A cat or a dog, even of rare breeds living in your house, will not surprise anyone. Recently, keeping unusual, or even exotic pets has become fashionable. Someone takes an example from Hollywood stars and gets himself a pig. Someone is not indifferent to reptiles, and acquires a hatteria.

And a lover of Harry Potter adventures dreams of having an owl at home, and calling her Hedwig. Of course, an owl is a serious predator, and it does not belong in a city apartment. But her younger brother, brownie or hairy owl, a city apartment is quite suitable for life.

The appearance of the house owl

The brown owl is the closest relative of the owl. Because of its size, and being one of the smallest members of the owl family, it is sometimes referred to as the little owl.

The bird is similar in appearance to its counterparts, but there are also distinctive features:

• the length of an adult bird is 23-25 ​​cm;
• wingspan - 52-57 cm;
• weight - 140-180 g.

Important! Chicks at different types owls hatch within 2-3 days. The first chicks to hatch may eat the newborns. If you have a female owl incubating eggs at home, you should remember this.

It has a large head with large yellow eyes. Females are usually heavier than males, about a tenth of their body weight.

The way the owl looks is influenced by the geographic habitat of the bird. Those owls whose natural habitat is Europe have a brown color with variegated white spots.

White stripes stretch along the brown tail with a gray tint. Birds living behind the Ural ridge are usually lighter than "Europeans".
The birds, whose homeland is the Asian mountains, are darker than their lowland brothers. Caucasian, on the contrary, are lighter and noticeably larger in size.

Did you know? Owls have three pairs of eyelids. One of them is for blinking, the second is for protecting the eyes, the third is for sleeping.

habitation

Their natural habitat is Eurasia. Ukraine, southern Russia, the Caucasus, southern Siberia, most of Asia - these are the places that can be considered native to this feathered creature. It is also found in the north of the African continent.

At the end of the 19th century, the bird was brought to England, where it adapted normally. In the same way, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the owl fell into New Zealand, where he also took root. Feathered can be found in the mountains, at an altitude of up to 2600 meters.

The bird feels normal in almost any natural conditions the above geographical areas. It lives in steppes, fields, forests, deserts and semi-deserts. It also occurs in city parks.

But some points of keeping a bird at home are worth paying attention to:

1. The owl, the smallest member of the family, can be easily frightened. Frequent screams, noise or just harsh sounds can adversely affect his psyche. If noisy parties are often held in the house, you need to think carefully about whether to start a bird.
2. At the genetic level, owls have a habit of stockpiling. IN wild nature- the quality is irreplaceable. But the fact is that the owl will not leave this habit and living at home. Where he will make a “cache”, you can find out after the meat is rotten in it. Then, by smell, it will not be difficult to find the place of laying the NZ. To avoid such a situation, regularly review various potential locations suitable for such treasures.
3. Owls should not be caged. The most extreme case is a large aviary, during your absence. Although this is highly undesirable. Your pet can get hurt on the net and get mentally hurt.
4. Owls often have a heightened sense of ownership. They are jealous of their personal space, protecting it from absolutely everyone, including you. It is unlikely that your registration will become a weighty argument for an owl.
5. Never let your pet fly to the balcony, or to where it can fly away. Having accidentally left the place where he lived as a chick, the owl will not be able to return home. In nature, he will die, since from childhood he lived with a person, and is absolutely not adapted to an independent life.

Important! owls various kinds can hunt each other.

Prepare the room where the bird will live. Remove everything that the owlet can turn over.

Light tulle curtains should be replaced, as the pet can get tangled in it and get injured. Remove the mirrors, the bird may crash on them.

Perches should be placed along the walls - special small perches upholstered with a soft coating. Set up a bathing area.

Owls love bath procedures, both in the wild and at home. A shallow wide basin will do.

Character and lifestyle

Under natural conditions, owls nest in hollows on trees, rocks, and on rooftops. The bird treats people without fear, in the event that it lives from birth next to a person.

Sometimes an owl is called a feathered cat. This is due to the fact that the bird in its disposition is similar to a domestic cat - it is also a predator, but loves peace and tranquility.

An affectionate and cheerful creature, in case of imminent danger, it can use its claws and beak.

It differs from its older brother, the owl, primarily in that it hunts mainly at dawn and dusk of the day, unlike the owl, which prefers to do this at night. In winter, in nature, the owl has to hunt during the day, if he is very hungry.

It doesn't matter to him if his opponent notices him. In this quality, he is fundamentally different from an owl.
All year, with the exception of summer, the owl stocks. The bird does not like to hunt in cold weather, and such a “dry ration” helps it out in this case. Owl and owl also eat food in various ways.

The owl swallows the prey if size permits, or tears it apart if it is large enough. Powerful claws and beak allow her to do this. The owl pecks out only loin parts of the prey carcass; it does not eat offal, for example, the stomach of the victim.

Although the owl has a mimic color, he rarely uses it. He is not afraid of other species, including humans. Although, if necessary, the bird is able to merge with the environment.

You should not take the chick in your hands for the first time. The new environment is already stressful for him. Be patient, the bird will soon get used to you, then you can easily find contact with it.
If you try to force things, this can cause a complete loss of understanding in the future. Give your pet time to adjust.

Did you know? little owl-not the smallest European owl. The body length of the common scoop is 20-22 cm, and pygmy owl- 17-20 cm. The smallest owl in the world-Peruvian, its weight is about 30 g, and its length is no more than 15 cm.

IN natural environment, the owl is quite active. If he is brought up correctly, if normal living conditions are created, over time this activity will manifest itself at home. The little owl naturally has a cheerful, playful disposition and, getting used to you, she will reveal it.

Nutrition

For an owl living in the wild, the normal diet is raw meat. Don't forget that this species- predatory bird. The brown owl, therefore, as the closest relative, should also be fed protein food.
The fresher and more tender the meat, the better for the bird's digestive system.

An acceptable option would be the meat of rodents and small, lean poultry. You cannot feed an owl with homemade chicken, pork or beef. Fatty, fried, smoked and salty foods are contraindicated for an owl.

Water is of great importance for any living being. The brown owl is no exception. Make sure your pet always has fresh water.

reproduction

They form monogamous pairs. The incubation period is one lunar month, 29 days. A clutch usually contains up to five eggs. A newly born chick weighs about ten grams.

Two months after birth, the little owl leaves the nest, he becomes an adult.

The mating season for birds falls on the warm season, from April to August.
Most often - the end of spring-beginning of summer. Interesting feature- the female allows the male to come to her only after she finds a place for incubation of eggs and nesting offspring.

Such a serious approach to creating a family is not found in all people. After the male performs the mating dance, confirming the seriousness of intentions and his own viability through the extraction of food, a pair is formed.

Important! For a normal diet, a brown owl needs on average about 80 grams of food every day.

The male feeds the female for as long as she will incubate the eggs. Little owls live with their parents until they start to get food themselves. They begin to fly independently about a month after birth.

Health and longevity

If the owl lives in an aviary, it should be cleaned regularly.
The main number of infectious diseases in poultry develops precisely because of unsanitary living conditions. An owl is a smart and intelligent bird. She sees the care of the owner, and is able to appreciate it. So, by cleaning her home, you thereby facilitate mutual understanding with a feathered friend.

Officially registered maximum duration the life of a domestic owl is more than fifteen and a half years. In the wild, they usually live 3-5 years, more than 60% of chicks die in early childhood.

Digestion is the main problem you may face. After each meal, the owl should regurgitate a pellet - undigested bones and other food waste. This should happen, 9-10 hours after eating.

If this does not happen, something is wrong with the digestive system. The pellet should be inspected for signs of blood, check its smell. An unpleasant odor is an indication of improper nutrition.

Did you know?The eagle owl, the largest representative of the owl family, can hunt wild boars and golden eagles.

Keep track of your pet's litter. Normally, this is a puddle of white color interspersed with dark litter. If the litter is dark, yellowish or foul smelling, too runny, you should consult your veterinarian.

By the behavior of an owl, you can immediately understand that she is sick. Appetite disappears, apathy appears, she sits with her eyes closed all the time, feathers quickly get dirty, as the bird does not clean them.

If you observe such a picture, contact a specialist as soon as possible. It should be remembered that bird diseases are extremely transient. Be attentive to your pet. Don't forget to clean his cage and change the water.
Keeping an owl is not a cheap pleasure, therefore, if you have already decided on this, then follow our recommendations, then the bird will become your true friend.

little owl. The shape and size of owls are different - from tiny house owls that fit in coffee cup, to European eagle owls, weighing about 1.5 kg and similar to flying doors. However, all of them are united by the absolute absence of a brain! The distance between the owl ears is reduced to the necessary minimum. There is one more thing common to owls - their feline character.

Owls are tamed and trained at a young age on the principle of raising falcons and other birds of prey. A well-trained owl, having just seen you in the aviary, will rush to your fist in anticipation of a meal, after which it may well share the delights of an afternoon walk with you. Raised birds are generally much more interesting and amusing than their wild relatives.

In addition to the usual problems for feathered lovers, owls have to deal with special "owl" problems. If, through an oversight, you happened to leave something important for you in an aviary with finches or parrots and come for the forgotten at night, except for the fact that you wake up all your birds, nothing extraordinary will happen. If the aviary turns out to be an owl, you will not fail to feel a tea case with feathers that has fallen from the darkness on your head. It's a little unnerving. I must say, periods of sleep and wakefulness in owls rarely fit into the daily routine of their owners.

At night, owls can easily chat with stray cats or their free compatriots. One tawny owl is known, which got into the habit of inviting relatives from many miles away to its garden. According to eyewitnesses, the richness of the sounds on the owl orgy was reminiscent of watching "Tarzan" in stereo headphones. In the end, the companionable owl was given to the reserve in order to give others the opportunity to sleep at night.

Owl hearing and vision are amazing. If a person had night vision, he would see how several miniature heads in pitch darkness synchronously turn to inaudible (for the human ear) noises. Sometimes, turning on the light in the aviary at night, you will definitely find a slightly embarrassed owl busy with the toilet.

Due to their dislike of rain, owls need a covered aviary. They talk about a certain barn owl, nicknamed Sponge, whose feathers often had to be dried in the morning with a hairdryer.

As for feeding, things are easier here than with other birds.. Requires a freezer and a convenient bird center for storing and serving food, one-day-old chickens, beef and rabbit meat (and also preferably mouse and rat meat). By the way, pretty effective method making enemies consists in calling neighbors with a question about the presence of rats.

Owl eaters are slow and finicky. Every day they regurgitate a pellet of food that must be removed or they will eat it again!

Owls are great. They are fluffy, goofy, outgoing, sentimental and wild. You are still hesitating.

According to the materials of the magazine "Keer breeder" - Sergey Kopyttsev

The phrase "domestic owl" is conditional, since a feathered predator will never become a devoted pet, like a cat or a dog. The bird lives by natural instincts and needs freedom, which must be taken into account by the owner.

For a comfortable home existence, an owl needs to create appropriate conditions close to the natural environment, as well as its usual diet. This requires large financial costs. Considering that owls in captivity can live 20-30 and even 40 years, the future owner should adequately assess their capabilities before taking on such a responsibility.

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Where and how to buy an owl

It is highly recommended to purchase owls from trusted breeders. In the nursery, the buyer will be provided with complete information about the health of the pet, its genetics, and professional advice on care. On the ring, each bird has its own serial number, which must match the number indicated in the accompanying documentation.

Long-eared owl chick

It is advisable to purchase a small chick at the age of 1.5 months. It is easy to recognize a baby: his body is covered with light fluff, while feathers can be seen in growing individuals. It makes no sense to buy an adult bird for 2 reasons:

1. 1. It will be impossible to tame her.
2. 2. The owl is monogamous, so it can die from longing for the previous owner or its nest and family (if it was brought from the street).



Varieties and description

Owls belong to the order birds of prey, which includes over 200 varieties of different sizes. Owls live in deserts, steppes, mountains, forest areas, settlements and even sea coasts. They feed on mammals, insects and birds that do not exceed their size (mice, hedgehogs, lizards, beetles, etc.). In the wild, owls prevent the growth of rodent populations that damage agriculture.

The birds of prey lead night image life, preferring to rest on a branch during the day, although some species (hawk, snowy owl, pygmy owl) also hunt during daylight hours. Thanks to the anatomical features, the animal is able to turn its head 270 degrees in the horizontal plane and 180 degrees in the vertical plane, which helps it track down prey and notice the approach of the enemy in time. In the dark, the bird sees poorly, therefore it is guided by sound, its hearing is 4 times better than that of a cat.

About 17 species of owls live in Russia, but not all of them are intended for living at home due to their large size and aggressive nature. Smaller individuals are taken as pets, which adequately perceive a person and subsequently become tame. Common types of homeowls:

	Price, rubles	Description
		The name of the bird is not due to its tendency to sleep, but to the characteristic sound that it makes: it resembles the word “sleep”. The body size of an owl is on average 15-20 cm, weight - from 60 to 130 g, wingspan - 50 cm. The color is light brown, with light spots and a thin streamy pattern. The female is slightly larger than the male, but this can be seen when two opposite-sex owls sit side by side. Life expectancy in captivity is 10 years. Splyushka is most suitable for keeping at home. Due to its small size, it is allowed to keep it in an aviary with a volume of at least 2 cubic meters or in a cage of the same size. In such a dwelling, it is advisable to arrange a pair of perches opposite each other or at different heights so that the feathered pet feels comfortable and can rest during the day. Every day he needs to be released to fly so that he stretches his wings. A wide range in the diet is another advantage of splyuska. She can be given frozen meat of mice, chickens, rats, frogs, earthworms, but make sure that the food is not too hard. Dandelion, melon, apples and pears can be used as plant food, and in summer supplement the diet with dragonflies, grasshoppers, crickets. Sometimes an owl can be pampered with cottage cheese, buckwheat porridge, grated carrots or chopped boiled eggs. Twice a week, the splyushka must be fed with zoophobuses and mealworms, since protein food is necessary for owls.
Tawny Owl		A medium-sized bird with a body size of 38 to 46 cm (females are larger) and weighing up to 700 g. The wingspan reaches 1 m. The color is gray or red with dark brown longitudinal streaks and transverse brown stripes on the flight and tail feathers. Life expectancy in captivity averages 27 years. The peak of owl activity occurs at night: females make sounds similar to “ku-vit”, and males make a long cry “u-huu-uu”, reminiscent of the cry of a baby. The tawny owl is very interesting to keep in captivity, because it quickly gets used to the hands and loves to spend time with the owner. She sits down, and sometimes fits on the owner's knees and rests there for a long time, purring softly, like a cat. He likes to lightly bite the fingers of a person, sort out his hair with his beak, like a parrot. The process of playing a bird can be stopped at any time by shaking it off your knees or shoulder. She will fly away, while not being offended at all. Due to the impressive size and large wingspan for an owl, it is recommended to allocate a room or equip a spacious aviary. Since the tawny owl is not afraid of the cold, a balcony can be its dwelling, but on the condition that direct sunlight does not fall there. For a comfortable stay, the bird needs shade, so it is advisable to hang thick curtains to create twilight. Meat is the basis of the predator's diet, so mice, rats, and day old chicks should be given regularly. You can feed the owl frozen chopped carcasses, but once a week you definitely need freshly slaughtered rodents
long-eared owl		The bird got its name due to the characteristic bunches of feathers located on the head - “ears”, which, if necessary, it knows how to hide. The average size of an owl is 31-38 cm, weight - 250-430 g, wingspan - 86-98 cm. It has a gray-brown color with a reddish belly and oblong black stripes crossed out with transverse strokes. Male and female are approximately the same size. Life expectancy in captivity is 30 years. The long-eared owl is very sociable, loves to play, but needs comfortable living conditions. The cage will not suit her, because in a confined space her wings will atrophy. The ideal option is a separate room or a country house. You can use a large aviary with wooden rods and soft upholstery, but walks with your pet are required. A bird of prey needs live food, so care must be taken to give it a couple of mice daily to eat. Chicken or beef meat, frozen carcasses are also not suitable, because in order to normalize digestion, an owl needs to eat whole game, with bones, feathers and skin. Feeding raw meat can lead to the death of a pet
little owl		A small bird 23-25 ​​cm long, weighing about 180 g and with a wingspan of 52-56 cm. It has a brown color with white spots, large yellow eyes. The cry of an owl resembles low pitying sighs. Life expectancy averages 9 years, but under favorable conditions, the period can be extended by several years. The registered record of a long-lived owl is 15 years and 7 months. The feathered predator became popular thanks to the Harry Potter saga, where the main character had an owl Hedwig, which is a house owl. The bird is suitable for home keeping, gets used to hands, allows itself to be stroked. The main advantage is that the owl is often awake during the day, which gives the owner the opportunity to play with her. The predator feeds on mice, beetles, frogs, earthworms. Unlike its closest relative, the owl does not swallow its prey whole, but locally pinches off loin pieces. The bird has a bad habit of stockpiling. She hides food in the most unexpected places; over time, hiding places are discovered due to the unpleasant smell of decaying food. The owner needs to take into account this property and control the pet, taking the remnants of the meal on time
pygmy owl		It is the smallest member of the owl family and is named for its small size (known to ornithologists as the "sparrow owl"). Its maximum length is 20 cm, weight is 60 g, wingspan is 35-40 cm. The color is brown, with white streaks, there are longitudinal brown stripes on the white abdomen. The beak is yellow, the claws are black or yellow. The cry of a bird is like a muffled whistle. It has a relatively short life expectancy due to its small size - only 5-7 years. A distinctive feature of the sparrow owl is its exceptional credulity. A stranger can be a couple of meters from him, and the bird will calmly go about his business: clean feathers, doze, etc. During the hunt, the owl loses its vigilance: having attacked the victim, it will calmly start eating right at the feet of a person. Small birds fly up to people without fear and, having satisfied their curiosity, fly back to the tree. At home, a pet needs to be fed with mice, beetles, worms in the same way as any other owls. The bird loves to stock up, so its hiding places must be discovered in time
		A relatively large representative of the barn owl family, 30-50 cm long, weighing up to 700 g and with a wingspan of up to 110 cm. Its color is red with numerous transverse mottles, speckles and stripes. Distinctive external feature is a heart-shaped facial disc. Life expectancy is 25 years. Barn owl is a very active bird, so it needs free space. Even the largest cage will not fit her - she will break her wings trying to take off. It gets along well with a person, but on condition of acquaintance with the owner in the first 3 months of life. Aggressively defends its territory, therefore it does not let strangers in and is at enmity with other family members. During the mating season, males emit deafening cries at night. For this reason, it is not advisable to keep a barn owl in an apartment. The best option– a spacious house with good sound insulation. The main advantage of the barn owl is that it does not tear up furniture and wallpaper, as most other owls do. She is attracted to small objects like cat toys, crumpled napkins, rags. The bird loves to touch everything with its beak, but it does not take offense at the owner when he takes the thing she likes from her - in this case, the barn owl simply switches her attention to something else. As for the diet, it is similar to the diet of most medium-sized owls: mice, rats, quails, etc. It is forbidden to feed a pet with food from the table, as well as fish, beef and pork
		The name is due to the main habitat of the feathered predator - salt-water swamps. This is a medium-sized bird, the length of which is 35-40 cm, weight - 230-430 g, wingspan reaches 110 cm. Its color is the color of rust with light longitudinal spots. The owl makes low sounds like “poo-poo-poo”, and in case of danger, it begins to “yelp”, “bark” and crack. The average life expectancy in the natural environment is 13 years, but in captivity, under favorable conditions, it can live almost twice as long. Due to its large size, the owl needs a lot of space, so it is advisable to equip a separate room for it. It feeds on small rodents and insects, the former absorbs whole. Live food is essential for good digestion. Can stock up if there is a lot of food left after a meal



Features of care and maintenance

The domestic owl is a specific pet, the care of which is everyday work and special restrictions. First of all, any other animals are prohibited from living in the apartment. Owls consider hamsters, rats, guinea pigs, cats and dogs as prey. For this reason, they must be isolated in a safe place or given to good hands.

If the house has an aquarium, it should always be covered, as a bird can drown in it when trying to catch fish.

The disadvantages of keeping a predator for the owners are the following points:

1. 1. Damage to property. An owl tears apart wallpaper, furniture with its claws, tears all objects to shreds, so it is advisable to remove everything of value from the room. If a good repair has already been made in the apartment, you need to come to terms with the fact that it will be spoiled.
2. 2. Bad smell. Since the owl is a carnivorous predator and eats raw meat, a specific smell emanates from it.
3. 3. Regular cleaning. The bird goes to the toilet wherever he wants, so constant cleaning in the aviary or room is a must. During the meal, the predator tears pieces of game to shreds, scatters them all over the room, which is why the owner needs to be prepared for the fact that the remnants of food will have to be cleaned from clothes, upholstered furniture, walls and curtains.
4. 4. Night activity. At night, the owl will be awake: flying around the room, making loud sounds, making noise. For this reason, it is desirable to have a feathered pet for people who are used to leading a nocturnal lifestyle.

If at least one of the points confuses future owners, it is better to refrain from buying an owl.



home improvement

The owl needs a large space for free flight. Small apartments are not suitable for her habitat, so it is better if it is a private house. Small birds can be kept in a cage or aviary at least 3 m wide and 1 m long. Inside there should be soft upholstery and preferably wooden rods. One part of the cage must be darkened, the other must be exposed to the rays of the sun in the daytime or morning hours. Ideally, the aviary should be outdoors. Every day the bird needs to be released to fly so that it stretches its wings.

It is impossible to keep a large owl in a cage: it will injure its wings and beak on the bars, it will get namin on its paws. For such a pet, a separate room is needed, where you need:

1. 1. Hang thick curtains, because the bird will quickly get tangled in tulle and break its paws, wings, or even die after spending several hours upside down.
2. 2. Close the vents, tightening them with strong nets. Otherwise, the owl will fly away.
3. 3. Place a bowl of water at room temperature (you can use a cat tray with high sides) so that the bird has the opportunity to bathe and clean the feathers.
4. 4. Hang glass and mirrors, as an owl can get hurt and break its beak when trying to fly through them.
5. 5. Attach "perches" on the walls of the room - wooden sticks on which the bird will sit. They need to be upholstered with a soft cloth, astroturf artificial grass or just carpet.
6. 6. Remove all lamps and chandeliers, because the bird loves to swing on them and will eventually break off. Some birds have a habit of basking near an electric lamp, which also needs to be stopped.
7. 7. Make a "hollow" where the pet can hide if desired. For example, in a wooden bedside table.

The owner needs to be careful about accidentally left things, as the owl will tear them apart.

The bird can live on the loggia or on the balcony, but it is important to take precautions by not leaving the windows open and avoiding direct sunlight. In the cold season, it is better to transfer the pet to a warm place.

Feeding

The main diet of a domestic owl is freshly slaughtered rodent carcasses. A bird eats a couple of mice and a rat per day, and sometimes four animals, depending on its size. Quails are also suitable, but they should not be given often, since such food is fatty. Mice, rats, day-old chickens should be fed whole carcasses, along with feathers, wool and bones, as they contain the necessary trace elements and calcium. Quails should first remove their paws, heads, clean them from the insides so that the owl does not become infected with dangerous diseases from birds.

Do not feed a live mouse to a domestic predator, as this is unsafe. In the saliva of a rodent there are substances that are poisonous to an owl, so the pet may experience health problems. Also, the mouse will defend itself and during the attack of the bird is able to bite it. In order to avoid such consequences, it is recommended to slaughter a rodent in advance or buy a finished carcass.

It is allowed to feed the pet with thawed meat, but fresh meat should prevail in the diet, because under the influence of low temperature the food loses its beneficial properties. Little owlets should be given a carcass pre-cut into small pieces, as the baby is not able to cope with the whole rodent on its own.

You can diversify your diet with the following products:

• dandelion;
• apples;
• pears;
• strawberries in a small amount;
• grasshoppers;
• young Khrushchev;
• May beetle larvae.

10 hours after eating, the owl should throw out the pellet, that is, regurgitate the undigested remains of feathers, bones and wool. Only then can the bird be fed again. The absence of a pellet signals a pet's health problems, so it's best to contact your veterinarian. Once a week, an owl needs to have a fasting day to avoid obesity. You can not feed the feathered predator with food from the table, raw beef and pork.

Care

The water in the drinking bowl and bathing room must be changed daily. If the bird lives in a cage, it must be washed every week and treated with disinfectants. Once a year, the owl sheds, so during this period the owner will have to remove feathers and down in large quantities.

Flight exercises are obligatory for a bird, as well as communication with a person. Only the owner will give it into the hands, willingly accept food from him. Since the owl is monogamous, it will be very jealous of its owner. This will be especially noticeable during the mating season (from February to April), when the pet will begin to scream for days and nights and show aggression towards all outsiders, attacking and attacking them.

health care

Even if the bird was purchased from a nursery, it must be shown to a veterinarian. There are few specialists who understand the diseases of owls, since predators began to be kept at home not so long ago. However, a doctor with extensive experience will certainly notice dangerous ailments, if any.

To prevent the development of diseases, you need to regularly pay attention to bird droppings. In healthy owls, it looks like a white puddle with small hard and dark patches. An alarming symptom is a fetid droppings of green or brownish-green color. Signal about health problems and the following signs:

• apathy;
• loss of coordination;
• a sharp decrease or lack of appetite;
• drowsiness;
• lethargy.

If you have these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

How to tame an owl

A small owlet needs to be transported from the nursery in a closed large box with small holes for ventilation, covering the bottom with a diaper. If the container is even partially transparent, the chick will get scared and start beating its wings. Upon arrival home, the box should be opened and the bird should have time to look around and get used to the new environment. It is impossible to speak loudly and take it in your arms. After a couple of hours, you can offer the pet food, show the drinker by running your hand through the water in the basin. A smart bird will quickly understand the purpose of the object.

The first 3 months of an owlet's life is the perfect time to tame it. Food should only be given by hand. At first, the bird will be wary of a person, but then he will recognize the owner in him. From the first days of acquaintance, it is advisable to put entangled on the paws of a pet - these are leather straps 15-20 cm long. They can be made independently from the tops of old women's boots. The main thing is that the skin is tender and soft. You need to change the tracks as they wear out.



Owl harnesses

At first, the pet will feel discomfort due to an uncomfortable foreign object on its paws, but will soon get used to it. The older the bird, the more difficult it will be to teach it, so this moment in education should not be missed. After meeting the entangled with an owl on your arm, you can walk around the apartment, be sure to feed it in this position. The owner needs to get a special glove, because the tenacious claws of the bird leave abrasions and scratches on the body.



A thick glove will help avoid cuts and scratches from your pet's claws.

Hissing, clicking with its beak, swaying from side to side are dangerous signals indicating that the owl is aggressive. At this point, you need to leave her alone and not try to pick her up. Adaptation period can take more than one month, and violence will only aggravate the relationship with the pet.

In order for the bird to fly to the owner and sit on the hand, it must be lured with a treat: put food in the palm of your hand and wait. Some owls are stubborn and do not want to learn quickly, so you should guess the moment when the pet gets hungry and start training. Over time, the bird itself will fly up to the owner and chirp, begging for food. You can diversify your owl's leisure time with the help of toys and balls. Small items should be kept away as the pet can swallow them.

In general, domestic owls are very sociable, funny and bring a lot of pleasant emotions to the owner. Having learned more closely the temperament of the pet, it will be easier for the owner to find an approach to him and achieve mutual understanding. At the same time, he must remember that you can not leave or leave the owl alone for a long time. When the owner is not at home, a devoted and faithful bird will begin to refuse food, get bored, yearn, and die if he is not there for a long time.

Those people who decide to settle a boreal owl at home need to know how and where to choose the right chick, what conditions to create so that he feels good, how to feed him and many other useful little things. For example - toys for a little fidget.

Upland owl at home

Before you buy a bird, you need to create conditions for it to live. If the future owner lives in his own house, then it is best to build an aviary next to the house. Thus, you can always communicate with the bird, and it will be almost in natural conditions. It must be borne in mind that all owls are quite smart birds, they distinguish people and treat them differently.

If the head of the family considers the long-legged owl his own and wants him to treat him like a leader, then you need to regularly communicate with the owl, feed him from your own hands, tame and teach. It is strictly forbidden to release a bird to freedom. The domestic owl will not be able to hunt on its own and will not find shelter for itself, which means it is doomed to starvation and cold death. In the aviary, you need to put several branches so that the owl has the opportunity to sit on them.

Nutrition is of particular importance. In nature, all owls feed on caught prey. Their stomach is arranged in such a way that they need fresh food in wool or feathers. Therefore, experts believe that the boreal owl should not eat clean meat. For good digestion, he needs freshly killed rodents or small birds. Some owls can be offered large insects or small lizards. excavators are perfect.

Having sheltered a boreal owl in an apartment, one must not forget that this is a living creature and he needs to defecate. This is not a cat or a dog, it will not be possible to teach him to go to the tray, or wait for a walk. Therefore, you should consider the cleaning system in the pet's room. It is possible to pour sawdust on the floor and change them regularly. Maybe replacing the cellophane will deal with this problem.

Keeping a boreal owl in a city apartment is somewhat more difficult. But with a strong desire, you can arrange this. One of the rooms must be carefully prepared for the arrival of a new resident. Since it will be an owl bird, then all curtains and curtains should be removed so that the owlet does not get entangled in them, remove excess furniture, leaving only what is useful to the bird. Mirrors and the window are covered so that the pet does not see them, otherwise it will hit the glass and get hurt.

In the room you need to build several so-called perches. These are strong branches on which the bird will sit. The branches are covered with soft material. The upland owl at home, as in nature, loves to swim. So for him you need to put a few fairly large bowls of water. The floor is covered with plastic wrap. It should protect from spilled water and droppings. As feed, do not give the bird sausage or any semi-finished products. Unverified rodents are also not suitable - they can be poisoned and are not suitable for food.

A good sign is the burping of the so-called pellets by the owl - these are the remains of wool, feathers, and claws. If this happens in a pet, then everything is in order with his digestion. Be sure to have a bowl with drinking water, in which it is desirable to add minerals and vitamins. We must not forget about toys. A furry-legged owl, especially a young one, loves to play very much and, if he does not have his own toy, he will adapt everything that he can find - socks, money, cigarettes.

The Rough-legged Owl is a small bird, so it can be kept in the house, but not in a cage. Owls are completely unadapted to such a life and can even get hurt trying to fly to freedom. IN country house, in a large aviary, the owl will feel great.

So the owl is at home. It should be brought to the room intended for it and planted on a perch. Let there be a bowl of water in the room, perhaps the carcass of a freshly killed mouse. No need to try to immediately get acquainted with the chick to all family members. Owl birds are shy by nature, they need to get used to, calm down, get acquainted with their future home. After that, you can start taming him.

An owl is a curious bird, after getting used to its place, it will begin to explore the surrounding area. it is easy to make contact with the boreal owl, but it should be remembered that the bird will be stressed from sudden bright light or loud sounds. The rhythm of life of a new pet does not coincide with the human one at all, so you will have to get used to this. In the evening, he only wakes up and goes hunting, and goes to bed in the morning.

Before you get any bird as a pet, you need to study its habits and lifestyle well. In a city apartment, one should not forget about hygiene in the bird's room and provide everything for its comfort. Only by solving all these problems, you can bring home a bird.

Very often, people seek to acquire birds that are used to living only in the wild. The example of a sparrow owl is the most obvious, because this pet is practically not adapted to a cage, which means that a person will face a number of difficulties in keeping it.

Nutrition Features

Before discussing how to properly keep an owl, it should be noted what this bird eats. In fact, once a pygmy owl has been purchased, it's best to see a doctor right away to determine what nutrition is best for such a pet. For example, if the owl is already a little old.

It is better to switch to a diet of vegetables and fruits. If the pet is in the prime of life, then it will be good to feed him with a variety of cereals and seeds. Such sparrows eat a lot and very rarely refuse food. However, it is good if there is always a bowl of food in the cage, as well as water for this pet.

Still, its content is always problematic, even in a large cage. An owl can start acting out almost immediately, as soon as it appears in new apartment. Thus, the pet expresses its dissatisfaction with being in a cage. It is better to let the bird fly around the house more often so that he feels at least some margin of freedom in his life. At the same time, all the windows must be closed so that the owl does not have a desire to escape.

It is important to note that in wild environment owls can live for several years without ever getting sick. Very often, the owl dies in childhood, because immediately after birth, the chicks are susceptible to a number of diseases, from which even maternal care cannot protect them.

Content Features

The sparrow owl does not always have a wonderful character. Sometimes this bird is quarrelsome and too active. In addition, a pet may not like someone from the household, and he will always treat him badly, despite the length of his stay in the house.

Experts prove that the best content for such a pet is a special aviary on the site. Keeping an owl in a cage is problematic, because he can scream a lot, feel the restriction of his freedom.

It should be remembered that the first month, the pet will get used to the apartment and its new owners. That is why you should not take a pet in your hands or try to somehow influence him, play with him. Nothing good will come of this, since such a pet will be even more afraid of new owners, and in the future will be less willing to make contact. It is better to show a little patience and wait until the pet makes contact on its own.

Also, do not run the cage. The owner must always remember that dirt in the cage or aviary is the main source of disease. That is why, with the keeping of birds, it is necessary to exercise maximum caution. Animals should feel the care of their new owner. In this case, they will be much more willing to make contact and want to get to know each other. The owner, in turn, must do everything possible so that the pet wants to make contact with him.

It is interesting to note that in the wild, the owl is a very active and lively bird. At first, when the owl appears in the house, he behaves modestly, but over time he also shows his bright and unusual character to all the inhabitants of the apartment.

Diseases and behavior of the owner

How to understand that a sparrow owl at home picked up an infection and fell ill. Unfortunately. The bird itself cannot tell its owner about it. Therefore, it is necessary to do everything possible in order for the owl to recover. To do this, it is better to contact the veterinarian immediately.

An owl is not uncommon for modern home maintenance. That is why doctors almost always accurately and quickly determine the disease and prescribe a treatment algorithm. Usually, with a particular disease, the pet is prescribed a diet using peculiar drugs.

It is also worth remembering that the main reason for the development of the disease in pets is the wrong content. Owl is no exception in this case. If there is dirt and residues of waste products in his cage all the time, then sooner or later the pet will definitely get sick. It is better to be careful and always keep a close eye on his health. In this case, the pet will only be grateful and will always feel exceptionally good, despite being kept in captivity, within the cage.

When a person takes an owl into the house, he also assumes responsibility for his health and behavior. If you properly educate the birds and always monitor the state of her health, then you can forget about the illness and about the small dirty tricks of this playful pet.