Owning a Pet Bird
|
Selecting A Pet BirdWhat Kind of Bird?So, you are thinking of getting a bird. But what kind should you get? Ask yourself some important questions first.  1. Why do you want a bird? If you want to have a
bird for companionship - choose a hand fed bird like a Cockatiel. A hand-fed Cockatiel
will be friendly and affectionate. Some birds, such as Love Birds are not naturally
friendly to humans and may be prone to biting. If you do not want to have a needy bird,
but still want the sound of birds and the enjoyment in watching them play; choose a
parakeet, canary, or finch. They do not need to have a personal relationship with the
owner and are wonderful to watch. Parakeets, Canaries and Finches also make wonderfully
soothing sounds.
 2. Do you have pets? Cats and dogs do not
necessarily get along with birds. It can be very upsetting to the bird owner if their
new bird is eaten by their dog or cat. If you have other pets, keep your bird in the
cage and do not let them out into the danger zone.
 3. How much time can you spend with your bird?
Some birds need lots of attention, such as the larger parrots and hand-fed smaller birds.
If you cannot spend more than a few minutes a day with the bird, get one that is
independent. Canaries and Finches are perfect birds for the busy person.
4. How long do you want your bird to live? This may sound like a strange question, but a Finch lives 3-4 years where an African Grey Parrot can live up to 75 years - that is a long time. 5. How much money do you want to spend? A male canary (the only ones that sing) can cost $100.00, a hand-fed cockatiel can cost $75.00-125.00. A Hyacinth Macaw can cost $5,000.00. Consider too that the larger parrots have to have larger, more expensive cages. Consider too the cost of food, toys, and veterinary care.  6. Do you want a bird that talks? African Grey
Parrots are the best talkers and some have been trained to have vocabularies of over 100
words. Cockatoos and Macaws are also good at talking, but they are the more expensive of
the birds. Again, if you want your bird to talk you will have to spend time training the
bird.
7. Do you travel a lot? Who will care for your bird? You will need someone who knows birds to care for your pet when you travel. Caring for birds is not necessarily that easy and you will need to make sure that if you are going to be gone for more than a day, you have someone caring for them. 8. Where are you going to buy your bird? Are you going to go through a breeder or a pet shop. A breeder may have a healthier bird and you will likely be able to see how the breeder keeps their other birds and the condition of the other birds in their collection. A pet shop is always a risky choice because you do not know how well the birds have been treated, what veterinary care they have received, or if they have been housed with other birds who may have been sick. Birds from breeders may cost more, but they have an added advantage of allowing you to see the breeders collection and make a more informed decision. Okay, you still want a bird? You definitely want a bird, thats great! Be an informed bird owner. Read all you can
on the bird you have decided to buy. Decide on the cage and cage location that is best
suited to you and the bird. Research the best food and toys for the breed you have chosen.
Decide on the best place to obtain the bird whether it is a pet shop, breeder, or rescue
organization. Last but not least, have everything in place for the new bird before you
take possession of it. Make sure their home is ready before you get them.
Good luck on your choice for a pet. | ||
| Birds of All Kinds Exotic Birds | Pet Birds Tropical Birds | |
|
| ||
Other Pet Sites | ||
| Fish and Supplies Everything for Dogs | Cats and Accessories Guinea Pig Site | |
| Cash2Burn Directory / Link Exchange- Click Here to Add Your Site! Serving all your pet birds needs 
| ||
Our Top Sponsors
Bird Cages Galore The Biggest Selection of Bird Cages and Parrot Play Stands Anywhere!
|