Bird care

You can keep a domestic bird as a pet in Moreland. Some birds need a permit. Make sure your birds do not annoy your neighbours with noise.

Council permit for some birds

You need a permit from Council to keep a:

• rooster 
• goose
• turkey
• peafowl
• cockatoo
• galah, or
• any bird that is not 'domestic'.

How many birds can you have?

Apply for a Council permit to keep four or more birds.

At a house, you can keep a maximum of:

• 6 chickens
• 40 domestic birds
• 40 racing pigeons, and
• 10 pigeons.

A unit can allow a maximum of five domestic birds. You cannot keep other kinds of birds.

You need a permit to keep four or more kinds of animals, including birds.

Train your bird to be quiet

1. At dawn and dusk, cover the cage or keep your bird inside the garage or house. Wild birds are very noisy at dawn or dusk. These are very social times for birds.
2. Do not give your bird attention when it squawks. It trains them to squawk for attention. Instead, give it attention when it is quiet.
3. Timing is important. When your bird squawks, act immediately.
4. Place a bed lamp or fan next to the cage with the electric lead plugged into a power point near you, but away from the bird. When the bird squawks, turn on the light or fan for two to three seconds. This distracts and slightly startles the bird. Turn the light or fan off and wait one minute. If the bird is still quiet, go to the cage and give the bird a little attention and maybe a food treat. Walk off and leave the bird for another minute. If the bird is still quiet, it is learning really well. Reward the bird with attention for a long time or perhaps take it out of the cage.
5. Get a remote doorbell from the supermarket and carry the doorbell button in your pocket. Place the bell next to the cage. When the bird squawks, press the doorbell button. Reward the bird's silence with attention or a treat.
6. Try the 'bad bird, good bird' technique. When the bird squawks, shout "Quiet!". Wait for silence for five to ten seconds and then praise the bird in a sweet voice. Say 'Good bird!'. Reward the bird for staying quiet.

Give your bird a comfortable environment

1. Have a big enough cage: A bird is unhappy in a small cage.
2. Put the bird's cage in a comfortable place all day. Watch wear the sun moves in the morning and afternoon. Don't put the cage in a hot, cold or windy place.
3. Give your bird different kinds of food, and healthy food like pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables.
4. Give your bird toys to play with. 
5. Give cockatoos some native tree branches instead of the wooden perch. Cockatoos love destroying things.

Links

• Brunswick Community Chook Group