Category: The Wonky Flock
Category Archives: The Wonky Flock
Re-thinking our relationship with the Budgie
ENRICHMENT
Enrichment is an animal husbandry principle that improves the lives of Birds who live in captivity by enhancing certain areas of their daily life. Enrichment is a principle that many Bird owners have become increasingly familiar with in the last 3 years, however smaller Birds such as Budgies are often left behind, especially if they have special needs. Budgies often live in small barren cages with 1 or 2 straight dowel perches & an un-enriching plastic toy, mirror, plastic Budgie (why?!) or bell for decoration. Those who do provide enrichment often give un-enriching things such as a millet spray & think that it counts as enrichment, but it isn’t enriching enough at all. Some people even claim that leaving your Budgie’s cage floor filthy & only feeding them once a week is enriching because they have to dig through their droppings to eat! So, if those 2 things don’t count as enrichment, what does?
Enrichment is often split in to 5 key areas- Dietary, sensory, cognitive, social & environmental. Below I will go into each area in more depth & explain what counts as enrichment.
DIETARY
Dietary or ‘food based’ enrichment involves presenting healthy & nutritious food in novel & interesting ways. This can be anything from adding a sprinkle of dandelion flowers to their food to creating a foraging activity with seeding grass, safe flowers & herbs that they have to work hard to eat. I often create ‘enrichment meals’ which are healthy Organic foods presented in fun & interesting ways. The enrichment meal pictured below are strips of Organic carrot on a bed of Organic ground flax seeds sprinkled with Harrison’s fine. This unique & fun presentation got the angels it was for to eat fresh food after years of a seed only diet & their refusal to try new things. They now eat everything! Encorporating foraging behaviours into dietary enrichment is a wonderful idea. This can be done by weaving dandelion, seeding grass or fresh herbs through the enclosure bars or wire or hanging them up in bunches so that they have to work to reach it. This is more enriching than millet spray because of the multiple textures, colours, flavours & different techniques needed to retrieve the food items.
SENSORY
Sensory enrichment is a slightly tricky area for Birds due to the large amount of things that are toxic or unsafe for them. For example, olfactory enrichment often consists (for big cats) of using scents, perfumes etc, all of which are harmful to a Bird’s respiratory system. For olfactory enrichment I tend to use fresh or dried herbs, this way the scents are not concentrated like essential oils (which ARE harmful) & don’t contain artificial ingredients or chemicals. I would avoid using anything else for sense of smell. Tactile enrichment is the most adored area of sensory enrichment for my Budgies. Materials like high quality dust extracted barley straw, shredded safe paper, smooth un-treated pebbles, Bird sand (other types of sand are not safe) & materials like cardboard & safe branches are all items that can be worked into enrichment activities, get creative & see how many safe ways you can use them differently to spark their curiosity & the magic of their hearts. Swings & swinging perches can be loathed by some & loved by others, this gives proprioceptive input which helps them know where their body is in space.
COGNITIVE
Cognitive enrichment is a pleasingly diverse area of enrichment which allows for some wonderful creativity & excitement. Cognitive enrichment is essentially anything that stimulates their mind & makes them think. You can hide nutritious treats for them to find, give them Bird toy making parts such as Bird safe wooden beads & blocks for them to throw & investigate, different textures under food (see sensory), foraging toys & exposure to different languages all count as cognitive enrichment. So many Budgies are stuck alone for hours on end with no stimulation due to being endlessly pushed as ‘low maintenence pets’ who are ‘easy to care for’, this is untrue. Budgies need as much as large Parrots, they are just less likely to inconvenience their owner with ‘problem behaviours’ when they don’t get it. That doesn’t mean it damages them less.
SOCIAL
Social enrichment is not about interacting with humans. We need to stop the saying “but I am their FLOCK!!!!!” as an excuse for their complete social isolation. They love you, but you alone are not enough. Budgies are highly social beings by nature & naturally live in flocks that can be up to several thousand strong. They need conspecifics in some form to truly thrive. Conspecifics understand vocal behaviour, body language & can bond in ways that we will never be able to provide. Wherever possible they need a friend. Some Budgies have been alone for so long, or have had traumatic experiences, that mean they can’t live in with their own kind. If this is the case, try to play them Budgie vocalisations & ensure that you spend extra time with them. Like humans, Budgies require different levels of contact- some are happy with online contact (Budgie videos online), some are happy visiting a Bird who belongs to a friend once in a while, some like a Budgie in their own cage nearby & some are delighted to share their space with other Budgies. Find what your Budgie needs & help that come true for them. Please never assume that they are happy alone because that’s all they have ever known, it may not be true.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Environmental enrichment is about providing a fun, engaging & suitable environment in which your Bird can thrive. This means an enclosure large enough for them to fly & climb with ease (even though they have time out of the cage). Plenty of toys made from natural materials, natural branches complete with bark to strip instead of plastic/dowel/abrasive/sand covered perches & lots of fun & exciting things for them to engage in from the cage floor to the top is all vital for a truly enriching environment.
WHY DOES ENRICHMENT MATTER?
Enrichment, when used regularly & correctly, transforms lives. The Budgies who live in enriched conditions have better mental & physical health, are more active, their muscle tone is better, they are happier & are less likely to develop ‘problem behaviours’ & health conditions associated with sedentry lifestyles & stereotypic behaviour which is associated with barren living conditions. This isn’t merely opinion either, a wealth of scientific study has been done into enrichment & its uses for a whole host of domestic animals & they all support the effects of enrichment. Did you know that enrichment actually changes brain structure? Charles Darwin noted in 1874, that domestic Rabbits had smaller brains than their wild conspecifics, which he attributed to the domestic Rabbit’s lack of using senses, instincts & interacting with stimulating environments.
In the 60s, studies emerged that showed enrichment positively alters the chemistry & anatomy of animal brains, which improved their quality of life, memory & ability to learn. How amazing is that? We have the power to provide environments that not only make them happier, but actually change the entire structure of their brain for the better! It is also incredibly sad when we ponder just how many Budgies never get that chance. It is never too late to introduce your Budgie to the glorious world of enrichment, elderly animals introduced to enrichment are shown to have the same benefits as younger Birds. It is never too late for your angel to shine.
Disabled Budgies are just as entitled to the fruitful experiences of enrichment, we may just need to adapt the activities slightly for them to truly have access. So, what are you waiting for? Lets get creative!
Re-thinking our relationship with the Budgie
ENRICHMENT
Enrichment is an animal husbandry principle that improves the lives of Birds who live in captivity by enhancing certain areas of their daily life. Enrichment is a principle that many Bird owners have become increasingly familiar with in the last 3 years, however smaller Birds such as Budgies are often left behind, especially if they have special needs. Budgies often live in small barren cages with 1 or 2 straight dowel perches & an un-enriching plastic toy, mirror, plastic Budgie (why?!) or bell for decoration. Those who do provide enrichment often give un-enriching things such as a millet spray & think that it counts as enrichment, but it isn’t enriching enough at all. Some people even claim that leaving your Budgie’s cage floor filthy & only feeding them once a week is enriching because they have to dig through their droppings to eat! So, if those 2 things don’t count as enrichment, what does?
Enrichment is often split in to 5 key areas- Dietary, sensory, cognitive, social & environmental. Below I will go into each area in more depth & explain what counts as enrichment.
DIETARY
Dietary or ‘food based’ enrichment involves presenting healthy & nutritious food in novel & interesting ways. This can be anything from adding a sprinkle of dandelion flowers to their food to creating a foraging activity with seeding grass, safe flowers & herbs that they have to work hard to eat. I often create ‘enrichment meals’ which are healthy Organic foods presented in fun & interesting ways. The enrichment meal pictured below are strips of Organic carrot on a bed of Organic ground flax seeds sprinkled with Harrison’s fine. This unique & fun presentation got the angels it was for to eat fresh food after years of a seed only diet & their refusal to try new things. They now eat everything! Encorporating foraging behaviours into dietary enrichment is a wonderful idea. This can be done by weaving dandelion, seeding grass or fresh herbs through the enclosure bars or wire or hanging them up in bunches so that they have to work to reach it. This is more enriching than millet spray because of the multiple textures, colours, flavours & different techniques needed to retrieve the food items.
SENSORY
Sensory enrichment is a slightly tricky area for Birds due to the large amount of things that are toxic or unsafe for them. For example, olfactory enrichment often consists (for big cats) of using scents, perfumes etc, all of which are harmful to a Bird’s respiratory system. For olfactory enrichment I tend to use fresh or dried herbs, this way the scents are not concentrated like essential oils (which ARE harmful) & don’t contain artificial ingredients or chemicals. I would avoid using anything else for sense of smell. Tactile enrichment is the most adored area of sensory enrichment for my Budgies. Materials like high quality dust extracted barley straw, shredded safe paper, smooth un-treated pebbles, Bird sand (other types of sand are not safe) & materials like cardboard & safe branches are all items that can be worked into enrichment activities, get creative & see how many safe ways you can use them differently to spark their curiosity & the magic of their hearts. Swings & swinging perches can be loathed by some & loved by others, this gives proprioceptive input which helps them know where their body is in space.
COGNITIVE
Cognitive enrichment is a pleasingly diverse area of enrichment which allows for some wonderful creativity & excitement. Cognitive enrichment is essentially anything that stimulates their mind & makes them think. You can hide nutritious treats for them to find, give them Bird toy making parts such as Bird safe wooden beads & blocks for them to throw & investigate, different textures under food (see sensory), foraging toys & exposure to different languages all count as cognitive enrichment. So many Budgies are stuck alone for hours on end with no stimulation due to being endlessly pushed as ‘low maintenence pets’ who are ‘easy to care for’, this is untrue. Budgies need as much as large Parrots, they are just less likely to inconvenience their owner with ‘problem behaviours’ when they don’t get it. That doesn’t mean it damages them less.
SOCIAL
Social enrichment is not about interacting with humans. We need to stop the saying “but I am their FLOCK!!!!!” as an excuse for their complete social isolation. They love you, but you alone are not enough. Budgies are highly social beings by nature & naturally live in flocks that can be up to several thousand strong. They need conspecifics in some form to truly thrive. Conspecifics understand vocal behaviour, body language & can bond in ways that we will never be able to provide. Wherever possible they need a friend. Some Budgies have been alone for so long, or have had traumatic experiences, that mean they can’t live in with their own kind. If this is the case, try to play them Budgie vocalisations & ensure that you spend extra time with them. Like humans, Budgies require different levels of contact- some are happy with online contact (Budgie videos online), some are happy visiting a Bird who belongs to a friend once in a while, some like a Budgie in their own cage nearby & some are delighted to share their space with other Budgies. Find what your Budgie needs & help that come true for them. Please never assume that they are happy alone because that’s all they have ever known, it may not be true.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Environmental enrichment is about providing a fun, engaging & suitable environment in which your Bird can thrive. This means an enclosure large enough for them to fly & climb with ease (even though they have time out of the cage). Plenty of toys made from natural materials, natural branches complete with bark to strip instead of plastic/dowel/abrasive/sand covered perches & lots of fun & exciting things for them to engage in from the cage floor to the top is all vital for a truly enriching environment.
WHY DOES ENRICHMENT MATTER?
Enrichment, when used regularly & correctly, transforms lives. The Budgies who live in enriched conditions have better mental & physical health, are more active, their muscle tone is better, they are happier & are less likely to develop ‘problem behaviours’ & health conditions associated with sedentry lifestyles & stereotypic behaviour which is associated with barren living conditions. This isn’t merely opinion either, a wealth of scientific study has been done into enrichment & its uses for a whole host of domestic animals & they all support the effects of enrichment. Did you know that enrichment actually changes brain structure? Charles Darwin noted in 1874, that domestic Rabbits had smaller brains than their wild conspecifics, which he attributed to the domestic Rabbit’s lack of using senses, instincts & interacting with stimulating environments.
In the 60s, studies emerged that showed enrichment positively alters the chemistry & anatomy of animal brains, which improved their quality of life, memory & ability to learn. How amazing is that? We have the power to provide environments that not only make them happier, but actually change the entire structure of their brain for the better! It is also incredibly sad when we ponder just how many Budgies never get that chance. It is never too late to introduce your Budgie to the glorious world of enrichment, elderly animals introduced to enrichment are shown to have the same benefits as younger Birds. It is never too late for your angel to shine.
Disabled Budgies are just as entitled to the fruitful experiences of enrichment, we may just need to adapt the activities slightly for them to truly have access. So, what are you waiting for? Lets get creative!
Foraging (part 2) adapting foraging for disabled Birds
Foraging & enrichment are principles that have grown in popularity over recent years as we have come to realise how important they are for our Bird’s welbeing. Special needs Birds sadly continue to be left out of the conversation & many don’t have any access at all to these life enhancing activities. As part 2 of the foraging series I will briefly cover adapting enrichment & foraging for disabled Birds. Adapting activities to suit a Bird’s disability can be a highly personal experience & it can be hard to generalise in an article such as this the personal touches that can often be needed. I will try my best to give a useful picture of adapted enrichment to bring these angels into the rich & varied conversations about enrichment & foraging. Where there is life there is a soul & where there is a soul there is a need for fun.
GROUND DWELLING BIRDS
Some Birds with deformity can’t perch, the floor then becomes their home. Ground dwelling Birds can have a good quality of life, but in order for them to thrive we need to give them an exciting environment. For them to truly shine we often need to be creative & set up activities that work with their differences rather than against them. Activities like the ‘cress fountain’ shown below can be a wonderful activity for deformed Birds. This offers sensory stimulation, foraging opportunity & nutritious food in 1 activity. Safe materials like smooth pebbles mean that Birds with deformed legs can move with ease to the activity & the cress plant allows broad & wide ranging access from all angles. This activity is as fun for able-bodied Birds as it is for deformed ones, so if you have both living together, this is a great way to help them feel included in foraging life. Weaving Bird safe things like dandelion & seeding grass through lower cage bars is also a way to allow them to take part in enrichment activities.
BLIND BIRDS
I have a blind Zebra Finch called Ice, for their Christmas activity I purchased the special needs Finch flock a Guinea pig hide in the style of a log cabin. I turned it into a ‘Santa’s grotto’. So that Ice had access to the grotto like her sighted flockmates, I placed Bird safe pebbles in front of each of the doors that led inside. Ice hopped around until she came to the pebbles & then followed the trail inside, where she was met with pleasing textures like barley straw & shredded paper. It was her favourite activity by far. You don’t always need fancy creations to make something accessible, sometimes it’s as simple as just marking the doorways.
PLATFORM DWELLERS
Some Birds need platforms to fully access all that their enclosure has to offer. There can be many reasons a Bird needs platforms, from deformity or missing limbs to arthritis or an illness that makes them tired easily. Platforms are a glorious canvas for all things enrichment. From colourful foot toys they can throw, nibble & chew to fresh Bird safe flowers, herbs or seeding grass presented in a way that makes the most of its rich array of textures, colours & shapes, there is something for everyone! It’s wonderful if you can have 1 or 2 platforms that are ‘foraging stations’. The Bird can then go to these platforms to explore the activity of the day in their own time.
Disabled Birds are the most magical creatures on earth, they change our views, open our hearts & encourage us to see that true beauty is often not what we first see. They can have an incredible, rich, loving & exciting life that is lived to the full, we just need to adapt some things in order for that to happen. I firmly believe that my incredible flock can achieve the unimaginable & can do exactly what a non- disabled angel can do, they just do it their own way in their own time. I hope that you can find something of use in this article & that you now have ideas flowing with love for your wonderful Birds.
WHY SHOULD MY BUDGIE FORAGE?
In the wild, Budgies can spend up to 70% of their day foraging, during this time they are engaging problem solving skills, toning muscles, building social bonds & using their beaks. We often believe that filling a bowl with seed for our Budgie is a luxury setup that makes them happy, when in reality they are missing out. Budgies often end up gorging on seed, which can lead to health issues such as obesity, fatty tumors & liver issues. There are a growing number of people who believe millet spray & seed bars hung up are adequate foraging & enrichment, but it’s not. These food items are very low in nutrients & the bars are also loaded with sugar or unhealthy ingredients.
When we think of an enriching environment, it goes far deeper than the food in their bowl. Budgies, most often, live in small barren cages with nothing but a couple of dowel or abrasive perches & some un-enriching ‘toys’ which consist mainly of plastic or toxic metal bells. For a truly enriching life, we need to completely re-think what keeping a Budgie looks like. Chewing is a vital part of a Budgie’s life, chewing keeps their jaw muscles strong & prevents overgrown beaks. When Budgies don’t have enough to chew, they can start to chew inappropriate items. They may obsessively ping the enclosure bars, peeling off the coating or they may chew household items like carpet, wallpaper, tables etc. This is a sign that their chewing needs are not being met, they are not being bad. Naturally, 50% of their chewing takes place when eating & 50% when they are foraging, this is still the need of domestic Budgies. Below are ways to introduce foraging into their environment.
PERCHES
Dowel, rope, plastic, abrasive or sandpaper covered perches are un-enriching & many contribute to foot issues. Natural wood perches with the bark still intact are the most important thing. Safe non-toxic branches are what their feet evolved to stand on. Birds need to strip & chew, the bark on these branches is an ideal foraging activity that, once they master it, will keep them busy for hours. Perches should be replaced with fresh branches once the bark has been stripped. Some pet shops & online stores sell natural wood perches, but you can harvest your own from carefully selected non-toxic trees. Rather than soaking new branches in bleach, which is toxic to Birds, instead soak harvested branches in F10 avian disinfectant before giving to your Bird.
TOYS
They may be hard to come by, but try to stick to toys made of natural materials like natural wood with bark. Most of the toys sold for Birds, especially smaller ones like Budgies, are not a safe choice. Toys need to be chewable & natural wherever possible.
BROWSE
Fresh seeding grass, Dandelion & rose petals are wonderful ways to enhance your Budgie’s life. There are fresh plants, flowers & browse which can enrich both your Budgie’s enclosure & their diet. Natural browse (non-toxic plants only) contain lots of wonderful nutrients & also offer occupational & sensory enrichment as your Budgie forages through them & comes into contact with its rich array of exciting colours & textures.
FRESH HERBS & SEEDS
Basil, Coriander, Oregano,Thyme, Cress & Carrot greens (carrot tops) are a wonderful addition to a healthy nutrient rich diet. Fed in moderation (over feeding isn’t a good idea) they offer great flavours & if fed fresh contain micro nutrients & enzymes missing from a seed only diet. Sprigs of fresh non- toxic herbs can brighten up enclosures & can be woven into most enrichment activities to offer extra nutrition & excitement. You can also put some of their seed mix in a pot & grow it tall, you can then simply pick & feed fresh alongside their normal diet. If the seed doesn’t grow then it isn’t fresh & shouldn’t be fed dry either. Learning how to safely home sprout seeds for your Budgie is also very important & sprouted seeds can be part of enrichment activities too.
There is such a wealth of good, nutritious & delicious foods for Budgies that there is no need to feed human/junk/table food, egg, bread or seed bars. Opening your Budgie’s world to the wealth of flavours, colours, textures & experiences of healthy & enriching foraging opportunities is the best way to help them shine. Variety is key, but variety of the right kinds of food. This is by no means the end, there is so much more you can find out! I wish you luck on the exciting journey you are about to take with your angel, lets make their days fun & healthy.
YOUR FLOCK & YOU
Whether you have 1 pet Bird or 100, the relationship we have with our flock is a work in progress. Every day you are blessed with is a chance to build a stronger bond, more meaningful connections than the day before. Your Bird(s) will need different things from you every day & really getting to know the individual Bird offers valuable insight into what they need from you.
No matter how long you have cared for Birds, you have never finished learning. Your lifetime together is very much like a recipe, you have to keep adding different things & learn from the outcomes each new trial will produce. Some days your Bird will be needy, yet other days they need you to know when to take a step back. Just as you do, your Birds have different moods, needs & feelings, times when they will be confused & times when the wonder of it all just seems to make sense.
They will scream, chew things up & make such a mess that you gaze hopelessly at them & just wonder how such a small creature could cause such chaos, but then there is the magic. The unimaginable beauty, gentleness & innocence. The wonder, the connection & the miracles. The precious moments that completely shock you into realising just how remarkably intelligent they really are. These relationships are the biggest blessing in the world.
Have you told your Bird how much you love them, how beautiful they are today? I mean REALLY told them. Have you met all of the opportunities you had to connect to them & make them feel as though they belong? Have all the words you used towards them been kind, respectful & mindful of the wilderness that roars in their precious little souls?
Your Bird is not naughty, they are not a problem & they don’t need to shut up, they are miracles who need to be noticed, heard & honoured for the sacred creatures they are. They have their own thoughts, feelings, wants, needs & opinions, they don’t exist to copy phrases, to shut up while you watch the TV, to stay put & be touched where you want to touch them when you want to touch them. It’s time to honour the individual beings they are.
No matter what happens today, we can do better tomorrow, lets keep learning & be the people they deserve.
4 things I learned when loving blind Birds
1. Love is felt, not seen- Within moments of being blessed with my first blind angel, it became strikingly clear that love is felt by the heart. They may not gaze up at your face, but blind Birds show us that they feel our love rather than seeing it on our faces. Because they aren’t looking out for a smile or silly face, they rely on feeling our energy & presence, this actually means they feel love more intensely than sighted Birds & give it more too. Because they rely so much on sensing our presence, their presence is enormous. Every blind Bird I have been graced with is like 100 Birds in
2. Quality of life must be given- May people don’t agree with allowing blind or visually impaired Birds to live ‘because they have no quality of life’, but for them to have a quality of life we must first give them a quality of life. Many blind Birds are laid in tiny barren cages & are treated like they are made from glass, a Bird in this situation isn’t having no quality of life because they are blind, but because their caregiver doesn’t understand what it is to be blind. If we tune in to the individual Bird & what they need, they can blossom. Blind Birds can climb, explore, play, chew, dance, sing & so much more, we just need to learn what they need from us in order to safely adapt things for their safe enjoyment.
3. Sensory support is vital- Birds who are blind, weather from hatch or due to reasons in later life, often have sensory issues. Birds rely enormously on vision, so when that vision isn’t there the world is full of baffling smells, sounds, shaddows (for those with partial vision), movements & sensations. The world can become a very scary & isolating place where a threat could come at you at any moment & you won’t be able to know what to do, but it doesn’t need to be this way. For each of my blind Birds, I have created an individually tailored sensory therapy programme to help them locate in their environment & know where sounds are coming from. Some Birds also have sessions with pleasing sensory textures to help relax them & aid their ability to know where they are in space. Once you hit on the thing that their sensory system needs to make sense of the world, there is no holding them back.
4. Isolation isn’t needed- There are myths surrounding social contact with blind Birds. Not all blind Birds are happy mixing with their own kind, but many want that & some even crave it. Blind Birds can mix with others of their own species who have gentle & understanding natures, it’s best to have supervised play sessions where you can ensure all is gentle between them. Some of my blind residents live in with their own kind full time, but careful supervision is required. One of my blind Budgies even lived in an aviary with 20 other Budgies! She was blind from hatch & an aviary Bird all her life, so when she came with her flock, aviary life was continued. Many caregivers of blind Birds are also told to distance themselves from the Bird too. Anything you do with a sighted Bird, you can do with a blind Bird, you may just need to adapt it slightly. Blind Birds won’t break if you sing them a song or give them a good cuddle.
Blind Birds may be a little different & they may need slight adaptions to live their lives to the full, but they are incredible. I cry to think of all of these remarkable, funny, cute, cheeky angels who had their lives ended too soon because prejudice stopped people from feeling the love in their hearts. Please, be the one to feel the magic.
COGNITIVE NUTRITION
In this article we will discuss what ‘cognitive nutrition’ is & why it’s important to the lives of pet Birds. When we think of nutrition, we typically picture diet, whilst diet is a very important factor in avian health, this type of nutrition is not gained from eating food items. The concept of ‘cognitive nutrition’ in this case means feeding a Bird’s mind & sensory systems through engaging, positive, varied & life enhancing stimuli.
When a Bird is under stimulated mentally, or their sensory systems don’t receive the correct input, the Bird then becomes malnourished, rather than lacking nutrients they lack sensory input & mental stimulation. This ‘cognitive malnutrition’ is a condition I see very often in my rescue flock members when they come to me. There are actually a set of symptoms that I observe regularly in these Birds, some of which are listed here:
SYMPTOMS OF PSYCOLOGICAL MALNUTRITION
- Withdrawn
- Feather destructive behaviour (FDB)
- Poor social skills with humans &/or conspecifics
- Lethargic/depressed
- Anxiety
- Shyness
- Stereotypic behaviour
- Neophobia & much more.
SYMPTOMS OF SENSORY MALNUTRITION
- Nervous
- Jumpy
- Angry
- Over reaction to sensory stimuli (eg. wind on feathers)
- Fear of swings
- Feather destructive behaviour (FDB)
- Fear of flight
- Extreme caution when taking a step, climbing etc
- Extreme reactions to certain food textures & much more.
I have Birds who suffer with both deprived cognition & sensory systems, but also Birds who suffer from just 1 of the above categories. All of my flock, from the tiniest Finch to the largest Parrot are on a cognitive nutrition program, regardless of their background & weather they have suffered deprivation in these areas before. Those who have suffered sensory or cognitive malnutrition are introduced to the program in a very careful controlled way tailored to the individual to help them through their particular needs & challenges. I strive for all of my angels to be cognitively nourished & for them to reach their full potential. My Finches receive the exact same level of care, attention & stimulation as the larger angels because they are just as intelligent. I vow to always honor the space in which each Bird exists & allow them to feel truly seen, nurtured & encouraged to achieve the unimaginable. Below are some examples of the way I offer both sensory & psychological nutrition.
PSYCOLOGICAL NUTRITION
- Exposure to different languages & the chance to enjoy the variation of spoken word from different parts of the world
- Exposure to different types of music (not just within the caregiver’s taste range) Birds are encouraged to form their own tastes, relationships with music & expressions of joy
- Enrichment & foraging activities that work on natural puzzle solving & discovery
- Communication. My flock are spoken to all of the time, they are included in every day conversation, asked for their opinions & given the chance to express their feelings. Each Bird also has access to at least 1 other Bird of the same species, communication with conspecifics is essential as well.
- Connection, my flock are not stuck in the corner & told to shut up when the TV is on. They are the center of attention & every attempt to connect or verbally express themselves is met with encouragement, love & understanding.
- Novelty, enrichment activities are always new creations to bring novelty into the environment in a non- threatening way. New Bird safe textures & materials engage inquisitive minds & inspire them to think & problem solve.
SENSORY NUTRITION
- Natural branches of different shapes, sizes & widths to constantly work on their muscle tone & sense of ballence without them even noticing it
- Swings, swinging perches & moving toys
- Sensory experiences such as gentle breeze on feathers during warm summer days
- Natural sunlight to allow full vision
- Different Bird safe natural textures such as pebbles, Bird sand or shredded paper to give sensory input
- Exercise, including flight for Birds who are able to fly. Climbing, swinging, pulling & flying help to integrate a Bird’s sensory systems & help them know where they are in space by giving adequate proprioceptive input
- Natural branches with bark to strip, peel & chew, a deep rooted natural instinct that offers vital sensory input, tones muscles & keeps beaks trim
- Natural non- toxic browse, seeding grass, buds, flowers & branches that engage & stimulate senses whilst utilizing natural foraging abilities & preventing boredom. Experiencing an activity with so much of the mind & body is a wonderful aid in redirecting behavior cycles such as stereotypic behavior, boredom related problem behaviors & feather destructive behavior.
This is only a brief window into cognitive nutrition & the elements of a cognitive nutrition programme. I have seen cognitive nutrition activities transform Birds’ lives & allow a new found confidence to blossom when there was once thought to be no hope left. It may not be the entire answer, but it’s certainly an ingredient in the lives of happy, healthy & thriving Birds.
No matter what background a Bird has, weather they are old or young, big or small, tame or shy, sick or well, disabled or able bodied, there is something in cognitive & sensory nutrition for everyone. That is about it for this article, thank you for reading so far. There is just 1 question left to ask,.
What have you done today to make sure your Bird’s sensory system & cognition has been nourished?
THE CALCIUM & THE MIRACLE
Eggs are a global symbol of hope & new beginnings, but never has this symbolism been so true. Maud came to me with rickets. Her calcium & Vitamin- D deficiency was so severe that her leg bones were actually soft. As a result she would spend most of her time resting her tummy on the perch as her legs could barely take her own weight. When deficiencies are so severe, you don’t know if they will recover without permenant damage.
Supplementation of calcium & vitamin-D3 helped Maud & her sister gain strong bones which took their weight. Along with supplementation they had a cage makover, where dowel perches were replaced with natural branches of different sizes & widths & plastic toys were joined by natural toys that could be stripped & chewed. The awful abrasive sand sheets were removed from the floor & replaced with paper to shred, strip & chew, this actually attracted them to the floor for the first time. They actually had to learn how to walk on a flat surface.
Maud then enjoyed her first taste of Harrison’s & a 100% nutrient rich Organic diet. They still have a long way to go, but then came the miracle. A few days ago, the Bird who didn’t even have enough calcium in her bones to support her own bodyweight laid an egg… with a thick hard shell! It’s the middle of winter & she has never been near a male Budgie, so I don’t know how it happened, but it’s incredible.
This tiny white pearl of her strength signifies so much. It casts away the sorrow of her yesterdays & allows the miracles, the hope, the joy of tomorrow shine in. Oh what enormity such a tiny treasure can embody.
FINCHES & TEXTURES….. WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS?
As many people will know, my Finches are on an enrichment & stimulation programme designed to expose them to exciting textures, colours, safe materials & activities, but why is this the case? All Birds need stimulation, novelty, excitement, enrichment & fun, not just Parrots. The intelligence, awareness & needs of Finches are so often overlooked because when they are in poor, barren environments, they don’t inconvenience their caregivers with the screaming & ‘problem behaviours’ that Parrots in poor conditions often do. This does NOT mean that it doesn’t damage their quality of life & break their spirit in the exact same way.
Information on Finch enrichment activities is pretty much non-existent. There are many studies that show how Finches are better off in enriched conditions, but almost no caregivers pushing the importance of providing stimulating environments in home & breeding situations. Many Finches live their lives in barren environments & are seldom even fed daily. Through my work with my incredible angels, I hope to change this.
Mental stimulation, sensory stimulation, foraging & enriching activities are just as vital for the mental & physical health of Finches as it is for large Parrots. Finches are highly intelligent & fiercely loving flock animals who share often incredible bonds within their social groups & have evolved to be in touch with many different textures in their natural environment. The enrichment activities I create are designed to offer the stimulation & variety their sensory systems need to thrive & create situations where closely bonded friends can work as a team or just relax & play.
Playing is seldom something attributed to Finches, but given the correct environment & the right activity for the group, play is a rich, joyous part of daily life. They too like to pick up, chew, carry & explore different materials & textures, endlessly enjoying the results of their play. For a life to be worth living, the being must have the required levels of social contact, sensory input, nutrition & exercise- Finches are no different. If we dare to take a moment to truly observe the remarkable natures of Finches, we wouldn’t be able to overlook their magnificent being any more.
If you care for Finches, please introduce them to the magical world of enrichment. Without enrichment they are surviving, but are they truly thriving?
HOW TO MAKE A FORAGING STATION
As a rescuer of Birds with all kinds of different needs, I have to always come up with new ideas for foraging & enrichment that can often encorporate the needs of Birds with a range of abilities. This foraging station is one that I made for my Finch flock, who have special needs ranging from deformity & 1 leg to visual difference & inability to fly. I had to plan the station to include all of their needs so that they all had equal access to the tasty treats, textures & shapes on offer. This station can be adapted for all Bird species & is suitable for Birds of all ages & abilities with little change to the design. I hope that this idea can give you lots of inspiration & help to create fun memories that you & your flock can treasure for a lifetime. Below are the steps to make the station & the materials you will need, most people should have access to the materials, but simple Bird safe adaptions can be made to suit your needs & availability of certain items.
YOU WILL NEED:
A Bird/reptile floor bowl
Some chemical free, un-glazed smooth pebbles (must be a size that the Bird can’t ingest or get stuck in beak)
A cress plant
High quality seeds &/or Harrison’s (size depending on species)
Filtered water.
METHOD:
Buy a high quality cress plant (individual cress sprouts held together as one plant by their root systems) & keep it watered with filtered water. Take the reptile floor bowl & place the cress plant at one end, if your Birds are likely to nibble slowly over several days rather than eat it all at once, add a very tiny amount of water to the bowl to keep the cress fresh. Then, place the pebbles all around the cress plant until the roots are hidden & use the pebbles to fill up the rest of the bowl. Once the pebbles are in place, sprinkle the seeds &/or Harrison’s amongst the pebbles for the Bird(s) to forage for. It’s then ready to go!
Place it on the cage/ aviary floor as part of an activity, or on its own, for lots of foraging fun! Keep in mind that new items may be scary for some Birds & it may take time before they are ready to explore new items or foraging activities. You know your Birds best, what they are comfortable with & how they interact with materials, if you think there is anything that may not be safe for your individual Bird, please swap the item for one that they will be ok with. Once you are used to making this foraging station, you can explore new & interesting Bird safe adaptions to keep your Bird(s) entertained for years to come. I reccomend supervising the activity all the time it’s with your Bird.