TRILL : FAQ's

What should I look for when buying a bird?

The bird should be bright eyed, alert, active and in good feather. Look for dampness or staining around the vent as this could indicate signs of illness.

Why has my canary stopped singing?

The most likely reason is that your canary is in a moult. Moulting is a natural occurrence in the life of a canary and, when this cycle is over, is most likely to begin singing again.

How can I tell the sex of my budgerigar?

The simplest way is by checking the cere which is the fleshy part above the beak. If the cere is brown the bird is a hen. Blue cere indicates a cock in most varieties.

Should I cut my bird's wing to stop it flying away during training?

No. Your bird's wing feathers are a natural part of its body and cutting them is not recommended. If a bird is purchased at young age and trained correctly it will not fly away.

My bird is all fluffed up and is sitting on the floor of his cage. What should I do?

Your bird may be ill. If you haven't already, seek out a veterinarian that specializes in birds and consult them as soon as possible.

My budgerigar is six months old. Can I still train him to sit on my shoulder?

While most birds can be trained some tricks throughout their lives, it does become more difficult to do so the older they get. It is best to bring your budgerigar home as soon as it is able to adequately feed itself which is between six to eight weeks of age.

I live in a unit and wish to buy a cockatoo as a pet?

Cockatoos are very noisy and are not recommended as pets in these situations as they may annoy your neighbours. If you want a parrot for a pet, you may be better off choosing a smaller, quieter variety. Talk to your local pet store or breeder for more advice.