Product Description
This book is for both amateur bird owners and professional breeders. It offers instructions on maintaining a bird nursery, keeping it heated and sanitary, and tending the chicks. Differing feed formulas are given for different species, including parrots, doves, finches, soft-billed birds, pheasants, and others. Advice pertains to correcting problems often suffered by baby birds, from dehydration and discolored feathers to viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great instruction on parrot care.
This is an excellent book on the total care of baby parrots. Also includes general care of adult parrots. I've read many parrot books and have owned a parrot for 10 yrs and I highly recommend this book. Well written and a good reference book.

Book review
This book has just the right information for a beginner like myself. It also has pictures that suits someone like me who depends more on graphic presentation than just words. It does not contain too many technical terminology for the general public to grasp what the author is saying and understand the message it is meant to convey.

Not what it claims to be!
The information in this book is sorely outdated! Try Parrot Breeder's Answer Book, The instead, and plan on learning more on hand-feeding from the internet or from one of the manufacturers of the commercial hand-feeding formula that is available now.

In depth look at hand feeding and care of baby birds
Matthew Vriends HAND-FEEDING AND RAISING BABY BIRDS is of some use to me although I prefer Gayle Souck's PARROT BREEDER'S ANSWER BOOK.Vriend's book is not nearly as comprehensive, he goes deep whereas Soucek goes broad.However, I appreciate the detailed sections on the selection, care and maintenance of incubators including photos of the various types of incubators as well as text describing air filtration systems (`still air' and ventilation), automatic egg turners versus doing it yourself, and temperature, light and humidity considerations. Interestingly, neither author cites the other even tho Barron's produced both books and they are somewhat complementary.

As well as incubation, Vriends book covers feeding in great detail with numerous photos of very small chicks being hand fed.I like this book because I needed more in-depth information about actual feeding practices, including a discussion of the different nutritional needs of different birds who require formulas.Whether you are raising companion birds or you are an animal rehabilitator/rescuer you will probably find this book useful.

OK book
This book was OK.It talks about all pet birds, so it really only gives a little bit of information about each.If you are looking to know about handfeeding ONE certain kind of bird, then I would look for a different book.The pictures are very cute though. ... Read more

Product Description
From special diet suggestions to explaining how to create the ideal housing environment for your feathered companion, this book is the perfect guide to learning more about these talented and social birds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Must Have for would be cockatiel owners

If you're thinking of adding cockatiels to your family, this book gives a lot of insight about their care and diet. It's easy to read and has lots of pictures on the variations.Cockatiels are very easy going, and well tempered, and caring for them is not difficult.Follow the advice in this book and you won't be disappointed.

Great book
We had already read this book after checking it out from the library.It was a good, relevant book so we bought it as reference for our new pet.

Great Cockatiel Overview
This book is a great overview for the first-time cockatiel owner.The layout is great and the pictures are both beautiful and instructive.It gives a little bit about food, illness and overall what to expect as a cockatiel owner.It is a great starting point for other books such as "Holistic Care for Birds" (McCluggage) and "The Healthy Bird Cookbook" (Deutsch).This is also a very helpful book to have if you are a cockatiel owner with kids, as it is a very kid-friendly book which the whole family can enjoy.

Cockatiels
So far it has been real informative about cockatiels,and how to take care of them.

This book is awesome!
I loved the layout, it's well written and organized in a fun, helpful, and informative way. ... Read more

Product Description
Written by an expert on bird care, this complete guide offers in-depth coverage of subjects like feeding, housing, breed characteristics, health care, and grooming. It also includes an introduction to canaries, a complete discussion of canary song, and tips on taming these lovable birds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Well received.
It made for a perfect gift for one who wanted more information on canaries and their care. ... Read more

Product Description
Birds are ideal subjects for holistic care. They are especially sensitive to emotional and physical stresses. Based on what we have learned from wild birds and studies completed in the last 10-20 years, this book will help you provide your bird with a longer, healthier life. Each beautifully illustrated chapter is written from two viewpoints, one from the leading holistic avian veterinarian and the other from a bird owner's viewpoint. Holistic care is defined and the value of this type of care in relation to conventional western medicine is discussed. Other interesting topics include the physical bird, the emotional bird, nutrition and special holistic therapies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A must own
I have raised Gouldian Finches and own a Rose Breasted Cockatoo, Umbrella Cockatoo, Love Bird and Conure. This book has been indispensable for all of them. Whenever someone adopts my babies, I have recommended they get this book in order to maintain optimal health for the new family members. I have used the homeopathic, herbal and Bach flower remedies on the various birds and have had good results. My birds are healthier and happier due to the knowledge dispensed in this book.

At Last!
Finally, someone brave enough to write about natural care for companion birds.A whole new way at looking at illness and dis-ease, giving our feathered friends a better chance at wellness!

Must Have for Every Bird Owner!
This book (written by a veterinarian) is excellent!I find the practical information wonderfully straight forward!

The best of them
This is the best very informative, easy read book on birds I have ever read.Every bird owner should have it.

Informative and helpful.....
In HOLISTIC CARE FOR BIRDS, authors McCluggage and Higdon address preventative care as well as spiritual and emotional healing.They begin with a brief overview of `bird keeping' - Different birds have different needs..Not all birds like to be petted while others may become miserable without constant affection. Sometimes the difference is species specific, other times it is related to the bird's treatment by previous owners.

Obvious physical problems may send you scrambling to the vet, but there are remedies you can keep on hand to deal with life's stresses and less serious physical injuries. For example, according to the authors, mild camomile tea in the bird's water bowl offers a soothing aperitif following a bad "out-of-cage" experience with the family dog or as a palliative for feather picking.Aloe juice used to treat human skin problems as well as Vitamin E and C can also be used to address bird wounds inflicted by cage mates.

The authors address a range of treatments for ailments as diverse as sore feet and broken feathers to heart disease.They do not eschew veterinary care, indeed McCluggage is a DVM as well as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Higdon has written a number of books on happy, healthy pets (Lovebirds, Quaker Parrots, etc.). The book includes a section on nutrition, as the best health care involves diet. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a cookbook for people who really love their pet birds, and want to feed them healthy and delicious food. It's important to introduce variety into your bird's diet, and this cookbook will help you do just that. Sections include Breads and Pastries, Vegetable and Fruit Dishes, Potatoes and Eggs, Entrées for You and Your Bird and—of course—Treats. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Bad Ideas!
This book is written by vegetarians who have no idea what a "healthy" diet is. I, myself, am a vegetarian, and wouldn't consider any of the recipes in this book to be healthy for a parrot OR a human to eat on a regular basis. Occasionally, in moderation, or as a special training treat, some of these items are okay.

Loads of dairy products (which do more harm than good to all of us) and loads of saturated (and unsaturated) fat, sugar, oils, etc. Yuck!

This book is also full of outright misinformation. For example, the author states that birds have a "palate nearly as sophistocated as that of a human." Humans have an average of 10,000 taste buds. Parrots have, on average, 400-500. I wouldn't call that similar at all!

Much of this book's pages are filled with anecdotes and stories which would be better suited to one of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books rather than a recipe book for birds. The authors have no formal (or informal) education in behavior, nutrition (human, parrot, or otherwise), veterinary care, or animal husbandry; this book is based entirely on their opinions and personal experiences.

While the recipes are flexible and you can easily substitute a healthier ingredient for a less healthy one, this book is not appropriate for people who are new to bird keeping and who have no knowledge of nutrition in general (and species-specific nutrition, in particular - remember, unlike cats and dogs, which are comprised of multiple breeds within their species, parrots and birds are actually different species of animals.) Different species have different vitamin, mineral, carbohydrate, protein, and fat requirements, and the recipes in this book aren't appropriate for many species without adding, subtracting, or substituting ingredients.

IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PARROTS AFTER ALL
Gourmet Bird Food Recipes: IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PARROTS AFTER ALL

Quotation out of the book:
'No one knows exactly what a well balanced diet for a bird is, but experts are coming closer to understand....'

My appraisal is:
.... that gratiné, the use of butter and salt like in penne in cream sauce, the reccomended Italian dressing, or garlic butter is miles away from a healthy diet for parrots. And I never provide a sort of these suggested menues to my fosterlings. I even must say, that these recipes are unhealthy - possibly even noxious. Oh dear!

Not recommended at all!

If your intention is to cook for your bird 'Healthy Bird Cookbook' by Robin Deutsch is a good reference.

Fantastic Cookbook for Bird Lovers!
I bought this book when I got my African Grey parrot.Eight years later and I've had to replace it because I got "goop" all over it!I have not only used it all the time, I've bought it as a gift for all my bird loving friends!My grey girl loves all the recipes!I highly recommend this cookbook for all of our avian friends!!!

Good Stuff Cookbook!!
For anyone who loves to cook for their parrots, this one is a must have.
My birdies have enjoyed every morsel out of here !

Beware!
Beware!Alot of the recipes have milk and cheese in them.Birds are lactose intolerant so those recipes can make them very ill. ... Read more

Product Description

Lovebirds are small, stout parrots with a curious and good-natured disposition. Written by an expert on lovebirds, this comprehensive book covers species characteristics and offers advice on how to look after these beautiful birds.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Recommended for new or prospective lovebird owners.
The first sentence in this book by Julie Mancini is "Welcome to the exciting and fun-filled world of lovebird ownership!"The book starts off with some great information about these entertaining little birds.

The author explains the history of lovebirds - how they got their name - when they first became pets - the wild or normal colours and the newer colour mutations - and talks about the different lovebird species.

I would recommend this book to new and potential lovebird owners, although experienced lovebird owners may also find useful advice as well.
... Read more

Product Description
Parrots -- Bright -- Boisterous -- Beautiful. These intelligent birds are also emotionally sensitive creatures that need to be cared for in a loving and understanding manner. This is the approach of the Loving Care of Pet Parrots written by renowned author Rosemary Lowe. Rosemary Lowe, is a renowned author of more than 20 books on aviculture. She has worked with over 200 parrot species and has been curator of two of the world's largest parrot collections. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Covers every facet of raising a happy and healthy bird
The Loving Care Of Pet Parrots covers every facet of raising a happy and healthy bird. All topics and issues are covered in detail, including choosing an appropriate species; weaning new pets; basic training; providing toys and amusement; feeding for pleasure and health; and mimicking ability. If you have a parrot or are considering having one as a personal or family pet, begin with a thorough reading of Rosemary Low's The Loving Care Of Parrots. ... Read more

Product Description

Written by an expert on bird care, Finches offers useful advice on breeding, showing, and keeping these popular birds.It discusses both indoor and outdoor housing and provides an introduction to building an aviary.
... Read more

Product Description
Better known in America as the parakeet, the budgerigar is one of the most popular birds kept as a pet. Here's sound advice on caging, feeding, health care, and much more. Barron's extensive line of Complete Pet Owner's Manuals presents information for non-specialist animal owners and prospective owners, with facts about each animal's origins and traits, as well as advice on purchasing, housing, feeding, health care, and much more. Each book is individually written by a trainer, breeder, veterinarian, or other animal specialist. Titles in this series cover every popular breed of dog and cat, freshwater and marine fish, many bird varieties, and virtually all other animals that are kept as pets. All books are filled with handsome color photos and instructive line illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

budgeriars book
this book has really good info. the pictures are very high quality. i recomend it since it isnt that much to read, if you wanna get things done.

Very good
This is a very good little book, packed with useful information about parakeets. I thought its small size might mean a limited scope, but it is thorough and comprehensive, well worth the price.

Good book for explaining budgie behavior
While it's a fairly slim volume, and not particularly detailed about the mundane aspects of keeping a budgie, I'd rate this book highly. Why? Because it takes a modern approach which emphasizes the bird's needs and wants over the human's.

In particular, the book stresses the importance of gaining the bird's trust, and describes how to go about doing so. It talks about why it's better to have two budgies than a single one. It also stresses the importance of allowing the bird to fly freely in the home for at least.

So it may not be the only budgie book you need, but it should certainly be on your list.

excellent book
I am building a parakeet library in preparation of buying a budgie for my 5 and 7 year olds. This book is visually appealing and easy to read. Nice, shiny pages with up-to-date, beautiful photographs with excellent information and details. Not just the usual chapter-by-chapter book. It has special pages with colored sections and various formating making this a fun book to read.

Budgies and Parakeets....
As far as I am concerned, when it comes to books on pet birds, Barron's is the best.BUDGERIGARS by Immanuel Birmelin (translated by Matthew Vriends) falls into this category, although it is somewhat condensed compared with other books on the market.Birmelin covers all the important issues, such as caging, food, and other aspects of care.

My favorite section is about "playing" with your pet Budgie.Budgies are intelligent little parrots and you can have hours of fun if you choose to by providing them with sources of amusement.Birmelin lists `The 10 Most Popular Games' you can play with your Budgie and "How-To: Fun and Games." Did you know you could play card games with Budgies?

Although we never want to think about the possibility, sometimes your Budgie gets sick.Birmelin includes a section "If Your Bird Gets Sick" that gives you some ideas of what you can do besides get upset. In this section he includes a `Checklist -Preventing Illness' which is helpful especially if this is your first bird.Keeping his cage clean is a good thing to do, and spending time with him every day will keep him happy.A happy Budgie is a healthy Budgie. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great, informative, and quite enjoyable reading material.
This book is a great guide to parakeets, for kids who are about 9 to 12.Every thing you need to know on these interesting pets is simplified, and organized into neat paragraphs and sentances.It is just wonderfulinformation, and would be a wise perchase for your child. ... Read more

Product Description
Would you like to tame your parrots and other birds?Would you like to teach them to step-up onto your hand, fly to you on command, readily return to their cages or finally leave electrical cords alone?Would you like to have meaningful interactions with your birds and to be able to build a positive relationship with them?Would you like to challenge and support your birds also mentally and to teach them fun tricks for their and your entertainment?THEN THIS BOOK IS PERFECT FOR YOU.Whether young or old, big or small: all birds and their owners can do it.Lern from renowned parrot behaviour consultant Ann Castro how to teach your birds useful and entertaining behaviors with ease and fun.The utilized training method is clicker training which relies exclusively on positive reinforcement. Therefore, you and your birdswill enjoy this type of training and it will help your relationship grow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A must-have text and reference for any bird owner!
Great training for the owner, as well as, the pet bird.Well thought out and presented.Easy to follow, well paced approaches to basic training and a wake-up call for those of us who's been around birds all our lives.Ann Castro breaks down birds' psychological behaviors and shows you great ways to work with them so that you and your bird are both happy!I've owned pet birds for over 40 years and was amazed at the answers I got from this book.Thanks Ann, a book long over due!

The best bird clicker-training book available
Whether you're interested in getting into clicker training or an experienced trainer, I highly recommend this book. It explains the basics clearly and concisely, and presents many very useful behaviors with step-by-step training plans for how to teach them to your birds. Ann Castro works with a wide range of parrots, from tiny budgies and parrotlets to African greys and the largest macaws. The behaviors outlined in the book are not tricks or gimmicks (although those can be fun to teach as well); instead, Castro focuses on truly useful behaviors like stepping up and "drop it." She also discusses how to deal with problem behaviors in a gentle and effective way.

If you're only going to buy one book on clicker training parrots, make it this one!

Fantastic
I've really enjoyed using clicker training as a means to interact with my birds. It's simple, easy, and fun. The birds are suprisingly VERY into it. If I have both of my parrotlets out at the same time they will compete to see who can get to the clicker stick first, knowing that a treat is about to follow. I highly recomend this book and training method to any bird owner, regardless of type of bird, level of training, or age.

Fun for Parakeet owners, a Must for Parrot owners!
I have seen clicker training with dogs, monkeys and even rabbits. But I was skeptical that a small bird could actually be trained. I was wrong! My two budgies are completely different in personality, and clicker training works for both. Schnappi caught on very fast. She learnt to follow the target stick right away und does tricks now, like riding her own little skateboard.
My second bird Snoopy spent time outside before I got her and is afraid of her own shadow. With clicker training she started enjoying life again. She learnt fast what the "click" means and has fewer panic attacks. Soon, she'll be ready for the target stick.Now I can actually "do something" with my birds rather than just talk to them.

The step-by-step instructions in "The Bird School" by Ann Castro are very easy to follow, and the pictures are worth "a thousand words." To my surprise the book came with a clicker and a target stick!

But reading the book also brought back sad memories. Years ago, I had a friend who always showed up with bite marks on her arms, inflicted by her own parrot. I found the explanation in the "Bird School": The bird was lonely and bored. The punishment for biting (screaming and yelling) was his reward, and that's why it never stopped.I wish a book like this had been available then!

Clicker training is a fun activity for budgies and other small birds. For parrots, clicker training is even more important to socialize them and make life enjoyable for birds and owners alike.

A Must Read for all Bird owners!!
This book is a must read for all bird owners; of any kind.It is very informative and beautifully written.It will guide anyone to the clicker way of training.I suggest it for anyone with parrots.After my first session with my bird it was working great!At last, something to read, something to do for your bird/parrot that really works.

... Read more

Product Description
Covering both how to care for a pet bird and how to train it properly, this guide offers a wonderful resource for novice pet owners who need to know how to create a great relationship with their birds. Photos are included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Bird care ok but the training section "bites"
As far as training is concerned this book serves little more use than the screened wood shavings in the cage. The basic bird care section is similar to just about any of the myriad of other pamphlets available. Used book for sale, only read once,.....

Must read for parrot owners or perspective owners
This book includes everything that you need to know to keep parrots as pets.I have referred back to this book many times to answer a question about the care of one of my parrots, and I haven't yet had a question itcouldn't answer or direct me to the answer for. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn how to care for these lovable birds, including feeding, housing, grooming, and fun activities that appeal to their playful nature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Dolly
An informative little book for a beginner Conure owner. Wish I had read this book before I bought the Sun conure..Beautiful bird but what a loud call!!!!! Did not realize there are several different Conures with different traits.

Excellent Book
If you have a bird - you need this book.It has information for everything you need.I received a pamplet at the pet store - what a joke! They should give this book w/ every purchase.

Great Book
This book has a lot of information about conures.I like the fact that its just about conures instead of all parrots as conures are alittle bit different in the way they act.My blue-crown is the second conure I've had.The first one, a white-eyed conure, lived for 24 years.I purchased this book so that I can keep up with illnesses, wing clipping, etc.I would recommend this book to anyone who has or wants a conure.

Getting a good start!
Conures by Carol Frischmann gives a good basic start for the new pet conure owner. This book provides guidance to the individual who is selecting a conure as a pet as well as someone who has just brought home their first conure.

Conures is a visually appealing book that is graphically well-laid out and easy to read. Key information points are set up in table formats that are excellent for a quick reference. A lot of practical information is packed into this publicaton along with suggestions for how to learn more beyond the topics covered within its pages.

It provides a range of basic information for the new pet owner which includes diet, health care, grooming, toys, housing and training. I especially like the tips for how to help children care for and interact with the conure since so many times these birds are chosen as pets for families with children. By giving ideas of specific activities and interactions by age, parents can oversee a level of involvement with the bird that is appropriate for their children.

It is very difficult to have a book that covers all aspects of care for a pet parrot, but this book does cover the basics very nicely. If the new conure owner follows the direction provided, they will be headed the right direction for the enjoyment of owning a healthy, happy pet bird!

Conures by Carol Frischmann - GREAT!
Conures (Animal Planet Pet Care Library) is a great book. Full of good and helpful information. I sat and read it cover to cover. I am now going back and highlighting the information that really stood out. This book is great for overall information and detailed day-to-day care and interaction. I would recommend this book to anyone who owns or plans to purchase a conure for a pet/companion.Excellent resource. ... Read more