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ISSN 1492-8132
Issue 141, © 2006
No reprints without permission
Sponsor's Space
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The folks at Bird & Cage aim to provide bird keepers with a great selection of good quality birdcages and accessories for great prices, along with some of the best customer service you will find anywhere. The newest cage might just be one of the best up-and-down small flight cage combos you'll ever see!
Then save 20% every day in the Sidewalk Sale of overstocked cages. There are some great cages deals, and on the rest of the site you will find breeding cages, cage accessories, stands, and some of the best flight cages anywhere. There's even free shipping if you live in the continental US!
A recent customer says,"We just wanted to thank you for the wonderful service with our previous order for the 484 wrought iron cage in egg shell white and the 2481 set of two breeding cages. We are delighted with the quality and price of these cages and with the excellent customer service we received when we called to inquire about delivery date. In fact, we are so pleased that we have ordered an additional set of breeding cages for our lovebirds. We cannot praise your service too highly and will not fail to recommend you to other bird fanciers."
For a full selection of cages and cage accessories, visit BirdandCage.com
Help Needed
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Do you know of a great bird site which deserves a review? Maybe you have a favourite tip or trick that you like to use, or know of a product that has made your bird's life better or easier to manage in some way? Why not share them with other Flock readers? Send us tales of how you cope, or how your birds confuse and puzzle, interest and amuse you, and we will share them with the rest of our readers in a future issue. Just send an email here.
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- Home
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- Articles
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- Breeding
- Photographs
- Flock Talk
- Canary Cam
- Canary Cam DVD
- Birds Board
- Canary FAQs
- Canary Song CD
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- Probiotics
- Tug 'N Swing
- Care Sheets
- Bird Cages
- Cage Accessories
- Questions?
- Links Pages
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"I love your website, your information has made me a very well-informed canary friend/owner. Thank you."
"Thank you for your love of birds and your commitment for helping those of us who are learning to share our lives with our feathered friends!"
"I ordered 'Canary Tales' by Linda Hogan last year...Although I fully recommend buying the book, I find Robirda's book much more complete, easier to read with less difficulty finding information."
"Hi Robirda! Thanks for your thoughts. My little one is singing as loudly as ever. He looks much better today. Your advice was most welcome; I'm particularly grateful about the recipes! I sent you the same amount the vet charged me; you have done no less than he did. You are a real blessing to all of us canary lovers the world over."
"Thank you so much for the book on canaries. That is a really nice book. I needed one, because I bought my Mom two canaries, a male and a female, we don't know anything about them. I'm so glad to have this book, I couldn't believe how much was in there. Thank you so much!"
Welcome to Robirda's Companion Bird eZine
For breeder or pet bird owners who care.
Website News
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We're proud to be able to tell you that we are now able to offer you the world's top-quality avian probiotics! They come in various sized containers to fit all needs, whether you keep a single pet bird, or have aviaries full of various species.
These probiotics will help you see that your birds remain as healthy as possible, with strong, disease-resistant immune systems, and will also ensure that your flock will be able to easily and fully digest all the nutrients you are so careful to provide them.
To learn more about what probiotics are and how they function in the body, read the feature article in this issue; to order your own supply of this so-useful product, visit our new probiotics webpage.
Feature Article
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Probiotics
A Few Facts
by Donald Perez
www.avi-culture.com
Copyright © March 2006
So many breeders and pet owners believe that as long as they keep the bird cage or aviaries clean, feed the very best foods and provide the very best environment that they have done all that is necessary for their birds.
Yet research has shown that, in most cases, if a bird cannot assimilate the nutrients from its diet, regardless of how great that diet is, it will not have the required antioxidants or immune system necessary to allow it to stay healthy, live longer or survive the stresses present during day-to-day life in a closed environment, especially during breeding or a moult.
It's only a matter of time before a stressed bird will begin to lose its natural immunity to pathogens and viruses. Stressed birds will usually develop problems in one or both of two areas, respiratory or digestive. Illnesses will also sometimes arise from a lack of specific nutritional needs.
Stress may also arise from environmental conditions such as poor sanitation or overcrowding. If there is a pathogen build-up in the digestive system of any bird, their ability to assimilate nutrients from most foods is greatly reduced. This is especially true when loose, watery excrement is noticed.
Frequently such symptoms are commonly treated with some type of antibiotic, either prescribed by a vet, or perhaps purchased over the counter by the owner. Most people know that antibiotics may be able to cure the problem. But many do not know that a few pathogens will survive to produce a strain immune to the antibiotic. Over time, these may increase to the point where they again present a problem, and should the bird become ill again, it would require treatment with a different antibiotic, allowing any pathogens not eradicated to develop more immunity.
It is important to realize that antibiotics deplete the system of its naturally occurring beneficial bacteria, along with the pathogens. Because of this, the patient needs help to recreate the environment necessary to assist in replenishing and re-populating the intestine with live, reproduction-capable "friendly" bacteria.
These bacteria are known collectively as 'probiotics'. The word 'probiotic' comes from the same Latin root as the term 'antibiotic'; 'biotic', meaning, to do with life. The prefix 'anti' describes the function of antibiotic drugs very well. They act literally, as the term translates, 'against bodies' - that is, they kill the small living bodies doing harm. But they also kill benign and beneficial bodies, and that fact is too often conveniently forgotten.
'Pro'-biotic, on the other hand, means exactly the opposite - 'for life'. These beneficial enzymes and bacteria foster and encourage the growth of more beneficial bacteria. These are used by the body to assist in the proper digestion of food, and in building and maintaining resistance to disease, along with fostering proper functioning of physical systems and supporting wellness. Note that probiotics are not medications, nor do they cure or kill anything. Instead, they assist the body's own mechanisms to function as near to peak efficiency as possible.
Many brands of probiotics currently sold today state that the product is 'live'. But how long will it stay alive after the date of manufacture and packaging, and under what storage conditions? What about manufacturing processes? Was it freeze-dried? Is it pathogen-free? Too often, unless the probiotic was refrigerated prior to purchase, it will have begun to degrade before being sold, sometimes to the point of being ineffective.
Some brands of probiotics are marketed in liquid form. This can cause another problem, due to the limited shelf life from date of manufacture. Unless expiry dates are clearly marked and storage conditions clearly specified, questions may arise as to the remaining period of viability (if any) of a liquid probiotic when received by the bird owner.
Liquid probiotics have a distinct place in the market, due to the success engendered through their use, when this use is able to occur prior to the expiration date. But because of their rapid expiry, great care should be taken if you decide this is the kind of product you want to use.
There is one more important factor to consider. More and more research is beginning to indicate that the most effective results are produced through the use of avian-specific bacteria. There are many brands of probiotics available from a variety of companies around the world, but research conducted on these products has shown that the majority include mostly 'generic' mammalian probiotics, proven in labs to be relatively ineffective in our avian friends.
These 'generics' may be similar in name, but they will not create the proper environment in the digestive system, nor will the strains of bacteria adhere well to the villi which line the intestinal walls of the avian gut. This needs to happen if the bacteria are to thrive, multiply, populate and restore the flora necessary for the bird to be able to assimilate most of the nutrients from the foods it eats.
All caring pet owners and bird fanciers should become well educated on the differences in various kinds of probiotics, as well as the benefits derived from their proper use. We all need to learn to become "pro-active" with our birds, rather than reactive! We need to know enough to make the right choices.
I began using probiotics in my own birdroom, The House of Crests, over 25 years ago. One thing led to another, and as my curiosity grew, my investigations deepened, until at last, after a great deal of research, experimentation and tests, I had verified that quite a few products available on the market were actually comprised of DEAD bacteria! Worse, most were not even developed for the avian gut.
In fact, no ill results arise through the use of any of the various types of dead or live probiotics made for any species of animal or man, as long as it does not contain any pathogens. They will pass harmlessly through any bird's digestive system. But, neither will there be any beneficial effects!
One of the main reasons the bacterial culture banks of the world (including probiotics) were researched and developed was because of the problems experienced by animal farms producing food for human consumption.
I believe if a customer wants a live, avian-specific probiotic to use for the purposes indicated, then that is what they should receive! To that end, I have worked for years with a team of microbiologists toward a goal that is now reality - a live, avian-specific probiotic is now available to pet or breeding bird owners everywhere - it's called Avi-Culture!
Avi-Culture provides the educated pet bird owner or bird breeder a guaranteed live, avian-specific probiotic, consisting of strains that will withstand the rigors of passing through the upper part of the birds' digestive system, arriving in sufficient quantity with the ability to adhere to the gut and establish themselves on the villi of the intestinal walls.
This allows the probiotics to immediately begin establishing a healthy flora of beneficial bacteria in the bird. Avi-Culture will last indefinitely if stored in a freezer, or about 10 years in a refrigerator. At room temperatures, it keeps for about 2 years. Avi-Culture does not hide behind half-truths, nor does it contain vitamins or any other additives or fillers.
Live bacteria needs to be kept refrigerated if not frozen to stay viable for any length of time. I believe Avi-Culture to be the only probiotic on the market to date that is kept frozen prior to being sold to vets, resellers and end users.
Avi-Culture stands on its' own merit of being a true, live, avian-specific, American-made probiotic that starts to work immediately in the system from first application. We refuse to compromise on quality, and believe that ours is the best avian probiotic supplement on the market anywhere in the world.
by Donald Perez
www.avi-culture.com
Copyright © March 2006
* * * For more information on Avi-Culture probiotics please click here.
A recent consultee says, "Thank you, Robirda! You are the best, a total delight to read, a terrific story teller. I have learned so much. I do have more questions, unrelated, now that I see what a fount of wisdom and tidbits you are. But I will not allow you to extend yourself more on the original $15, so I will submit another question 'officially'. You go above and beyond the call of duty in your wonderful responses and they are worth even more than that."
Robirda's customers find her answers to be detailed, reliable, caring and supportive. When you need help with housing, feeding, care or behavioral questions, Robirda can help you learn to understand your birds better!
"Everyone always asks me why my birds are such beautiful singers and breed such magnificent babies...I tell them that I learned from Robirda! While they give their birds all kinds of 'magical' formulas, I just follow your guide to 'keep it simple.' My birds are now very healthy, and there has been no recurrence of the infection. Thank Goodness!" R.C., Florida
Song CD
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Do you like to keep your canaries singing? Our CD of Robirda's canaries in full song stimulates pet canaries to sing more, and is a popular choice for many canary owners. But it can also be used to bring more wild birds to your feeders, or to make your pet parrots more comfortable with their surroundings.
Best of all - we've now sold enough CDs to allow us to lower the price! So if you haven't gotten yours yet, now's a great time! We get a great deal of positive comments from happy customers, so we're sure you'll be pleased. Here's what two recent buyers had to say:
"Thank you for creating such a beautiful CD. I just purchased 'New Songs From the Birdroom' for my cockatiel to listen to whenever I have to leave him alone for any period of time. The CD is absolutely fantastic, thanks again!"
"My 'baby' Jingles and I are both thrilled with your CD! It arrived within days of my purchase and it's the best CD out there! I have purchased every CD available, and yours was the only one my canary responded to. The CD has attracted the wild birds outside his little garden sanctuary, so my canary has lots of vocal competition now, which makes him sing even more."
Find out more about our Canary Song CD!
Bird Site Review
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This is an interesting and well-laid-out website for finch lovers, and includes some interesting information. Take a look around, and you'll find plans for building an indoor aviary, instructions on how to examine bird droppings with a microscope and have an idea what you're looking at, and more. If you have a question to do with keeping finches, whatever the subject, check here; if they don't have the answer, they are quite likely to have a link to someplace that does. A great site for anyone interested in learning more about keeping finches!
For You
& Your Birds,
With Love
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If you find help you need in this ezine or on one of our websites, please consider joining our sponsors.
Read testimonials or find out more about becoming a sponsor. If you're looking for something different, check our home page for links to all our great products!
Our next issue is due Sunday, March 26th. We hope you and your birds stay safe, well and happy in the meantime, and we look forward to seeing you all then!
"You have the most informative and helpful small bird site on the Web. I have found your information priceless and inspiring."
"I cannot thank you enough for your kind and considerate responses to all of our questions. Your website has really been a wonderful find for us! And we absolutely love your canary CD!"
"Robirda's website, bird board and e-zine are invaluable tools for any birdlover."
"Just a short note to tell you how great your ezine is... As a long time bird lover I thank you for your wonderful mag. Keep up the great work!"
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