What To Know When Getting A Bird For A Pet?

It isn’t hard to see the appeal of having a bird as a pet. Unlike dogs or cats, they
usually don’t make a mess and are generally easy to look after. Birds are also very loyal.

However, they are still responsible and demand a unique level of care and attention depending on their species.

So, before you decide to get an avian friend to look after, you must first know a few important things about birds. We’ll cover some of them in this article.

Birds Can Be Noisy

While some birds can fill a home with soothing and gentle songs, others may be
more prone to talking, squawking, chirping, and warbling. And the noise you and the neighbors can handle should be considered when selecting an avian species and even gender to take back to your house.

For example, one of the amazing things about the subject, of how to know whether canary birds are male or female, is that the former produces better songs than the latter.

Generally, you’ll want to avoid parrots if you want a quieter home, as they’re the noisiest of all avian species. On the other hand, the smaller lovebirds and budgies aren’t as noisy. However, they can still make some noise.

Birds Are Early Risers

While you might be happy that your avian friend will wake up early to greet you, birds can be alarm clocks you won’t be able to ignore. They can get up late in the evening or first flush in the morning.

You’ll have to work with your pet to establish a nightly routine. If you’re planning on getting an avian pet, expect to work on it for a few months, as it will take time for your bird to begin acclimating to your home.

Birds Require Specialized Care

Avian veterinarians will become an integral part of the life of any pet bird. It’s recommended that the animal gets a comprehensive diagnostic test upon its initial acquisition.

Furthermore, annual check-ups should be followed to ensure that the pet remains in excellent physical condition because it may not always be apparent when birds are unwell. 

Birds Can Be Costly

There will always be pets that are more costly to maintain than others, and birds usually rank high when it comes to how expensive it’ll be to have one. For example, cockatiels or quarrions can cost over a hundred dollars to procure, which should indicate the amount of money you’ll likely have to spend on them.

Most avian species also require nutritious diets that are high in seeds, vegetables, fresh fruits, and anything else directed by the veterinarian. In addition, they’ll need a spacious place to live in, vet visits, toys, and many other supplies.

Birds Hate Smoke

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that cigarette smoke is dangerous for your bird just as much as it is for you, if not worse. If you decide to consume tobacco products, do so outdoors and far enough away from any open windows to be safe. If you’ve just smoked, remember to wash your hands before handling your bird. Also, keep in mind that the scents left behind on your clothing and other objects in your home can harm your bird’s health.

Birds Also Hate Toxic Houseplants

Numerous common houseplants are poisonous to birds, with effects ranging from minor illness to unexpected death. Lilies, philodendrons, shamrocks, and amaryllis blooms are a few of these plants.

Just because your bird doesn’t appear to be interested in plants right now doesn’t mean it won’t investigate them later. These plants should be given new homes in places where your bird will never be. And in the future, pick bird-safe plant options like the African violet or spider plant.

Why Birds Are Amazing Pets

Owners of pet birds will verify that these animals are among the most wonderful on the planet! Every single bird has a distinct personality, and some can live up to 70 years old (now that’s a friend for life)! Birds are among the most rewarding pets humans can own because they teach us so much about ourselves and have the power to alter our lives forever.

Here are some great tips on why you should make a bird your pet:

1. Low Maintenance: Keeping birds as pets require minimal effort compared to other animals such as cats and dogs.
2. Affectionate Companionship: Birds can form strong bonds with their owners, providing companionship and unconditional love.
3. Variety of Species: With over 10,000 species of birds in the world, there is a perfect pet for everyone!
4. Intelligent Creatures: Most bird species are incredibly intelligent creatures capable of performing tricks and learning words or phrases if trained properly.
5. Fun Personality: Birds have unique personalities that make them fun to interact with – they’re often quite comical!
6. No Walking Necessary: Unlike larger animals such as cats and dogs, there’s no need to take birds out for walks.
7. Low Cost: Birds are generally less expensive than other animals, as they require minimal food, supplies, and veterinary care.
8. Quiet Pets: Unlike cats or dogs who may bark or meow loudly at times, birds are relatively quiet pets that won’t disturb your neighbors!

It Requires Great Plan And Effort

You can be certain that a lot of time and effort went into forming a bird’s personality if you bring one that is already tame home. You must handle and interact with your bird every day if you want to preserve the results of your labor or tame an unsocialized bird.

Some birds actually require several hours of human interaction each day to maintain their physical and mental well-being. In addition, it takes time and effort each day to clean the cages and provide a balanced diet of fresh foods.

Conclusion

Any experienced owner of pet birds can attest to these creatures being one of the animals to have as pets. They all have unique and individual personalities, cheer up people when they’re down, and even live up to their seventies if taken care of properly. If you can deal with the costs of having them as pets and the noise they can make, these avian creatures can be excellent pets.