In this episode, we sit down with Lea from NEKTON to talk all things summer bird care, from avoiding heat stress in parrots and other birds to smart supplement strategies that can make a big difference in the summer. Parrots don’t sweat, and hot days, especially during heat waves, can be dangerous if you’re not prepared. 

We cover the key signs of heat stress, what to do if you spot them, common mistakes bird owners make during the summer, prevention recommendations and what to avoid. Plus, Lea shares her go-to supplements for the season and how to introduce them safely to your birds! Whether you're a seasoned bird keeper or new to parrot care, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Keypoints:
☀️Staying healthy in the heat
☀️How does heat affect birds
☀️Signs of overheating
☀️Supplements for birds in summer
☀️Why supplements are beneficial for pet birds
☀️ Electrolytes, vitamins and bone health
☀️ How do your supplements complement a healthy diet?
☀️ How to introduce supplements, even to picky eaters!
☀️ Common mistakes bird owners make when caring for their birds during the summer

Special Guests:
👉🏼 Lea from NEKTION, a leading brand in high-quality bird care products. Nekton offers a wide range of supplements designed to keep your feathered friends healthy and thriving, from ornamental birds to birds of prey. 

“Electrolytes give the birds important minerals, simple sugars like dextrose and fructose and vitamin C, and these help keep the fluids balanced and help the birds recover faster after such stress like dehydration, heat and stuff, so that’s very good in the summer.”— Lea 

Links:

NEKTON Shop: https://shop.nekton.de/en/ 

NEKTON News: https://www.nekton.de/en/sommerhitze-bei-voegeln-unsere-partnerin-gibt-tipps-zur-richtigen-pflege/

Blog on Heat: https://poodlesandparrots.com/blog/posts/protect-your-birds-from-summer-heat

🥦 Freebies & EBOOKS: https://poodlesandparrots.com/products
💻 Helpful Blogs: https://poodlesandparrots.com/
🎥 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/poodlesandparrots
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poodlesandparrots/
🦜 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparrotpodcast/
📌 Pinterest: pinterest.com/poodlesandparrots

What happens when science, compassion, technology and a parrot come together? In this episode, we sit down with Jen, who took a groundbreaking approach to teaching birds how to communicate using tablets and touchscreens! Her birds are the first documented parrots that can READ AND WRITE!! We explore how to truly understand your bird’s emotions, recognize signs of trauma, fear, and even pain, and how technology and trust-based training can create a bridge between species.

Whether you're a bird parent, animal behaviour enthusiast, or just curious about how a parrot can use an iPad/tablet, this episode will leave you rethinking what’s possible in animal communication!

Keypoints:

🦜What inspired teaching parrots to communicate using technology?
🦜What was the initial process of training a cockatoo to use a tablet 
🦜How can we help our bird with their fears
🦜Access to a tablet saved Isabelle the cockatoo's life!
🦜How can this method deepen your relationships with your bird
🦜Can any bird learn this?
🦜How do you ensure that the use of technology is beneficial for your parrots, and not overwhelming or stressful for them
🦜Tips on how to get started without a tablet/iPad!

Special Guests:

👉🏼 Jen from @parrotkindergarten, parrot mama, attorney, animal cognition trainer, writer, and international speaker, focusing on animal literacy and communication. 

“Every animal I’ve worked with has been able to learn either cards and symbols or the tablet, and various things play into this”— Jen

Links:

Parrot Kindergarten: https://parrotkindergarten.com/

Screen sanitizers: https://www.amazon.com/shop/poodlesandparrots/list/2GP2S18EBZPTD?ref_=aipsflist 

Touch & Feel books: https://amzn.to/48RJY2k 

🥦 Freebies & EBOOKS: https://poodlesandparrots.com/products
💻 Helpful Blogs: https://poodlesandparrots.com/
🎥 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/poodlesandparrots
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poodlesandparrots/
🦜 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparrotpodcast/
📌 Pinterest: pinterest.com/poodlesandparrots

Are cockatiels good pets? In this episode, we explore cockatiels as pets, how they compare to conures, and essential care tips. We chat with Ada about her flock and real-life experiences with her adorable cockatiels and canary!

Keypoints:

🦜 Cockatiels vs. Conures 

💛 Cockatiel care

🌙 Cockatiel night frights 

🔍 Foraging for cockatiels

🎶 Canary birds – What it's like to have them as pets

🥦 Canary bird diet – Nutrition for these tiny songbirds

This episode is packed with cockatiel care tips and insights to help you provide the best home and care for your feathered babies!

Special Guests:

👉🏼 Ada, Bird Mom to a flock of 6 tiels and 2 canaries @the.birdband 

Links:

The Bird Band: https://www.thebirdband.com/

Back Zoo Nature Foraging: https://www.backzoonature.com/en/ 

🥦 Freebies & EBOOKS: https://poodlesandparrots.com/products
💻 Helpful Blogs: https://poodlesandparrots.com/
🎥 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/poodlesandparrots
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poodlesandparrots/
🦜 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparrotpodcast/
📌 Pinterest: pinterest.com/poodlesandparrots

In this episode, we dive into the essential tips every bird owner needs to know. From quick first-aid steps for emergencies to understanding the root causes of feather plucking, we cover it all with Dr. Octavio. Learn how to optimize your parrot’s diet with the right balance and discover the importance of sunlight and probiotics for their well-being. Plus, we tackle common health concerns like overweight birds and the use of hormone implants. Tune in for expert advice and practical solutions to keep your parrot thriving from an avian vet!

Key Points: 

• Parrot first aid tips
• Parrot bleeding tips
• Probiotics and Prebiotics for Birds
• Sunlight for birds - Why and how much?
• Cockatiels and night frights!
• How to tell if your bird is overweight?
• Parrot diet - seeds, pellets, vegetables, fruit
• Parrot plucking and the root cause
• What do healthy feathers look like?
• Do x-rays have to be done with anesthesia?
• Hormone implants and Lupron - do they work? Are they good?
• Most common bacteria and infections in birds!

Special Guests:

👉🏼 Dr. Octavio Lisboa, Avian Vet passionate about saving birds since 2006. You may remember him from Episode 34!

“And simple accident but they can become like a nightmare… is the bleeding, nail bleeding, beak bleeding something like this… We have to try to stop the bleeding immediately.”— Dr. Octavio

Links:

• https://www.avianmedicinecourses.com/
• https://www.avianmedicinecourses.com/online-course-how-to-feed-my-parrot 

🥦 Freebies & EBOOKS: https://poodlesandparrots.com/products
💻 Helpful Blogs: https://poodlesandparrots.com/
🎥 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/poodlesandparrots
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poodlesandparrots/
🦜 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparrotpodcast/
📌 Pinterest: pinterest.com/poodlesandparrots

In this episode we fly into the world of birds with special needs, exploring the challenges and care requirements! From splay legs to blindness, we discuss various disabilities that affect birds and the compassionate care they require to live fulfilling lives. Jen also provides us with tips and advice on caring for senior birds, whose golden years often bring unique health concerns.

We also talk with Jen about life as a bird artist who not only creates stunning birb art but also dedicates her life to rescuing and rehabilitating special-needs birds. Listen as she shares her journey of combining art and advocacy, bringing attention to these incredible creatures through her work while offering them the love and care they deserve.

Whether you're a bird lover, an artist, or someone passionate about animal rescue, this episode will inspire you by the resilience of birds and the humans who care for them. Tune in for an uplifting conversation about creativity, compassion, and the beauty of all living beings.

Key Points: 
🦜 Birds with special needs
🦜 Birds with Splay legs
🦜 How to support blind birds
🦜 Birds with Arthritis
🦜 Aggressive birds
🦜 Addressing Pluckers 
🦜 Birb Art and Inspire behind Birdhism 
🦜 The challenges of being a Bird Artist
🦜 How expensive do vet bills get?

Special Guests:
👉🏼 Jen from Birdhism is on a mission to inspire compassion for both birds and people through art, memes, and merch.

“It’s hard; it’s not for people who form attachments without being able to let go. That’s one of the biggest things doing bird rescue is being able to let go ”— Jen

Links:

• https://birdhism.com/ 

🥦 Freebies & EBOOKS: https://poodlesandparrots.com/products
💻 Helpful Blogs: https://poodlesandparrots.com/
🎥 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/poodlesandparrots
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poodlesandparrots/
🦜 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparrotpodcast/
📌 Pinterest: pinterest.com/poodlesandparrots

In this episode, we take flight with the aviator harness for birds! We sit down with the CEO of The Parrot University to explore the story of how this innovative product came to be. Julias shares aviator harness options and guides us through choosing the perfect size for your feathered babies! Learn essential training techniques for getting your bird comfortable with the harness, and discover tips for safe and enjoyable outdoor adventures.🧭🌲⛰️🏞️

Key Points:

• How was the Aviator Harness created?
• What is the size guide?
• Why is this harness so safe?
• Why is it enrichment for birds
• Aviator Harness training tips
• Where are good places to go with your bird?
• What should we bring on our harness adventures?
• Step by step to getting your bird in a harness!
• Be careful of knock-off brands!
• Do's and don'ts every bird owner should know for outdoor adventures!

Special Guests:

👉🏼 CEO of The Parrot University, Julia Dettore, CPBT-KA @theparrotuniversity 

“We’re the first, and we really pride ourselves on the quality and safety. I’m using these with my own birds, so you know if I pull one off the shelf, I don’t want to lose my bird; I don’t want anybody to get their bird hurt either… From the start of the harness to the very end, quality is where we’re looking.”—Julia Dettore.

Julia combines her love for birds and knack for innovation to create top-notch products and services for our feathered friends. Her journey started at an aviary as a teen, and she hasn’t looked back since. She honed her skills at the Columbus Zoo and later studied Animal Science at Ohio State University.

With over a decade in the animal industry, Julia is all about making life better for our feathered friends. She’s led the Aviator Harness to reach bird lovers in over 100 countries, always focusing on quality and care. Passionate about positive reinforcement training and holistic bird health, Julia’s mission is to educate and empower pet owners everywhere.

Links:

• https://www.aviatorharness.com/  👉🏼💸DISCOUNT: THEPARROTPODCAST
• https://www.facebook.com/AviatorHarness 
• https://poodlesandparrots.com/blog/posts/safe-wood-branches-and-trees 
• https://poodlesandparrots.com/blog/posts/safe-and-unsafe-household-plants 

🥦 Freebies & EBOOKS: https://poodlesandparrots.com/products
💻 Helpful Blogs: https://poodlesandparrots.com/
🎥 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/poodlesandparrots
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poodlesandparrots/
🦜 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparrotpodcast/
📌 Pinterest: pinterest.com/poodlesandparrots

In this episode, I sit down to chat with Adele from Wildlife Unleashed, a passionate conservationist dedicated to creating safe havens for some of the most stunning birds, including Amazon parrots, macaws, Major Mitchell cockatoos, and red-tailed black cockatoos and many other animals! We discuss what it takes to run a sanctuary, free flight tips, flock enrichment, and more! Adele also shares insights on Australian wildlife and how their dedication is channelled through wildlife education programs aimed at inspiring and educating the public about the vital importance of conservation.

Key Points:

• Journey to starting Wildlife Unleashed
• What it’s like to have 19 parrots AND 88 ANIMALS!
• Macaws, Amazons, Major Mitchell Cockatoos, Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos, Gang-gang Cockatoos and more!!
• Free flight tips
• Enrichment and Large Aviaries
• The best and worst parts of starting a sanctuary 
• Australian Wildlife👀
• Tidbits on saltwater crocs, lizards, snakes, owls and magpies

Special Guests:

• Adele Bender from Wildlife Unleashed @adelebender_, @wildlifeunleashed_

“In captivity, we can never provide what they would naturally in the wildlife, you know. If they're not compatible, they just fly off and have this endless amount of space to get away from each other”—Adele Bender.   

Links:

• https://www.wildlifeunleashed.com.au/ 

🥦 Freebies & EBOOKS: https://poodlesandparrots.com/products
💻 Helpful Blogs: https://poodlesandparrots.com/
🎥 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/poodlesandparrots
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poodlesandparrots/
🦜 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparrotpodcast/
📌 Pinterest: pinterest.com/poodlesandparrots

Looking for tips from an avian vet tips for healthy parrots? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Octavio to help you with health tips for your parrots! From understanding our parrot's complex needs to shocking bloodwork results and identifying signs of illness early on. Discover the differences between healthy and unhealthy poops, and gain invaluable tips to keep your feathered fids thriving! 

Key Points:
🦜 What does a healthy bird poop look like?
🦜 Signs of illness
🦜 Fractures and broken bones 
🦜 Healthy tips & Household dangers
🦜 Shocking bloodwork results in parrots! 
🦜 Can parrots get cancer?
🦜 Can parrots be allergic to certain foods?
🦜 Heavy metal poisoning 
🦜 The dangers of preparing formula
🦜 Risks of Surgery on Parrots
🦜 How often should we go for vet visits?
🦜 What types of testing should we be doing?
🦜 Feather plucking and feather imping 

Special Guests:
🩺 Dr. Octavio Lisboa, Avian vet with more than 18 years of exclusive experience in bird care!

“It's very important to keep checking the droppings; buy one kitchen scale for we keep checking the weight of your parrot, if it's possible, every day, every week because if they are losing weight, some problem is happening and also behaviour” - Dr. Octavio Lisboa.   

Links:
📲 https://linktr.ee/avian.medicine 
📲 https://www.avianmedicinecourses.com/ 

🥦 Freebies & EBOOKS: https://poodlesandparrots.com/products
💻 Helpful Blogs: https://poodlesandparrots.com/
🎥 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/poodlesandparrots
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poodlesandparrots/
🦜 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparrotpodcast/
📌 Pinterest: pinterest.com/poodlesandparrots

Want to know where to get the best parrot cages? & How to travel the world? In this episode, I share our recent updates and answer questions from a Q&A! I talk about where we got our Mia's cage and explore various options from different brands and places to help you find the best parrot cages! Learn about Parrot ID, including what it is and how it works. I also cover Bird-Friendly Airlines for domestic and international travel, discussing which allows your birds to fly in the cabin or cargo. Tune in for all this and more to keep your birds happy and healthy! 🎙️🦜

Key Points:

• Updates at The Parrot Podcast HQ
•  How old was Mia when we got her?
• Mia’s favourite foods 
• Where did we get our cage?
• Can I leave my bird if I commute to work/school?
• How often do I rotate cage toys?
• Parrot ID - Why do birds have leg bands?
• Bird-Friendly Airlines for domestic/international travel
• Should we be blow-drying our birds?

Links:

• https://poodlesandparrots.com/products 
• https://poodlesandparrots.com/blog
• https://www.instagram.com/theparrotpodcast/ 

🥦 Freebies & EBOOKS: https://poodlesandparrots.com/products
💻 Helpful Blogs: https://poodlesandparrots.com/
🎥 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/poodlesandparrots
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poodlesandparrots/
🦜 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparrotpodcast/
📌 Pinterest: pinterest.com/poodlesandparrots

Join Julie and me as we dive into the behind-the-scenes of birds found in big chain pet stores, share bird hacks, and offer tips for keeping your fids happy and healthy! We'll also discuss crucial topics like the impact of heavy metals on your pets, the importance of regular vet visits, and so much more! 

Key Points:

• Stories from Working at Big Chain Stores
• Debunking Instagram Birb myths
• Bird Hacks
• Interspecies Relationships: Cats & Birds!
• What do Black Feathers mean?
• Kale Crisps and Veggie Hacks
• Household Dangers and Heavy Metal Toxicity
• Arlo’s Vet Visit
• Makeup and Skincare Around Birds
• Black Capped Conures 
• Bird Cage Brands & Set Up Tips

Special Guests:

• Julie, @arlobirb

“So many pet owners out there or people who try to buy pets are not giving their pets a good life. I’ve seen it all…” - Julie.  

Links:

• https://www.instagram.com/arlobirb/ 

Connect with us on Instagram @theparrotpodcast

🥦 Freebies & EBOOKS: https://poodlesandparrots.com/products
💻 Helpful Blogs: https://poodlesandparrots.com/
🎥 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/poodlesandparrots
📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poodlesandparrots/
🦜 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparrotpodcast/
📌 Pinterest: pinterest.com/poodlesandparrots