Animalzone's Parrot & Pet Food

2012-02-06T14:13:00.002+02:00

A Parrot’s Display of Emotion

Many peoplethink that they will not be able to tell much about our emotions. They assumesuch contact would only be found with a pet dog or cat. However, this is farfrom the truth. We have the ability to convey emotions in a number of ways. Infact, we have quite strong emotions, so your owner will very likely seeeverything from excitement to happiness to anger to fear.

If they wantto learn how to decipher your emotions, there are ways they can do this. One ofthe best places to start is your eyes. Have you ever heard the phrase that the“eyes are the windows to the soul?” In humans, that may ring true. In us, thebetter phrase would be the eyes are the windows to the emotions.

So, just howdo we show our emotions through our eyes? All parrots have a habitthat is usually referred to as eye pinning. It can also be called eye flashing.When we are feeling a strong emotion, our pupils will dilate and contract inquick succession over and over again.

For the newparrot owner, this can seem a little frightening at first. They may assume thatthere is something physically wrong with you. However, eye pinning is perfectlynatural and perfectly normal.

Just as allpeople are different, so too are all parrots. While eye pinning is a display ofstrong emotion, emotions can vary from one parrot to the next. Some parrots maydisplay eye pinning when they see something that catches their interest. Thiscould be the way they should their curiosity and excitement over something new.Other parrots may show eye pinning when they are angry or fearful. In order todetermine how to decipher your bird’s own habits, consider all of the otheractions it is showing at the same time that it is displaying eye pinning.

Till nexttime!

Charlie

Parrots on holiday

2011-12-08T14:04:00.001+02:00

Ok, so it’snot always possible to take us along on your holiday. We prefer to stay in afamiliar surrounding and don’t like to travel long distances with unfamiliarnoises and smells. This way we both get a bit of rest, plus don’t they say:“Distance makes the heart grow fonder?”

It would benice to stay with someone who likes us and know how to take care of us, with atleast a basic knowledge of looking after parrots. Please also leave allrelevant information with the person, in case of emergency: Where you can becontacted, Veterinarian, Medical details, and off course, my favorite food andsnacks!

Because wecan sometimes be a handful, especially to someone who is not accustomed to allour fabulousness….you might have to arrange some kind of payment to them,normally a daily rate would be fine.

Just torecap:

Make sure the home where we will be staying is safe for us.
Make sure either you or my Vet can be contacted in an emergency.
Make sure I have enough of my own food and snacks.
Make sure I have some toys to play with too!

Thanks andenjoy your holiday!

Till nexttime

Charlie

Stop My Parrot’s Screaming

2011-11-24T11:19:00.001+02:00

Sometimesour owners would like to reduce our screaming, but for that to happen, theyneed to find out why we do it. That might not be as simple as it sounds though.The first thing they need to do is to prevent the screaming episodes. They cando this by making sure that all your needs is met and that your environment isone that will not add to your daily stress. Being fabulous is a hard job, butsomeone has to do it!

They need togive you plenty of time and attention as well as some items to play with, todeal with boredom. They might also suggest getting you a friend to help curb lonelinessthough this might not always be such a good idea, because who wants to shareall the good stuff, right? Some of usget a bit jealous of a new companion, but sometimes it’s the best thing!

If youscream chronically, then your owner might have to start keeping a diary of everyepisode along with the time and the circumstances. Hopefully keeping track ofthe screaming episodes will shed some light and reveal a pattern or patternsthat could point to the cause(s) for such behavior. You will have to keep ontrying to tell them what the problem is until they figure it out. You might be lonelyor scared or just bored. They will have to look for clues and try to determinehow they can help you feel better. Please don’t start pulling you feathers outif they take too long! You are a pretty bird and have to stay that way.Remember, you owner will do everything they can to keep you happy andstress-free so they can be stress-free too.

Till nexttime

Charlie

Parrot Perches

2011-11-04T11:18:00.003+02:00

Just asfurniture is important to your owner’s home, perches are important to ourliving quarters because these promote health.

In ournatural habitat, we sit on branches and twigs all day. In order to simulate ournatural environment and make us feel at home in our cages or aviaries, it isimportant for our owners to install several perches inside our cages. Asmentioned, perches promote health because they exercise our feet and improvetheir strength and dexterity. Conversely, getting improperly sized perches cancause foot abnormalities and lead to medical conditions like arthritis andatrophy.

There arethings your owner needs to consider when they buy or make your perch. The firstis size. In order to be effective in promoting foot health, the size of theperch must be appropriate to your size. When you perch on your owner’s finger,for instance, they will be able to tell, more or less, if you need a perchsimilar to the size of their finger or a perch that is a lot bigger.

Till nexttime,

Charlie

How To Stop Your Parrot’s Biting

2011-10-21T10:20:00.003+02:00

When yourowner wants to stop your biting episodes, they first need to learn why youbite. When they realize that we are not actually biting but exploring, they simplyhave to train us to learn to what degree we can “examine” fingers. When we are“beaking” (not biting) they can reprimand you with a firm but gentle know “No”or tell you to go “Gentle”. They might also have to push their hand into your beakinstead of pulling, since this will cause you to break your grip. If you arebiting out of fear, they simply have to remove you from the stressful situationand avoid such situations next time.

They must warn strangers to also not tryto pet you or stick their fingers in your cage. But most of all you have towork with your owner and build the trust relationship that you have with them.It will help you so that you will not get easily frightened and be betteradjusted. A good trust building exercise would be to start with the STEP UPcommand and progressing to more complicated tricks as the trust between you andyour owner increases.

Till nexttime,

Charlie

Plumage Enhancer for Feather pluckers

2011-10-07T14:45:00.001+02:00

Parrot Food Plumage Enhancer is recommended to enhancecolouration and it is ideal for feather pluckers and parrots with poor featherquality. It also aids in protecting the liver and restoring normal liverfunction. For this purpose The Plumage Enhancer contains vitamins, amino acids,anti-oxidants and specifically: palm fruit extract and cynara extract.

The Cynara Extract is a natural hepato modulator and is anon-hormonal product made from natural ingredients including Cynara (Artichoke)and Choline Chloride (Vitamin B4). Choline mobilizes fat and prevents excessivefat deposits in the liver, also help with the detoxification process. TheCynara extract stimulates bile flow and production, it improves liver functionand thereby also feed digestion. The prevention of liver damage due to harmfulsubstances, like bacterial and viral toxins, improves the chance of your parrotto reach its full potential.

The Palm Fruit Extract is rich in beta-carotene and vitaminE which results in improved feather growth, decreased or stopped featherplucking, brighter colouration, less dryness of the skin and less feather dust.Palm fruit extract contains a balance of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated andsaturated fatty acids. In addition palm fruit extract also contains essentialsubstances such as linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid which the body cannotmanufacture) and tocopherols and tocotrienols, which act as naturalanti-oxidants against damaging free-radicals.

Palm fruit extract is a major source beta-carotene (15 to300 times more than carrots and green vegetables, which is a precursor toVitamin A. Among the functions of vitamin A are healthy mucous membranes andskin, bone growth and reproduction. Palm fruit extract is also 100% CholesterolFree. Easily digested palm fruit extract is absorbed and utilized for supportof healthy growth, contributing towards energy reserves, thermal insulation,organ protection, and tissue membrane structure and cell metabolism.

Let's sum that up in plain English. It is 100% natural. Itimproves feather colour, especially the reds, orange and yellows. It increasesskin condition and feather tone. It improves general health and livercondition.

With modern technology all grains are first cooked,thereafter milled and shaped with a cold process. All additives like vitamins,amino acids, anti-oxidants, palm fruit extract etc. are not exposed to hightemperatures. This modern technology increases digestibility even more thanwith extruded products. The palatability is improved with addition of driedvegetables and the natural nutty taste and smell of the roasted grains. Thepellets are made to a size the parrots like. This enables Animalzone to keepour pet foods as natural as possible.

Training your human: Part 2

2011-09-09T09:27:00.000+02:00

Hi guys, we’re still discussing training you owner, so here’s the next 2 tips:

1. Learn to read you human’s body language

Body language is how your human communicates with you. To be able to train your human effectively you need to know whether it gets scared or distressed by some of your actions. A distressed human will not be able to learn what you are trying to teach it because it’ll be too busy “defending” itself or worrying at the least. Give your human some space when distressed or give it a treat to calm it down. Do not force your human to do something it doesn’t want to do.

2. Find a treat or reward that works with your human

This reward or treat will be your way of telling your human if it has been “good”. Positive reinforcement always works best when trying to modify some behaviour.

Hope this is working out great for all you guys.

Till next week,

Charlie

Training your human

2011-08-25T09:57:00.002+02:00

Hi guys, in the next few weeks we will be looking at training you owner.

Humans can be very fun pets to have. Like any pet though you need to train your human to exhibit behaviour appropriate for your home. “Unruly humans” often lead to unwanted and even abandoned humans. Humans though can be delightful when properly trained. Remember that as a pet owner it is your responsibility to train your human just like it’s the parents’ responsibility to train their kids. There are 7 easy steps to follow. This week we will look at step 1 & 2.

Basic Human Training Principles

Most unwanted behaviours that humans exhibit can be addressed using some very basic training principles. It is suggested that you start applying these principles as soon as you acquire your human. The longer you put off training your human the harder it will be to modify unwanted behavior.

1. Train your human only when YOU are relaxed

Training a human requires patience. Make sure that you are in the mood to train. Choose a time when you can be relaxed and do not have other pressing matters in mind.

2. Pick a time when your human is attentive

Do not choose a time when your human is obviously distressed or is eating or watching TV. Choose a time when you can get the human’s undivided attention.

Till next week,

Charlie

Baths are important

2011-08-05T09:42:00.000+02:00

Baths are important for us primarily to keep our feathers clean and to encourage preening. Our wild friends live in the rainforest where humidity is intense. Humidity helps the skin and the tissues of the respiratory system moist but it is the humidity that causes much discomfort even to our human owners.
We would appreciate the opportunity to relish our baths including those of us that live in dry areas. Quick baths can be taken in a water container where you can drench yourself or by spray-misting, done by your owner.

Most heating systems dry the air considerably. This may cause the drying of your skin and mucous membranes leading to numerous health problems. Dry skin creates itching and causes you to bother feathers more than the usual.

So take a bath or shower – enjoy it and have some fun too!

Till next time, Charlie.

Make some toys!

2011-08-02T09:25:00.002+02:00

Hi guys

Why don’t you help your owner make some toys – extra fun! Sit with them while they are making the toys. I am sure you will get extremely curious to see what they are doing. Play with the toy parts that are safe to touch and stay clear of anything dangerous like scissors, needles, plastic wrappers, etc.

Wouldn’t it be great to play with a toy that you helped make yourself? You’ll be very proud.

Just be careful when helping to create your masterpiece, you don’t want to get your toes stuck!

Till next time

Charlie

What's your favourite playtime with your owner?

2011-07-18T11:02:00.000+02:00

Hopefully your owner knows that you love a bit of drama but that they need to keep the dramatics for playtime rather than when you do something unacceptable like biting. I love it when mine gets

excited when we play and it encourages me to play too, especially if they make a lot of different noises. Haha –don’t they know how silly they look!!!

Watch Frostie the dancing Cockatoo for a few inspiring ideas!

http://youtu.be/0bt9xBuGWgw

My best time is when they put some music on and dance in front of me! I usually get a good response when I do it too and it’s fun to learn a new dance! But remember, I am a cockatoo and we love to dance, try it with your African Grey and other birds and test the response!

Till next week, Charlie.

Check your frayed toys...

2011-07-04T12:31:00.000+02:00

Hi guys, this week help your owners clean up your cage. Go through your old toys and check it for wear and tear. Frayed rope perches can cause your toes to become ensnared and torn; your beak or toe can be caught in an open chain link. Remove and replace any toy or perch that is heavily worn or if missing pieces that might make it unsafe.

Clear you cage of potentially hazardless items. Many of us are quite inquisitive, with curious beaks that find chew toys in your owner’s belongings. Some of these might not only be items they cherish, such as their antique table, but items that are toxic to you if ingested, such as a poisonous plant or chips of lead paint from the walls. Also, don’t chew on your mama’s jewellery – it might be shiny and bright, but not good for you!

Till next week, Charlie

Don't let the temperature fluctuate this winter!

2011-06-17T12:07:00.001+02:00

Hi Guys, this week we’ll be talking about keeping warm.

Use the tips and it should be easy to keep nice and toasty until spring comes back.

Get your owner to move you cage away from doors and windows. Being close to a door or window can expose you to an icy draft. Rather choose a room that is more to the center of the house to prevent chills.

Hopefully you have a nice blanket that covers you cage at night. It can work wonders to maintain a comfortable temperature.

The biggest threat is actually the fluctuation in temperature that can be caused by switching on the heaters. Take care to gradually warm the room, or cool it down later.

Use caution when heating. Wood burning fireplaces, as well as both kerosene and electric space heaters can pose a threat. The smoke and fumes from the wood and gas can wreak havoc on your respiratory system, and many electric heaters contain non-stick coating, which is notorious for causing acute illness and death.

Your owner should also keep an eye on you for signs of exposure. A chilled bird is a bird with a lowered immune system. Keeping an eye out for common symptoms of illness can help prevent any weather related health problems.

Till next time - stay warm!

Charlie

New toys are good for you!

2011-05-17T08:48:00.000+02:00

Hi friends, here are some practical tips for getting a new toy.

We love destroying it, taking it apart and basically seeing how big a mess we can create. So find toys that are made from soft wood, rawhide and bark and your set! Hopefully you have 2 sets of toys to keep you entertained; one might be coloured and the other one plain, as there is nothing as frustrating as getting bored with old toys.

I know getting a new toy might be scary, but if you get used to it slowly it will be ok. You can always have it in your cage for a few days before you decide to go closer and play with it. Maybe just start off with a plain one and then as you get used to it, be more adventurous and get more colourful toys.

Till next week, Charlie

Toys are our friends!

2011-05-06T11:24:00.000+02:00

This week we’ll be talking about toys and some fun ways to keep fit. Animalzone makes fun parrot toys, and they are an excellent way to keep entertained. The toys are made from natural products such as untreated wood, rawhide, cotton rope and food grade colouring. The wood and rawhide are also treated with a natural disinfectant as a precautionary measure. So it’s very safe for us, we don’t have to worry about a thing!

But please don’t unravel the rope or untie the knot – it’s fun, but no-one wants to get their toe stuck while playing! Hopefully your owner knows you can get bored easily and you have lots of different things to play with –and remember, there is nothing to be scared of, toys are our friends.

Till next week,

Charlie

PS: In the next few weeks we will be giving some more ideas of interesting and safe things to play with, some of which can even be found around the house.

Change in diet – for the love of your pet

2011-04-15T12:48:00.002+02:00

We recently got a comment from a Bird Breeder in the UK that his birds find it very difficult to move from another brand to Animalzone’s food.

This problem is not unique to bird food; all pet food manufacturers have the same issues. The most important thing to remember is that the health of your pet comes first. It will take an investment of time, and some discipline on your side to change their diet, but in the end it will be worth it because they will be so much healthier when they are on a healthier diet.

Any change in food will always be met with a certain amount of resistance and it’s not just the taste that is important for birds but the texture as well. It is usually more difficult to change the diet from seed to processed food, than just change from one processed food to another.

Animalzone’s advantage: a natural product with high palatability from the roasting process, resulting in a nutty taste and flavor. The shape of the pellet aids the more natural way of eating, it can be picked up and held in their feet.

Any change in diet must happen responsibly, it doesn’t matter if the change is from seeds to processed food or from one processed food to another.

3 Ways to change diet:

Method 1:

Take old food away, put only new food in. It should take about 3 days; the first 2 days will be slow with minimal eating, but by the 3rd day you bird should be eating well.

Method 2:

Put new food in, then with mealtimes, give a small bowl for a short period of time of the old food just to get the bird’s appetite going, he must not eat too much, but must still be hungry enough to eat the new food.

Method 3:

Equal quantities of food in different bowls or mixed together, gradually lessen the old food over a period of 2 weeks.

Take into consideration the size of your bird, the larger species can handle change better, but birds like budgies with their high metabolism and smaller body, will therefore be more sensitive and will be suited to a more gradual change.

Large: African Greys, Macaws and cockatoos – try Method 1

Medium: Ringnecks, Conures, etc – try Method 2

Small: Cockatiels, Budgies, etc – try Method 3

Birds will resist change in their diet and especially if they have been living on a seed diet. They get addicted to the high fat content because it gives them an energy rush and it makes it difficult for them to change.

Practical tip: during the change:

Give you pet some honey in their drinking water, it enhances their energy levels and boosts their appetite. (¾ teaspoon to 250ml water.) Also add some Probiotics to maintain the intestinal flora or some Animalzone’s Vita Tea to boost general health and maintain intestinal flora.

Seasonal changes can be stressful for your pet bird

2011-04-07T10:43:00.000+02:00

Hi guys, in this stressful time when the season changes, you want to take extra special care of your health. Stress is a major cause of many disorders, and can complicate any existing problem.

Your vet should always be your only source of absolute diagnosis and treatment. There is no substitution for an actual visit to a qualified vet. There are many illnesses that can affect you, and a quick diagnosis and treatment can protect you. While there may be no cures for some of the more serious diseases, rapid detection and disposition can prevent the spread of these diseases.

When visiting the vet, make sure your owner describes all of the symptoms you are displaying, your general health and activity history, and a list of current medications. Take your cage along, if possible, WITHOUT cleaning it of last nights’ waste - this will allow the vet to visually inspect droppings and other cage contents.

Till next week, Charlie

Visits to the vet

2011-03-17T10:36:00.000+02:00

Hi Friends, this week I will be giving you advice for you first visit to the vet.

Help your owner remember to make a list of questions to ask, such as the best diet for your species of bird, including serving ratios, etc. The vet will do a general check-up which will probably include a wing-clipping and trimming of toenails and beak.

Good idea too, the summer is here and you don’t want to scratch your owner’s shoulder when you sit on them! Have a great week and enjoy the warmer weather.

Till next week, Charlie.

Find a good veterinarian!

2011-03-10T15:36:00.000+02:00

Hi Friends, this week I will be talking about finding a good doctor to take care of you when you feel sick. I know you owner will do their best to find an avian specialist who knows how to treat your special problems. Make sure you are nice to the doctor and don’t bite! We know you might be scared to go, but he is there to make sure you get well quickly. Remember to get enough rest and good food, and you will feel yourself in no time!

Till next week, Charlie.

Avocado is very dangerous for all our feathered friends

2011-03-03T10:42:00.001+02:00

Hi Friends, this week I will be talking about our most dangerous foods out there. For our human owners it might be one of the healthiest fats around to eat, but for us unfortunately, it’s not. Avocado is very dangerous for all our feathered friends and the entire fruit should be stayed away from completely. So absolutely no avocado for you!

Till next week, Charlie.

No caffeine for us please!

2011-02-28T12:22:00.000+02:00

Although the first thing we all want and need in the morning is a cup of good coffee...you will have to forego this, and stick to good old water. You will have to kickstart your morning some other way, maybe a few wing stretch exercises and toe curls? The same goes for that afternoon slump that we all suffer from and try to remedy with a nice cup of tea or something sweet like chocolate. Anything containing caffeine is bad for us, and should be avoided at all times. So No Caffeine please! Why not rather have a healthier option like a piece of fruit?

Till next week, Charlie.

Too much fat is bad for your bird...

2011-02-17T14:22:00.000+02:00

This week I will be talking about fat, and I don’t mean the spare tyre around your middle! I am talking about the fats in your food bowl. You can’t spend your life eating only seeds and nuts, especially sunflower seeds. Eventually it will catch up with you and your liver will suffer the most damage.

Due to the high oil content in sunflower seeds, peanuts and some other nuts, it can lead to Fatty Liver Syndrome. Also be careful about any fatty foods you eat from your owner’s plate. Rather eat a healthy balanced diet (pellets) with minimal fat content.

Till next week, Charlie.

“Everything in moderation”…

2011-02-10T15:43:00.005+02:00

Here’s tip 2 in my series of safe foods for us birds. So all you ‘perch potatoes’ out there need to listen. You need to follow the saying “everything in moderation”…

So, follow this weeks’ tip: don’t eat too much salt. Which means no biltong or other salty foods. But if you have a craving, a very small piece of lightly salted chips once a week, is okay.

Till next week, Charlie.

Sharing a glass of “red”...

2011-02-09T09:35:00.000+02:00

This month we’ll be discussing what is dangerous for us birds at mealtimes. I want to tell all my feathered friends out there that it is just not cool to share a glass of “red” with your human friends at night. I know that you think it’s a way of relaxing after a hard day’s work, but it’s not worth the damage to yourself. Let your humans be, but look after yourselves. It’s our duty to teach our humans how to look after us. If you still want to share a glass of “red” with your human, make it grape juice! This means absolutely no alcohol at all, not even a sip…

Till next week, Charlie.

PS: or just eat some grapes.... :-)

Animalzone Toys

2011-01-24T15:51:00.003+02:00

Animalzone parrot toys are an excellent way to keep parrots entertained and help to trim their beaks. The parrot toys are created from natural products such as untreated wood, rawhide, cotton rope and food grade colouring. The wood and rawhide are also treated with a natural disinfectant as a precautionary measure.

Directions for use

Unravelled rope can be dangerous, since parrots can become entangled.
Parrots are clever and can undo the rope knot.
Check the knot regularly and tighten.

Practical tips
• The greatest value of a toy lies in the ability of the parrot to destroy it. Rawhide, bark and soft wood are ideal for this purpose.
• Buy two different sets of toys for your parrot (e.g. coloured and uncoloured). Interchange the sets weekly to keep your parrot entertained.
• Some parrots are nervous and tend to be frightened of new toys. Slowly introduce new toys to these parrots by first hanging it outside the cage and slowly bringing it closer over a few days.
• Nervous parrots tend to accept uncoloured toys with greater ease.

Visit to the Vet

2011-01-18T08:58:00.002+02:00

Examine your bird as gently as possible. Stress is a major cause of many disorders, and can complicate any existing problem.

Your vet should always be your only source of absolute diagnosis and treatment. There is no substitution for an actual visit to a qualified vet. There are many illnesses that affect your bird, and a quick diagnosis and treatment can protect its wellbeing. While there may be no cures for some of the more serious diseases, rapid detection and disposition can prevent the spread of these diseases.

When visiting the vet make sure you describe all of the symptoms your bird is displaying, the bird's health and activity history, and a list of current medications. Bring the cage, if possible, WITHOUT cleaning it - this will allow the vet to visually inspect droppings and other cage contents.

January is in full swing and 2011 is off to a great start!

2011-01-14T14:52:00.001+02:00

We hope you had a great festive season.

In 2011 we are going to broaden our marketing efforts with monthly Newsletters, similar to the one you received in December.

We would like to improve our communication with you and have a better relationship by sharing some information. We’ll keep you updated with info from the practice, the farm and manufacturing facility, through different social media, like Facebook, our Blogs and Twitter.

To make sure we reach the correct people with the correct information we are developing Newsletters for the following categories:
• Pet owners
• Breeders
• Pet shops and Vet shops
• Suppliers
• Wholesalers

You can subscribe to our mailing list on our website http://www.animalzone.co.za/ by clicking on the relevant link. Please make sure you select the correct category.

Our main focus will always be education, whether it is of our parrot food products or the general health and wellbeing of your pet bird.

Watch out for Charlie, our famous Cockatoo, he will be giving Tips throughout the year. Like this one:

January: If you don’t already have one, find an avian veterinarian, one who specializes in pet birds, and make a well-bird appointment for your bird. Make a list of questions in advance, such as the best diet for your species of bird, including serving ratios.

Dr De Beer, our vet, has 2 practices, one in Klapmuts and one in Bellville – make an appointment at the one nearest to you and get your pet bird’s health on track for the year!

2010-12-20T16:22:00.005+02:00

It’s been a good year for us - we even went International at Interzoo in Germany. We showed good growth in the local market as well, and had a successful local event at the Wodac Pet Expo in Cape Town during November. It neatly rounded of a successful year.
Our practice won’t be closing during December; we will just have shorter hours. From 24 Dec to 31 December we will be open from 9:00 till 14:00 daily. Normal hours (8-5) start from 3 January 2011.Thank you for your support during the year – we wish you a Happy Festive Season and a Prosperous New Year!

Success at Wodac Pet Expo!

2010-11-22T11:18:00.001+02:00

What a successfull weekend at the Wodac Expo! Our stand won a Gold medal and we are very proud! Thanks to the Organisers for hosting such an amazing event - it really was a success for everyone involved.

We met a lot of pet owners who already use our products with great success and we were able to introduce our range a lot more! Our Uncle Ozzy banners attracted a lot of attention and educating people about the responsible use of sunflower seeds as bird food was a main focus on all 3 days.

2010-11-17T13:15:00.000+02:00

HEALTH BLOCK

Our vegetable health block is a unique product on the market and to the best of our knowledge can’t be found anywhere else in the world!

This is an edible block that can be fastened to the side of the cage. Your parrot will try to eat the vegetables from the hard block, keeping him entertained and trimming his beak in the process. Anti-oxidants and prebiotics are added to the block for their health benefits. Made from seasonal vegetables, the color will differ from block to block adding to the entertainment value.

WODAC Pet Expo 19 - 21 November 2010 in Cape Town

2010-11-11T09:23:00.002+02:00

WODAC hosted an exclusive media day yesterday. Press and photographers had a delightful morning meeting miniature horses, amazing reptiles, beautiful cat breeds, and ohhh the dogs.....there were so many beautiful breeds performing tasks and games for the cameras, Siberian huskies, poodles, Italian Spinones, dalmations, corgis, St Bernards, King Charles Cavaliers, whippets and so many more. You can experience all this and more when you visit WODAC at the Good Hope Centre in Cape Town next weekend. Meet the breeders and find everything your pet will need in its lifetime to live a balanced healthy life at WODAC. Check out the photos from the media day.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001523810403#!/group.php?gid=203046310575&v=wall

http://www.dogscats.co.za/

Dr De Beer on Pasella this Wednesday! 10 November 2010

2010-11-10T13:39:00.001+02:00

http://www.pasella.com

HOK: Hulle is kleurvol in karakter en voorkoms

Papegaaie as troeteldiere fassineer die mens van die vroegste tye af en word reeds in Egiptiese hiërogliewe uitgebeeld. Sedert Alexander die Grote hulle na 397BC aan Europa gebring het, het die Antieke Grieke en Romeine altoos kleurvolle geveerdes aangehou.

By die World of Birds sowat 10 kilometer buite Houtbaai word meer as 300 voël-, kleiner soogdier- en reptiel-spesies gehuisves. Sowat 100 000 mense besoek jaarliks die park en die papegaaie is ŉ groot trekpleister. Van hul familielede sluit in makoue, parkiete, budjies en kokketiele. ŉ Spesiale dieet word vir hulle uitgewerk deur dokter Deon de Beer by wie ons volgende meer gaan uitvind het van die spesie. Hy bedryf die Animalzone Voëlkliniek op Klapmuts buite Stellenbosch.

Veeartse wat spesialiseer in voëls is nie in Suid-Afrika so volop soos in byvoorbeeld Amerika waar voëls as troeteldiere baie gewild is nie.

In die natuur kom die grootste verskeidenheid papegaaispesies in Suid-Amerika en Australasië voor. Daar is nagenoeg 372 spesies en hulle verkies ŉ warm tropiese klimaat. In die streke waar hulle volop is, word papegaaie soms as peste gesien omdat hulle vrugte, graan en ander gewasse vreet.

Deon maan dat as jy die stap wil neem om ŉ papegaai as troeteldier aan te skaf, moet jy seker maak jy koop ŉ mak en gesosialiseerde een wat met die hand grootgemaak is. Besoek self die hokke van die teler en maak seker die papegaai is rustig as hy hanteer word. Slegs ŉ mak papegaai maak ŉ goeie troeteldier. Die voëls broei nie maklik nie en baie van hulle slegs eenmaal per jaar.

Papegaaie kies slegs een lewensmaat en selfs wanneer dit nie broeityd is nie, is die paartjies baie geheg aan mekaar. So as jou omstandighede dit toelaat en jy kans sien, is dit ŉ goeie idee om ŉ paartjie aan te hou.

Groter papegaaie kan ouer as 80 jaar word terwyl kleiner voëltjies soos budjies tussen 15 en 25 jaar leef. Hou dít in gedagte en dat hulle toegewyde versorging vra. Daar word aanbeveel dat hulle minstes een keer ŉ dag uit die hok gehaal word, sodat dit skoongemaak kan word en hulle tyd buite saam met jou kan bestee.

Dié voëls is uiters afhanklik van sosiale interaksie. Indien die voëls nie genoegsaam deel gemaak word van hulle eienaars se lewe nie kan dit selfs tot depressie lei. As jong voëls genoeg aandag kry, vorm ŉ sterk band van vertroue. Boonop is hulle geselserig, spelerig en liefdevol. En, hoewel hulle baie vra, gee hulle in oorvloed terug. Vir die regte eienaar beslis ŉ troeteldier duisend.

PASELLA BEDANK GRAAG:
Hendrik Louw
Dr. Deon de Beer

World of Birds
T: 021 790 2730
http://www.worldofbirds.org.za/
info@worldofbirds.org.za

Animalzone (Klapmuts Bird Clinic)
T: 021 875 5063
http://www.animalzone.co.za/
clinic@animalzone.co.za

We are still creating your favourite parrot food!

2010-09-13T12:38:00.003+02:00

New content will be loaded soon. Watch this space! We are still creating your favourite parrot food and have some interesting new products in the pipeline.

Go bananas for Monkey Sticks

2009-03-31T10:06:00.012+02:00

Animalzone's latest product namely Monkey Sticks will make any monkey go bananas. With its balanced ratio of roasted grains, fruit and honey, they'll keep asking for more.

Monkey Sticks has the taste, texture and a sweet honey aroma that guarantees palatability. The formulation contains all the necessary nutrients; protein, carbohydrates, fat, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. According to Animalzone the toughest part of developing monkey food, as opposed to parrot food, was always to maintain a high protein level in the contents, which monkeys need, and to combine in such a way that it will be tasty as well. It is general knowledge that monkeys love fruit. This gave them the idea to create a balanced food product with the use of different grains, dried fruit and honey. The appearance of the Monkey Sticks appeals to the monkeys. Thus, in the end they created a product with all the necessary nutrients and combined it in one very palatable fruit stick which monkeys love.

A balanced diet is very important for any animal, monkeys included. Make sure your monkey has a balanced and complete monkey diet with Animalzone's Monkey Sticks.

This delicious product is available in 1kg, 4kg, 12.5kg and 25kg. The food can also be supplemented with fresh fruit, vegetables and yoghurt. The complete Animalzone product range is available from the Animalzone Factory Shop, Norpharm Veterinary Wholesalers and PharmVet.

Give your parrot a great start with Handrearing Food

2009-03-30T11:28:00.009+02:00

Animalzone Handrearing Food is a balanced diet to hand rear baby parrots and parakeets. This is a complete balanced parrot food diet and nothing should be added to this formula. The handrearing food has been thoroughly researched to ensure that it supports growth, that the chicks are of general good health and the feathers are of a high quality.

The parrot food has a pleasant flavour and a fine texture for easy preparation and feeding. This food will stay in suspension after mixing. The fine texture ensure that the porridge can be fed with ease with a syringe. It contains all the necessary nutrients including probiotics, spirulina and digestive enzymes. The product contains plant extracts to boost the immune system and health of the chicks. The process used in the manufacturing ensure that the digestibility of the product is very high, which enables the chicks to use the food to its maximum.

The Handrearing food is packaged in a 12.5kg and 25kg bag with the 750g and 2 kg airtight resealable new packing. The complete Animalzone product range is available from the Animalzone Factory Shop, Norpharm Veterinary Wholesalers and PharmVet.

Animalzone products

2009-02-27T09:37:00.004+02:00

The Animalzone product range has a veterinary approach with products from scientifically balanced parrot food to additives to assist veterinarians and breeders in their programs. The range also includes bulk packaging for bird breeders. The complete Animalzone product range is available from the Animalzone Factory Shop, Norpharm Veterinary Wholesalers (countrywide) and PharmVet (Gauteng).