Understanding general bird care and preventive medicine

Before adopting a bird, it is crucial to understand the basics of general bird care and preventive medicine. These practices help ensure your bird’s long-term health and well-being. Screening for infectious diseases is highly recommended at the time of adoption, especially if other birds already live in the household.

Screening tests: a vital first step

Infectious disease testing is an important measure for protecting your bird and others. These tests can be done using a blood sample or a choanal and oral swab. The 4P test is commonly used to detect four major diseases:

• Polyomavirus
• Pacheco’s disease
• Beak and feather disease
• Chlamydiosis (a zoonotic disease transmissible to humans)

These diseases can have serious consequences if left undiagnosed. Talk to your avian veterinarian or explore our disease information sheets for more details.

Quarantine: a key preventive measure

A 30 to 45-day quarantine period is strongly advised when introducing a new bird to your home. During this time:

• Keep the bird in a separate room
• Use dedicated equipment (bowls, perches, toys)
• Wear gloves and change clothing when handling the bird
• Monitor for any signs of illness before integrating with other birds

Routine care and maintenance

Proper daily care helps maintain your bird’s health. Consider the following:

• Bathing: Most birds enjoy water. They may bathe in a bowl, under a faucet, or be gently misted. A mild baby shampoo can be used for dirty feathers.
• Nail trimming: Trim or file carefully to avoid cutting the blood vessel.
• Feather trimming: This should only be done after the bird has learned to fly. It must be symmetrical and avoid cutting growing feathers.
• Beak trimming: Not usually necessary unless abnormal overgrowth occurs, which could indicate a health issue.
• Leg band removal: Closed bands may cause injury and should be removed when appropriate.
• Weight monitoring: Weigh your bird weekly using a precision scale. Even a small weight loss may signal illness.

Vaccination and surgical procedures

• Vaccines: No routine vaccines are currently available for pet birds in Quebec.
• Surgery and sterilization: Birds are not routinely spayed or neutered, but certain surgeries may be needed for medical reasons.

A regular check-up with an avian veterinarian is the best way to keep your feathered companion healthy. Don’t hesitate to contact us for advice or to book an exam!