Specific needs
- Kept at least in a pair (a very social bird)
- A wide cage, plus supervised time out to fly
- Toys and mental stimulation
Feeding
- A suitable seed mix plus pellets, and fresh greens
- Fresh, clean water daily
- Cuttlebone for calcium; avoid avocado and chocolate (both toxic)
Habitat & environment
- A cage away from draughts, with perches of varying diameters
- Away from the kitchen (the fumes from non-stick pans are toxic)
- Regular cleaning
Prevention
- Keeping an eye on weight and droppings
- Cage hygiene
- Quarantining new birds
Vaccination
There is no routine vaccination. Prevention comes down to hygiene, diet and observation; something to discuss at a consultation.
Warning signs — see a vet if you notice:
- The bird sitting hunched with fluffed-up feathers at the bottom of the cage
- Laboured breathing, tail bobbing
- Regurgitation, diarrhoea, weight loss
When to see a vet?
- At the first abnormal signs
- As an emergency if the bird has breathing difficulty or a fall
At the AuFuret practice
- Health examination and sexing if needed
- Treatment, and beak or claw trimming if necessary
- Husbandry and dietary advice
Dr Danielle Frei Perrin regularly appears as a veterinary expert on Swiss public broadcasting (RTS) and in leading French-speaking Swiss media.
