Prepare Before Getting a Pet Bird

Deciding to make an exotic bird a part of your family is a wonderful and exciting thing. Many people think you just find the bird, make the purchase and bring it home. The love, attention and car that these pets need can sometimes be overwhelming. So, as a new owner, research and education are you best tools.

Begin by researching the different types of birds. Find out about their individual behaviors, diet needs, what are the potential problems, and most of all, what types of attention needs they have. Birds are flock animals and require a great deal of time and attention.

Find a reputable breeder or pet store. This can be as important as researching the types. Keep in mind, most new owners do best with a young, hand fed baby bird. Birds in the 12-week to 12 month range are usually best. Older birds or rehomed birds can be extremely rewarding, but are usually a handful for someone who has never owned a bird before.

This is also the time to find an avian veterinarian in your area. You'll want your new bird to be seen by the veterinarian within the first seven days after coming home. That way the vet can spot any potential health problems right away.

Before bringing baby home, decide the best place to put the cage. You want to have it in an area where there are no drafts and not in full sunlight. You also want to place it so that the new bird isn't the complete center of attention. It can take a new bird 30-60 days to become fully comfortable with a new home.

Nutrition is a very important thing when you're a bird. A well balanced diet can prolong life and even prevent behavior problems. The best is to use a pelleted diet made for your type of bird. You then supplement that with fresh fruits and vegetables. Yes, birds can live on a seed diet, but that is a far from adequate diet for pet birds. In the wild, birds instinctively know what seeds to eat to get a healthy, rounded diet. Pet birds don't have the opportunity to seek out what they need.

One more thing I've learned. Birds do best when put on a schedule. My birds are up at 8am and go to be at 8pm. Birds usually sleep 12 hours a day, give or take. Sleeping schedules will help keep problems to a minimum.

You now have a healthy, beautiful little angel in your home. With proper nutrition, attention and care, your new baby can bring you years of joy. With the larger species of birds, you may want to put a provision in your will, some larger species and live 80 years or more.