CONTACT US
Wyld's Wingdom is open
8:00 am to 4:30 pm (EST)
Monday through Friday.
Phone: 800.366.9953
Fax: 757.858.8366
E-mail: contact@wingdom.com
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 Keep Pet Birds Warm with a Cozy Snugglie Birds are sensitive creatures. This is even more true when it comes to environmental concerns. This winter, it is more important than ever to keep your pet bird warm in order to stay healthy and happy. Here are a few extra tips on what to do:
Heat Lamps
Heat lamps offer a safe and effective way to keep your bird toasty this cold season. At Wyld’s Wingdom, we recommend talking to your veterinarian about how long, and how close you should place your lamps to keep your pet warm safely
Cage Covers
A good cover over your bird’s cage can go a long way when it comes to keeping heat in. This is particularly important during nighttime. During daylight hours, your pet most likely wants to enjoy the sun.
Heat Perches
One great way to tell if your bird is too cold is to check out their feet. If your bird’s feet are curled into little balls, that means they are cold. Heated perches offer a great way to combat cold feet. Plus, the added source of heat is a good way to keep your pet’s blood and leg tissue warm.
Cage Heaters
Another way to keep your bird comfortable is with a small cage heater that bolts to your cage. This warm offering allows your bird to snuggle up to the heat safely.
Plenty of Toys
Activity is a great way to stay and keep warm in winter. Bird toys are an excellent solution to bad weather as they offer plenty of activity and encouragement of the brain and body. This season, try keeping your birds occupied with toys that promote exercise.
You may have heard the phrase that variety is the spice of life but did you know that this applies to birds too! When it comes to toys and treats, offering a variety of items is the best way to hold your bird’s attention and keep their interest:
Changing Out Toys
Toys contribute to the overall mental and physical health of your bird. As key tools for life enrichment, toys counter boredom and offer stimulation that not only manifests mentally but also gets your bird physically engaged and thus into exercising. This is particularly important if your bird is in their cage all day long.
As naturally active creatures, who in the wild would be constantly flying and moving, birds require play-like activities. A variety of changing toys can help stoke their natural tendencies and drive their instincts to involve themselves.
Toys that can be chewed, gnawed, tossed around, and scratched at are excellent methods for promoting curiosity and movement. Play gyms and a variety of toys in different shapes, colors, and textures are key in capturing and sustaining your bird’s interest.
Since in nature, your bird would be constantly on the go and exploring new environments, it is important to replicate this scenario at home. That is why changing out toys for new ones and introducing new, playful elements is the way to keep your bird not only curious but happy!
Changing Out Treats
Similar to a rotating cast of toys that pique your bird’s unique interests, diet is another critical area that requires change. Think if you were stuck eating the same thing day in and day out, it would probably be pretty boring and you’d tire of your meals quickly.
Birds love interesting textures, flavors, and colors and enjoy a variety of fruit and berry-based treats, vegetable treats, baked treats, and even seed treats.
Incorporating exciting and bird-safe treats is a great way to foster health while providing a new activity for your beloved bird.
 Just like humans, birds enjoy a diet full of fun and varied foods. While fruit and vegetables are a great option, many birds enjoy the occasional snack to mix things up and keep their diet exciting. At Wyld’s Wingdom, we stock the latest and greatest to deliver just what your bird needs.
Several great snack options includes the three different options of Crazy Good Cookin’, a flavorful wholesome grain blend that is just the thing to whet your bird’s appetite:
- Jungle Rice
An exotic mix of bananas, brown rice, dates, and pistachios completes this aromatic and nutritious snack.
- Pastamoré
Just as pasta is a favorite comfort food among humans, so too is it enjoyed by our feathered friends. This snack option unites the goodness of vegetables and seeds delivered via playful pasta shapes.
- Nutty Noodle
Mmmmm crunchy cashews and walnuts along with fruity flavors like pineapple and apricot combine in this tri-colored snack that’s irresistible to birds.
If none of these sound up your alley, don’t fret. Wyld’s Wingdom carries a variety of gourmet blends, seed mixes, insects, millet, bread mixes, and specially formulated organic bird food options to deliver what your bird craves.
We recommend speaking with one of our talented staff members about your breed of bird so they can tailor their recommendation for flavor, texture, and color for maximum enjoyment.
Wyld’s Wingdom to Showcase Wholesale Pet Bird Products at SuperZoo 2016
Wyld’s Wingdom will exhibit wholesale exotic and pet bird supplies at the SuperZoo National Show for Pet Retailers on August 2-4 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Located in Booth #2173, Wyld’s Wingdom is a one-stop shopping experience for outfitting your entire pet bird department. As a long time exhibitor at this event they are excited to offer attendees, special show pricing, on a large variety of bird supplies and products. Merchandise available for purchase will include a vast array of bird toys, cage accessories, bird foods, stands and play gyms for both small and large birds, educational tools, training aids, and more.
As a wholesale pet bird supplies distributor for exotic and pet bird products, many of the new pet bird products which they distribute will be on display.
President, Mary Wyld says, “The Birds are back! Check out our displays of bundled items to recharge your department.”
Specializing in avian care, Wyld’s Wingdom welcomes questions about bird behavior, bird products and supplies, and retail sales tips to the pet industry trade show attendees. With over 25 years of experience and expertise, they will provide the latest information on bird care, safety, and avian wellness.
Need to freshen up your pet bird department? Stop by Wyld’s Wingdom, Booth #2173 and visit www.wingdom.com for more information about pet bird care.
SuperZoo is the premier pet industry trade event that brings together buyers and sellers from across the country and every segment of the pet industry. For additional information on SuperZoo visit www.superzoo.org.
About Wyld’s Wingdom: Wyld’s Wingdom is one of the nation’s largest wholesale pet bird supplies distributors. Wyld’s Wingdom carries an enormous array of avian products including, bird toys, food, cages, and supplies. They sell to retail stores and offer great values that customers can pass along in their retail setting. Their extensive expertise partnered with a tremendous selection of products, Wyld’s Wingdom will provide the best information and advice to our customers on the latest pet bird care, safety, and wellness information. The business, established in 1986, has been built on integrity and service and provides customers with the variety, focus, and knowledge needed to make any bird department excel.
Bird Cage Cleaning 411
By Wyld’s Wingdom
As lively and engaging pets, birds require much human attention to thrive. From affection to stimulation and conversation, owning a pet bird comes with responsibilities. One of these many roles is to ensure a safe and healthy environment and this means maintaining a clean birdcage including play stands, accessories, and perches. A great approach to the upkeep that comes with bird ownership is to create a daily and weekly cage-cleaning schedule to tackle the tasks at hand efficiently and thoroughly to help keep yourself organized and your bird’s environment in the best shape.
Daily Items
Keeping a daily eye on your bird’s environment not only helps you keep a comfortable space for your pet but also is a great way to relay important information about your bird’s habits. By observing how much your bird is eating or if there are excess droppings or feathers, you can deduce if your bird is healthy or is facing any worrying issues. Additionally, monitoring toys on a regular basis helps you know when to replace worn items and can help avoid potential health complications from ingesting broken plastic.
When it comes to the cleaning tasks, it is recommended to replace the liner of your cage each day. Regular black and white newspaper is best as it allows for an easy palette to read droppings on. Not to mention that color ink can pose hazardous for many birds. Many people find it is convenient to stack several layers of newsprint on top one of the other to simply remove the soiled layer as fit throughout the day.
Food and water dishes also need frequent attention. Consider purchasing two or more sets to allow you more flexibility when it comes to cleaning. Stainless steel or high impact plastic dishes can easily be washed with hot soapy water and thoroughly dried before being disinfected to help maintain a healthy eating and drinking area that is free of droppings or crusted food matter.
Weekly Items
Each week, depending on your specific bird and cage set up, it is recommended to perform the larger cleaning tasks such as emptying your bird’s cage completely and washing with hot soapy water. After a thorough rinse, let it dry completely before finishing off with a disinfectant. There are many bird-safe disinfectants on the market that can help facilitate an easier clean. All walls, flooring, and bars should be scrubbed clear of any materials that your bird may have flung against them including droppings or foodstuffs. Enlisting the help of sandpaper or an old toothbrush may be necessary for a big mess.
Attention also needs to go towards cleaning all large toys and accessories. They can be placed in a hot soapy bath while you work on the cage. A common dishwashing detergent can aid at removing seeds and droppings as well as sandpaper for the more difficult items. All toys and accessories also need to receive a disinfecting treatment and to dry completely before being placed back into the cage.
As pet bird owners, it is your responsibility to make your bird’s environment a safe and happy place. A major part of this is keeping a clean and sanitized cage! Wyld’s Wingdom carries a number of products to help with cage cleaning. Check out the selection at www.wingdom.com.
How Much Natural Light Does Your Pet Bird Need?
By Wyld’s Wingdom
Humans aren’t the only species that require natural light to live a happy life. In fact, direct sunlight or full-spectrum bulb lighting is integral to the health and wellness of all pet birds.
On a day-to-day basis, light helps promote your bird’s natural circadian rhythms and can contribute to more restful sleep. In turn, better sleep can boost immune function, reduce exhaustion, and help keep anxiety or stress levels at bay. On a larger scale, seasonal light exposure can help promote various metabolic processes and trigger physical and behavior changes associated with breeding, molting, and sleeping. Much like humans, lack of exposure to light can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SADS), a condition similar to depression, when lacking in vitamin D3, which is derived from direct exposure to the sun.
What Kind Of Light
Exposure to natural and unfiltered sunlight is best which means taking your bird outside, however since this is not always an option, the next best thing is a full-spectrum bulb that emits simulated natural sunlight including ultraviolet rays. It is important to note that simply sitting your bird in a window will not work since light filtered through glass or plastic loses the necessary wavelengths.
Vitamin D3 Deficiencies
If missing proper exposure, there are many common health problems associated with a vitamin D3 deficiencies in birds including:
- Breeding or reproduction issues such as soft shell eggs or egg binding problems. This is due to lack of calcium and the inability to produce the right elements for a strong egg.
- Physical abnormalities associated with vitamin D3 deficiencies like excessive feather plucking, overgrown beaks, splayed legs, and possible seizures.
- Cancer is also a result of lacking vitamin D since it helps reduce the growth of new blood vessels and can allow dormant tumors to turn cancerous. This self-destruction of mutated cells can be prevented with higher levels of vitamin D.
So How Much Light?
Although many breeds of birds have their own requirement when it comes to how much light is needed, a good rule of thumb is 12 hours of daylight contrasted with 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness. Talk to your bird’s veterinarian about your routine and what adjustments you should make throughout the course of a year to ensure your bird receives enough exposure to the sun. www.wingdom.com
Pet Bird Body Language
By Wyld’s Wingdom
As a complex species, the many ways birds communicate can be fascinating to observe. When it comes to pet birds, learning how to interpret body language is a key path to getting closer with your pet. Much like people, different moods and emotions accompany different movements that can deliver interesting insight into the world of your bird. Several key areas to pay attention to include:
Tail
Like cats and dogs, a bird’s tail is a great tool for expression. Whether to communicate happiness, aggression, or something else, watch your bird’s tail for movement. Tail wagging is an indicator of contentedness and tail bobbing, especially after exercise is a form of recovery for your bird.
Wings
Unique to birds, different flips and flaps of wings are ways that birds communicate with each other and with you. This category takes time to understand your individual bird’s movements but wing flapping can indicate pain, anger, or trying to get your attention.
Feet
After an extremely interactive period of play, your bird may feign a weakness in the foot or leg region as a way to resist the end of a play session. Other specific breeds, like cockatoos are also known to use feet tapping as a way to establish dominance.
Beak
As a tool for preening and eating, your bird’s beak is integral to survival. From foraging to grooming and play, this part of your bird is also a way for them to communicate. Single beak clicks indicate happiness or may be a way to greet you as you enter their space while a rapid series of clicks may warn you to stay away.
Eyes
One interesting fact about birds is that they can control the dilation of their pupils depending on their mood. Observing this body characteristic may deliver valuable information about what state your bird is in. For example, pupil flashing, that is the growing and shrinking of the pupil may indicate a state of agitation or excitement.
Although far from comprehensive, this list details several great areas for you to focus on to gain insight into your bird’s world. Likewise your bird can also learn to read your intentions by observing your postures. Just one of the many reasons why pet bird ownership is such a rich and rewarding experience.
Top Holiday Gift Ideas for Pet Birds and Their Owners
By Wyld’s Wingdom
Pet bird ownership can be a rich and rewarding experience. As highly intelligent and capable creatures, birds make excellent companions providing both affection and love while also reducing stress and encouraging relaxation at home. This holiday season, take the time to nurture your relationship with your pet bird by investing in a special gift that can bring you closer to your pet.
Traditional Toys
With a multitude of bird toys on the market today, it can be overwhelming trying to select the right fit for you and your bird. A few of the tried and trusted standby toys help engage avian behaviors found in the wild and are sure to elicit interest to stimulate your bird’s mind. Several most common toys include:
- Foraging toys that mentally and physically engage your bird by recreating a foraging environment in their cage.
- Puzzle toys are great educational options that can occupy your bird’s time and help stimulate their minds.
- Preening toys can help keep your bird’s feathers healthy while offering them something to do.
- Shreddables are a collection of toys that help satisfy your bird’s urge to chew.
- Plastic toys include a wide range of fun options that slide, spin, and squeak to perform various activities. This category boasts a range of fun and educational items that can help keep your bird occupied and active.
Gifts for Owners
An often-overlooked category in light of the many toys available for your bird includes educational information and items that can help you be a better bird owner. To nurture and develop your lifelong relationship with your bird, there are several excellent gift ideas that can help you learn and explore your breed of bird and how to go about cultivating a positive and rewarding companionship. From books to videos, training aids are great options to inform and educate pet bird owners on the finer points of basic avian care to advanced bird training methods.
As complex creatures, birds make great pets that can understand and intuit human behaviors. To make the most of this relationship, close attention and mutual respect is key in raising a happy and healthy bird. Take a look at Wyld’s Wingdom’s Holiday Collection here: http://www.wingdom.com/products/holiday-toys
Keys to Boosting Community Involvement for Retail Pet Stores
By Wyld’s Wingdom
As a destination for numerous different items of care for a range of household pets, retail pet stores are places that people with hearts gather. To help turn this involvement towards your greater local community, here are a few tips for setting up a successful marketing plan and harnessing the power of caring for the greater good.
When it comes to successful businesses and giving back, the first step is to establish an effective and imaginative marketing strategy. Consider your audience and include tech savvy options such as starting a blog, conducting an ongoing email newsletter, or creating and maintaining an ongoing social media presence.
Network
Once you’ve set yourself up for engaging with customers, veterinarians, groomers, local shelters, other pet businesses and enthusiasts, building a strong network is an excellent way to strengthen and widen your reach. Developing this network by attending events, cross-pollinating customers, and establishing mutually beneficial relationships within the pet industry can help set the stage for community involvement.
Community Involvement
Consider setting up events that showcase that you are a caring business. For example, start an online and in-store campaign requesting donations of pet food or supplies for a local shelter or rescue group. Another great way of getting involved is to set a day where a percentage of sales goes to a worthy cause of support for an animal hospital or other likeable institution. These types of activities can help rally the community and boost support. You can raise awareness and build contributions by using your network and ongoing marketing campaigns!
Be the Source of Info
For great information, teach your clients and community to look to you. By creating original content, providing key information, offering specials, and more, let your clients know that you are the go-to source for good information when it comes to their loving animals.
Come Together
With a mission to bring the community together to help those that are less fortunate, your store can be a contributor to increasing local well-being. Once you establish a precedent of giving and create a regular group of patrons and volunteers interested in furthering the goal of community involvement, it’s amazing how much of a difference you can make!
For more information about Wyld’s Wingdom please contact us at 800.366.9953 or www.wingdom.com. Pets In The Classroom can be reached at www.petsintheclassroom.org.
How to Encourage Foraging for Pet Birds
As essential components of natural bird behavior, foraging and play are two fundamental categories of instinctive behaviors that are integral to a bird’s happy life. Since wild birds spend a great deal of time seeking food, shelter, and water, birds in captivity need to be able to use their skill sets in order to feel satisfied and avoid negative bird behaviors.
For birds, foraging is the act of searching for and discovering food not readily available. This process engages both physical and mental skills and can occupy a good portion of your bird’s day. One benefit that stems from recreating this act for pet birds includes alleviating boredom and other behavioral problems by presenting fun challenges and obstacles through exercise and activity reminiscent of a bird’s natural habitat. Another benefit of encouraging foraging for your feathered friend is that this process promotes the use of your bird’s beak and feet to strengthen physical aspects and stimulate problem-solving skills that require a physical finesse.
Several examples of setting your pet bird up for foraging success include:
- Wrapping food pieces inside other items like lettuce, other green leaves, or in a safe material like a coffee filter then tying with twine, rope, or tape can aid in the act of discovery and present time-absorbing challenges for your bird to find the food reward hidden inside.
- Another great way to encourage foraging is by hiding or covering regular the areas where your bird usually eats with unusual items that present challenges. For example, place a paper towel on top of their regular food dish to add that extra layer of fun and problem-solving to get to the food source.
- Hanging items from cages is third way to have you bird keep an eye out for unexpected food opportunities. This can be done with fruit and twine as well as toys meant for this exact purpose.
- And finally, toys! There are many different commercial pet bird toys available on the market that can help your bird enjoy interactive fun by encouraging foraging for rewards while enticing physical and mental stimulation.
As a critical component, playtime for birds is part of what makes birds such fun, entertaining, and interactive companions. Encouraging natural skills through foraging behaviors and time spent with stimulating toys can promote instinctual behaviors that are part of a happy and healthy lifestyle for any captive bird.
Wyld’s Wingdom carries a variety of bird foraging toys. Contact Wyld’s Wingdom for more information on wholesale orders. Phone: 757.858.8090 or Toll Free: 800.366.9953.
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