Zazu and Friends

24/06/2024

I have had an influx of queries for parrot sitting in cyprus this week. Im afraid I no longer live in CY but in Kent UK so I am sorry to say my services are no longer available there. But if you visit ask anything paphos on facebook I know several parrot owners who will most likely be able to point you in the right direction for a sitter. Kind regards, Kirsty

06/08/2023

Little and large

28/07/2023

GRAPHIC CONTENT!
What a horrible but blessful day. After a treat veg roll from pets at home got wet and then eaten, it fermented in Zira's belly. I put a happy bunny to bed and woke up to a swollen on deaths door Bink this a.m
Thankfully acting fast and getting her to my wonderful vets we managed to save her life just in time, after a stomach pump and release of gases she is on the road to recovery with meds and a strict high fiber diet (she is nottt happy) we hope to have many years of her love and naughty shananigans, as her personality could not ever be replaced as she is the apple of my eye.

Please do stick to diet rules with parrots and bunnies, I learnt the hard way today and have truely learnt my lesson almost loosing my love.
So blessed to have her back home with me, even the vet thought the worst. So it proves even those of us that are so careful and strict with our babies, can still make mistakes that can cost a healthy pet their lives. Be careful and say prayers for my beautiful girls recovery 🙏🏼

19/06/2023

Happiest birb charlie-girl xoxo

14/06/2023

Parrot snuggles

11/06/2023

When the music is 🔥

10/06/2023

Day out in sun seeing ducks and swans ❤️😊🦜

08/06/2023

Flower theif

04/06/2023

For the tea lovers ☕️🦜

03/06/2023

Queen of the castle has settled right in at home on day 1 🤣

03/06/2023

Very happy to announce our Charlie girl is safely home with us now in the UK. After a very long travel from Cyprus this beaut has settled right in!
Charlie girl has been a long time guest of zazuandfriends when we lived abroad and now has come to stay with us permanently at home in the UK, thank you to her forever mummy Carol for trusting us enough to take her on full time, we look forward to your visits!

21/05/2023

🤣🤣🤣

12/05/2023

Zazu being a pretty bird lil poser

11/05/2023

Bringing our pet sitting services now in deal/walmer!
Here at Zazu and friends we welcome all animal babies. Feathered, scaled and furry!
With many years experience on vast species working in zoo's and veterinary we are here to help with all your pet sitting needs.
We also offer parrot training and consults on healthly living and behaviour for parrots and rabbits.

Message or call today for more information: www.facebook.com/zazuandfriends
077909129949
[email protected]

28/04/2023

Spring hormone season is here! Are your Fids becoming a wee devil? I am here to help offering home visits!

17/03/2023

06/02/2023

06/02/2023

THE IMPORTANCE OF CALCIUM (shared post)

Together with phosphorus, calcium accounts for three-quarters of all minerals in the bird's body. 90% of the calcium is found in the skeleton. Calcium also plays a role in muscle contraction, in the conduction of nerve impulses, in blood clotting, and, of course, in the formation of egg shell. In birds, egg shells consists of 97% calcium.
Calcium is therefore important for birds, but bird seeds and grains are very poor sources of this. As such, calcium deficiencies in birds is common.

Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium metabolism. Among other things, it’s indispensable for good calcium absorption in the intestines. A deficiency of calcium and/or vitamin D can usually be recognised by similar symptoms.

Adult birds with a calcium deficiency can suffer from a shortage of eggs, eggshell abnormalities and decalcification of the skeleton (osteoporosis), causing the bones to break easily. Especially during the breeding period, birds really need calcium. The body's calcium reserves will not be sufficient for the birds during this period.

In high dwelling treetop species like african greys, one often sees typical symptoms of nerve problems as a result of the stimulus conduction disturbances: this causes convulsions similar to epileptic seizures.

So, your birds must have a calcium source. Many bird lovers and breeders give their animals pecking stones or cubes, cuttlefish bone or grit. The oyster shells in the grit are a good source of calcium. However, you never know if a bird is absorbing enough of these calcium sources. That’s why it’s better to feed egg food, an enriched seed mixture or extruded pellets, for a guaranteed minimum absorption of calcium.

06/02/2023

05/02/2023

Day out in our birdy backpack!

26/01/2023

Riding her zebra into battle

06/01/2023

THE HIDDEN IMPACT OF SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE IN BIRDS

Pet Birds often live sedentary lifestyles that don't meet their physical needs. Environments they are exposed to from an early age (sometimes from hatch) don't facilitate natural instincts or foster natural movement that their body's ancient systems are meant to carry out. Avian vets regularly speak out against the physical health impacts of a sedentary lifestyle such as an increased risk of atherosclerosis, obesity, muscle atrophy, increased risk of cognitive decline, risk of heart disease & poor stamina, but there is a hidden impact- the impact on their sensory system. In this article we look at how sedentary lifestyles in barren environments can lead to sensory issues that can form the root cause of many of the 'problem behaviour' & extreme anxiety we see in such angels after rescue.

SENSORY INTEGRATION- Sensory integration (SI) is defined as "The processing, integration, and organisation of sensory information from the body and the environment." From the very start of life (before hatch) Birds begin to process sensory information from the environment & this begins to form how the Bird will respond to sensory input, process the information & even impacts the awareness they have of their body in space. When they hatch into an environment that doesn't stimulate their seeking sensory systems or prevents them from moving in a natural way (flying, flapping, jumping, climbing, swinging etc.) then their sensory systems begin to suffer. They don't have movement opportunities or environmental input that allows for healthy development of sensory integration. This then causes issues with sensory processing & the Bird can become hypersensitive (over sensitive) or hyposensitive (under sensitive) to sensory stimuli. This can cause great problems for the Bird.

SIGNS OF SENSORY ISSUES IN BIRDS- Sadly, there is a chronic lack of scientific research in this area, but this is what I have noticed in some of my angels over the years who completely recovered with sensory therapy.

SYMPTOMS OF HYPOSENSITIVITY (UNDER SENSITIVE)

'Over the top' (may get right in your face & crave stimulation more than other Birds), Feather destructive behaviour (FDB) caused by poor body awareness, Poor social skills with humans &/or conspecifics, Lethargic/depressed easily, Anxiety, quick to become frustrated (may get into rages & hang from your body until they calm), Stereotypic behaviour (caused by the unmet need of sensory input), 'problem' chewing/destructiveness & much more.

SYMPTOMS OF HYPERSENSITIVITY (OVER SENSITIVE)

Nervous, Jumpy, Over reaction to sensory stimuli (eg. wind on feathers), Fear of swings & moving objects, Feather destructive behaviour (FDB) caused by extreme anxiety, Fear of flight,
Extreme caution when taking a step, climbing etc (may be very clumsy & fall off perch often, Extreme reactions to certain food textures & much more.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?- Anybody with sensory processing difficulties will be able to tell you what a profound impact it has on your life. The world can seem scary, baffling & even cause extreme physical & emotional pain, Birds with sensory issues are no different. Sensory issues in pet Birds are caused by our lack of understanding of their needs, these angels have to live in environments that don't enrich & develop their young senses & this impacts some Birds for their entire lives. Every Bird deserves to have a body that they are aware of & comfortable in, to be able to process the sensory information they experience & use it to their advantage while navigating the wonder & magic their enriching world has to offer. Together we can do better & that is a precious gift indeed.

06/01/2023

Once again Zazu advertising with no royalties...aldi you know where we are 🤣

13/12/2022

Missing this very special girl today a year since I lost my bestfriend Nala bananna xx

05/12/2022

Christmas treats 🎄🐰

20/10/2022

Happy spooky season!

05/10/2022

Cat food stealing rabbit and her accomplice the parrit (parrot/rabbit) or so Zazu thinks