Calling all members ! Can you help do your part

[Pheonix Rising]

Hi all since joining this forum I have learnt sooooo much about the proper care, nutrition, handling,medical etc of our birds and this prompted me to see what info the local pet shops and vets were providing in pamphlets to there customers
well I was shocked
seed diets
small cages
cleaning once a week
no mention of fruits and veg
no medical
no handling etc etc

So I rang these places and asked if I were to write up and print at my cost some pamphlets for people would they be willing to give them to people etc
and all but one store agreed
yay !!!!

So I have a couple of questions for you

1: can you do this in your area ?????
I feel strongly that the more people who are correctly informed on bird care are a: going to look after their birds better and b: hopefully find the joy we find in our birds and are less likely to rehome

2: what should i put in it ?

I have 1 a4 paper folded into 3 sections double sided
I don't want to go to indepth with it but I want people to understad that bird ownership requires responsability and should not be taken lightly

It will definatly include a link to this forum and I'd like to hear suggestions on other links also please

my sections include:
cage sizes and cleaning
food and treats
handling and behaviour problems
toys and other enrichments
medical and illness
links and resources

So what do you say ... Are you in ????
Join the movment towards better bird care by thr general public

 

[Pheonix Rising]

Ps : as far as cages I know bigger is better but is there any general rule as to size of bird to space required kind of ratio please

 

[Ratzy]

Medication
Diseases
Toxic & Non-toxic plants and foods
QUARANTINE

Links
The Budgerigar Breeders Club Inc. Budgie Community Forums
Totally Tiels
Totally Tiels

Make sure to use proper grammar and really long words to impress them.

 

[Pheonix Rising]

Thanx ratzy !

Any shops in your area you could do something similar with ???

 

[Ratzy]

I tried before....
Didn't work and an innocent budgie still ended up dead

 

[Pheonix Rising]

People are cruel !
There should be laws on owning animals of any kind
a test or licence kind of thing you should have to sit

I mean you can't just go out and drive a car without a licence and learning to 1st
you can't kill or abuse other humans

What makes it ok to do so to animals

 

[wildheart]

I tried before....
Didn't work and an innocent budgie still ended up dead

Beating yourself up about it will not make you stronger. As hard as it is, look at it in a positive way and as a learning curve. Next time you will treat the situation differently and it still might not be the right method and only another learning block. It takes a lot of tries before we truly make a difference. I have found that reverse psychology works best with thick headed people.

 

[bogo1]

Phoenix ...
I so admire your passion and your energy. I would encourage you to start small with your project. Perhaps design a pamphlet for one local store. Use a tool like MS Word Publishing to create it for the professional look and spelling support (still you want someone with a good eye to do a final check ). Once you finish, show the final product to the store management and see if they will actually use it. Good luck in your efforts for the birds in your community. My approach is different. I feel more comfortable in one on one discussion. I fear most who impulse buy a parrot are not likely to give much thought to a homemade pamphlet no matter how well produced

 

[Pheonix Rising]

Yes barb I do agree but unfort I can't be in all of the petshops 24/7 ( although I'd like to be ). So this is my next best option

I did just a quick mock up for a couple of stores and they are more than impressed with the info and Its just the final touchs now

I'm not expecting miracles but I hope I get thru to atleast a few people

 

[JawzX]

I applaud your effort PR!

May I humbly suggest an important sentence or two?

some version of: "Parrots are intelligent and social animals, like dogs, and as such require interaction with their "flock" and socialization training. The behavioral similarities and social requiements of a young bird and a puppy are greater than you might suspect"

I word it that way because many people will get glazed over eyes at the mention of social flock animals with needs... Yada yada, but mention a dog and most people instantly have an idea of what you mean. It's also mostly true!

 

[Pheonix Rising]

Thanx jawx it will definatly be added
I have a sentence which basicually says
( not word for word )

Jail is a place for people when they have done wrong an can not incoperate themselves into standard human living
to cage a bird and not allow it time out each and every day is a punishment that the bird has not earnt and dosent not deserve
as with many people sent to jail this form of punishment only makes the behaviours worse .

I worded it much better than this in the pamphlet but that's the jist of it