The other event in Md. today was

a class sponsored by Phoenix Landing. The speaker was a world famous avian vet by the name of Fern Van Sant
Throw out those full spectrum lamps. Not effective. She says to get our birds outside as much as possible for that sunshine.

She says it is not a good idea to mix birds from different continents in your home. Bad things can happen. (How well I know)

If your birds do not get to fly outside then you should be doing wing flapping with them every day. Yes, even an Amazon.

The palm eating birds like greys need more protein in the diet than other birds. That is one reason just to have lets say birds from African or the South American type in your home. They have different diet needs if they are from different continents. She told me something my other vet said which is to keep your greys on Harrisons HP pellets for life to meet the vitamin needs. She is a real Harrisons believer. Birds food should have no artificial coloring no matter what the source.

Our birds come hard wired with eating their meals at dawn and dusk. So best to feed them at these times. No food in cages at night.

She is also not a believer in sprouts. Home grown or not. Too much risk for mold contamination for such a little bit of nutrition.

Sorry I failed to take notes which was a mistake.

Here is a link to check out what they are offering: http://www.phoenixlanding.org/events.html


I am not giving advice here to anyone. This is information I learned from a good source for the health of our birds.

I really wish Merlin was okay with being harnessed .

We have him fly around all the time though because of his bad leg, if he wants to get anywhere he usually has to fly so he gets exercise. I've been considering getting a full spectrum lamp, whats her reasoning behind them being non effective?

I keep wanting to put Merlins main cage downstairs in the dining room so I can just wheel it about and maybe get him out in the back yard for a bit so I don't have to trek his travel cage to the park all the time.

She did not go into detail with the lamp because she has so many questions coming at her. Sorry. I just bought Rosie a small cage in which I can take her outdoors. Her travel cage is too hot or her as it has 2 plastic sides.

Yeah I avoided the plastic ones for that reason, it'd be like sitting in a conservatory on a hot day. Merlin's is just metal bars so even when it's warm he has good airflow.

I'll have a look into the lamps some more. I'll have a look online and see if she has any published works that I can have a read of

Here is a link to her http://www.forthebirdsdvm.com/pages/bird-care

I do see some of her writing to use the light indoors in the winter if bird does not get outside.

I just bought a cage for Rosie to see the outdoors. Will shortly be living on a 45 acre estate that is totally nature. So rural in fact the US mail does not even deliver there. W you are way ahead of me on the learning I got today.

Wow spiritbird, that sounds lovely and idyllic. Remember to post the pictures from your front door when you move!

I wish we had a bit more of a yard. We're renting and the landlord left it a big tip really, so it's basically rubbish bins and wet/broken/messed up furniture and cardboard. It's basically a thin yard so not even sure if we could do with a cage out there. Maybe if I got a waterproof cover so I could have it covered most of the time except for when I wanted him to be out in it? hm...

Will read her website now, see what nice info I can find.

wenz2712 said:

I have never been a believer in sprouts either . Most people here in the UK are firm believers in giving their Birds sprouted seeds, but I never have!
I think, providing you give them a varied balanced diet you will have a happy, healthy Bird

Thats interesting what she said about the Spectrum Lighting... I have been thinking about getting this for a while now!

I have just bought a Large Second Hand Cage for Codie to use in the Garden... She loves it out there in the Sun, and loves watching everything going on around her.

Click to expand...

I forget we have so many english posters here, haha.
I've never sprouted stuff either because I'm worried about not doing it properly, which seeds to sprout and the risk of mould. I'd rather just stick to pellets and fresh fruit and veggies . Merlin seems happy and healthy enough, why fix something thats not broken

Mayden said:

wenz2712 said:

I have never been a believer in sprouts either . Most people here in the UK are firm believers in giving their Birds sprouted seeds, but I never have!
I think, providing you give them a varied balanced diet you will have a happy, healthy Bird

Thats interesting what she said about the Spectrum Lighting... I have been thinking about getting this for a while now!

I have just bought a Large Second Hand Cage for Codie to use in the Garden... She loves it out there in the Sun, and loves watching everything going on around her.

Click to expand...

I forget we have so many english posters here, haha.
I've never sprouted stuff either because I'm worried about not doing it properly, which seeds to sprout and the risk of mould. I'd rather just stick to pellets and fresh fruit and veggies . Merlin seems happy and healthy enough, why fix something thats not broken

Click to expand...

I totally agree with you

I will enjoy the land as a renter and do not have to do any outdoor work. All I have to do is pay rent. Here is the cage I got. I hope it is not too big for outdoors.

Very interesting! I haven't done the sprouts either....but I used to raise meal worms for my birds and I fed them that stuff. I end up getting rid of it cause my ex hated it....lol.....

I seriously never seen Dixie so happy until we give her lighting, I have to do more research on that part....

Thanks for sharing this information. The more we can learn the better!! My guess is that she is not saying that spectrum lighting is bad but that it is not nearly as good as natural sunlight. But I don't know for sure, just a guess.

I forgot to add this vet spent some time talking about our birds legs. She said how she sees senior birds (over 20 yrs.) that end up having very weak legs because they were not strengthened in the younger years. How do we do this? Use ladders, bungie rope perches to climb and just a variety of surfaces. Also the wing flapping helps to exercise the legs as they bird willl hold on to you with the feet.

I never knew about these seminars! How wonderful! I live in NC, though 6 hours away from Asheville.

There is one in Wilmington coming up that sounds perfect for me (called, "THINGS I WISH I'D KNOWN").

SpiritBird, do you have to sign up for the classes? Or just show up?

Spiritbird said:

I will enjoy the land as a renter and do not have to do any outdoor work. All I have to do is pay rent. Here is the cage I got. I hope it is not too big for outdoors.

Click to expand...

Thats great D... All that lovely Land to enjoy without having to maintain it

The Cage looks great.