0:00:03.250,0:00:08.290
Doctor Hess: So in general the lifespan of[br]a bird is based on size.

0:00:08.290,0:00:10.450
Most of the larger birds live longer.

0:00:10.450,0:00:15.940
Many of the big Macaws that we see, even the[br]Amazon Parrots, the African Greys can live

0:00:15.940,0:00:19.680
30 to 40, sometimes even more years in captivity.

0:00:19.680,0:00:24.130
Most birds in captivity don't live as long[br]as in the wild, becasue they are not exposed

0:00:24.130,0:00:28.150
to the same fresh air, and sunlight, and nutrition[br]as they would get in the wild.

0:00:28.150,0:00:31.830
But these birds are very, very long lived,[br]which makes them actually very popular pets.

0:00:31.830,0:00:34.250
And some of the smaller birds, however, live[br]shorter periods.

0:00:34.250,0:00:35.280
I mean, what would you say?

0:00:35.280,0:00:37.220
You have Cockatiels, and smaller birds.

0:00:37.220,0:00:41.700
Sarah: I would say, Cockatiels and smaller[br]birds, like this little green cheek Conure,

0:00:41.700,0:00:43.210
usually around 20 years.

0:00:43.210,0:00:49.559
I would say that the better diet and care[br]they get early on, the longer you can expect

0:00:49.559,0:00:51.630
to have a healthy bird in your home.

0:00:51.630,0:00:55.680
Doctor Hess: Absolutely, I mean, some of the[br]small Parakeets, the Budgerigars, we used

0:00:55.680,0:00:57.050
to think 6 to 8 years.

0:00:57.050,0:01:00.860
We've seen them actually live into their teens[br]now that we know what their requirements are.

0:01:00.860,0:01:03.940
I've been a bird veterinarian for almost 20[br]years.

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And the recommendations I make now are very,[br]very different from those I made years ago.

0:01:08.280,0:01:12.010
And we know that all these recommendations[br]are very, very important in keeping kidneys

0:01:12.010,0:01:15.200
healthy, the liver healthy, bodies functioning[br]longer.

0:01:15.200,0:01:19.970
So it is really important to seek out the[br]advice of a veterinarian comfortable with

0:01:19.970,0:01:23.790
birds, so you can learn about what's best[br]for your birds, so that he or she can be happy

0:01:23.790,0:00:00.000
and healthy for a very long time.