Communication is one of the most important aspects of an animal's daily life, as it allows them to talk to one another, and convey feelings. People who have high levels of interaction with their birds, will soon get to know that their birds have different ‘songs’ to express happiness, sadness, health, or if they are just feeling grumpy. Accompanying these can be very specific behaviours.
IT HELPS THE VET
Having worked with animals for almost my entire working career, every group that I have kept, be they reptiles, birds, or mammals, express themselves in ways which you begin to identify with. You instinctively know if they are unwell by observing posture or, in a birds case, very specific vocalisation. If your bird requires veterinary treatment, the vet may ask you “how has the bird been acting?”. You can then say “well, it’s been acting very strangely, and making unusual noises”. A veterinary surgeon is not psychic, they cannot look (in most cases) at a bird and say “oh, yes, this or that’s wrong with it”. They need input from you, the owner to try and make a concerned diagnosis. And the only way you can convey what he or she requires, is by observing your birds behaviour, and listening to them.
HOW SOUND IS CREATED
Esta historia es de la edición April 2024 de The Country Smallholder.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición April 2024 de The Country Smallholder.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
How to Buy a Smallholding in France- Long-time smallholder Lorraine Turnbull looks at the practicalities of moving to rural France
Aspiring smallholders are continually thwarted by the prices of smallholdings and property with land located within the UK. Even the humblest croft in Scotland comes with a substantial price tag and conditions which would make even an adventurous wannabee consider carefully. But all is not lost. For those willing to take the adventure of a lifetime, there is always Europe, and one of the most popular places is France.
Meet the Bournemouth goats and their supporters
These capricious animals are hard workers preserving the natural habitat
Still warm enough to sit outside with a Pizza
Henrietta Balcon uses fresh figs to create an unusual dish at Harvest time
Goodbye to the birds of spring and summer
If you look and listen you might be able to see them preparing to leave says The RSPB
Get ready for the colder weather in the warmth of late summer
Claire Waring advises on doing the best to make sure your colonies survive until next spring
Preparing the Veg Patch for Winter
Lee Senior says, a well-run plot can excitingly continue to produce good quality, tasty, fresh food for much of winter
Time to prepare to plant your orchard
Wade Muggleton, smallholder and author of The Orchard Book, shares his practical experience so you can create your own fruit collection
Choosing feed for the autumn
As autumn approaches, Joanna Palmer, nutritionist at the Smallholder Range, offers advice on choosing the right feed to support your adult birds through their annual moult and ensure your young birds grow and finish well at this time of the year.
Vet advice from an experienced poultry vet
Reflecting on how much the humble hen has helped people world wide plus advice on stopping the scourge of red mite
Give your hens some support
Paul Donovan looks at the right and wrong ways of handling birds
