The Complete Bird Owner's Handbook

by Gary A. Gallerstein

The Complete Bird Owner's Handbook is the long-awaited second edition of Dr. Gary A. Gallerstein's benchmark text, Bird Owner's Home Health and Care Handbook. The title of this edition reflects the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0876059035
• ISBN13: 9780876059036
• Release Date: June 1994
• Publisher: Howell Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

We require this book

We give this book to all our adoptive candidates, and we test them on their knowledge before they take home a bird from The Gabriel Foundation. We order cases of this book! It is the most comprehensive bird book out there. There are more in depth books on behavior, species, medicine, etc, but if you are only getting one book **which you shouldn't do- there are many great parrot books and the more you know*** this is a fine choice. The list of safe woods is invaluable.

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.

The Complete Bird Owner's Handbook.

This book has over 300 pages, starting with the tips on buying a new bird, followed by do's and don'ts, health, longevity, creating a happy environment all the way to the basic anatomy and physiology, spotting a sickness, home medical care and when to see a veterinarian as well as rules for transporting . The last chapter addresses the loss of a pet and the difficult decisions regarding euthanasia. The Appendix deals with birds by species, breeding, as well as listing bird magazines and organizations. This book is a definite must for every bird owner.

The best book available for general pet bird care.

This is a book that would probably benefit every bird owner. It provides clear, concise information regarding every aspect of bird care. Gallerstein (a veterinarian) utilizes current veterinary and behavioral knowledge in his text. The importance of nutrition in overall bird health is emphasized, and even recipes are included. The front inside cover even has a nice section on emergencies and how to deal with them.

A "Must Have" for anyone who owns a pet bird!

I recommend having this book in your collection if you either own a pet bird or are thinking about getting one. The book covers care and feeding guidelines, how to pick out the right bird for you, and how to select the correct cage. Most importantly the book covers first aid during accidents or illnesses - and in my opinion does a better job than any other parrot book on the market at this. There is even a quick find first aid index inside the front cover, so in an emergency (when you would likely be very upset or nervous) you can quickly get the page you need. This book also covers illnesses and their treatments in an easy to understand way. I highly recommend this book