Whether he’s a singing star or a shy one, your bird has his own personality. Why not get toys to suit his character? If your bird fits one of these profiles, get a toy that will boost his skills.

Rock Stars
Does your bird love to sing, make music, groom himself and be the center of attention? Your rock star will love toys with bells, toys that make sounds and mirror toys.

Smart Jocks
If you have an active bird who loves challenges, try interactive toys like Birdie Basketball, Birdie Bowling and Birdie Skeeball. Skeeball prizes are optional.

Master Foragers
Your bird may love to hunt and forage for every last nugget. If so, test his skills with the Corn Stalk or Corn Kabob treat toys.

Dancing Dude
Dance lovers who sway to music will like Dancing Spools and mirror toys.

Chewing Champ
Does your bird love to munch and chew? He won’t be able to resist toys like the Crunch & Munch, Tiki Takeout and the Mini Rainbow Bridge.

Play up to your bird’s singing, dancing or chewing skills with toys he’ll love!

The holidays present special safety challenges to bird owners. It is important to keep your birdie safe and stress free. Below is a list of the most common dangers for birds during the holiday season:

• Christmas tree: If you let your bird loose in the house, he will naturally flock to the Christmas tree. A decorated tree may include tinsel and artificial snow that can be toxic to birds. Christmas trees are also adorned with lights that can become hot and cause burns. Remember to keep your bird away from the Christmas tree.
• Holiday Plants: Poinsettia, Holly, Mistletoe and other plants commonly used to decorate during the holidays can be toxic to birds and other pets.
• Fire: If you are going to light candles or start a fireplace, remember to keep your bird in his cage, away from open flames that can pose a danger.
• Decorations: Tying ribbons or bows to decorate a bird’s cage can be dangerous since the bird may become entangled or tempted to pick at the decorations. Most ribbons and bows contain inks and metals that can be toxic.

The safest place for your birdie during the holiday parties is in its cage. At Pet Supermarket, we want our customer and their pets to be safe. Do you have something special in mind for your birdie? See our selection of Toys and Cage Accessories online or at our stores.

In the wild, birds spend lots of time playing. They strip bark from trees, swing on vines, and fling leaves and twigs. Treats and toys provide a substitute to what is found in the wild. Toys and treats offer reward, exercise, and relief from boredom for your birdie. Specifically, toys can help your bird in the following ways:

• Mental Heath: Playing is essential for healthy mental development. Birds who aren’t intellectually stimulated may display stressful behaviors like feather picking, screaming, and biting. Exposure to a wide variety of objects encourages the bird to be more confident and less fearful.
• Physical Health: Toys encourage movement and muscle contractions that increase blood circulation, coordination and dexterity. Toys can be outlet for natural aggression and an opportunity to spend energy.

Toys will help protect your feather friend from boredom, depression and poor physical health. At Pet Supermarket, we have everything you’ll need to create the perfect avian habitat for your bird. We carry a large selection of toys, perches, cuttlebones, and grooming aids. Stop in today!

A happy bird is a healthy bird, and this includes the beak and claws.

Here are some tips on checking your bird’s beak and claws to make sure they’re in prime condition:

• Check your bird’s beak daily for signs of overgrowth, discoloration, or cracks. If any of these signs are present, consult your veterinarian to determine any underlying causes and to obtain proper care instructions. Provide your bird with plenty of chewing toys made from various materials such as rope, plastic, or wood. A cuttlebone is a necessity for many breeds, as it provides minerals and contributes to a healthy beak. A sturdy, properly sized cage is also important, because it will reduce the chance of your bird chewing through the bars.
• A bird’s claws are much like human fingernails in that they often grow quickly. If they become overgrown, they can curl around and cause problems in perching or become infected. However, a variety of perches in different abrasive-type materials can prevent this, in addition to manual trimming. If you’re wary of trimming your bird’s claws yourself, consult with your vet for a reputable bird groomer.

At Pet Supermarket, we have everything you’ll need to create the perfect avian habitat for your bird. We carry a large selection of cages in every size, perches, cuttlebones, and grooming aids. Stop in today for everything you’ll need for a happy, healthy bird.

Parakeets are a favorite among bird owners, and they’re a great choice for the first-timer.

Here are some care and feeding tips for these cheerful chirpers:

• Select a high-quality, fortified seed or pellet mix, and provide a couple of teaspoons of it each day (per bird). A parakeet’s diet should also be supplemented daily with fresh fruits and veggies. Apples, grapes, shredded carrots, broccoli, or sweet potatoes are all great suggestions, and should be offered in a separate cup. Plenty of fresh water is crucial to your bird’s health, so clean and change your bird’s water on a daily basis.
• Another parakeet cage necessity is a cuttlebone. Cuttlebones provide calcium and minerals, and aids in keeping your bird’s beak trimmed. Some other cage goodies that your bird will enjoy are acrylic honey stick holders, millet holders, or the Clip-It(R), which allows you to clip treats to the bars of the cage. Perches in a variety of shapes and sizes are also important, because they give your bird a chance to “stretch” its feet.

Pet Supermarket has a huge selection of cages, foods, toys, and treats for your bird-we even carry toys that contain treats inside! Stop by your local Pet Supermarket today for everything you’ll need to create the perfect habitat for your feathered friends.

If you’re looking for a new feathered friend, then you might want to consider a lovebird.

Here are some tips on caring for these cheerful, chirpy little birds:

• As with all birds, purchase the largest cage you can afford, because lovebirds are quite active. Bars should be positioned horizontally for climbing and perching, and should be spaced no more than one-half inch apart. Lovebirds often bond closely with their owners, and contrary to myth, they don’t always need to be kept in pairs. However, if you don’t think you can devote plenty of time to your new lovebird, consider pairing it with another.
• Select a high-quality pelleted food for your lovebird, supplemented with seeds, fresh fruits, and vegetables. A cuttlebone is also good for extra calcium and a healthy beak. Lovebirds adore toys, so rotate them often in order to provide mental stimulation for your lovebird. Just make sure there are no loose items that can become detached and possibly strangle your bird, and no loose strings that could cause them to become entangled.

Pet Supermarket carries a large selection of cages, bird foods, treats, and toys. Visit your local Pet Supermarket today to see all the things you’ll need to create a beautiful avian habitat for your bird!

If you’re a new bird owner, then you need to make your entire home safe for your new friend. Here are some common things around the house that can be dangerous to your pet bird:

• Birds are extremely sensitive to the air around them; they can be poisoned by everyday household products. Fumes produced by aerosol products, insecticides, ammonia, bleach, glues, nail polish remover, and paint can all be harmful or possibly fatal for your bird. Additional dangers also include the fumes from Teflon® coated cookware, oven cleaners, cigarette smoke, and carbon monoxide.
• If you plan on letting your bird out of the cage, then you also need to be aware of other household dangers. No open toilets, because birds can fall in and drown. Ceiling fans should be off, windows closed, and mirrors and other reflective surfaces should be covered to prevent your bird from flying into them. Also, since birds love to chew, exposed electrical wires should be hidden—or else your bird could be electrocuted.

Most importantly, if you have a cat, never leave your bird unsupervised with it; cats instinctively stalk birds, and the consequences can be deadly. The helpful associates at Pet Supermarket can answer any questions you have regarding bird care. Pet Supermarket also has everything you need to create the perfect avian environment, from cages and accessories to foods and treats. Come in and see our selection today!

Parakeets make great pets, especially if you’re a first-time bird owner. They’re small, colorful, and easy to care for. Here are some tips on basic parakeet care:

• Feed your parakeet a couple of teaspoons of fortified parakeet seed or pellet mix daily. A parakeet’s diet should also include a daily portion of fresh fruits and veggies, such as apples, grapes, broccoli, or shredded carrots. Offer these up in a separate feeding dish. Provide plenty of fresh water, and remember to change the water daily.
• A parakeet’s cage should have plenty of perches in a variety of sizes to ensure that he or she gets plenty of exercise and entertainment. A cuttlebone is also a parakeet necessity-it provides calcium and minerals, and helps keep the bird’s beak trimmed. And don’t forget the toys and treats!

Pet Supermarket has everything you’ll need to set up your parakeet’s home. We carry a wide variety of parakeet seed mixes, treats, toys, cages, and neat accessories, such as treat holders that clip onto the bars of the cage. We even have toys with treats built right in! Visit our bird section today to choose all the things that are sure to make your parakeet chirp with delight.

Is your pet bird getting enough exercise? Even a very large cage doesn’t always provide enough physical and mental stimulation, and that can lead to behavior problems. Here are some other ideas:

• Allow your bird some free-flight time by letting it out of the cage. Birds are social animals, so set up perches in the family room that will let your bird interact with you and your family-basically, the “flock”. Supervise your bird while he’s out, and make sure that ceiling fans are off and any plate-glass doors or windows are covered in order to keep your bird safe.
• A large, secure enclosure in your backyard would make a wonderful playground for your bird. Birds love to be in their natural habitat, and providing them with their own safe space to enjoy the outdoors is a great way for them to stretch their wings.

If your bird is young enough, you can even train him on a flight harness so that you can enjoy the outdoors together. Pet Supermarket has plenty of information on how you can create a happy environment for your bird. Visit your neighborhood Pet Supermarket today and check out the “Big Fun for Big Birds” sales display, where you can find a variety of toys for large birds.

Since birds often don’t show signs of illness until they’re very sick, it’s important to monitor your bird closely. Also, if you have more than one bird, it’s important to catch an illness early to prevent it from spreading. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Changes in attitude: A sudden increase or decrease in food and water intake could indicate an illness. Other changes to look for are decreased singing or vocalization, inactivity, and increased sleeping. Also, you should watch to see if your bird’s personality has changed-for example, becoming more aggressive or submissive.
• Changes in appearance: A change in your bird’s feathers such as lost or broken feathers, picking or pulling at feathers, bald spots, or abnormal feather color could all be signs that your bird is sick. Any swelling or discharge around the eyes as well as a discoloration of the beak could also mean disease.
• Changes in stance: If your bird begins to exhibit behavior such as sitting on the bottom of the cage, sitting low or falling off perches, losing its balance, or walking in circles, you should have your bird checked out by a vet.

Symptoms such as weakness, bleeding, trauma, labored breathing, seizures, or collapse should be viewed as emergencies, and you should take your bird to the vet right away. For more information on birds and bird care, visit the associates at Pet Supermarket. They can help you keep your pet bird happy and healthy!