Bryanston Avian, Exotic and Small Animal Clinic

25/04/2026

Wishing all our colleagues in the veterinary field a wonderful World Veterinary Day 2026 🪿🦅🐀🐇🦩🦔🦜🐓🐍🐢 may we continue to care for all creatures great and small

25/04/2026

18/04/2026

Why Parrots Change When Seasons Change
Seasonal change affects more than feathers. It alters hormones, mood, and energy levels.

The Real Driver: Light (Not Just Weather)
Parrots respond to changes in daylight rather than calendar dates. Shifts in day length trigger hormonal changes through the brain, influencing behaviour and physiology.

Hormones: The Invisible Puppeteers
Seasonal changes affect hormones like testosterone and estrogen. This can lead to territorial behavior, aggression, nesting behavior, increased vocalization, and bonding behaviors.

It’s Not Just Hormones—Feathers Matter Too
Moulting often coincides with seasonal shifts. Growing new feathers is physically demanding and can cause irritability, fatigue, and reduced tolerance for handling.

Mood & Energy Shifts
Changes in light and temperature can affect mood and energy. Some parrots become more active and vocal, while others may become quieter or withdrawn.

Common Seasonal Behaviour Changes
Owners may notice biting, screaming, territorial behaviour, regurgitation, shredding, or increased interest in dark spaces.

How to Support Your Parrot
Ensure proper sleep (10–12 hours of darkness), manage light exposure, reduce nesting triggers, provide enrichment, maintain a balanced diet, and adjust expectations with patience.

Final Thoughts
Seasonal changes are natural and deeply rooted in a parrot’s biology. Understanding these changes helps us respond with empathy and better care.

References
Bentley, G. E. (2001).
Dawson, A. et al. (2001).
Meehan, C. L. et al. (2003).
Ritchie, B. W. et al. (1994).
Lightfoot, T. L.

07/04/2026

HOME SAFE 🩷
please help find Malibu, a cinnamon Green Cheek Conure, contact us if you find this little guy

27/03/2026

Looking for something to do this weekend?🤔 why not swing past the Gauteng Exotics Expo and come say hello to your BAESAC family?🥰

Some familiar BAESAC faces will be manning a stand at the expo, providing education and advice for people who own or are looking into getting an exotic pet🦎🐍🦔🐇

Because exotic pets are so delicate and hide diseases well, it is imperative that new and seasoned exotic owners provide appropriate care and go for regular vet check ups👩🏻‍⚕️

We hope to provide as much education to as many people as possible, so come past with your exotic pet questions or even just to say hello❤️

See you there!😎

23/03/2026

13/03/2026

The incredible after hours team at FVH that help with all our special exotic animals 💙 we love you guys and thank you for everything you do

12/03/2026

Why the Parrot Respiratory System Is So Sensitive

1. Birds Have Air Sacs in Addition to Lungs
Unlike mammals, parrots do not rely on lungs alone. They have a system of lungs connected to multiple air sacs that extend throughout their body cavity and even into some bones.
These air sacs act like bellows, moving air continuously through the lungs.

Why this matters:
Because the air sacs move air so efficiently, any airborne toxin is also distributed rapidly throughout the body.

2. One-Way Airflow Makes Oxygen Exchange Extremely Efficient
In mammals, air goes in and out of the lungs the same way. Some air remains trapped with each breath.

In parrots:
Air moves in one continuous direction
Fresh oxygen flows across lung tissue during both inhalation and exhalation
This system allows parrots to extract much more oxygen from the air than mammals.

Why this matters:
This efficiency means chemicals, fumes, and toxins are absorbed extremely quickly into the bloodstream.

3. Very Thin Respiratory Membranes
The surfaces inside the lungs where oxygen enters the blood are incredibly thin to maximize oxygen transfer.

Why this matters:
Thin membranes also mean toxins pass into the bloodstream very easily.
Even small amounts of chemicals can cause:
respiratory failure
neurological damage
sudden death

4. High Metabolic Rate
Parrots have a much faster metabolism than humans.
They breathe more frequently and process oxygen rapidly to support flight and body temperature.

Why this matters:
They inhale more air relative to body size, meaning toxins accumulate much faster than in humans or other pets.

5. No Diaphragm to Filter or Slow Air Movement
Birds do not have a diaphragm like mammals. Their entire body cavity helps move air through the respiratory system.

Why this matters:
Air moves freely and deeply through the respiratory system, allowing toxins to reach sensitive lung tissue almost instantly.

Common Household Toxins are Dangerous to Parrots
Because of this unique respiratory system, many everyday products can be deadly:

Extremely dangerous fumes include:

Non-stick cookware fumes (PTFE / Teflon when overheated)
Aerosol sprays
Air fresheners
Scented candles
Cleaning chemicals
Bleach and ammonia fumes
Perfumes and colognes
Paint fumes
Cigarette or v**e smoke
Self-cleaning oven fumes

Even exposure for a few minutes can be fatal.

Why This Matters for Parrot Owners
Parrots evolved in environments with clean, natural air.

Their respiratory system is designed for maximum oxygen efficiency, not protection against synthetic chemicals

Because of this:
What smells mild to humans can be lethal to a parrot.

This is why parrot owners and rescues—like your work with Majestic Wings Rescue—often emphasize:
chemical-free homes
bird-safe cleaning products
good ventilation
strict avoidance of airborne toxins

✅ Simple rule:
If you can smell it, your parrot is already breathing it in at a much higher sensitivity than you are.

11/03/2026

10/03/2026

Call through on (011) 706-1381 or whatsapp us on 061-533-9950 📞 📲

03/03/2026

Brian our Animal Health Technician holding an African Harrier Hawk after it’s x-rays 🦅

27/02/2026

Dr P stitching a very sore Capuchin hand after a monkey bite 🐒