We also have a love bird and cockatiel and we have left them outside where they are in proximity to wild birds. A CBS news story says you cannot get bird flu from parakeets.  Is this true and what do you recommend we do about our birds?\n\nThanks, Mike
128513
If you keep your parakeet isolated from other birds, it should have a very minimal chance of contracting the disease. The bird flu is spread by contact. It is possible that it might contract it from contact with you or your family. Wash your hands before coming in contact with the cage or the bird. There is also the possibility of having it on your clothes or shoes, but there is not a lot you can do about that. It will also help to keep the cage clean. Clean it daily. Also do not let the bird out of the cage. It might pick up the virus from around the house.
36107
Our service is not involved with raising chickens or poultry, so they will be fine.  So far, the avian flu is only contracted from direct contact with infected/sick birds.  It has not mutated to a form that is direct human to human transmission.
239186
I don't think you can use a crossbow on birds, but a longbow or compound bow can be used to take game birds in season.  A special type of fletching (feathers at nock end of shaft) called "flu-flu" radically slows arrow flight after 20 yards or so resulting in fewer lost arrows from shooting into the air.  Also a good safety feature for the same reason.  Use a wide rubber blunt tip to hunt with rather than a field point (practice) or broadhead (big-game hunting).  These kill with blunt force trauma and not blood loss or vital organ penetration.  Some bird points also have thin stiff wire loops sticking out to the side to ensnare the bird.  Check your local regulations as to seasons and weapons usage, though.  There is a famous video of Fred Bear (Bear Archery Founder) bagging rooster pheasants with a longbow.  Hope this helps.  Good hunting.
520468
Be careful! depending on where you live they may be protected and you could be fined or arrested for messing with them. I used to live in a neighborhood in Florida and the peacocks would roam free and there were laws protecting them.
611347
do you realize how stupid the first half of your question is?\nhas far as animals go,how do you think the birds who stay behind through the winter live through the winter?\nCome to think of it,the second half of your question is stupid too.
261845
My two cluckers came out of eggs.  Did you know that there are two chickens for every human being on earth?  That's a lot of cluckers.\n\n\nChickens rule.
357809
Check if the bird is caring for chicks.  In some species male or female sit on top of their chicks to protect them from predators, while his/her mate brings food.  Some species alternate .  If not, it might be wounded, hatching a dead egg or another number of reasons.  Probably caring for chicks though.
116294
The influenza virus has been around for a very long time. Various types of influenza occur in birds, pigs and cows. The closer the contact between humans and animals carrying their form of this virus, the greater the chance a human will be infected with a form of influenza.\n\nYou want to know the "reason" for the disease, I am afraid only someone who is omniscient could answer that question. This is like most diseases. Why is there a cold virus? I certainly don't know. What I do know is how it is transmitted.\n\nIf you wish to know everything known about avian influenza, its history and everything else, I will undertake a consulting contract and still not be able to answer all those questions as the answers are not know to medical science.\n\nWhat is your assignment? How many pages does your teacher wish and at what level? Please frame your question in somewhat specific terms. This is very much like asking what is the meaning of life.I can only answer parts of the question. Break it into parts and I will try to help you.
36205
I live in a country where the bird flu has just hit. Thank god it's put under control - but a precautions list was released in the paper recently. Generally, you can still eat the chicken and its eggs (even if it is sick) - but they will have to be THOROUGHLY cooked. That means, no runny yolk from eggs, and no pink parts on the chicken. It has to be really, really cooked that the chicken is completely white, and bone marrows are burnt dark brown. No blood. No pink parts.\n\nThe virus (if present) in the chicken will die from the heat. So no worries there...\n\nAlso, when dealing with chickens - it's best to wear rubber disposable gloves and avoid contact with the chicken at all costs. Always scrub and wash the tools and place where you cut the chicken for preparation. Wear a mask if you want to..\n\nThe bird flu is here, and it just made cooking a whole lot harder. But the good news is: you can still eat at your favorite KFC... =P
39039
No. Also, with bird flue being so wide-spread, I wouldn't really like anything raw coming from a bird.
230426
I don't think the male will incubate the eggs. I believe that only female eggs incubate eggs. I think you should take the birds to a shelter or store or something so they can live.
145024
I am in the health care field and I would like to tell you that this is ridiculous.  The media is going around scaring people again.  The bird flu has less then a 3 percent chance of ever mutating into a human virus.  It may come here and be something like the west nile virus, killing a few elderly and young.  This reminds me of SARS again, a virus being overblown when in actuality it is almost harmless.  Wake up people and learn things for yourself instead of listening to whatever the tv says.
149945
You should definitely have power point pictures/transparencies or actual pictures of tons upon tons of the poultry that is being destroyed because of the possibility of infection, this image will really grab attention. You should discuss how many people have actually been affected and relate this to the number of people who die every day from things like cancer and heart disease to put this pandemonium in some perspective. You may want to discuss the possibility that even if we successfully treat affected people the virus could mutate and form a resistant type.
102013
No, not unless your in Egypt or some country where they have the bird flu..if it's in your town you'd no about it, I wouldn't worry but if you want to be sure go to the doctor..that was sweet of you to put the bird out of pain...God bless
42900
When hunting ground birds, a dog normally runs out in front of the hunters.  When the dog goes on point, the hunters get an idea of whee the birds are (in this case it was a covey of quail).  The hunters move forward and at some point the prey is flushed (they startle out of their nests and fly away, toward, up, all directions, although usually away.  Usually when hunting ground birds two hunters go with one dog, but a line could be used....  \n\nThe dangerous part is when a bird flies back through the shooting line.  The shooter have to be disciplined enough not to shoot outside of their arc, in order to avoid the other hunters.  Now the arc changes slightly as the shooting line follows the outriders and the dogs.  If someone is out of line or a bird flushes toward a hunter, there is a risk of getting shot.  In this case, the man who was shot was out ahead and to one side.  \n\nWhen one tracks a ground bird, one tracks from where the bird flushes and aims a bit ahead with the shotgun.  So the muzzle of the gun moves from down to up.  It is easy to get hit when hunting quail, pheasant, partridge, etc.  Safety rules must be observed and the guide has to keep track of where everyone is.  \n\nIf you hunt birds you are going to catch some bird shot from time to time, I have been hit twice, although at longer range and with fewer pellets.  The more you hunt, the more likely you will get hit.  Other factors influence as well.  This incident happened late in the day when people were tired and the sun was low.  This is when a lot of accidents happen?  Hope this helps.
153112
Many birds use the nests abandoned by others. The snug, safe cavities hammered in a tree by woodpeckers may be used by house wrens, tree swallows, screech owls, or bluebirds. The solitary sandpiper will raise its family in the old nest of a thrush or blackbird. \n\nSo I say keep the nest up there!
203344
Relax.  The media in the US is making people crazy about bird flu.  The rest of the world isn't concerned. Turn off the tv.