All parrots deserve a 10-12hours of total darkness and undisturbed sleep every night. Parrots having a proper sleep and rest throughout a night can prevent possible health problem and behavior problems.

Currently, there are all sorts of cage covers available in the market. Some owners may like the idea of covering the cages, some may not. It’s much more depending on each individual preference.

For me, I use cage covers on Kermit’s and Kiki’s cage. Personally, I find the cage covers essential and useful especially in a busy household during the night. I live in a small apartment in Singapore and sharing a common space with my elder brother, thus space is pretty much limited. Worst I can’t provide a dedicated bird room for Kermit and Kiki.

The cage covers come in handy ensuring Kermit and Kiki have total darkness during bedtime, while family members and me still staying late night. This ensure Kermit and Kiki can easily sleep without the disturbance due to the bright light.

Many might wonder what wrong about birds sleeping under bright light, as long they get their rest what’s to worry? All birds and parrots are photosensitive creatures, a longer daylight may trigger them into breeding mode, potentially lead to behavior problems and health issues. Thus we should always limit the number of daylight hours, thumb rules ensuring at least 10-12hours of darkness and undisturbed sleep will prevent these potential problems.

Some might have heard about Ethoxyquin, but many aren’t aware about it and the impact to the avian health. I decided to start off this post about Ethoxyquin, hoping everyone reading this will make wiser choice in selecting the healthier and safer commercial diet for our feathered friends.

So what is Ethoxyquin? Ethoxyquin is a quinoline-based antioxidant used as a food preservative to extend shelf-life, and also a pesticide. It is commonly used as a preservative in pet foods to prevent the rancidification of fats (The explanation was quoted from Wikipedia). To add-on, Ethoxyquin is also use as a rubber stabilizer.

A chemical compound used in pesticide? You see what I mean. I’m sure no one will be happy to feed a chemical compound found in pesticide for their parrots, it’s like feeding poison.

A prolong intake with Ethoxyquin can cause great impact to the health, resulting in damage to kidneys and liver, and even possibility of tumors and growths. We shouldn’t put our parrots’ health and lives at risk, so whenever buying any commercial diet, read those labels on the packaging.

Most commercial seed mixes and pellets are preserved by Ethoxyquin, avoid these and stop offering to the birds. Why not considering other commerical pellets that are organic, naturally preserved by Vitamin C and other healthier natural preservatives? At least they don’t put our parrots’ health at risk, and give us a peace in mind.

I personally do offer Kermit little chopped garlic clove and he enjoys garlic as I do. I’ve always know that garlic provide numbers of healthy minerals and also known as a natural antibiotic. Offering our feathered pals garlic can promote another healthy element to their diet and can possible prevent any fungi infection.

Until recently, when I happen to come across a health magazine indicating the possible impact to human health when overly consumed. I stopped offering garlic to Kermit.

This does bring to my concern pondering whether is it safe to offer Kermit garlic clove. Will this lead to possible health problem in Kermit just like what may happen in human beings? There isn’t much information around highlighting that garlic or onion can be harmful. This leads me to research and find more about the possible impact of onion or garlic in the daily diet.

In a health magazine, it highlighted that when over consuming of raw onion or garlic can cause anemia. Anemia is actually a health term referring to low red blood cell count. It does sounds quite bad to our health.

I began to search through the web to find articles indicating the possible health problems caused by garlic consumption by birds. Interestingly, I found that onion and garlic contain a kind of sulfur compound which result in a health condition known as Heinz Body Hemolytic Anemia. This result in low red blood cell count which garlic or onion cause the red blood cells to rupture.

Possible symptoms of birds suffering from Heinz Body Hemolytic Anemia:

• Appear weakness (Frequently and easily fall of from perch/Weak foot grip)
• Lethargy
• May appear increase in heart rate.

Although small amounts of garlic clove or garlic powder to enhance flavor in the daily diet is possible, but I guess is to totally avoid so we do not put on feathered pals’ health at risk.