[.ca] The Complete Pet Bird Owner's Handbook (ISBN 1895270251)

Good medical advice.....:
Gary Gallerstein is a doctor of veterinary medicine. Although his book presents plenty of material on bird health care and preventative maintenance, his main focus seems to be on diagnosing and dealing with the various ailments that afflict pet birds. His book contains all sorts of graphic illustrations of sick, deformed, dying, and dead birds he probably photographed in his clinic. His photos might prove useful for determining whether or not you need to take your bird to a vet (is the ailment life threatening) or if you can treat it at home. He also suggests first aid for birds before you take them to the vet. The jacket proclaims the book as the definitive work in print on the subject of bird health care, and I have no reason to doubt this is true since it seems very technical. While Gallerstein has written a useful book (especially his suggestions for keeping your bird healthy via good feeding practices, grooming, and cleanliness), he comes at the topic of living with a pet bird from a medical standpoint. This book is excellent for helping the lay person (and perhaps the professional??) diagnose an ailment. However, if you're interested in bird behavior, bird psychology, and training your bird, you will have to check elsewhere. THE COMPLETE BIRD OWNER'S HANDBOOK can be a useful addition to your bird book library. However, if you can only afford one book, you may want to buy a DUMMIES book, for example, COCKATIELS FOR DUMMIES which covers all aspects of living with a bird and provides a good deal of useful anecdotal information.

A Must for Bird Owners:
I found this book to be quite informative on all of the most common bird health problems. It describes diseases and problems and tells how to remedy these problems on your own or lets you know when you should quarantine your bird or seek veterinary help. It also shows you how to deal with things such as nail and feather clipping etc. It is written in a format that is very easy for everyone to understand. In my opinion this book is a must for every bird owner, no matter what kind of bird you own you will find alot of useful information here.

Planet-Pets.com Recommended:
Whether you are an established bird enthusiast or have just bought your first bird, The Complete Bird Owner's Handbook covers everything a bird lover may need to know to raise healthy birds. An extensive References section provides advice on many species.

Every Bird Owner Must Have This Book:
I read this book (among others) prior to purchasing my first large bird. Of the selection I read, this one was the best at preparing me for the experience I was in for. This book described, in detail, what equipment I needed to have ready for any potential problems, basic first aid, and explained the basic characteristics of my new found friend. The only area in which I found the book lacking, was information regarding the training and correction of behavioral problems, however there are other great books for that. Overall, this book is an excellent reference.

A Must for Anyone Living With a Bird:
This definitive reference book covers it all -- proper nutrition for birds, avian physiology, basic first-aid, avian diseases, and a wide spectrum of medical topics relating to companion birds. This user-friendly book is ideal for both the novice and the experienced bird parent. If you share your life with birds, you will want this book close at hand. Paula Fitzsimmons, pjpublications.com