What are the basic necessities I should have before bringing home my bird?
Obviously the cage or flight is important. Get one big enough to allow the birds to get proper exercise. Do not use the wooden dowels that come with cages. The dowels reduce the exercise area of the cage. Secondly the dowels are not good for their feet. Use natural perches like Manzanita, cholla cactus skeletons, terra cotta, and cement perches. Use both cement and natural perches in a cage but only make them 6 to 12 inches long. The size obviously depends on the cage size. Have appropriate food. Seed-only diets for most birds are not adequate. Talk to people that really understand bird nutrition. It is sometimes difficult for birds to get accustomed to the pelleted foods and switching them over rapidly after being on strictly seed diet is not a good idea.
