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[Music Plays]
>Kate Pleasant: Coming up on
this episode of the Paw Report,
we're talking about birds.
Chaley Miller from
PetSmart in Mattoon is
here, and she's going to
teach us all the things
that we need to know if
we're thinking about
getting a bird at our house.
Stay tuned, that's coming
up next on the Paw Report.
[Music Plays]
>Kate: Production for the
Paw Report is made
possible by: Midas Auto
Service and Tire in
Charleston and Mattoon.
Midas repairs both cars
and light trucks.
Midas cares about our
community and thanks you
for being a responsible
pet owner.
You deserve the Midas touch.
>>Kate: Hello, and welcome to
the Paw Report.
I'm your host, Kate Pleasant.
And today, I'm joined by
Chaley Miller from
PetSmart in Mattoon.
Thanks for coming, Chaley.
>>Chaley Miller: You're
welcome, thank you.
>>Kate Pleasant: And Chaley
I guess you'd say is a
bird expert. [Chuckles]
You told me
earlier you're a bird
person at least, right?
>>Chaley Miller: Yes. I am.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
And so, tell me about your
history with birds.
You've had birds?
>>Chaley Miller: Oh, I've
had them since a child, yeah.
Always had a parakeet, or
I even went as far as have
a blue and gold macaw, so.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
Are those rare?
>>Chaley Miller: Not anymore.
They used to be,
but not anymore.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
And so, what got you
interested in birds,
even as a child?
>>Chaley Miller: I just,
I love them.
>>Kate Pleasant: [Chuckles]
ou just love birds.
>>Chaley Miller: I love them.
I fed the wild birds as a
child with my grandma, and
I just love birds.
They're just free and wonderful.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
And so, you know, I don't
know a lot about birds, so
this will be very
interesting for me and
maybe some of those
viewers out there that
haven't had birds before either.
If I was thinking about
getting a bird, what are
some things I would
need to know?
>>Chaley Miller: Well, you
would know, you could
probably go online and
look and see the different
types of birds that you
would like to have.
The beginner bird would
be your finches.
>>Kate Pleasant: Like the
ones that we have here on
the table, right?
>>Chaley Miller: Yes. They're
very easy to take care of.
They cannot be domesticated.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
>>Chaley Miller: They don't
like the hand.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, you
know, they aren't the kind of
birds that sit on your fingers
and those kinds of things?
>>Chaley Miller: No.
If you took one as, maybe
after it hatched out of an
egg and hand fed it, then
maybe it might.
Recently, I've heard of
people finding little
birds on the sidewalk that
have been knocked out of
the nest, and they're
saving them.
And they're making pets
out of them.
I know a lady with a
sparrow and a starling.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
That's different, because
you don't really hear
about, you know, I guess "wild"
birds becoming domesticated.
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah.
Well, when they come out
of the egg, they're going
to attache to whatever's
going to take care of them.
So, if it's a person,
there you go.
You'll be its mama.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, they
make their imprint on
whoever they see when
they hatch out.
>>Chaley Miller: Right.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
And so, you said finches
are good beginner birds.
What would you classify as
like a beginner bird?
Why would you say that?
>>Chaley: Because it's easy.
They're easy to take care of.
They're a joy to watch.
They're always busy; they
want to build nests, they
lay tons of eggs.
So, if you wanted to start
out, I'd start out with
either two females or two males.
>>Kate Pleasant: So that
you don't have lots of eggs.
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah.
The females might go ahead
and lay anyway, but
they're not going to be
fertilized eggs, so
they're not going to hatch.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
Can you talk about that
a little bit?
You know, laying eggs, how
often birds generally do
that, and the difference
between the fertilized
and the non-fertilized.
>>Chaley Miller: Okay.
Well, you need the male to
have them fertilized.
And you can candle them.
If you pick them up out of
the nest, you know, on
your phone, you can have
the flashlight and hold it
up there, you can see
the yolk in it.
Now, if it's not fertile,
you're not going to
see very much.
But if it is, you're going
to see that yolk.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, you
get that round kind of
yolk inside of the egg
there, so that's how you
can tell if it's fertile.
>>Chaley Miller: Yes, just
like a little chicken egg.
>>Kate Pleasant: I see, so
they're just like that.
So, do most all
birds lay eggs, then?
>>Chaley Miller: Yes.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
Female birds, I guess
I would say.
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah.
>>Kate Pleasant: Alright.
Okay, so what are some
other good beginner birds?
I know you said finches;
what are some others?
>>Chaley Miller: Parakeets;
parakeets are excellent to
have because you can tame them.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
>>Chaley Miller: It takes a
little patience.
And once they tame, boy
they want to be on you
all the time.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, they're
the kind you can
carry around or take
with you anywhere.
>>Chaley: Yes. Yes, you can.
And if you keep their
wings clipped so they
can't fly away, then
you're doing really good.
>>Kate Pleasant: That was
my next question, you
know, about clipping wings.
Is that a standard practice?
>>Chaley Miller: Yes, it
is, anymore it is.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
And that just keeps them
from flying away?
>>Chaley Miller: They can
still fly, but they can't
get any lift.
They can't, you know,
get up high.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
So, what's the
advantage to that?
>>Chaley Miller: If it gets
away from you, you can get
it back pretty quick,
especially if it's a big bird.
A lot of people buy vests
and jackets for them with
a harness anymore, yeah,
and you can take them with you.
So, they can't get away.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, is
that like a leash?
Is it like a bird leash?
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah, mmhmm.
It's a little vest that
fits right on, and it has
a little clip on the back
with a leash.
>>Kate Pleasant: Interesting.
I don't know if I've ever
seen a bird on a leash, so
that would be something new.
Is that something you can
buy at your garden
variety pet store?
>>Chaley Miller: Yes, you can.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
I didn't, I never even
thought about that.
So, you can take them
outside that way, and they
couldn't get away.
>>Chaley Miller: Right.
That's right.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, what
kinds of equipment do you
need if you're going to
get a bird?
What's your setup going
to look like?
>>Chaley Miller: Okay.
Well, this little cage is
a travel cage.
This is not something they
would permanently live in.
You would need a bigger cage.
Up to the biggest, you can
buy flight cages.
You would need, you know,
your seed or pellets.
Sometimes, people like to
put them on pellets
because that way, it's not
quite as messy.
Seed, they hull that seed,
and then hulls go everywhere.
So then, you'll need your
perches and your water.
You need paper for the
bottom, or any other
corn cob bedding.
>>Kate Pleasant: I was going
to say there's different
types of bedding.
>>Chaley Miller: There's
different types of bedding.
It's all to your
preference what you would like.
>>Kate Pleasant: What are
some of the differences?
You know, there's paper,
and then there's corn cob.
You know, is there, is it
just different
absorbencies, or is it...?
>Chaley Miller: Well, the
corn cob, and also
pelleted papers like kitty
litter, keeps the odor down.
If you have a lot of
birds, you know, and that
helps keep the odor down.
This is just tissue paper.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, would
you recommend people
getting birds in pairs?
Is it the kind of thing,
they like to have company?
>>Chaley Miller: Well, with
finches, yes.
You know, because there
are society finches, where
they want to live in a
society, and they love
company of their own kind.
You can mix societies
and zebras.
>>Kate Pleasant: And these
are zebras, correct?
>>Chaley Miller: Yes, these
are your zebra finches.
And the little white one
is a mutation.
If it was a little gray male,
it would have orange cheeks.
That's how you tell the
males from the females.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
And is that, you know,
kind of similar, you know,
I think of cardinals a lot
when you think of male
and female birds.
You know, the females are
actually less colorful and
maybe "pretty" than the males.
Is that kind of true
throughout the bird community?
>>Chaley Miller: Well, it's
mostly the males are more
colorful, and the
females are duller.
That way, if a predator
comes after them, they're
going to go after the
pretty thing.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
The males, so the females
will be able to stick
around and continue.
So, okay.
And so, you said, you
know, you need a cage.
And do smaller birds need
smaller cages, or are they fine?
>>Chaley: Not necessarily,
not necessarily.
They love flight cages so
they can fly around.
Finches are excellent flyers.
>>Kate Pleasant: Is that
something that would take
up a lot of space in
your home, I guess?
>>Chaley Miller: Well,
depending on your home and
what kind of aviary
habitat you want them to
be set up in, a small cage
is fine.
You know, it's all your
preference and your size
of home what you would
like to have.
>>Kate Pleasant: Mmhmm.
So, would a beginner need
something like finches?
I mean, can you take on
something like an African
grey, which are, I know,
long living birds, or do
you need some experience
for different types?
>>Chaley Miller: Well, not
necessary. You could just
do all your research,
find out everything you need to
know and what your'e
going to expect.
Because, some of those
parrots can live up to 80 years.
>>Kate Pleasant: That is
a long time.
YOu know, we think about a
lot of companion animals
like dogs and cats, you
know, 10, 20 years
maximum, and you're
talking here 80 years.
That's a long time for a pet.
>>Chaley Miller: You can
hand that down, you know,
to your kids.
You know, pass it on, yeah.
And they get attached
to one person.
You know, they want to be
with that person all the time.
>>Kate Pleasant: That is
it, what are bird
personalities like?
You know, because with
dogs and cats, it's a
loyalty thing, there's
some interaction; is there
that with birds?
>>Chaley Miller: There is.
They know you.
They know who you are,
they know what to expect
from you, what you're
going to do for them.
They depend, everything in
their little lives
depends on you.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, they
kind of form a bond just
like a dog or a cat will.
>>Chaley: They do, they do.
>>Kate Pleasant: And what
is it that you enjoy so
much about having birds?
>>Chaley Miller: I just love
to watch them.
Little finches are busy
all the time.
>>Kate Pleasant: These guys
have been pretty quiet.
>>Chaley Miller: They have.
Well, they're in
unfamiliar surroundings,
you know, and they're in
the little cage.
They don't care
too much for that.
But they were singing on
the way over, so yeah.
>>Kate: So, in the car, huh?
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah, so
they're doing pretty good.
>>Kate Pleasant: hat is
the care of a bird like?
What's the daily routine
like with birds?
>>Chaley Miller: A daily
routine, you want to make
sure they have fresh food.
Even if there's old seed
in the cup, it's best to
replace it with fresh.
And fresh water.
Anything you would like to
have for yourself.
And you want to give
them fresh paper.
You know, and if there's
spot cleaning, you know,
if the perches are dirty
or some parts of the cage
are dirty, you want to
spot clean that off.
And then weekly, it'd be
best to take the birds out
and disinfect everything.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
So, would you put them in
a cage like this at
that time maybe?
>>Chaley Miller: Yes, this
would be perfect.
>>Kate Pleasant: And what do
you recommend for disinfecting?
>>Chaley Miller: What I use
at home is vinegar and water.
It's a great disinfectant.
You don't want to use
anything with chemicals in
it, because birds are very
sensitive to it, even dish soap.
You can use dish soap, but
you have to rinse, and
rinse, and rinse, and
rinse because some of that
residue can be left on
plastic, and even on glass.
So, they'll be getting
that in their little systems.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, vinegar's
probably a good
bet because nice...
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah,
vinegar and water.
>>Kate Pleasant: That's
something most people
probably have on hand at home.
>>Chaley Miller: Sure, it is.
Because, you know, it's
great for cleaning
windows, glass, or mirrors.
>>Kate Pleasant: Right.
So, what about being dirty?
I know before we came on,
you talked about birds
don't really like to be dirty.
>>Chaley Miller: No, they don't.
They want a clean
environment, and they just
love it when you finally
do clean them up.
>>Kate Pleasant: They can tell?
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah, they
just get so excited.
They love vegetables; the
mixed frozen vegetables
are really good.
And when you give them
those vegetables, you
know, after you've cleaned
them up, and they're just
so excited and happy.
My birds at home know when
I'm fixing them
vegetables; they're
hanging on the side of the
cage just chirping and
carrying on, waiting for me.
>>Kate Pleasant: How many
birds do you have at home?
>>Chaley Miller: I have way
too many.
>>Kate: You get so many,
you don't even count, right?
>>Chaley Miller: Exactly.
Well, not really.
I've got eight parakeets
right now, and I've got 12
finches and two canaries.
>>Kate Pleasant: Wow.
That's a few birds.
>>Chaley Miller: Yes.
Well, some of them I've rescued.
You know, people, they buy
things, and then they
decide they don't want
them anymore.
And so, I'll take it.
>>Kate Pleasant: [Chuckles]
Is that something around
here, you know, that if
someone bought one and
didn't want it, do they
take it to a shelter?
Or do they end up coming
back into pet stores?
>>Chaley Miller: You can
take, Coles County will
take, or any of the
shelters probably
would take it.
There's also a rescue in
Champaign, and they
will take them.
I think there's a fee
that, you know, you have
to pay for them to take it.
>>Kate Pleasant: Sure.
Well, because then they
have to keep that, you
know, maintain it until
they can find it a home, so.
But what would you
recommend to people so
that doesn't happen?
You know, what do they
need to know so they don't
get tired of a bird?
Or so they don't get one
in the first place if
they aren't ready?
>>Chaley Miller: Well, they
need to thoroughly do
their research. That's why
I brought these books.
These books are excellent
for telling all about, you
know, their requirements,
food and housings, and it
tells all about their
bodies and what they look like,
their characteristics,
how long they live.
Some, you know, like I
told you, some birds can
live to 80 years.
>>Kate Pleasant: Right.
That's a big commitment.
>>Chaley Miller: Finches
life spans' anywhere from
five to eight.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay, so
more like a dog or a cat
maybe, closer. A little less.
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah.
Now, your parakeets, they
can go from 10 to 12,
canaries 15.
So, you know, you've got
to think about these
things if you're going to
get a pet because, you
know, they need
maintenance and requirements.
But the joy that I get
from just watching them is
enough to warrant me doing
the maintenance and
spending the money on the food.
You have to think about,
you know, the money thing, too.
>>Kate Pleasant: That was
going to be my next question.
Money, you know: what does
it cost to get a set up
going, and then what does
it cost in food?
>>Chaley Miller: Well, for
these two finches, and if
you were starting from
scratch with a new cage,
depending on your cage
size, it would probably be
close to 60 dollars.
>>Kate Pleasant: Mmhmm.
So, that would be set up.
And then, I assume, you
know, you always hear "eat
like a bird," do they
eat very much?
>>Chaley: Oh, yes they do.
>>Kate Pleasant: They eat a lot?
>>Chaley Miller: Yes, they do.
>>Kate Pleasant: So really,
when we say "eat like a
bird," we should really mean
you're eating a lot. [Chuckles]
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah, because
I don't know
where that ever came from.
>>Kate Pleasant: It is a
funny thing.
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah, they
have very high metabolisms.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, they
eat constantly.
>>Chaley: They eat constantly.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
And I would assume that,
you know, it's same,
similar to other pet food,
cat food, dog food, that
there's different kinds of
qualities and different
costs involved.
>>Chaley Miller: Yes, there is.
You can buy, you know,
generic seed, or you can
buy the best seed there is.
There's different brands;
you just have to read the
ingredients, just like
in people food.
>>Kate Pleasant: Do birds
have common problems?
You know, like certain
breeds of dogs and things
have hip dysplasia, common
problems like that.
Do birds have problems
that are normal?
>>Chaley Miller: Well, they
can have, you know, they
can get respiratory infections.
They can't be exposed
to air fresheners.
There's chemicals in that,
even the spray and the
plug ins, or any kind of
bleach cleaners, floor
cleaners, that kind of thing.
Any, if you keep them in
the kitchen, your cookware
puts off toxic fumes if
you get it too hot.
>>Kate Pleasant: I see.
That's something I
wouldn't have considered.
>>Chaley Miller: Yes.
Oven cleaners and your
self cleaning oven will
kill a bird.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
>>Chaley Miller: Yes.
If you have birds, and you
want to use your self
cleaning oven, it's best
to take them out of the house.
>>Kate Pleasant: Fully
outside the home then, not
just into another room.
>>Chaley Miller: No, because
it goes all through the house.
Kate Pleasant: Is that the
same with cleaning in general?
If you're going to use
chemicals and things like
that, should you remove
the birds from the house?
>>Chaley Miller: I do.
And candles, candles are a
bad thing for them, too.
>>Kate Pleasant: I guess
they would have the scents and
the chemicals in them, as well.
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah, and
they put out the smoke.
And some of the candles
are lead wicks, so you're
burning lead, you know,
and it's bad for the
little things.
>>Kate Pleasant: Those are
things that we probably do
everyday that we wouldn't
consider, but it would be
good to know if you had birds.
>>Chaley Miller: You know,
you don't think about a
lot of that.
>>Kate Pleasant: Is there
an ideal placement for a
birdcage in a home?
I mean, is there a spot
they like to be?
>>Chaley Miller: Well, they
need natural daylight.
And if you're going to
have them in a dark light,
you're going to need a
UVA/UVB light on them,
because they need that light.
They can actually be
colorblind without
the UVA/UVB light.
>>Kate Pleasant: Interesting.
So, maybe by a window.
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah, but
not a sunny window.
I mean, if it just got a
little sun, like a morning
sun, that would be perfect.
But evening, afternoon
sun, you know, if can
be pretty hot.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, they
are temperature sensitive.
>>Chaley Miller: es, they
can get heat exhaustion.
>>Kate Pleasant: And so, is
there a certain
temperature you should
keep your home?
You know, I know they say
with, you know, there are
certain temperatures for
animals, things like that,
shouldn't get above and
below, most animals are
pretty tolerant.
But what about birds?
>>Chaley Miller: Well,
they're pretty tolerant.
These little guys, they
need a temperature of, I
don't know, 72 to 85,
they'd be fine.
But most people keep their
houses at that.
Even 68 is not too cold.
But they can get chills,
and that will bring on the
respiratory or other
infections, and they
succumb pretty quick.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
>>Chaley Miller: Yes.
>>Kate Pleasant: ow would
you know that a bird had a
respiratory infection?
>>Chaley Miller: It would
sit there all fluffed up
and have its head tucked in.
All the other ones will be
active around it.
Or it will sit in the floor.
By the time a bird will
show any signs of stress or
illness, it's pretty far gone.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
>>Chaley Miller: Because,
in the wild, they protect
themselves, and they don't
let anything know that
they're ill.
>>Kate Pleasant: Because,
they would be, you know,
predatorized then.
>>Chaley Miller: Yes, they
have a lot of predators
after them.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, is
there veterinary checkups
that are required for birds?
>>Chaley: Not required, no.
But if they get ill, if,
you know, you'd want to
take them to the vet
because they do suffer.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, I assume,
could your average
veterinarian see a bird,
or do you have to go to a
special one, or...?
>>Chaley Miller: Well, it
would depend on the vet.
Some vets refuse.
>>Kate Pleasant: Some vets
don't do birds.
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah.
And the U of I has a great
aviary veterinarian there.
There's also an all
creatures animal hospital;
they take care of birds, too.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay, so
there are options in our
area for, to see birds.
>>Chaley Miller: Yes, there is.
>>Kate Pleasant: If your
normal veterinarian can't
or won't see birds.
>>Chaley Miller: Right,
there is plenty of options.
You can even call your vet.
And there's a lot of
information online, and
these books always have a
health: understanding your
bird, and a health:
ailments in here.
And it gives you...
>>Kate Pleasant: Different
kinds of breeds and
things like that.
Kind of diagnose those or
see them, I guess.
>>Chaley Miller: Exactly,
what you're looking for.
And a lot of times, they
tell you what to do.
So, you can do it yourself.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, you
can help treat the bird
at home maybe.
>>Chaley Miller: Right.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
So, maybe they're not
quite as complicated as
some other animals.
>>Chaley Miller: I don't
think they are.
Sometimes, just a teaspoon
of honey in their water
will straighten them right out.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, home
remedies work, too.
>>Chaley Miller: Yes, they do.
>>Kate Pleasant: That's
very interesting.
Birds, quite, I'm learning
a lot today.
They're very interesting
little creatures.
>>Chaley Miller: Well, I'm glad.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, is
there types of birds that
talk, and things like that?
You know, people are very
interested in those
kinds of birds?
>>Chaley Miller: Your
parrots, your parakeets
will talk, too.
>>Kate: So they talk less?
>>Chaley Miller: It takes
them a while, and they're
not quite as
understandable, or you
can't really understand
them as well.
You can hear their words
every now and then, but...
>>Kate Pleasant: But
they're not very clear.
>>Chaley Miller: Yeah.
With your macaws and your
African greys, and those
types, they can really talk.
>>Kate Pleasant: And is it
an intelligence factor?
I mean, are they easy to teach?
>>Chaley Miller: The males,
the males are mostly the
ones that will talk.
You just have to, it's
repetitive; you just have
to keep repeating what you
want it to say.
And once it hears it
enough, it doesn't think
it's a bird anymore, so
it's going to start talking.
[Laughs]
>Kate Pleasant: So, they mimic
sounds, is that kind of
what they're doing?
>>Chaley Miller: Right.
>>Kate Pleasant: I know that
I've had friends with
birds, or heard stories
about birds, you know, and
if they hear something
enough, they start
repeating it.
You know, the sound of a
door creaking, or a word
that they hear
somebody say often.
>>Chaley Miller: Or
something on TV:
Andy Griffith song.
>>Kate Pleasant: I taught a
bird that one as a kid.
My neighbor down the
street had a parakeet, I
think it was, and it could
only do like the first
four notes because it
wasn't quite as...
He later got an African
grey that could actually
do a lot more, but this
bird started with the Andy
Griffith theme song, and
he would say "Polly want a
cracker," because, you
know, that's a good common
phrase for birds, I guess.
>>Chaley Miller: It is.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, what
else, you know, would you
tell somebody that came in
and said, "I think I
want a bird."
What else would you say to them?
>>Chaley Miller: Well, I
would just tell them, you
know, which bird are
you interested in?
>>Kate Pleasant: Is it a
lot looks?
You know, when people come
in, do they like what
certain birds look like, or...?
>>Chaley Miller: It is.
It's a lot of looks,
especially with your
parakeets, because they're
all different colors.
And some people prefer a
yellow over a green, or
vice versa, you know, so.
>>Kate Pleasant: And I
guess it would be what
you'd want to look at
everyday because you're
going to have that bird
in your home.
>>Chaley Miller: Exactly.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, it can
come down to looks, and
preference, as well, I
guess, if you want a
songbird or one of the
birds that talks.
Are there birds that are
quieter than others?
>>Chaley Miller: es, there
is, you know.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, if you
didn't want a bird
that talked really?
>>Chaley Miller: Your
female canaries don't make
a whole lot of noise.
They will sing a little
bit, but not a whole lot,
whereas your males can
really be loud.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
>>Chaley Miller: Really sing.
But then other times, they
don't sing at all, so
they're not making any
noise at all.
>>Kate Pleasant: So birds
get along good with other
animals in the home?
I mean, are they safe to
have in the home with dogs
or cats, or reptiles, or...?
>>Chaley Miller: You have
to be cautious,
especially if you let your
bird fly around.
Now, with your parrots,
you have to accustom your
parrot to the dog and your cat.
>>Kate: How do you do that?
>>Chaley Miller: Introduce
them slowly.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
I mean, is this a cage to
face thing, or is this a
face to face thing?
>>Chaley Miller: A face to
face I would do, if your
parrot is already tame.
Now, the smaller birds, I
would keep them away.
>>Kate Pleasant: Just keep
them up higher maybe, if
you were going to have
them in the home?
>>Chaley Miller: Yes,
especially from cats,
because cats, they
automatically want to, you
know, kill birds.
>>Kate Pleasant: t's an
instinct, right.
>>Chaley Miller: It is, it
is an instinct.
They can't help it.
>>Kate Pleasant: We see it
in cartoons.
You know, the cat's always
after the bird, so I guess
it's true in real life, as well.
>>Chaley Miller: It is.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
So, is there any other
recommendations you would make?
What about children and birds?
You know, is that a good...?
>>Chaley Miller: Children are
usually really
good around birds.
>>Kate Pleasant: Really?
>>Chaley Miller: Because
they want to learn, and
they want to know.
And most kids respect
other lives, you know, animals.
Kids are pretty good with birds.
They're patient, too.
>>Kate Pleasant: So, they
wouldn't make a bad pet at
home, maybe, for children.
>>Chaley Miller: o, they
would not make a bad pet at all.
>>Kate Pleasant: Okay.
Well, Chaley Miller from
PetSmart in Mattoon, we
appreciate you coming in
and teaching us a little
bit about birds...
>>Chaley: Well, thank you.
>>Kate Pleasant: And bringing
these beautiful
finches in today.
So, hopefully everybody
has a little bit better
idea of what it's all
about having a bird at home.
>>Chaley Miller: Well, I
hope so, too.
I mean, it's a nice pet to
have, you know.
>>Kate Pleasant: Yeah.
Well, we appreciate you
coming in today.
>>Chaley: Well, thank you.
>>Kate Pleasant: Thanks.
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