on tip toes, feathers and crest erect, neck stretched, wings eagle – spread -again, he’s trying to look large and threatening. Often, a highly agitated bird will sway back and forth. Flash colors (Bright color accents under wings, crest or tail) are highly visible during this type of posturing – it’s hard to miss, as this type of display is QUITE obvious!

Although aggression behaviors and excitement behaviors are similar, the good observer with a trained eye can readily tell the difference. Work on developing your observation skills, so you’ll know how to best proceed. Of course, a bird coming at you, head-lowered, with an open beak, is hard for ANYONE to misinterpret!

SOLICITOUS BEHAVIORS
These include all the more passive ways a parrot asks for attention. If we ignore these, they can lead to more outright demands, such as screaming, or neurotic behaviors that become obsessive, almost ritualistic, habits such as constant flipping or circling in the cage, or toe-tapping, beak wiping, and odd looking head movements. The basic solicitous behaviors include the following:

Food Begging: Recently weaned babies often cry and baby bob repeatedly. They sit low on the perch, heads turned up, slightly quivering their wings, with heads bobbing rapidly. This needs to be addressed! Often, newly weaned babies revert after moving to their new home. It’s a good idea to continue regular body weight checks, as anything over a 10% loss is cause for concern. I don’t believe in time-table weaning, and do not feel it is inappropriate to continue, or re-start, hand feeding of young birds. Ask for guidance on how to best handle it.

Wing Quivering: The bird sits low with wings gently quivering, head out, and stretched and softly chirps to you. Some may bob, even as adults. This is more common in females. It simply means Pick me up! Love me! I find it quite endearing and nothing to be alarmed about.

Leaning Forward/Looking up at you with Big Eyes: This is also a very sweet way birdies ask for some loving. They simply lean toward you and give you big, soft, goo-goo eyes! Pretty fool-proof for most birds!

Feather Puffing: Nothing like the feather puffing of aggression/over-excitement, which is stiff and rigid, this is a soft raising of the feathers, again, especially on the head and neck and means Please scratch me and preen my pin feathers! They need out help to reach those difficult spots, and it’s a glorious way to strengthen your bond by preening his pins for him!

HAPPINESS BEHAVIORS
These are my favorites! They are also the most subtle and most often missed signals that our parrots give us. Learn to recognize them and you’ll enjoy a whole new level of richness in your communications.

Tail Wagging: Often in one on one interactions, you’ll see your bird give his tail a quick fan and a vigorous side-to-side shake. This means I’m content, I’m enjoying myself and feeling quite relaxed! It’s always a happy sight!

Happy-Wing Tai Chi: You walk in the room, or up to your parrot, he spreads out one wing, in a big stretch, often accompanied by a full extension to the back of the leg on the same side (very graceful, martial-arts-looking). I love this one! Often, they do it at the most inopportune time, like when you’re in a big hurry to put him up and get out for the day. But, this is the parrot equivalent of a big hug! It means I’m so happy to see you! How ‘ya doing?! Don’t ever rush him when he’s being sooo courteous and pleasant!

Happy Beak: It’s late, he’s eaten, he’s played, he’s cuddled, he’s almost ready for bed – and you hear a funny grinding rasping sound coming from your bird. This is a total contentment, relaxed, happy behavior. I actually met someone once who professed to hate that sound! To me, it’s music to my ears – it means my kids have had a great day and are ready to go night-night for sweet dreams!

Regurgitation: You’re loving on your buddy when all of a sudden, he starts to bob, then deposits a warm gob of partially digested food onto you! Well, you’ve just been paid the highest compliment your parrot can pay you!! This is how parrots say I love you madly, for ever and ever – you’re mine!! Please, don’t act grossed out, or make faces, or laugh, or run away. Simply say I love you, too! and give him a rub!

There’s lots more behaviors an postures our companion birds use to express their moods, needs, and feelings to us. When you start to pay attention to your friend’s many ways in which he communicates with you, you’ll surely discover some special and unique ones that will go a log way in enabling the two of you to get along better, strengthen your bond, and provide insight into his own unique personality!

Your Parrot Place
Marilu Anderson, Bird Nutrition and Behavior Consultant, (503) 771-BIRD. Marilu is a regular contributor to the Your Parrot Place Newsletter. YourParrotPlace.com – Only the Best for Your Parrot!

Free eBooks!
140 pages! A compilation of parrot articles from 2000-2004.
http://www.yourparrotplace.com/ebooks/freeebooks.htm

Animals unlike humans cannot express their feelings and they cannot go on making demands and tell their owners when they need food. They are animals. Pet keepers bring home fish, cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters and birds home all the time eagerly but sadly, they fail to take proper care of their pets because of which their animals die. If pets can not speak out, pet keepers themselves should be humane enough to understand their pets heartily and give them their rights.

Some basic and simple tips for pet keepers can ensure a healthy and loving relation between themselves and their pets. As far as dogs are concerned it is advisable to keep it in a proper dog house which should be comfortable and cozy enough for it to reside in. Whenever you take out your dog for a walk make sure you leash it. They are playful animals, they love to jump and mingle with other animals and chase things. So avoid any bad circumstances it is always better to play it safe. Cats are well mannered and they are less messy than dogs. However they too need proper care. Dogs and cats should be bathed regularly and their utensils cleaned on daily bases. If your dog or cat ever urinate or excrete in your lounge, you should never leave it unclean. It is highly unhygienic for animals and pet keepers both.

The animals that you keep in cages need a little more attention. They are enslaved so it is better to make them at least feel free. Birds or rabbits should never be kept in small cages. They should be big enough so that your birds can easily flutter their wings and fly about. It should be big enough so that your rabbit can run about and hide when it wants to hide. Animals kept at home should provide them with a sense of being in their natural habitats. This way they feel free and they live happily. Their cages, their beddings should be cleansed thoroughly and regularly.

Animals should be vaccinated whenever they need to be. They should be taken for regular medical checkups so that they stay health and energetic. Animals too should be kept in a secured area and never be left out on their own. Pets are unlike the stray animals; they are vulnerable and require special attention. So pet keepers should make sure they take care of their pets the way they should be kept. They can always keep themselves updated through internet and magazines to acknowledge and fulfill their pet’s needs.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Pets, Shopping, and Clothing

The golden eagle is one of the largest birds of prey; the bald eagle and the California Condor are the only ones that are larger. This bird lives in the western Northern Hemisphere flying over prairies, tundra, barren areas, and in hilly mountain regions. Golden Eagles do not congregate in large numbers; they are solitary birds and will fly alone for the winter.

The Golden Eagle has a large hooked bill, and it is dark brown all over, but has a green sheen on its head. Its wings and tail are very long and broad, which can be seen when it’s flying high in the air. The Golden Eagle is sometimes mistaken for a Buzzard when it is high in sky, but once the long wings and the head come into focus, it will be obvious that it is an eagle

Prey for the Golden Eagle consists of many animals. While it can attack large prey like cranes and domestic livestock, it tends to eat smaller animals like rabbits, hares, squirrels and prairie dogs. A Golden Eagle needs a huge territory of around 3,000 acres to fly over and hunt. When it finds prey, it will soar from the sky at speeds of 150km/h striking the prey with its sharp talons. Spotting its prey while high in the air is not a problem for the Golden Eagle, it has keen eyesight that allows it to see small animals such as mice or lizards. The Golden Eagle catches most of its prey on the ground; however, it sometimes catches birds while they are in flight. The eagle cannot attack a large animal; when it finds a large animal such as a deer, it will only eat it as carrion.

The Golden Eagle population decreased during the nineteenth century because farmers shot them. In the 1960s, the Golden Eagle, along with other birds, were affected by dangerous chemicals. A number of animals in the Golden Eagle’s habitat ate one the chemical called DDT, which had been sprayed onto plants, and since the Golden Eagle was on the top of the food chain, it greatly affected them. Today, Golden Eagles remain protected by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and possession of any body part or a feather could lead to a fine or even up to 10 years in prison.

Golden Eagles live throughout the Northern Hemisphere. When identifying a golden eagle, look for an all over brown color and a hooked bill so that you do not confused it with a Buzzard when they’re flying. Golden Eagles are also one of the few birds that have legs feathered all the way to their toes. It is also one of the largest birds of prey, and with binoculars, you can spot them flying in prairies, and tundra areas. Although DDT greatly affected the Golden Eagles, they have since increased in population, and there are plenty still around today.

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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Birds
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There are a lot of good reasons for *not* letting your new cat become an outside cat and I mention most of them in my new ebook Your New Cat’s First 24 Hours.

But one very important reason that I left out was the fact that cats are death on birds.

Yes, this is a fact that cat owners don’t like to face, but a cat is a predator that doesn’t distinguish between mice and birds when it comes to her prey.

It’s estimated that there are about 40 million cats in the United States free to roam outside, and 20 to 30 percent of the kills they make are birds.

When you figure that a single outdoor cat will kill up to 200 birds and mammals every year, this can add up to over a billion birds killed by outdoor cats!

Many cat owners think that if they keep their cat well fed she won’t feel the need to kill, but they are not taking into account that a cat does not kill out of hunger, but because she is an instinctual predator. A well fed cat *will* kill birds.

So, do Mother Nature and her wonderful birds a favor.

Keep your cat indoors!

John Young, www.yourcatsecrets.com, All Rights Reserved

Hi! My name is John Young. I’m a writer and a cat lover, having owned one cat or another since I was four, and that was over 57 years ago. I’ve written a new ebook, Your New Cat’s First 24 Hours, and have packed into it every shred of information I could find to help you introduce your new cat to your household and care for it from then on. Please check out my website at http://www.yourcatsecrets.com and sign up for my free newsletter, Your Cat’s 9 Secrets. Thanks!

http://www.yourcatsecrets.com

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Birds are great additions to your backyard. Putting up bird houses is an excellent way to attract them. However, not all birds opt to nest in bird houses. Birds differ in their habitat preferences and only cavity-dwellers are probably interested in the bird shelters in your backyard. As it is, these cavity-dwellers also have their own specifications about the kind of house they like. These are minor measurements or feature issues but they are important for the birds. However, there are general guidelines in building these houses.

First, it is important to identify the species of birds that visit your backyard. It is also necessary to distinguish which are the cavity-dwellers from the tree and burrow dwellers. Common cavity-dwellers are wrens, chickadees, bluebirds, and flickers. Choose one you like best and focus your bird house design on it. Even if the idea of building multiple bird houses appeal to you, refrain from doing so because birds are territorial animals.

Second, determine the required dimensions of your chosen bird. Forget asking the birds for these because you’ll get no answers. Dimensions of bird houses include entrance-hole, height, depth, and floor size. Smaller birds like wren and chickadees usually prefer 4×4 floor size and a reasonable 8 depth. Consult a bird book or the internet for information regarding the measurements of your bird house.

Third, it is better to use untreated wood and lumber for bird houses. Aside from mimicking the birds’ natural habitat, natural wood also minimizes risks of poisoning and overheating. Treated and processed wood like plywood contains preservatives like formaldehyde, which poses serious health hazards to your feathered friends. Lumber that is classified as pressure-treated often contain toxic chemicals which can poison the nesting birds. Paint is also a no-no. Chipping paint can be mistaken by the bird for food and eat it. Also, metals and plastics are not suitable for building avian shelters since they are both prone to overheating. You would want to provide the birds shelter, not an outdoor oven.

Fourth, in drafting or designing a plan for your bird houses, it is important to consider the birds’ safety against the elements and predators. Slanted roofs are preferable so rain, dirt, and moisture would not collect on top and rot the wood. It is also preferable that the roofs extend over the sides and front. Perches are not really necessary since cavity-dwellers do not perch. Consider drainage and ventilation needs. Drill small holes on the floor but make sure that these are smaller than the bird’s feet. These holes are also best placed on corners to help in draining water out in case of rain. Baby birds drown easily and a bit of collected rainwater in their shelter is enough to send them to their deaths. Aside from the relatively larger entrance holes, place ventilation holes along the house’s walls or back. These let heat escape to keep the structure comfortably cool. Placing the bird house atop a pole is a good way to discourage predators like cats and raccoons.

Fifth, maintenance and cleanliness are also factors in bird house building. Unkempt bird houses are causes of diseases, according to experts. To help you in maintaining cleanliness in the bird house, add a backdoor. This way, you can easily remove unused nest and disinfect the vacated house. Droppings and other dirt also contribute to the contamination and cleaning these out limits risks of infecting other birds.

With these tips, you are on your way to designing and building your own bird houses. Help the birds by treating these houses as if you live there. Considering the birds’ safety in your bird houses ensure you of longer years with your feathered friends.

For more valuable information on Bird Houses, please visit http://www.birdhousesbylaura.com

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It happens almost with all pet shop owners when a un-suspecting customer comes for a look at your shop and while going round meets that superb exotically colored Macaw who greets him with a enthusiastic Hi and soon he realizes How wonderful it would look in his house and within a few minutes he is on his way back with his new found Love A parrot.

Now do you know if that particular lover loves enough? I have seen marriages going sore in two years because the lovers were not finding themselves loving enough. Now what with this macaw, his new Crush? who lives close to 100 years and have a special dietary requirements , needs to be let out, fed and handled daily unlike your spouse. This ignorance might lead to a unhappy marriage ending with a dejected pet owner and a bird in a wretched condition.

So if you intend for a happy marriage with your pet then choose your spouse well and none of you complain. How do you go about looking? Are there tips ? Sure there are. The essence of pet keeping is choosing a pet which suits your conditions and temperament right.

What Size Bird is Best for You?

Its common sense that bigger birds will obviously need bigger commitments involved in keeping them healthy. Though large birds are great as companions they are a messy , louder and more demanding than many of the smaller breeds. Its always advisable for a novice to go for medium sized birds instead of very large or small breeds. The care, training, housing and other requirements are directly proportional to the size of the bird so choose well, dont fall for its present size think realistically how much actually you can handle. The small bird in hand will grow up in near future and you certainly dont want to keep changing your schemes every now and then as the bird grows up so be practical in reasoning about the size of the bird you choose. AND this is most important.

Behavior and Temperament

It imperative that you do a bit of soul searching on how you want your bird to be? Do you want a bird who would be more willing to come out of the cage and socialize or some one who is a pleasure to the eyes but would not really like to be pampered or touched? This is a vital step in ensuring a pleasant experience of bird keeping . Different breeds of birds exhibit different types behavioral patterns. Those willing to buy a bird please do a bit of research on the behavioral patterns of a breed to be able to rightly judge if it is compatible to your personality or wants.

Nutrition and Maintenence

You should also keep in mind that not all birds require similar diets or other cares like in the case of Lorries who is gifted with magnificent colors and amired all over, but they are not for novice as their special digestive systems requires their food to consist of fruits , pollen, nectar and as a result pass on liquid droppings which in turn makes it apparent for a more frequent cleansing of the living place than with other medium sized birds. This is of course a singular example and you should do a bit more research on the specific type of bird you choose to be with.

Budget and Finances Consult with your financial planners well as Bird keeping is not exactly cheap. Though the cost factor depends largely on the breed .The bigger birds are generally costlier and their tag can go up to thousands of dollars initialy and along with it include the cost of accessories, cage, food etc which are also costlier than their counterparts, The smaller breeds. Smaller breeds of birds are comparatively less expensive initially but they also have their share of expenses in the later part of their life. Some birds DO live long and it adds to their regular maintenance costs and vet expenses so keep this is in mind as well.

Time Commitments Take a note like your wife Howls at you if you dont spend time with her birds like hookbill will also not like the fact that you ignore them and become unhappy and sick if you dont spend atleast two hours a day interacting with them so do you have that time? You dont? then why in vite worries? In your case I would suggest some independent nature birds who will not really mind if you dont spend time with them they know how to enjoy life themselves.

These considerations and little realistic planning will ensure that you are Happy with your bird and its more important that the bird will also be happier with you. And trust me when we have atleast two happy souls dwelling in a home its no less than Heaven.

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