Some random questions about parrots, canaries and doves/pigeons

[UwU alien]

My parents and I had 5 goldfish of 2 unknown species, 3 bettas and 2 cockatiels throughout my life. We haven't had a pet after my second cockatiel died in 2015. It's possible that in the future we will adopt 2-4 birds of the same species or just one if they're a canary. We will make sure to do even more research, have a complete care book, print off pages from websites and find a bird vet arranged.

Some random questions I have about parrots, canaries and doves or pigeons. You can answer any that you know the answers for.
1. How is a canary's diet different from parrots and pigeons/doves?
2. How to clean their poop from perches and toys and other things if they are made out of paper or wood or other materials that soak in things?
3. What are some parrot species that are good for beginners who are smaller than cockatiels? My mom seems to be scared of the sharp pointy beaks of bigger parrots
4. Behaviour and care differences between linnies and budgies and cockatiels.
5. Can any of these kinds of birds eat pea or hemp protein powder if the only ingredient is pea or hemp protein?
6. Do canaries have to eat chicken eggs as part of their diet? Can they be healthy as herbivores?
7. Do pigeons and doves need veggies and fruits?
8. Some DIY household cleaner recipes that are safe around birds
9. I saw some bag air purifiers that don't use batteries or electricity. Do those work well?
10. I live in Calgary, Canada. Do you happen to know any places to adopt pigeons, doves, canary and parrot species that are not budgies and cockatiels?
11. SOme online sites to buy pet birds' supplies with good prices that deliver to canada.
12. Do they still need a bird light if the pellets have vitamin d3? I eat a vitamin d3 supplement since I may freeze before getting enough of that nutrient from sunlight for much of the year.
13. Some good brands of canary and dove/pigeon food
14. This time, we want to have a room that is safe for them to explore even when we are not there to watch them. If we take them to other parts of the house, we will watch them. Is it necessary to take them to explore the other 2 levels of the home sometimes or just the basement is enough? The basement is not dark and musky except for the furnace room and one of the bedroom closets there, but we just won't take them there.
15. Stainless steel or another rustproof cage brand, with reasonable prices and can be delivered to Canada
16. If a bird lays an egg can we boil or steam it and then feed them back to the bird? Should the shell be included?
17. What kind of perches can we use so that they won't need their nails cut? How do wild parrots, canaries and pigeons/ doves keep their nail at the right length?

 

[Zara]

1. How is a canary's diet different from parrots and pigeons/doves?

Canaries are softbill birds whereas parrots are hookbills.
Softbills need grit or ground oyster shells to be able to hull any seeds you feed, whereas parrots do not as they have a beak that will hull their own seeds.

2. How to clean their poop from perches and toys and other things if they are made out of paper or wood or other materials that soak in things?

Paper gets spoiled, so the trick is to put paper toys higher than their butts sit as to not get pooped on, or hang under platform perches.
Wood perches can be washed with hot soapy water (fairy/dawn), and a dishbrush, allow to dry fully preferably in the sunshine.

3. What are some parrot species that are good for beginners who are smaller than cockatiels? My mom seems to be scared of the sharp pointy beaks of bigger parrots

Some parrots that are smaller than cockatiels are budgies, parrotlets and lovebirds. Parrotlets and lovebirds can be nippy if boundaries are not set.
As for "beginner birds", there's no such thing. Do your research, see what species suits you best, and bring home the species you want.

4. Behaviour and care differences between linnies and budgies and cockatiels.

Linnies are hands off type birds usually. Don't get a linnie if you want a bird that will interact with you lots. Cockatiels and budgies often enjoy human interaction. Big differences between the two would be the size, as well as the dust (cockatiels are very dusty birds). Most budgie owners have two or more as they are flock animals and do better in pairs or more. A single budgie can be a very lonely bird.

6. Do canaries have to eat chicken eggs as part of their diet? Can they be healthy as herbivores?

They do not need to eat eggs.

12. Do they still need a bird light if the pellets have vitamin d3? I eat a vitamin d3 supplement since I may freeze before getting enough of that nutrient from sunlight for much of the year.

They should be ok on pellets. You can always add a supplements under vets orders if they are lacking. You don't need a "bird light", but if it is dim, you can put a nice bright LED lamp in the area your bird is so they can see better.

Is it necessary to take them to explore the other 2 levels of the home sometimes or just the basement is enough?

I don't really understand thi one, but I don't take my birds places they don't have access to.

Should the shell be included?

Any shells fed should be ground into powder to avoid the hard shell cutting the interior of the crop.

What kind of perches can we use so that they won't need their nails cut?

Pedi-perches. I like Hagen (living world) ones.

 

[UwU alien]

My parents and I had 5 goldfish of 2 unknown species, 3 bettas and 2 cockatiels throughout my life. We haven't had a pet after my second cockatiel died in 2015. It's possible that in the future we will adopt 2-4 birds of the same species or just one if they're a canary. We will make sure to do even more research, have a complete care book, print off pages from websites and find a bird vet. Some random questions I have about parrots, canaries and doves or pigeons. You can answer any that you know the answers for.


1. How is a canary's diet different from parrots and pigeons/doves?
2. How to clean their poop from perches and toys and other things if they are made out of paper or wood or other materials that soak in things?
3. What are some parrot species that are good for beginners who are smaller than cockatiels? My mom seems to be scared of the sharp pointy beaks of bigger parrots
4. Behaviour and care differences between linnies and budgies and cockatiels.
5. Can any of these kinds of birds eat pea or hemp protein powder if the only ingredient is pea or hemp protein?
6. Do canaries have to eat chicken eggs as part of their diet? Can they be healthy as herbivores?
7. Do pigeons and doves need veggies and fruits?
8. Some DIY household cleaner recipes that are safe around birds
9. I saw some bag air purifiers that don't use batteries or electricity. Do those work well?
10. I live in Calgary, Canada. Do you happen to know any places to adopt pigeons, doves, canary and parrot species that are not budgies and cockatiels?
11. SOme online sites to buy pet birds' supplies with good prices that deliver to canada.
12. Do they still need a bird light if the pellets have vitamin d3? I eat a vitamin d3 supplement since I may freeze before getting enough of that nutrient from sunlight for much of the year.
13. Some good brands of canary and dove/pigeon food
14. This time, we want to have a room that is safe for them to explore even when we are not there to watch them. If we take them to other parts of the house, we will watch them. Is it necessary to take them to explore the other 2 levels of the home sometimes or just the basement is enough? The basement is not dark and musky except for the furnace room and one of the bedroom closets there, but we just won't take them there.
15. Stainless steel or another rustproof cage brand, with reasonable prices and can be delivered to Canada
16. If a bird lays an egg can we boil or steam it and then feed them back to the bird? Should the shell be included?
17. What kind of perches can we use so that they won't need their nails cut? How do wild parrots, canaries and pigeons/ doves keep their nail at the right length?

 

[Spearmint]

Zara answered all of the questions wonderfully. Just with question 17, the perches 'PediPerches' should be the ones with soft tops to avoid abrasions and bumblefoot. You can also have a lot of barky perches, different variations, foraging toys. In the wild they keep them short by all the foraging, exploring and climbing they do

 

[Zara]

the perches 'PediPerches' should be the ones with soft tops to avoid abrasions and bumblefoot.

Oh yes, I should have said that. The Hagen ones I mentioned are, and there are some others that also have the smooth top, I can't remember the name off the top of my head. Sweet feet? or Sweet beak, something like that. And maybe more brands make them now. Cement perch, with a smooth top. Usually a wiggly or bumpy shape.

 

[UwU alien]

Oh yes, I should have said that. The Hagen ones I mentioned are, and there are some others that also have the smooth top, I can't remember the name off the top of my head. Sweet feet? or Sweet beak, something like that. And maybe more brands make them now. Cement perch, with a smooth top. Usually a wiggly or bumpy shape.

For both of my cockatiels, we had two sizes of those cement bumpy perches but they didn't work in trimming their nails

 

[Sparkles99]

The Calgary Humane Society has doves & budgies right now. They probably get in canaries & cockatiels from time to time too - ours does. Exotic Listings | Calgary Humane Society

 

[UwU alien]

The Calgary Humane Society has doves & budgies right now. They probably get in canaries & cockatiels from time to time too - ours does. Exotic Listings | Calgary Humane Society

My parents and I have lived in calgary for the whole time after moving to canada and so far I have only seen 1 cockatiel for adoption in any rescue/ shelter / humane society in 2012. I have never seen a canary for adoption and most birbs I see are budgies.

 

[Sparkles99]

Very odd. About a month ago, there were 20 canaries here in Ottawa. They get budgies, doves & the occasional cockatiel regularly.