Many people, when looking for pets, will often go the traditional route of a cat or a dog, neglecting the fact that many exotic animals make excellent companions. Pets of the avian variety are wonderful additions to almost any household.
Birds are intelligent, responsive and a great deal of fun to own.
The most important aspects in owning a bird are correct feeding and housing. Good nutrition is the best way to prevent your bird from becoming ill, since most ailments are caused by malnutrition. In gathering information for this column, I spoke with Dr. Claire Hamer, a veterinarian at All Pets Animal Hospital in Ames. She has considerable experience with birds and their medicine. Hamer recommends a diet consisting of 80 to 100 percent pelleted food specially formulated for your bird's specific breed.