| Choosing a Pet Bird |
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Birds make wonderful pets. They are cheerful, friendly, social animals. The variety of shapes, colours and size means that you have a fabulous selection available for your bird choice. What should you consider when choosing the right bird for you? Did you know that male Canaries cost almost double the price of female Canaries because they are singers? Parrots are more expensive than finches not because of their size but their ability to talk. Think Big Pets provides great ideas to help you with your pet bird decision. Create Time for Your Pet Bird Birds are social animals and although they are easy to care for, you do need to have time to play with and look after your bird. They need to be fed daily, their cages need to be cleaned and they may also leave mess around their cage. However, the main consideration is that you have the time to spend playing with your bird. Some birds require more time and become demanding and hostile if neglected. Lifespan of Pet Bird When considering what bird to choose you also need to consider the lifespan of the bird. Budgies may only live for five to 15 years but other birds, such as Parrots may live to 50 years or in some cases even longer. My grandfather rescued a grey and pink Galah and he became our pet bird. He lived for over 50 years which meant different generations knew him as our pet. Here are typical life expectancies of a selection of pet birds. Budgies........................................................5-15 years Canaries....................................................10-20 years Finches.........................................................2-10 years Parakeets, Cockatiels or Lovebirds............15 years Large parrots...........................................50-100 years Mid-size parrots...............................................30 years Will Your New Pet Bird Be Safe with Your Other Pets? Your pet bird should not be left alone with your other animals unless your bird is safely housed in a sturdy bird cage. A sudden noise or incident can awaken your other pets' predatory instincts. Do You Have Enough Space for Your Bird? If you have only a small area for your pet bird, you will need to look at the smaller breeds such as Budgies, Finches, Canaries and Lovebirds which do not require large aviaries. Don't forget that the bird mess sometimes extends beyond their cage. Noisy Birds Some of the smaller birds such as Budgerigars, Finches etc are quiet and are suitable for people living in apartments and townhouses. Raucous Parrots can annoy your neighbours in a small apartment block - bird sounds are meant to carry over distances. Birds such as Cockatoos and Conures are known for their squawking and are only suitable for people who do not have close neighbours. Diet Requirements of Birds Some birds require specialized diets which can be expensive and time consuming to prepare. Other birds are happy with commercial seed mixes and fruit/vegetable treats which are easy to prepare. Affordability There is a huge variety in the price of birds. Budgies can be quiet cheap to buy but the bigger and rarer birds can cost thousands of dollars. As well as the purchase price of the bird there may also be veterinarian expenses to consider. Family considerations When Choosing a Bird If you're purchasing a bird for your children, you may need to look at gentle birds such as Budgies and Doves. These birds are easier for the children to handle as larger birds such as Cockatoos, may be a little too powerful and maybe frightening, especially for young children. Join the Think Big Pet Club, login and upload photos of your pet bird so he/she can be our next Pet Superstar. Size of Bird Smaller birds can be easier to handle, they do not need a large cage and are normally quieter. However, large birds will normally live longer and sometimes have superior talking ability. Talking Birds If you are looking for a bird that can talk, Budgies, Cockatiels and Parrots are often good talkers. Male Canaries cost almost double the price of female Canaries because they are singers. Budgies and Cockatiel males talk better than females, especially in Cockatiels where the males vocalize more. The noisier birds often make better talkers. Parrots have an excellent ability to mimic the human voice. Other birds such as Conures are also known for their talking ability. These are some of the considerations to look for when choosing a bird. When purchasing a bird from your breeder or pet shop, please discuss any concerns you have and what you are looking for from your bird. Add your comment
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| Last Updated on Sunday, 28 December 2008 13:25 |