Читать книгу Birds For Dummies - Gina Spadafori - Страница 87

IN THIS CHAPTER

Choosing the right cage

Picking the perfect perch for your pal

Shopping for dishes and waterers

Engaging your bird’s mind

Freshening the air

Tidying up

Love to shop? Need a reason to? You’re in the right place at the right time. Your bird needs some gear, and you want to shop — you’re a perfect match!

If you like to spend money on your pets, you’re certainly not alone. The pet-supplies industry is huge, a multibillion-dollar dynamo that thrives through boom times and recessions alike. From mom-and-pop pet stores to big chain stores to online pet shops, a whole lot of spending’s going on — and, for the most part, our birds end up much better off for the investment we make in their comfort, amusement, and safekeeping.

But not always. You can find unsafe or unnecessary products anywhere pet supplies are sold. Some are just a waste of your money, but others can be a risk to your bird’s health. And you can’t always rely on the advice of a pet-store owner or employee to help you sort out the good from the bad. Although most sales personnel mean well, many may not have up-to-date information on the best products for your pet. Some inadvertently pass on very outdated and even dangerous information.

The good news is you can find correct and current information right here. This chapter equips you with the knowledge you need to buy safe and reasonably priced cages, perches, toys, and all the other necessary paraphernalia that goes with bringing a bird into your life.

Although the situation is improving, plenty of outdated advice about avian nutrition still exists — and much of it is shared in pet stores and by other bird retailers or even veterinarians. These folks are often the same people who may give you bum advice on bird gear. Make sure you’re offering the best food to your pet by checking out Chapter 6 for current advice on the appropriate diet for your bird.