By Carolyn Swicegood

Creative shortcuts can make a birdkeeper’s life much easier. Here are some of the tips that make bird care more efficient, followed by an easy way to remember chores that are not part of our daily routine.

FOOD PREPARATION
*Every day I use my German made “Borner mandolin” for chopping, shredding, dicing, and slicing fresh fruits and veggies for my birds. This kitchen gadget has been around for decades and costs from $30-$50 but it is indestructible. The one that I’m using now has been in daily service for over ten years and is still going strong. The blades are still dangerously sharp but I faithfully use the hand protector to guide carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, apples, pears and other fresh produce over the various cutting blades. I cannot imagine daily fresh food preparation for my birds without it.

*Keeping all utensils and containers for bird food preparation in one place can save minutes daily, hours monthly, and whole days when calculated for the year. Whether you use a mandolin system, a grater, a peeler, a favorite knife or all of the above, storing them with a bowl dedicated to bird food preparation, along with any other necessary tools, can save considerable time.

*A multi-pocket apron is a birdkeeper’s dream for step saving. Rather than walking back and forth to retrieve the various tools needed to service nestboxes, food dishes, water systems, and other aviary systems, why not gather all your necessary tools and place them in the pockets of an easy-on and off apron? Some of the tools that might be included are an egg candler, a flashlight, pliers, scissors, small knife, bag ties, plastic bags, wire, paper towels, rubber gloves, nail clipper and file, small towel, small spray bottle of sterile water, handi-wipes and disinfectant.

TIMELY HABITS
It is much easier to remember routine birdkeeping checks and maintenance chores if we schedule them for one particular day of the week, a time of the month, a scheduled biannual event such as changing the clocks for daylight savings time, or a yearly event such as New Years Day. Once you decide on your schedule, make the notations on your calendar and your important duties will not be forgotten.

WEEKLY
*Clean cages and aviaries and check all equipment. Replace damaged fasteners, perches, locks, and check for strings that can entrap toes and feet on ropes, Boings, and rope perches.
*Rotate toys in cages for indoor birds. Most birds lose interest in toys after a week. One way to prevent boredom is to maintain four toy boxes, one for each week of the month. Strive to add one new toy to each of the four boxes each month.
*Check each bird for signs of health problems. A visual exam should be done daily but a detailed, hands-on check of each bird is important to discover potential problems.

MONTHLY
*Wing and nail clips should be checked and updated if necessary on the first day of each new month to prevent flight-related accidents such as escape into the outdoors and overgrown nails entrapping toes or feet.
*Clean and service equipment such as humidifiers. The water tank should be washed and sterilized at least once a month. Using a safe disinfectant in the water daily, such as a few drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE), will prevent a buildup of bacteria in the tank.
*Evacuation plans and the equipment needed to carry out an evacuation due to extreme weather, fire, or other unforeseen events should be checked monthly and updated, especially if birds have been added to the flock.

BI-ANNUALLY
*Batteries in smoke detectors should be checked twice a year when you reset your clocks for daylight savings time in the spring and fall.
*Check veterinary, poison control, and hotline phone numbers that should be kept by your telephone and remind all family members and bird sitters what to do in the event of an accident or poisoning.

YEARLY
*Check all components of your Avian first aid kit to be sure they are state of the art and have not outlived their expiration date. Test electrical equipment, such as heating pads.
*Check your will or your instructions for the care of your birds in the event of your death, and update if necessary. People and situations change constantly and it is important that your instructions reflect your current wishes for the future care of your birds.

Written by Carolyn Swicegood
Email: <Carolyn@landofvos.com>
Eclectus website: < www.landofvos.com>
Eclectus E-List: < www.landofvos.com/tec.html>