Ornamentals birds: The beautiful, the ugly and market value in Kenya

Why keep birds that you can't eat? This is the most common argument by the opponents of ornamental birds. Just like other birds, ornamental birds are birds whose forelimbs are modified into wings, have a hard-shelled egg, and keen vision, the major sense they rely on for information about the environment. Their sense of smell is not highly developed, and auditory range is limited.

Not so common

These rather not so common birds include but are not limited to pigeons, silkish bantam, sultan bantam and satin bantam varieties, a variety of exotic ducks, which include pekin, muscovy, budgerigar, Indian runner and black Swedish, geese, guinea fowl, parrots and quails. They are kept in captivity and raised as ornamental birds, companion animals, laboratory specimens, meat production, in sport racing such as pigeons.

The most common pet bird is the budgerigar, which are very adaptable and friendly. They are sociable and like to stay in a group. The males are easier to tame can mimic human speech. Budgies as are they are commonly called have a life span of seven to ten years.

Domesticated budgies come in large range of colours are always green with a yellow area and live in huge flocks. The female has brown or white core but the male is blue.

Budgerigars also known as the common pet parakeet or shell parakeet are one of the most commonly kept pet birds and are of the used as laboratory animals.

The African grey parrot's ability to talk and mimic sounds makes this medium-sized parrot a captivating companion. The African grey parrot is not just a top talker, this bird is also known for its extreme intelligence, which gives them the moniker "The Einstein's of the Bird World".

Miniature chickens

Bantam chickens, on the other hand, are an entire set of chicken breeds. They are just like full-size chickens but only one-fifth to one-quarter, 20 to 25 per cent, the size. You can have 10 bantam chickens in the space you would need for two large fowl.

Bantam chickens are great chickens to give children to manage. Their small size makes them easy for small hands to manage. Most are gentler than large fowl birds. With some supervision, minors can take responsibility for care and husbandry.

There is a need for farmers to diversify from the normal chicken rearing to geese, ducks and guinea fowls. By diversifying, poultry farming cushions themselves against risks. Their waste also makes good manure which is used on the farm to boost soil fertility. Furthermore, ornamental birds protect other domestic poultry and the home from strangers and predators by making high sounds in case of intrusion.

Although ornamental birds are hardy, they are subject to a range of diseases and parasites. Only a few of these are known to be capable of infecting man. Notable exceptions are ornithosis psittacosis, or parrot fever, a serious and sometimes fatal disease resembling viral pneumonia. The microorganism responsible for the disease is transmitted directly to man from pigeons, parrots, and a variety of other birds via their excrement. Wild birds may also act as reservoirs for diseases that adversely affect domesticated birds.

[The writer is a Veterinary Surgeon and the Resident Vet at FarmKenya]