DKC • The Aviary • Dubai, UAE

What should I do if my bird lays an egg?

RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!!! (No, just joking.)

Female birds may lay eggs even without the pres

<h5>What should I do if my bird lays an egg?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_119.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!!! (No, just joking.)</p> <p>Female birds may lay eggs even without the presence of a male bird. There are a number of possible reasons for this, such as being exposed to more light in the day and forming an <em>unnatural</em> bond with their owners. Birds may also form an attachment to other birds that they see or also to objects, such as toys. The reason we don't want eggs to be laid on an ongoing basis is that they may result in "egg binding", osteoporosis and malnutrition if your bird continues to do this. <br><br>So, if your bird begins to lay eggs, it's a good idea to do the following:</p> <ul> <li>Decrease the amount of daytime hours your bird is exposed to down to a maximum of 8 hours.<br><br></li> <li>Take away any toys that she may show a preference for and also take them away from any area in which she may see other birds as mates because having those toys there can act like a trigger of sorts.<br><br></li> <li>Place an artificial egg in their nest ~ she may well stop producing her own eggs if she's already got an egg present. (Birds are intelligent but apparently not THAT intelligent!)</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>And, of course, if you're concern... see a vet!</p> <p> </p></div>

Do you have discounts for long-term boarding or buddy-boarding?

We sure do.

Take a look at our price list.

If your pet boards with us for 28 or more consecutive days, we give you a 10% discount; if 60 days within a year, you get 7 days free boarding for future use. Also, if your pet buddy-boards with another family's pet, then it's a 20% discount! Yay!!

Will my bird have time outside her cage and some interaction with your handlers? What if she's staying in one of your offices?

Answer

<h5>Will my bird have time outside her cage and some interaction with your handlers? What if she's staying in one of your offices?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_pet_photo_100.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Yes!</p> <p>Actually, this is about larger birds, of course, because tiny little birds really do need to stay in their cages. BUT both large and small birds sometimes spend time in our offices with staff and if you ask us about this, we can usually arrange it so that they are in the offices all the time or often.</p> <p>As for large birds (cockatoos, macaws, African greys), if they tend to be very noisy (talkative?) then we need to be cautious in our promises to you because we also have to serve our other customers on the phone and in person, as you know, so a really "talkative" bird can make all that pretty difficult. But no matter what kind of squawker your bird is, all larger birds in our care get a lot of time out of their cages and with our handlers. We love birds! And we have a lovely aviary (for both large and small birds) where they have plenty of time to check things out and interact with staff, in addition to the regular feeding and bathing times.</p></div>

Will my bird have time outside her cage and some interaction with your handlers? What if she's staying in one of your offices?

Yes! Actually, this is about larger birds, of course, because tiny little birds really do need to stay in their cages. BUT...

Does my bird need exercise?

Answer

<h5>Does my bird need exercise?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_pet_photo_123.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Birds can become very overweight, especially if they're not given a large enough space to move around in. This can be especially true for birds with clipped wings, who are more likely to end up rather sedentary.</p> <p>And so, yes, exercise for your bird is very important in helping them stay fit and healthy, to say nothing of reducing or eliminating boredom. Give them as much opportunity to fly as possible, if at all possible, with lots of perches around their environment which they can fly from/to. And if you're developing a good connected relationship with your bird, calling her to you from a distance will encourage flying and general activity. Even encouraging your bird to walk along the floors of your home can be fun, explorative activity, especially if you've got her looking for toys and food!</p></div>

Does my bird need exercise?

Birds can become very...

Does my bird need vaccinations?

Yes... maybe.

There are different vaccines available for different species of birds, with the main vaccinations being for poultry. Parrots tend not to need vaccines unless it's a requirement of the country they are in or travelling to.

Can I have pictures of my pet while I'm away? Do you have a webcam?

Answer

Pictures? Yesssiiirrree! And not just that! We also do videos! (Don't get too excited, now.) We c

<h5>Can I have pictures of my pet while I'm away? Do you have a webcam?</h5><p>Pictures? Yesssiiirrree! And not just that! We also do videos! (Don't get <em>too</em> excited, now.) We call it <span class="span_link cursorpointer" data-href="/pet-pics-and-videos">Pics & Videos of the DKC Litter</span>. Take a look! If you let us know you'd like a dedicated set of pics or a video of your pet while you're away, we'll make an album for you and post on the page. But we don't stop there: we also post our "DKC Weekly Photo Shoot" on our <span class="span_link cursorpointer" data-href="http://facebook.com/dkc.animal.people">Facebook</span> page, which includes just a couple of pics of all the animals currently staying with us ~ including yours, of course.</p> <p>As for the webcam thing... sorry, no, we don't have webcams.</p> <p>(Did we just spoil it for you?)</p>

No doubt much to your surprise, you should bathe your dog (or cat) only when really needed ~ in m

<h5>Bathing my pet ~ Should I do this regularly?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_65.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>No doubt much to your surprise, you should bathe your dog (or cat) only when really needed ~ in most cases never more than once a month unless there are medical needs which require it more often (i.e. vet-prescribed medicated shampoos, etc.). So unless your pet has been enjoying a mud bath or rolling around in something unthinkable, there really is no need for a scheduled scrub in the tub. Seriously ~ most pet owners, for all the loving reasons you can think of, simply bathe their pets too often. The thing is, you see, that dogs and cats have natural oils in their skin and fur to keep them feeling and looking healthy and shiny, and excessive bathing can remove these oils causing the fur to look, and indeed to be, dull and dry.</p> <p>More important than bathing, in most cases, and especially for long-haired critters, is a regular brushing out. Put your energy into THIS and you've got a good thing going.</p> <p>So restrain yourselves, you lovey-dovies!</p></div>

Do I get a discount if I bring my own food?

Answer

<h5>Do I get a discount if I bring my own food?</h5> <p>Sorry about this, but no. Food for your pets is, of course, a cost for us but another very significant cost factor is the actual time, effort and resource to do the feeding itself. With all the pets we have in our care, special feeding, even if it's your own food, requires that much more involvement.</p> <p>We hope you understand.</p>

Boarding Reservations: How far in advance do I have to book?

Answer

Now that's an important question!

During more than half the year, you can book anytime, ev

<h5>Boarding Reservations: How far in advance do I have to book?</h5><p>Now <em>that's</em> an important question!</p> <p>During more than half the year, you can book anytime, even last minute, and we'll be able to take your pet in. No problem.</p> <p>During about 5 months of the year, things are a bit more complicated than that. Take a look at <a href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/gotta-book-early" target="_blank">Gotta Book Early!</a></p>

Can I export my bird?

Answer

<h5>Can I export my bird?</h5> <p>Yes, definitely, birds can be exported. However, there very strict guidelines and lots of paper work to arrange. It's always best to check with both the country of origin and the desintation country to learn what they each require, as the rules differ from country-to-country.</p> <p>You'll also need to check the CITIES list to see if your bird (species or family order) are required to have a CITIES permit to travel. Take a look <a href="https://www.cites.org/eng/disc/species.php" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

Do you collect/deliver outside Dubai?

Yep. Outside Dubai...

...and outside the UAE if need be. Contact us for pricing.

Do I need to make an appointment?

Answer

<h5>Do I need to make an appointment?</h5> <p>We genuinely love having people just drop by and look around both our locations in <a href="/about-dkc/howl-we-get-there#dkcmap" target="_blank">Umm Ramool</a> (Boarding, Daycare, Relocations) and <a href="/about-dkc/howl-we-get-there#dkcvetmap" target="_blank">Motor City</a> (Veterinary Clinic).</p> <p>If you want to relocate your pet into or out of Dubai, or if you need veterinary care, then we do indeed need you to contact us to make an appointment... but we promise we won't make that difficult. <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_smiley3.png"></p> <p>If, however, you just want to see either of our facilities and look around, to see where your pet will live while you're away and he's boarding or while she's in veterinary care, and to have a chat with our Animal Handlers... then just come on down any time during our <a href="/about-dkc/two-legged-timings" target="_blank">Two-Legged Timings</a>.</p> <p>If you want to actually reserve boarding space for your pet, then yes, you do need to contact us in advance.</p>

Can DKC help me rehome my pet?

No, sorry. This is not something we are involved in.

We are a for-profit, commercial (but lovely and homey!) boarding and daycare business. However, there are many not-for-profit, equally lovely organisations in the UAE who are totally focused on helping people rehome family pets and strays. A quick search in Google will get you headed in the right direction.

How do I change my bird's diet?

Answer

<h5>How do I change my bird's diet?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_118.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>As you learn more about your bird and her dietary needs, it might be necessary to change what you feed her.</p> <p>Start the new food gradually by mixing a small amount of the new food with the existing food. You can even "hide" the new food in toys, around her cage to encourage natural, foraging and playful behaviour to make it more interesting and fun. Pellets can also be made into a mash with warm water in order to change their texture and make it more interesting for your bird to try.</p> <p>Consistency and persistence are key during this process, so just stick to it and you and your bird will get there, promise! You can even pretend to eat the food yourself ~ parrots will often try and mimic your behaviour. <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_wink.png" height="15" width="15"></p></div>

How do I change my bird's diet?

As you learn more about your...

Do I have to provide my own pet food? What type of food do you provide?

Answer

<h5>Do I have to provide my own pet food? What type of food do you provide?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_pet_photo_43.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>No you don't. We provide everything.</p> <p>We rely primarily on dry Royal Canin, wet Lily's Kitchen for dogs and wet Catit for cats... and also chicken, tuna and rice when needed or specifically wanted.</p> <p>Of course, if you have a special diet (your own concoction or a veterinary prescription) we can do that too... although for these there <em>might</em> be additional charges.</p> <p>To learn more, take a look here: <span class="span_link cursorpointer" data-href="/what-we-do/boarding-daycare/love-and-other-stuff-too#Special-Diets">Love... and other stuff too/Special Diets</span>.</p></div>

Do I have to provide my own pet food? What type of food do you provide?

No you don't. We provide everything. We rely primarily on dry Royal...

Does my bird need dietary supplements?

Answer

If your bird is eating a good quality, complete diet, including fresh fruit and vegetables, there

<h5>Does my bird need dietary supplements?</h5><p>If your bird is eating a good quality, complete diet, including fresh fruit and vegetables, there is usually no need for extra dietary supplements. Yay! <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_smiley3.png" height="15" width="15"></p>

What's the minimum age a bird should be when I first get/purchase her?

12 weeks old!

It's important for young birds to be fully weaned before they are taken away from their mother, so no younger than 12 weeks old. And it's best for only experienced bird people to attempt to handle rare baby birds.

Does my bird need to be microchipped?

Answer

<h5>Does my bird need to be microchipped?</h5> <p>Microchipping is a great way to identify and register your bird in case he ever flies off into the unknown. A microchip is also a permanent, more reliable method of identifying your bird than feet-rings which can wear out or become damaged and can even break and fall off entirely.</p> <p>Microchips for birds are smaller than those for cats and dogs but nevertheless sometimes birds require a light sedation to have them placed. Not something to worry about, though. <img alt="" src="/graphics/ic_smiley3.png" height="15" width="15"></p> <p>Do be very aware that all birds will always need a microchip, and possibly other forms of identification, if they ever need to travel abroad.</p>

Do I need to get my bird's wings clipped?

Answer

DKC has ethical concerns regarding wing-clipping. Instead, we strongly advocate teaching your bir

<h5>Do I need to get my bird's wings clipped?</h5><p>DKC has ethical concerns regarding wing-clipping. Instead, we strongly advocate teaching your bird about and familiarising your bird with his home environment and surrounding territory, and keeping him in a safe environment where he cannot fly away.</p> <p>If wing-clipping is a decision you feel you must nevertheless take, the procedure is fairly straightforward and will be done either with or without anaesthesia, depending on the bird involved and their reaction to the process (i.e. their stress levels). But do be aware that even after wing-clipping, birds can still fly a very little bit and will gain some height in the air while trying ~ especially smaller birds ~ but they will not be able to gain and sustain enough height and could well fall from the air and injure themselves.</p> <p>Give this all some thought and talk to us if you'd like more guidance and insight.</p>

Can DKC make custom made travel boxes for animals other than cats and dogs?

Answer

We sure can! Any type of travel box or crate you might need, for any type of animal!

Simp

<h5>Can DKC make custom made travel boxes for animals other than cats and dogs?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_93.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>We sure can! Any type of travel box or crate you might need, for any type of animal!</p> <p>Simply <a href="/contact-us" target="_blank">contact us</a>.</p></div>

Will you clip my pet's nails if needed?

Answer

<h5>Will you clip my pet's nails if needed?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_42.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Yes we will.</p> <p>Our staff are well trained for this and we always check for such things with all dogs, cats and birds... and anyone else that might need it. (Yes, yes, of course we'll clip yours too... but only if ask you <em>real</em> nice.) We won't do any actual clipping without your permission, however, so just ask us to and/or we'll let you know if we think it's needed.</p> <p>For dogs and cats, no charge!</p> <p>For birds, this can sometimes require sedation and, therefore, veterinary involvement, and therefore charges, but we'll talk to you about that if we think it's needed, of course, and don't hesitate to ask.</p></div>

Will you clip my pet's nails if needed?

Yes we will. Our staff are well...

How long will my bird live for?

Longer than you think!!

It depends on the species of your bird. Small birds, such as budgies and cockatiels, can live for up to 20 years, and the larger parrots, like Macaws and African Greys, have been reported to live well over 60 years. OMG!