Pet Bird Care: Grooming

Topics: avian beak trimming, proper toenail clipping for birds, and correct wing-clipping techniques - do a Google search on any of the grooming topics above to find current articles online.
Web sites with links to numerous articles:

• drsfostersmith.com - grooming articles.

Select online articles:

• Clipped Birds CAN Fly - avianeducationandresourcecenter.org
• Feathers, Flight and Parrot Keeping - Pamela Clark
• Flight Feather Trimming: Physiology, Psychology and Philosophy - Layne David Dicker
• How to Take Care of Your Bird's Beak - drsfostersmith.com
• How to Clip Parrot's Nails (video) - Kelly Willey, eHow Presenter
• How to Trim Parrot Beaks (video) - Kelly Willey, eHow Presenter
• How to Trim Parrot Feathers (video) - Kelly Willey, eHow Presenter
• Proper Wing Clipping - Margaret A. Wissman, DVM
• Pros and Cons of Trimming Flight Feathers - avianeducationandresourcecenter.org
• Pros and Cons of Wing Clipping - Judy Leach's Parrots
• Standardization of Wing Clipping for Psittacines - Margaret A. Wissman, DVM
• To Fly or Not To Fly, That is the Question - Steve Martin
• Trimming Nails Safely And Successfully - Louise Bauck
• Wing Clipping: Why, When & How - Carol Highfill

For further reading, here are articles from various bird publications that you might be able to find at your local library. If none of these publications are available in your library, most libraries have an interlibrary loan service (may be a fee involved). Merely provide them with one or more of these citations.

• Gonzalez, Fran. "Wing Clipping Basics," Bird Talk, 14 (May 1996): 72-75.
• Kikuchi, June. "Grooming—Just Do It! Keep your bird safe and healthy with these simple grooming tips," Birds USA, (1997/98): 108-109.
• Mizera, Richard. "Small Birds: Time for a Trim—Here's How," Bird Talk, 19 (Apr. 2001): 72-73.
• Samuelson, Phil. "Clip Those Wings!" Bird Talk, 12 (Apr. 1994): 72.
• Wissman, Margaret A. "Proper Toenail Clipping," Bird Talk, 14 (Apr. 1996): 28-29.
• Wissman, Margaret A. and Bill Parsons. "Correct Wing-Clipping Techniques," Bird Talk, 11 (May 1993): 69.

Photographing Birds

• Burgess, Alyson. "Bird Photography Tips: How to Take Great Pictures of Your Bird."
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Photographing Birds."
• Digital Photography School. "An Introduction to Bird Photography."
• Moore, Justin W. "Photographing Birds."

More Publications:

• Austin, Janice. "Photographing Your Bird," Bird Talk, 12 (Oct. 1994): 76-77.
• Hofland, Allison K. "Taking Perfect Photos of Your Birds," American Cage-Bird Magazine, 63 (Sep. 1991): 19-22.
• Ilasenko, Eric. "Photographing Your Bird," Birds USA, 1999-2000: 94-103.
• Ilasenko, Eric. "Picture Perfect," Bird Talk, 19 (Apr. 2001): 14-24.
• Morrison, Diane. "Photographing Pet Birds," Bird Talk, 10 (Jan. 1992): 46-55.
• "Photo Tips," Birds USA, 2004-2005: 110-111.
• Salas, Kelly. "Avian Photographers Cyril Laubscher, Carolyn A. McKeone, Bonnie Jay and Eric Ilasenko share their experiences in avian photography," Bird Talk, 20 (Dec. 2002): 40-49.
• Williams, Roger & Elaine Radford. "Coping with Special Exposure Problems," Bird Talk, 7 (Aug. 1989): 90.
• Williams, Roger & Elaine Radford. "Picture Your Bird," Bird Talk, 7 (Aug. 1989): 82-89.
• Wrobel, David J. "Lighting Techniques," Bird Talk, 7 (Aug. 1989): 82-89.

Chronic Egg Laying

View the online sources below to help demystify chronic egg laying in parrots, how to deal with it, and about the other accompanying conditions it causes.

• Beautyofbirds.com. "Chronic Egg Laying."
• BirdTricks.com. "Chronic Egg Laying in Parrots."
• Bukett, Dr. Greg. "Chronic Egg Laying."
• "Excessive or Chronic Egg-laying in Birds: Causes, Effects, and Treatment."
• Hartman, Steve. "Chronic Egg Laying."
• Parrot-and-Conure-World.com. "Chronic Egg Laying."
• VA Animal Hospitals. "Chronic Egg Laying in Birds."

Just heard about a product that is supposed to stop chronic egg laying. It is called Releaves Dietary Supplement. Though I am not endorsing it by any means, you can order it from www.HEALx.com.