Study Bird Keeping with this in depth course
Learn to keep and care as birds for pets or for a business with an online course.
Learn about their diet, health, and housing - understand the importance of each of these in ensuring the good health of your bird.
Learn about breeding, behaviour and training.
Gain knowledge about the bird industry.
Lesson Structure
1. Scope and Nature of Bird Care
Introduction.
Selection.
Grooming.
Hygiene.
Terminology.
2.Breeds
Bird types.
Choosing a bird.
Commonly kept birds.
3. Housing Birds
Aviaries.
Minimum requirements for keeping birds.
Water, feeding and stimulation equipment.
4. Feed and Nutrition
Feed and feeding.
Watering.
Nutritional requirements.
5. Health Management
Caring for the sick bird.
Safety on the home.
Traveling.
Common ailments.
6. Bird Behaviour and Training
Catching/restraining.
Behaviour.
Training.
7. Breeding
Sexing and Desexing.
Breeding.
Welfare.
Reproduction.
Neo-natal care.
8. Working in the Bird Industry
Pet trade and breeding.
Showing.
Avian health.
Pigeon racing.
Falconry.
Zoos and Wildlife Parks.
Avian tourism.
Farming birds for meat, eggs, feathers or oils.
Birds for pest control.
Bird fertilizer - manure.
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
COURSE AIMS
Discuss the nature and scope of aviculture and develop networking with others involved with aviculture.
Determine appropriate types of birds to keep for different purposes.
To consider and choose appropriate housing for a range of different types of captive birds.
Outline the feeding requirements of a range of different captive birds.
Describe management techniques for the health of a range of different birds.
Appreciate behavioural traits of any birds you keep, and understand how to properly manage and respond to those traits; and if so desired, train the birds you keep.
Manage the breeding of different types of birds.
Identify opportunities for working in the aviculture industry.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Consider 4 specific areas of bird care. For example, one area may be feeding and nutrition. Find out about the products and services which are available in your locality for each area you chose.
Research up to 3 birds native to your country: Aim to find out as much as you can about their former and current uses if any.
In the event you cannot find information about native breeds (of any species), you should aim to find out about introduced species - the reasons for their introduction and where they originated from.
Research the range of housing options for any type of birds you are specifically interested in.
From your research estimate the total cost of setting up a new housing system. Include nesting, feeding, watering, lighting, temperature control and ventilation in your design.
Visit or contact a feed supplies shop or pet shop and evaluate the various feeds sold to bird keepers. Consider cost versus nutritional quality in your assessment.
For this activity you should aim to focus your attention on feed that is specifically designed for a species of your choice e.g. pigeons.
Connect with at least 2 bird owners who have birds with former or ongoing illness. Discuss with them the illness and the treatments which the bird undergoes. Ask questions about the how the illness affects the birds overall wellbeing. Ask about the nature of the illness and the long term management of the illness.
Observe a bird in its natural habitat. Consider its interactions with any other birds which were nearby at the time. Take notes on how the birds interact or any other noticeable behaviours of birds.
If it is not possible to complete this task observing birds in real life – watch online video(s) to complete this observation of behaviour activity.
Consider welfare when breeding birds either in captivity or in their natural habitats. You should find an approved captive breeding program which is of particular interest to you. Take notes or record as much information as possible about the program. An example of a bird species in an intensive breeding program may be the Orange Bellied Parrot or the Corncrake.
Consider specifically the individual health and welfare of the breeding pairs - the lack of knowledge of human populations and the possible impacts on breeding programs in natural environments e.g. habitat destruction.
Using websites which advertise available positions search under animal related jobs, find at least three roles which require knowledge of bird care and/or management.
Examine the roles and find out what qualifications (if any) are needed to successfully meet the application criteria for each.