Hayley Heartfield
Bird Specialist
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Co-authored Articles (23)
How to
Tell if a Cockatiel Is Male or Female
Cockatiels are a native Australian bird, cousins to others such as the Galah and black cockatoo. Adult cockatiels with the "normal grey" coloration, a grey body with yellow head, are relatively easy to distinguish based ...
How to
Understand Cockatiel Gestures
Just like with humans, you can learn a lot about what a cockatiel is thinking and feeling based on their gestures. From the movement of their feathers to the way they shake their head, everything your cockatiel does can ...
How to
Tell the Sex of Parrots
Telling the sex of birds can be difficult. This is true of most types of parrots. Many varieties of parrots do not have any visible differences between a male and a female. The only way to definitively tell the sex of a ...
How to
Identify Your Budgie's Sex
If you just got a budgie, you may want to determine its sex. Learn which colors signify a male or female budgie. You can also watch your budgie's behavior or listen to it to determine the sex. If you're still having trou...
How to
Feed a Baby Pigeon
If you find a baby pigeon on the ground, it's best to leave it there. Most of the time, it will survive better without your interference, if you think you know better for it you probably don't. If you do think a bird is ...
How to
Breed Budgies
Budgies, also called parakeets, are lovely birds that are popular with bird lovers. If you love budgies, you may want to breed them. In the wild, budgies like to mate as a monogamous pair, so they are easier to breed if ...
How to Tell if Your Pet Budgie is Sick (Plus, How to Care for It)
Spotting symptoms of illness in your parakeet You can expect your pet budgie or parakeet to live 12 to 14 years with good care. However, even with the best care, your bird may become ill. Since budgies are prey animals i...
How to
Care for a Molting Parrot
Molting is a parrot’s natural shedding process; it takes about 2 months for them to lose their old feathers and grow new ones. Typically, parrots undergo this process once or twice a year. During this time, parrots wil...
How to Tell if Your Pet Parakeet is Bonding with You
Learn to read your bird's body language and vocalizations Budgies (or parakeets) are highly intelligent little birds that make fabulous companions. But budgies don’t communicate and emote in the same ways as other pets...
How to
Tame Your Budgies
Budgerigars or parakeets are fun, beautiful birds. They're also really easy to tame! The key is to have fun and not rush the process—it can be a truly rewarding experience for both you and your budgie. Keep reading to ...
How to
Spot Signs of Illness in a Canary
If you're worried that your canary is ill, it is important to act quickly. Canaries are vulnerable to many conditions, including canary pox, air sac mites, and egg binding. Keep an eye on your canary for any changes in b...
Feeding Baby Budgies: Step-by-Step Guide
Budgies (also called parakeets) are wonderful adult birds, and they’re really cute as babies! Baby budgies should be cared for by their parents, unless the parents can’t or won’t do so, for at least their first 2 ...
How and Where to Bury a Dead Bird
What to do when you find a deceased bird in your yard Whether your beloved pet bird has died or you found a dead bird outside, you may be wondering how to bury it. Burying a bird is easy to do and it can help you come to...
How to
Interact with Your Conure
Conures are intelligent birds that make great house pets. They require a lot of attention and interaction, but they love having fun with their owners. Make sure you always handle your conure with care and allow the bird ...
How to
Determine the Sex of African Grey Parrots
African Greys are considered to be the smartest parrots according to animal experts. It may be helpful to know the sex of your parrot if you intend to breed, or if you're introducing another bird and want to prevent bree...
How to
Care for a Sick Pet Bird at Home
If your bird has been sick, it's important to give it proper care so it can recover and feel better as soon as possible. You can do this in part by eliminating things that could make the bird sicker, such as germs and wa...
How to
Teach a Conure to Talk
Conures are not only fun to interact with, but they’re fun to talk to, too! Teaching a conure to talk can be a fun and rewarding project for both you and your bird. While many conures pick up words and phrases on their...
How to
Train Your Budgie
As super bright and chatty birds, budgies are the absolute best. You probably already know how to feed your budgie and clean its cage, but how do you train this fun, lively little bird? Don't worry, you've come to the ri...
How to
Train a Parrot
Any parrot training plan, in essence, needs to be as individual as the bird you’ve welcomed into your home. Every parrot has a unique personality, and will require a particular mix of technique, patience, friendship, ...
How to
Take Care of a Cockatiel
Cockatiels are the smallest cockatoo in the entire cockatoo family after Goffin's cockatoo. Though the length of cockatiels is 2 inches bigger than Goffin's cockatoo, their height and weight is much less. Cockatiels are ...