Of all the species of birds kept commonly as pets, surely the most popular are the parrots and parakeets.

Due to their outgoing and curious natures, these birds often get themselves into dangerous situations in and around the home.

Any home may easily be made safer for pet birds with a little planning and common sense.

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There are a large number of foods that can be fed to an iguana. As with people, some foods are really healthy and good to eat as a staple food, some are good in smaller amounts, and others should only be eaten on occasion as a treat.

When formulating a diet for your iguana, compare it to what you know of a healthy diet for people. Marrows, pumpkin and green beans are all very healthy foods and part of a nutritious, balanced diet for anybody.

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“Nothing that does not talk will enter this house”
Gabriel Garcia Marquez

We are all familiar with the amazing ability of birds to mimic various sounds, including the human voice.

Our fascination with this ability remains one of the most common catalysts for the decision to keep a bird as a pet.

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Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD) is caused by a circovirus and is highly contagious. Think how easily the flu is spread between people, that is how easily this disease spreads between birds.

The virus is shed in the faeces and feather dust of infected birds and is extremely resistant, able to survive in the environment for months.

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Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV1) is the virus that causes fever blisters or cold sores in humans.

More than 80% of the human population are infected with this virus.

Many people do not know that they are infected and may not ever have fever blisters/cold sores.

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Owners of feather picking parrots should do the following at home:

Increase humidity by allowing birds into the bathroom while showering, especially in the dry Highveld winters. Also mist spray daily with decalcified water (ensure the environment is warm).

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