Tips To Choose The Right Bird As Pet

I could not contain my excitement on seeing the conure my friend Deepa had adopted and had almost made up my mind to adopt the first attractive bird I found at a breeders, when she advises me to browse the net or ask pet owners and know about different pet birds, their habits, time commitments and expenditure on them before adopting one.

Deepa told me that her sister Geeta had adopted a macaw on first impression; it’s boisterous, “Hello”, without realizing that bird ownership was a long term commitment and this bird had special diet needs and handling. She emphasized that it was best to take into consideration family needs before adoption to save being unhappy owners with unwanted pet birds.

Some tips to choose the right pet bird:

a) It is best that novices adopt a small bird like a canary or medium sized birds like conures or cockatiels; big birds like macaws mean a bigger commitment of looking after them. Though larger birds form exceptional companions, but they are louder, messier and more demanding than birds that are small.

b) Next the size of the bird also forms an important consideration while considering housing requirements, training and overall interaction; it forms good sense to think realistically in this line to make sure you can handle the pet bird.

c) The next important consideration is the behavior and temperament of the pet bird; selecting a pet bird means choosing between one that is eager to come out of the cage and socialize and one that prefers to not be touched but only seen.

d) Next forming an important factor in the quality of your ownership experience, it is best to note that the way a canary behaves would be very different from how an African Grey does. A smart owner of a pet bird takes the trouble and time to research the personality of different pet birds to find one that is compatible to their personality.

e) The special diet and care of certain birds also form a part of the selection; adopting a lorry in striking colors could seem like a good choice, but we also need to realize that they need to be fed a special diet of pollen, nectar, and fruit as they have highly specialized digestive system. It also means cleaning the liquid droppings in the cage more often. 

f) Commitment of time is the next important consideration, with some birds like hook bills requiring more time for regular daily exercise, interaction, and time out of their cages. Inability to spare such time means adopting a pet like a finch, canary or any other independent category bird. This would ensure your pet is happy and healthy.  

g) Keeping a bird as a pet involves expenses on cage, accessories, feeding, and providing them with veterinary care throughout their lives; most big birds involve a lot of initial expenses. Being able to afford the upkeep of the pet bird is an important consideration.

Finally a little research and careful thought go a long way to ensure you select the right pet bird that would make bird ownership an enriching experience. Never buy a pet bird on impulse; make the right decision by considering the lifestyle of your family.   

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