When someone goes out and buys a pet bird and a cage, they have just taken on a big responsibility. A pet bird requires special care and to have a happy, healthy pet bird, the owner must have an understanding of birds in general. When taking on a bird as a pet, it is highly recommended that the owner obtains at minimum, some sort of "Guide Book" about caring for birds. Too many people buy birds, get them home, and do not have a clue of how to properly care for them.

One of the most important and first things to consider, once you have brought your new bird home from the pet store is the location of the cage. The location of your pet bird's cage will make all the difference in the world, when it comes to their health and wellbeing.

Make sure that if you place the cage near a window, that the bird is not getting full sunlight directly on it. Although birds get plenty of sunlight as a wild animal, when they are caged, try to avoid full direct sunlight. It's O.K. to let them sun for about thirty minutes at a time, but no more than a couple of times daily. Try and locate the cage away from any entry doors that may allow for cold drafts during the winter as well. Do not place the cage directly over heating or cooling vents, as this can severely dry out your birds skin and feathers.

Never, ever locate your bird's cage in a kitchen area or area where there is cooking going on. Keep the cage away from Teflon coated pans, aerosol grease sprays or hot water. When cleaning around your bird's area, be careful with aerosol cleaning sprays, as a birds lungs are very delicate and can be easily damaged. Do not smoke cigarettes in your bird cage area as well. Burning incense near the cage is not recommended either.

Location of your pet bird's cage is just one small thing you can focus on to have a healthier and happier pet bird. Just make sure as a bird owner that you have some sort of a bird guide book for reference, and learn all of the warning signs that your bird will exhibit if there is a potential problem. Birds really do need a lot of specialized care.