A Guide to Antique Bird Cages
February 28, 2009
It has been said that everything old is new again. So it is with bird cages. Antique bird cages are a popular addition to many houses and apartments. They fit in with many styles of decorating, including Victorian and shabby chic. Chinese antique bird cages are available for an Eastern flair.
If you are buying an actual antique, prepare to pay a hefty price. Be on the lookout, though, at garage sales and flea markets. Sometimes you can find an undiscovered treasure for mere pennies. More likely, though, you will have to pay.
Ebay is one place to check for antique bird cages. Before spending a large amount of money, make sure that your seller is reputable. One way to ensure this is to only buy from sellers with positive feedback.
Though authentic antique cages are pleasing to the eye, they are not the best home for your bird. Many antique bird cages are treated with chemicals or paints that can be toxic to your bird. If you buy a true antique, use it for decorative purposes only.
Choose an Acrylic Bird Cage
February 28, 2009
Congratulations. You’ve decided to buy a bird, and you even know what kind. You’ve gone so far as to pick out a name for your new feathered friend. The hard part is over, right? Wrong. You still have to find a cage for little Polly. You will be amazed by the number of bird cages to choose from. Bird cages are available in many different sizes, styles, and price ranges. They come in a variety of materials, such as wood, iron, metal, and stainless steel.
One option for materials is acrylic. Acrylic bird cages are relatively inexpensive and readily available. Though acrylic bird cages are popular, some customers report that they are not as durable as metal or stainless steel. Others say that birds are unable to climb on acrylic bird cages. This could keep your bird from getting an adequate amount of exercise.
Acrylic bird cages can be mass produced or custom made. They can be found at local pet stores or large chains such as PetsMart or PetCo. They are also available at department stores, such as Wal-Mart. At times, acrylic bird cages can even be found at discount stores, such as Family Dollar or Dollar General. Another option for buying acrylic bird cages is online pet stores. They can range from about $20 for a small mass produced cage to over a thousand dollars for a large custom designed cage.
Buying a Custom Bird Cage
February 27, 2009
Many of us dream of having a beautiful, exotic bird perched on our shoulder, accompanying us around town. At the end of the day, though, our feathered friend must return to its cage. A bird cage has two main jobs-keeping a bird safe and keeping it comfortable. Sometimes the best way to do that is to buy a custom bird cage. Custom bird cages are built to your specifications and are designed to suit both your home and your bird.
When ordering custom bird cages, you have two options: start with a basic cage and add desired options, or have the cage designed from scratch. Designing a cage from scratch is the more expensive choice, but it also gives you more control over your design.
When ordering custom bird cages, you choose the size, shape, and materials. Some materials available are: wood, acrylic, stainless steel, and metal. Some companies offer more exotic materials, such as bamboo. When choosing a material, evaluate it for practicality and function, as well as appearance.
The Benefits of Large Birdcages
February 26, 2009
We’ve all heard the phrase, "Free as a bird." In the wild, birds are free, flying from tree to tree in effortless abandon. At home, we should recreate that environment to the greatest degree possible. In general, we should buy the largest cage that will safely accommodate our feathered friend.
In order to be comfortable, birds need ample space in order to be comfortable. It should be able to spread its wings easily and move from perch to perch. Like all of us, birds need exercise. It stands to reason, then, that larger or more active birds need large bird cages.
A macaw, for example, needs a cage that is at least three feet long and five feet wide! Amazons, African grays, conures, and cockatoos also require large bird cages, though not as large as the macaw. Before making such a purchase, make sure that you have enough space available in your home.
Large bird cages are available in a variety of materials, such as wood, metal, iron, stainless steel, and acrylic. You can choose based on many factors, but convenience should definitely be considered. Your large bird cage will need to be cleaned regularly, and stainless steel or metal cages are usually the easiest to clean.
Decorative Bird Cages
February 25, 2009
Whether purely for looks or for a bird’s home, bird cages can be attractive decorator touches. They can be used as wall hangings, plant holders, centerpieces, and more.
Bird cages are available in many different materials, including wood, acrylic, stainless steel, metal, and iron. They are also available in some unique materials such as bamboo. Decorative bird cages are available in most any style imaginable. There are bird cages representative of most regions of the world-there are Oriental bird cages, Tuscan cages, and Arabian cages. There are also many bird cages featuring various architectural designs, such as domes and arches. Victorian cages are also quite popular. Some decorative bird cages are trimmed in gold or topped in marble. Some feature elaborate scrollwork. Others are even more whimsical, shaped like globes or hot-air balloons.
Some decorative bird cages are purely decorative; others are functional. If you intend to use a decorative cage as a home for your bird, make sure that it is truly designed for that purpose. Do not sacrifice your bird’s safety or comfort for style. For example, a tall narrow bird cage may look beautiful, but it doesn’t give your bird ample space for moving. A round, globelike cage looks exotic, but it might not give your bird a space for perching. With careful consideration of your bird’s needs, it is possible to find a bird cage that is both decorative and functional.
Dog Eye Problems - What To Watch Out For
February 24, 2009
Dog eye problems can occur at any time. You should pay close attention to your dog’s eyes just as you would their teeth, so that you can catch any possible infections or injuries immediately and have them treated.
Dogs are vulnerable to several diseases and possible injuries due to the structure of their eyes. Always keep watch for signs of discharge, squinting, cloudiness, irritation and redness, or swelling. If your dog starts to bump into furniture, this could be a sign of vision loss.
The most common canine eye problems usually stem from the following:
- Cataracts - an opacity of the lens
- Cherry Eye - the dog’s third eyelid’s tear gland protrudes outward
- Conjunctivitis - an inflammation of the membrane that lines your dog’s eyelids and the front of the sclera
- Entropion - eyelids are turn inward which causes the eyelashes to scratch the cornea
- Glaucoma - increased eye pressure caused by fluid buildup in the eye
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy - inherited vision-destroying diseases caused by deterioration of the retina’s image-processing cells
This is by no means a complete list of possible eye diseases, but they seem to be the most common.
Parrot Keeping
February 23, 2009
Parrots are becoming more popular as pets with each passing day. This is evidenced by the proliferation of Internet discussion lists which provide access to information regarding parrot care and behavior. This upsurge in the number of parrots in homes and the amount of information newly available does not alert the companion parrot owner to a very important and pertinent fact - that parrot keeping is a relatively new phenomenon.
The parrot will live in a cage, so you will need to buy one that is large enough so that the parrot can spread his wings fully. It should be made of wire preferably since the parrot would eat through a wooden one. Make sure the door is large enough so that the parrot can fit through it, and also ensure that the door can’t be opened from the inside. Parrots are very smart so you will need to use a complex door closing mechanism. Remember the bigger the cage is, the happier the parrot will be, so buy the largest one you can afford.
The parrot will want some toys in the cage, such as a swinging perch or a squeaking toy. Make sure that the toy isn’t harmful to the parrot if it is gnawed on.
What You Should Know About Your Puppy And Play Biting
February 23, 2009
The main ways a puppy will play with another dog or puppy are chasing, wrestling, and biting.
When your puppy eventually becomes separated from his littermates, he will most likely carry on his playful behavior with you and your family members. This is often the cause for most puppies trying to bite our hands, or clothing. This behavior usually happens when your puppy is excited and wants to play, rather than a sign of aggression.
You see, to your new puppy, play biting is a very exciting game. Usually when us humans are bitten by a puppy we squeal and pull away. But to your puppy, this makes the whole thing even more exciting, and makes him want to chase us.
This might not be a huge problem now, but if your puppy continues the same behavior until adulthood, his bites will become more painful, and could cause us bruising, even though he only means to be playful.
Some breeds of puppy are more likely to play bite than others. Terriers are often more likely to play bite, as they like to play rough with their littermates when they are young.
What You Should Know About Your Dog And Frustration
February 22, 2009
Because your dog lives with humans, he’s going to have to learn to deal with frustration sometimes, because you shouldn’t let things always go his way if you’re to be a responsible dog owner.
Dogs that are strong-willed and confident are more likely to become frustrated when they can’t have something, especially if to them they are the dominant one, and not their owner.
To cure this bad behavior, you’re going to have to set up some situations in which your dog becomes frustrated. You must then wait for him to go through his frustration and eventually calm down. Once he’s calmed down, he’s allowed to get whatever it is he wanted.
You need to remember while you’re doing this, that you can’t react in anyway while he’s frustrated.
Here’s an example of the whole process:
Offer your dog something he wants, often a food reward of a favorite toy will do the trick, and keep it just out of his reach. If he pulls on his leash, or barks, just ignore the behavior.
Animals Are Forever
February 21, 2009
Throughout the course of my life, I’ve encountered my own share of dogs. From early childhood days, I recall having several dogs that stayed temporarily with us until my dad’s next military assignment. Though my parents took good care of our animals, military life was unsuitable for animal adoptions as in most cases, animals were not permitted to go back overseas with us; thus we were inevitably forced to find homes for our pets.
In 1983, my parents adopted our first ‘forever’ dog. She was a beautiful, graceful German Shepherd mix. Because my oldest sister had small children, my mom kept ‘Apollo’ outside in the backyard. Living in the South, my family was virtually unaware of the risk of heartworms . In Europe, heartworms didn’t exist, and unfortunately, the SPCA where Apollo had been adopted did not pass out information on these dreadful predators. While our Apollo was continually outside, she was even more susceptible to the deadly mosquito infestation. After a short two years with us, we learned that our beloved Apollo had heartworms and died in less than 24 hours of our perceived understanding.
