Susan Petrucci A mong the most common concerns of bird lovers and owners are the basic knowledge of how to properly care for our fine feathered friends. The primary concerns are in creating a happy environment which incorporates a safe home, adequate nutrition for vitality and longevity, grooming, veterinary care, and identifying illness and its causes. There are many great books and publications which educate the owners.
Several chapters address the probable causes of illness.
A concern involving the use of more and more chemicals, their introduction into our environment and the adverse affect that they are having on humans as well as birds, is explored. These can come in the form of pesticides and herbicides commonly sprayed on our fruits and vegetables, which may be ingested by our birds. Other sources of toxins come from the air quality in our homes, contaminated from spray cleaners, hair spray, and other aerosol sprays commonly used and from skin contact. Mouthing,chewing, tasting and even swallowing dangerous liquids are all possible. Other symptoms to watch for are redness or burns of the mouth, paralysis, shock, coughing or breathing problems.