Good senior bird care is important for any bird owner. Proper nutrition, veterinary care, grooming, and exercise can become increasingly important as your bird ages. Dietary concerns and health issues can be among the most important things to deal with in regard to senior bird care. As birds age, their digestive systems may begin to slow down. One marked change is usually in the metabolic rate of older birds, which is significantly slower than that of younger birds. It is important to make sure your senior bird eats a healthy diet. Since he will metabolize his food more slowly, portion control also becomes a serious consideration at this point, to keep your senior bird from packing on excess pounds. Obesity can exacerbate other problems associated with normal aging, so keeping your senior bird’s weight in check is important. By contrast, some older birds compensate for the slower metabolism by decreasing the amount of food they eat. These senior birds may show signs of weight loss rather than gain. As birds age, their immune systems become less able to fight off infections and disease. Be sure to bring your senior bird to the vet each year to have her health checked. If your senior bird is normally a healthy breed and there are no breed-specific issues to be concerned with, you may still need to contend with age-related issues. Normal aging issues among birds include degenerative eye disorders and muscle wasting from lack of exercise. Keeping your bird active through his senior years can help keep him healthy. While it is normal for birds to slow down as they age, of course, maintaining physical activity can help alleviate some of the painful side effects of aging. play sessions may require a slower pace and may have to be of a shorter duration, but you should still encourage your senior bird to engage in regular play and exercise. Senior birds often show their age in their skin, especially wrinkles and pigment spots, also called age spots, on the faces and feet. Skin on the face and feet may also become thinner and more sensitive with age as well. Some breeds of birds will show less coloration in their feathers as they age. Senior bird care will help your bird progress into his older years in good health. Good regular veterinary care is more important than ever in the senior years. A nutritious diet and proper portion control, along with regular exercise, can also help keep your senior bird young.
