Frequently Asked Questions – Husbandry
Q: My bird has never been to a vet and doesn't show any signs of illness. Does it need a health check?
A: Yes. All birds should have an annual or biannual (twice yearly) health check performed at an avian veterinary practice. Parrots are notorious for hiding illness until they are close to death. This is an attempt to prevent the close attention of predators that tend to pick off the weak members of the flock. The downside to this survival technique is that sick companion birds are often not recognised as being sick until they visit a professional. Your parrot should be tested for Psittacosis once in its lifetime at a minimum. Subsequent tests may be performed at your chosen vet's discretion. These serious and often deadly diseases are, unfortunately, becoming relatively common in captive parrot populations within Australia.
It is a requirement that all birds who board with us have a health check within the year prior to their stay. This ensures the safety of all of our avian guests by stopping the cross-contamination of disease. Please feel free to ask us for more information about avian health checks and Avian Veterinarians in your area.
Q: What should I bring with me when I drop off my bird?
A: Please just bring your bird in its carry cage, your chosen Vet's details, a few favourite toys and any other special items such as sleeping huts or concrete perches. A detailed medical history should be provided if your bird has any existing medical or behavioural issues.
High quality hammer-coated cages are provided for all guests. All other basics such as food bowls, pellets, perches and some enrichment is also provided. This means that you don't have to load the car up with paraphernalia to come and drop off your bird!
Please arrange to take your travel cages with you after you have dropped your bird off. This ensures that we have plenty of space for the birds to stretch their wings.
Q: Why can't I bring my bird's cage to make it more comfortable for him/her?
A: High quality HQ cages are provided as part of the boarding fee. We have found our range of cages to be suitable for every different type of animal that we have cared for. Bird Boarding has lofty standards when it comes to housing for birds. The owner of the business has spent years educating people about appropriate housing and set up. The staff here are particular about cleanliness and therefore enjoy the peace of mind that comes from providing our regularly disinfected cages.
Bird Boarding is set up in a way that maximises space during peak periods. The housing that we provide has been selected carefully to fit the building. In most cases we will insist on boarders being housed in our cages during their stay. Late bookings during peak season may be asked to provide a reasonably sized cage if there are non available.
Q: With so many birds coming and going, how can you ensure that the place is germ free?
A: It is required that all birds are screened at an avian veterinary clinic in the year before their stay. Each bird has its own cage, which is steam sterilised or pressure cleaned prior to their arrival. Food bowls and cages are cleaned daily using F10SC veterinary grade disinfectant. F10SC achieves a broad spectrum kill of potentially harmful micro-organisms and is completely safe for use around animals, as well as being biodegradable. In addition to this, the bird rooms are vacuumed, mopped and thoroughly cleaned daily. Each room has an air purifier to lift feather dander and other impurities from the environment. All in all, we are pretty confident that the space in which your bird is housed is clean and you should be too!
Q: What diet will my bird be fed while it is boarding with you?
A: Fresh Vetafarm pellets (or nectar) and water are made available at all times. This is included in the cost of boarding. A mixture of fruit and vegetables is also provided. Other diets (different brands of pellets, seed/pellet mixes, etc.) can be accommodated for if provided by the parrot's guardian.
Seeds are generally only given as treats. You are most welcome to bring your bird's favourite exotic fruits, vegetables and nuts and we will see that they are offered during the stay.
Please enquire about our dietary change service if you would like your bird converted from a seed diet to a pellet based diet during their stay. It is often a good idea to initiate (and even complete) this conversion process in an environment that is monitored by an avian professional.
Members of the team that are trained in companion parrot care monitor and record the food consumption and the general wellbeing of our avian guests daily. If your bird has any special care requirements or interesting personality quirks, please let us know when you arrange the stay.