What Should I Know Before Purchasing a Pet Bird?

If are considering purchasing a bird as a pet there are a few simple things you need to know in order to keep your feathered friend healthy and happy throughout a long, stress-free life.

Birds are high maintenance pets. They live long lives (the large macaws are capable of living up to 100 years of age,) have special dietary needs, and require constant stimulation and attention from their owners. A bird needs lots of toys, a cage with plenty of room to move around, and tender loving care and attention. If you supply your bird with these things you will have a bird that is pleasant to be around. If you DO NOT, be prepared to have an unhappy bird, which will lead to an unhappy you.

Five Things to Consider Before Purchasing Your Bird:

1) Birds can be VERY LOUD. Birds can really bring the noise when they want to. New bird owners rarely consider just how loud the piercing squawk of a macaw can be. Something all potential bird owners need to recognize is that ALL BIRDS SQUAWK. The Large Macaws are capable of hitting a 105 dB. If noise is a turn off you can consider purchasing a smaller bird as they are generally quieter. However if you live in an apartment complex or have a family member that works from home and requires concentration, it may be best for you to re-consider purchasing a pet bird.

2) Birds are messy. Potential bird owners should be aware that birds, even the small ones, are still capable of creating a messy, poop-filled cage. This is why the cage needs to be washed once a week. Another thing to consider is that, in the wild, when a bird eats, pieces of chewed food drop to the jungle/forest floor. This means that the spare food will be dropped to the bottom of the cage. Discarded/chewed food will fall through to the cage floor and will pile up if the bottom tray is not cleaned daily. To make this easier on you, line the cage tray with a newspaper page, that way you can just fold it up and throw it out. Put a new one on for the next day. Rinse and repeat.

3) Birds require a special diet. They need fresh fruits and vegetables every day along with a vitamin supplement and fresh, clean water to drink. A seed only diet is the equivalent of a fast food and soda diet for a human. It is fatty and unhealthy. If your budget cannot allow you to regularly buy fresh fruits and vegetables for your bird, a bird might not be the best pet for you.

4) ALL BIRDS BITE. Even extremely tame birds bite. A bird is not domesticated in the same way that a dog or a cat is. Pet birds are still essentially wild but living with humans. They have natural instincts and they will bite if scared or threatened. They bite when they are trying to protect themselves or their owners. My Hahn's Macaw regularly nips me if she sees something scary outside the window. This is her way of telling me "there's something scary in them there bushes!" Many new bird owners get frustrated or even angry when their birds nip them and as a result the bird gets frustrated and angry. New bird owners have to understand: JUST BECAUSE A BIRD BITES YOU, DOES NOT MEAN IT DOES NOT LIKE YOU. My bird bites me all the time. It's just something you have to deal with. She is worth it.

If you have small children, it might be best to wait until they are older to purchase a pet bird. Birds like to bite, sometimes very hard. If you buy a pet bird and then have a baby, the bird might become jealous and attack the baby to try and win back your affection. There are smaller birds you can buy that are safer for little children to handle. However, if you are squeamish just thinking about a bird taking a peck at you or your child, it might be necessary to re-consider purchasing a pet bird.

5) Birds require a lot of attention. A LOT. At MINIMUM, pet birds need 3 hours of out of cage, social interaction time, with their owners and flock (family) members EACH DAY. In the wild, a bird is able to occupy itself with everyday wild bird activities. A PET BIRD does not have this luxury. Toys alone are not enough to keep your bird from becoming bored. If you are not able to devote a couple of hours a day to spend with your bird, even if it is just for a few hours while you do chores before going to bed, you need to re-consider buying a pet bird. A bird that does not get attention will become bored and will become destructive. This is unhealthy for the bird and stressful for the owner.

If you have read these five things to consider and still want to embark on the grand journey as a bird owner, please continue reading. If any of the above makes you weary of being a bird owner, please re-consider your choice. An unhappy bird owner makes an unhappy and an unhealthy bird.

Which Bird Should You Get?

If you are purchasing your first bird I suggest you follow the standard advice when purchasing a pet bird for the first time; purchase a smaller bird. Generally, smaller birds don't require as much maintenance or cause as much mess as a larger bird does. Another thing to consider is that a larger bird requires a higher budget. Larger birds cost more. They require larger cages, which cost more. They require bigger toys and perches, which cost more. They require more and larger food, which costs more. Be responsible and buy a bird that is within your budget.

Excellent Starter Birds

These are birds that are generally considered to be easy birds to handle, and thus make excellent pets for first time bird owners.

Parakeets and Budgies

Parakeets and Budgies are small energetic birds that love to talk, whistle, and sing. They love spending time with their owners, but are also capable of being independent. If paired with another Parakeet or Budgie, they can easily entertain themselves as they are active and friendly.

Parakeets and Budgies average 7" to 9" in length and can live between 6 to 11 years with proper care.

Cockatiels

Cockatiels are the perfect starter bird. They are relatively quiet and affectionate and have a sweet temperament. They love to sing and whistle. They are capable of forming extremely tight bonds with their owners and love scratches on top of the head and behind the neck. They are active little birds and require plenty of out of cage time to play and explore their surroundings.

Cockatiels average 9" to 11" in length and can live between 15 to 20 years with proper care.

Conures

Conures come in all colors and sizes and are extremely lovable and make excellent starter birds. They are small but extremely intelligent, playful, and very affectionate. They are known for a having a big personality in a small body. They are decent talkers and tend to be quieter than other small birds.

Conures generally average 9" to 12" in length and can live up to 20 to 30 years with proper care.

African Greys

For the beginner parrot owner looking for a challenge, an African Grey might suit you. If you have heard of Alex the wonder parrot, N'kisi, or have seen videos of Einstein the talking parrot on Youtube, you have seen just how smart birds can be. Alex, N'kisi, and Einstein are all African Greys.

African Greys are extremely intelligent and are amazing talkers. However they are bigger than the typical starter bird and require much more attention and care due to their high intelligence and their tendency to feather pick if bored. If you are up for a challenge, African Greys can make extremely good pets. They are high maintenance but with proper care will provide an owner with the wonderful reward of a bright and talkative companion.

There are two types, the Timneh and the Congo. The difference is their size. The Timneh is generally smaller and has dark grey feathers and a maroon or dark grey tail. The Congo is slightly bigger and has light grey feathers and a bright red tail. The Timneh averages 9" to 11" in length. The Congo averages 12" to 14" inches in length. They can live over 50 years with the average being 50 to 65.

For The Birds

Birds make excellent pets, but their high maintenance can be off-putting if not properly cared for.

If you are able to provide your bird with lots of room to play, lots of toys, many hours of social interaction with both you and other family members, and have the gumption to persevere through the initial stage of your bird getting to know you and its new surroundings, you have the necessary qualities to become a great bird owner.

Good Luck!