Never use oils or lotions which contain oils on your bird. They gunk up the feathers, and ruin their insulating properties. This means a chilled bird. Never wait out a cat bite--those require immediate veterinary attention--a bird can die within two days because a cat's mouth is so filthy and full of bacteri Don't bother with over-the-counter medication. It really doesn't work, and in some cases, may upset the delicate bacterial balance in the bird's body, or even worsen the situation.

A pet bird would have to come in contact with a wild or domesticated bird with avian flu to become infected. Most human cases probably came from direct contact with infected birds or their droppings. Follow good health habits when cleaning your bird’s cage, and wash your hands frequently. In the United States there is no need at present to remove a flock of chickens because of concerns regarding avian influenza. The U.S.

Yes - Pet birds are at risk, however the risk is minimal. The H5N1 avian influenza virus has been found in a variety of birds. The best way to protect your pet bird is to prevent it from coming in contact with wild birds and materials or equipment used by other birds.

We recommend that all new birds be examined by an avian veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian will ask you questions about where you acquired the bird, what you are feeding it, if you have other birds, if you have noticed anything that concerns you, and so on in order to help you and your new companion get a good start on a long term relationship. The veterinarian will observe your bird's attitude and energy level, and then perform a thorough physical examination.

In addition to wild and domestic birds and poultry, humans, domestic cats, and dogs, we know that pigs, palm civets, cynomolgus macaques, New Zealand white rabbits, stone martens, tigers, leopards, ferrets and rats can become infected with the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus. It's possible that other mammals may also be susceptible to H5N1 HPAI infection.

According to the World Health Organization, the avian flu in wild and/or domestic birds has spread from Southeast Asia to South Asia and Pacific countries, to Africa and the Near East and to several countries in Europe. Forty-three countries have reported infected birds as of April 19, 2006.

Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease affecting many species of birds, including commercial, wild and pet birds. It may also affect people and other animals in certain circumstances. A Type A influenza virus causes it.

present, the H5N1 avian flu is not known to be here in the United States. Those with pet birds, such as parrots, cockatiels, love birds or budgies should not worry about their pets getting "bird flu" if they have not been out of the country or in contact with birds from other countries. In order to protect your pet birds from other avian diseases, keep your birds isolated from wild birds. Isolation of newly acquired or ill birds from others for 30 days is recommended.

Currently, CDC restricts birds from countries where highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 is present in poultry, in order to prevent the introduction of Avian Influenza. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) implements regulations regarding the importation of birds. To import a pet bird of non-U.S.

A pet bird would have to come in contact with a wild or domesticated bird with avian flu to become infected. There is no reported avian flu in the United States at this time. But even after bird flu is identified in the United States, the risk is small for caged birds.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) website (http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/subjects/en/health/diseases-cards/special_avian.html) provides information about how to assess whether a bird may be infected with bird flu. You can also visit the Department of Agriculture for general information on Avian Influenza (http://www.deptan.go.id/) or the Directorate General of Animal Health of the Department of Agriculture at (http://keswan.ditjennak.go.id/).

Tube wild bird feeders are very popular with most backyard wild birds. They provide some of the most productive bird watching hours. Goldfinches will use thistle seed feeders. Most backyard songbirds will be happy to use your standard tube bird feeders that are filled with sunflowers or seed mixes. They come in a great variety of styles and prices.

Avian influenza is spread directly from bird-to-bird through secretions and feces, and indirectly through contaminated feed, water and equipment. The CFIA reminds Canadian bird owners that following strict biosecurity practices may protect their birds from AI. Biosecurity refers to measures that protect the health of livestock by preventing the transmission of disease.

There is minimal risk from consuming the infected eggs or infected meat provided it is well cooked. The danger is greater if the human beings come in contact with their droppings by inhaling them or by coming in contact with any material that is infected with the virus. At present there is no risk of transmission of the disease from another infected person since human transmission of the disease is not known to date. There is no evidence that bird flu is a food borne disease.

The symptoms in birds vary from a mild illness barely noticed (sometimes expressed as ruffled feathers or reduced egg production) to a "highly pathogenic avian influenza", which is extremely contagious and rapidly fatal for the birds.

Documentation is a difficult burden sometimes (see the two essays on documenting birds linked under Submitting Records). It involves trying to get images or recordings of the birds you see, trying to take careful, even exhaustive notes on the rarer birds you see, and submitting these to a Committee.

Blue tits and great tits are the most prolific users of bird boxes in domestic gardens, although the RSPB has recorded over 60 species of birds know to have used nest boxes. Robins prefer open fronted nest boxes (hidden in vegetation, such as ivy) and it's possible to either buy or fabricate nest boxes for house sparrows, and other species including house martins, swallows, starlings, kestrels and owls. This site restricts itself to nest boxes for small garden birds.

of July 2005, no birds kept as pets have been reported to be infected with the H5N1 virus. There should be no cause for concern if bird owners are careful to keep their birds in clean conditions, keep their birds away from any wild birds that may carry the virus, and wash their hands after handling birds or after coming into contact with their birds' droppings. Do not allow your pet birds to come into contact with wild birds.

No, this is an old wives' tale. It is preferred to spay before ever going into heat to reduce the chance of mammary tumors.

There is no evidence that bird flu is a risk to dogs. Recently, there have been reports of a canine influenza virus in the U.S. but this is a different flu virus that affects only dogs. There is evidence from the Asian outbreak that the bird flu virus might affect cats fed raw poultry, but there is currently no cause for concern because the virus is not present in the U.S.

END is a threat to the caged-bird industry and poultry hobbyists. Birds illegally smuggled into the US are not quarantined and tested on entry. Anyone who is offering to sell young parrots should be suspected of smuggling or purchasing smuggled birds. Amazon parrots can be carriers of END and can shed the virus for more than 400 days.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has a website with photos and information to help you evaluate your birds. http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/ah/avian_health_program.htm

Avian influenza is quite common in birds and often occurs without symptoms or without making the birds sickly. Like other diseases, The clinical signs are very variable and are influenced by factors such as the virulence of the infecting virus, species affected, age, sex, concurrent diseases and environment. See

Sometimes it takes birds quite a while before they use a new feeder or bird bath. If after ten days, no birds are visiting, think about moving the unit to another location in your yard. I don't have any suggestions. Hopefully, this bird will quickly pass through whatever season is causing this behavior or move to another location. Even if you succeeded in chasing the bird out of a particular tree, it would probably choose another location equally close.