SONGBIRDS AS PETS

Passeriformes is the largest taxonomic order of birds. Worldwide in distribution, passerines include perching and songbirds. Canaries, finches, starlings, and mynahs are examples of passerines commonly kept as pets. Canaries and finches are relatively easy to care for. Starlings and mynahs tend to have messy eating and elimination habits, requiring more effort. Some passerines, with proper care and nutrition, may live 10 to 15 years.

In some climates they may be housed in outdoor aviaries. However, they are often kept as indoor pets in simple to elegant cage and aviary environments. Some species are territorial and aggressive. Methods to prevent aggression between birds includes: avoiding overcrowding, removing aggressive individuals, and providing extra vegetation for hiding, along with multiple perches, feeding locations, and nesting sites.

Singing ability is highly developed in many passerine species. During the spring, with longer days, singing and courtship rituals in songbirds can be quite elaborate and beautiful. Some songbirds can sing a duet with themselves, owing to their respiratory anatomy. Other passerines have excellent mimicking abilities. Startling and mynahs can develop extensive vocabularies.

Some passerines eat seeds, grains, nectar, fruit, or insects. Some are omnivores or carnivores. These diets are nutritionally imbalanced and eventually lead to chronic malnutrition and its associated diseases. It is more appropriate to supplement such diets every day with greens such as spinach, broccoli, carrot tops, celery leaves, sprouted seeds; grated carrot or sweet potato; hard-boiled or scrambled eggs; canned tuna (packed in water); dry crushed whole grain cereals or wheat bread; or other vegetables and fruits. Formulated diets (pelleted foods), such as Zupreem and LaFeber’s, are excellent, nutritionally balanced diets and much more health than seed mixes alone.

Bacterial infections of the skin, digestive and respiratory tracts are common, but can be difficult to definitively diagnose without culture techniques. Appropriate antibiotic therapy would then be indicated.

Feather cysts occur in canaries. These are skin lumps which may be solitary or multifocal and contain dry keratinous material. Some may become quite large. They may have a genetic cause, but viral etiology has also been suggested. Surgical removal and cautery is often indicated, but the cysts may grow at other sites. Birds with feather cysts should not be used for breeding. Feather loss from the head may be caused by mites, aggression from cage mates, or, in male canaries, a “male-pattern baldness”-like condition.

Canary Pox is caused by a virus that is usually transmitted by mosquitoes. It can manifest as skin lesions which may heal with minimal care, or as systemic infection with high mortality. Keeping mosquitoes from canaries and isolating affected birds until fully recovered is the best method of control.

Leg and foot mange, scaly leg disease, and tassel foot are synonyms for a mite infestation which causes excessive scaling and keratin on the legs and feet.

Mites can also live in the respiratory tract. Open mouth breathing and wheezing are often seen. Medical treatment is available.

Various other parasites (protozoa, lice, worms) may infect the respiratory and digestive tracts, blood, and skin of passerines. Dry gangrene of the extremities (toes) can be caused by bacterial and fungal infections, and by synthetic nesting fibers getting caught around the toes and cutting off circulation. Treatment includes amputation of the affected toe and correcting the underlying cause.

Egg binding in females (the inability to pass an egg) is common. A distended abdomen and sudden death may occur. Immediate veterinary care is important.

Fractured legs and wings from trauma are common and often treatable.

Again, many of these conditions are complicated by chronic malnutrition, compromising the bird’s healing reserves and immune system.

Having songbirds as companions in the home can be a wonderful experience and is best accomplished when the bird’s specific needs are carefully researched and provided for. Many sources of information exist, including other bird owners/breeders and bird shops, books, the Internet, and your veterinarian. Enjoy!