Bird

Modern pet birds were first domesticated thousands of years ago, with some species being domesticated as pets within the last several hundred years. Canaries were first bred into captivity in the early 1600s, while the parakeet, with its varied and diverse classes, is believed to have been domesticated for thousands of years.

Birds have had an enormous impact in human life serving as a primary source of food and also in performing important tasks. As a source of food, recent estimates indicate that every year more than 9.8 billion birds are raised, slaughtered and consumed for human consumption in the United States alone. In addition to food, birds have performs such tasks as carrying communications (Homing pigeons), hunting (falcons), scientific research (chickens and pigeons), and protecting miners from poisonous gasses (canaries).

Pet birds provide lively, constant companions that can fill a home with relaxing chirps and singing. Additionally they can bring vivid color and life into quiet corners of the home. Some species of birds can live well into their 60s and 70s creating a life long bond with their owner.

General Care for your bird
Birds, like all pets, require care, attention and companionship. When bringing a bird home make sure you are prepared for a little noise, an occasional mess, and a long term relationship.
Birds don’t just sing beautiful songs, they also screech and holler at what can seem like random intervals.

Expect to clean up after your birds as they toss thing from their cage and scatter food and seeds around their cage.
Regular cleaning of the cage should also be expected.
Some types of birds can become extremely attached to their owners and lose all zest for life if abandoned or sold.

Sunlight – Ultraviolet W
Caged birds need sunlight and rarely get enough ultraviolet radiation from the windows in the home. Birds require ultraviolet (UV-W) light through their skin to facilitate the absorption of calcium as food passes through the intestinal tract. Without enough calcium, birds will develop weak bones and lose muscle tone.

Be sure to get your bird outside as often as possible, especially on sunny days. Place the bird in its cage in a well ventilated sunny spot that is well out of the reach of neighborhood cats and other predators. On hot summer days, be sure to partially cover the cage with some shade so that the bird can move in and out of the sun to stay cool.
In areas of the world or in certain owner situations where direct sunlight is not always available, artificial light sources can be used to create the needed ultraviolet light birds need.

Sunlight – Ultraviolet W
Caged birds need sunlight and rarely get enough ultraviolet radiation from the windows in the home. Birds require ultraviolet (UV-W) light through their skin to facilitate the absorption of calcium as food passes through the intestinal tract. Without enough calcium, birds will develop weak bones and lose muscle tone.

Be sure to get your bird outside as often as possible, especially on sunny days. Place the bird in its cage in a well ventilated sunny spot that is well out of the reach of neighborhood cats and other predators. On hot summer days, be sure to partially cover the cage with some shade so that the bird can move in and out of the sun to stay cool.

In areas of the world or in certain owner situations where direct sunlight is not always available, artificial light sources can be used to create the needed ultraviolet light birds need.