HEALTH OVERVIEW
WHETHER we are talking about pet birds, an aviary colony or a stud of show birds, every birdkeeper has a duty of care in regard to their stock. Ensuring that all our birds are kept in the best of health and have a high level of wellbeing is a basic requirement for anyone who keeps any birds.
To state what may sound obvious: no one wants a short-lived pet or indeed a stud of birds that fail to reproduce. And yet it is surprising how many of us have come across fellow birdkeepers who at times have become complacent when it comes to cleaning their cages and scrubbing out their drinkers, which in turn sees problems arise through poor hygiene. Often, the explanation is that the fancier is simply keeping too many birds. That means that the daily routine becomes a chore and a drain on time, and as a result the time for observation and attention to detail is lost.
The golden rule which ensures all the other rules of good birdkeeping can be met is: . If you don't have time to sit and watch your flock, the flock is too big, and you should take steps to reduce your numbers by rehoming thesurplus with fellow fanciers and would-be pet-keepers.
