What does it take to own a companion parrot?
The path of happiness for both your new feathered friend as well as yourself begins even before you walk into a reputable pet store and say, "I am interested in owning a companion bird. Can you help me?" You first must ask yourself a few short but very important questions.
What is your reason for wanting a pet bird?
Hobby? Companionship? Decoration? Child’s pet? No bird is a throw away pet. No bird is appropriate as a child’s pet. Birds can be expensive to purchase and properly care for. They are a lot of work with proper feeding, cleaning and play sessions. Birds are intelligent enough to develop psychological issues like screaming, self mutilation, and feather plucking. Ask yourself why you really want a bird, before you buy because you may not want a bird, you may want a goldfish.
How much time do you have to spend with your bird?
Day to day you must consider the time it takes for food preparation, cleaning the cage and surrounding area, training, and playtime. Some individual birds need more time with you every day than others. Some birds just enjoy their owner being in the same room with them. Other birds may require you undivided attention during their play time with you. All birds, however, no matter what species, need one on one time with their owners every day. Your bird won’t understand that you had to work late and get up early, or that you didn’t get much sleep because of the new baby in the house. As a rule, the larger and more tame the bird, the more time with you every day it will require.
How much space do you have in your home to keep a bird?
Birds need to have a cage not only to keep them out of trouble but to give them a safe place away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A bird's cage should not be a prison, there should be plenty of exciting toys to beat on and destroy and still room to flap around while screaming (don't laugh, it's true). Each bird must have its own cage if you want to keep them as pets. It you want two or more birds, you must have two or more cages. Any bird’s cage must be in a common room of your house. Birds are flock animals and will not be happy if they are kept in a bedroom or other room and are not part of the family life.
What personality traits are most important to you?
Some species of birds are known to enjoy snuggling, some tend to more stand offish. Some may talk, some may sing, some may whistle. Some can tend be more aggressive than others, while others tend to just want to meet people. Some are usually very loud, some are maybe not so loud. Different species of birds have different characteristics. Not all birds like to be pet or snuggled, not all will learn to talk up a storm. The bird you fall in love with at the pet store may be the wrong bird for you.
Do you want a bird that will talk?
You must keep in mind that if you want to own a bird only because it will talk, you should not purchase a bird. An owner must love the bird for who he is, not whether or not he performs Shakespeare. Not all birds with talk. Even in species that are famous for talking, such as African Greys, some individuals may not speak a word. The ability for an animal to speak our language is charming and fun, but it should never be the reason to buy a bird. Speech is a bonus to the wonderful feathered companionship given to you by your bird. Before deciding that a talking bird is the most important thing to you, ask yourself what you will do if your bird doesn’t talk.
What can you afford to pay for a bird?
Keep in mind that the total cost of a bird is not just the bird itself but it is also an adequate sized cage, food, toys, and veterinary needs. Okay, let’s do a little math with small, medium and large birds.
A small bird, such as a parakeet or a normal grey cockatiel will generally cost between $20 to $150. The cage can cost $75 to $250. Quality food including pellets, seed, and veggies would cost around $20 to 40 a month. Your little bird needs toys, and they need to be rotated and replaced every few weeks. Each toy will cost between $5 and $15. Even little birds need a place to play other than their cage, and a play stand for a little bird will cost between $50 and $300 depending on the size and make of the play stand.
A medium sized bird such as a Conure, Quaker, Senegal, or Caique will cost from $250 to $1300, the cage will cost at least $250, the cost for food is $30 to $50 monthly and toys are $5 up to and above $20 each. All small parrots need a play stand to protect them and keep them confined in a safe play area. The play stand would be at least $100 and can be up to and above $400.
A large bird such as a Timneh or Congo Grey, Amazon, Cockatoo or Macaw can cost $1000 to $3000. Some of your rarer species can cost much more. Their cages start at $300 and can go to upwards of a $2000. A play stand is a must, and will run you between $300 and $500. Quality diets such as pellets, veggies, nuts and a few treats will be $40 to $60 monthly. Toys can start at $5 to $20 each, although the larger cockatoos and macaws will tear through toys costing over $40 each within a few days.
All birds need veterinary care every year. Birds can’t go to just any veterinarian. The veterinarian you choose must be an avian specialist, and understand birds and their specific differences. The office staff of an avian specialist should be comfortable with birds, and everyone in the office should be confident in their handling of all birds. Minimally all birds need an annual check up with an avian veterinarian. A small bird such as a parakeet, lovebird or cockatiel will need a throat gram stain at least once a year to be sure the bird is staying in good health. All medium and large birds must have a throat culture and sensitivity for bacteria and fungus every year. A blood panel is important every 2 to 3 years to check internal organ function.
Yearly preventative veterinary care for one bird can be well over $200 for an exam and testing. If your bird gets sick, your veterinary costs will increase.
What about cleanliness?
Birds can be very messy. Not only will you have to clean the cage every day but the surrounding area as well. Veggies can be thrown all over the cage and on the surrounding walls, floors, carpets, etc. Pellets and seed can be kicked out of the cage and into corners, under rugs, and into seat cushions. And we can’t forget the poop. If you cannot handle poop on your clothing, floors, carpets, walls, beds or anywhere else that your new bird will be allowed to go you may want to reconsider bird ownership.
How much noise, if any, is all right to live with?
Birds make noise. It is part of their natural behavior to welcome the morning or evening with a symphony of jungle noises. Sometimes even the "quiet" birds can make quite a racket. If you live in an apartment you must be very careful what species of bird you choose because if you don’t, you may find your landlord telling you and your bird to shape-up or ship-out! If you are sensitive to noise, keep that in mind too. Birds make noise, its just part of the package.
Is the destructiveness of a bird a concern?
Most birds love to chew and they do not know that the dining room table is really meant for eating on and that it is not just a giant chew toy. Even the small birds can destroy carpets, walls, and furniture. Any time a bird is out of its cage, it must be supervised.
The next step: READ!!!
Do your homework for both yourself and your bird to be. Learn about which bird is right for you and your family, research the differences between the many species of birds, what to feed your bird, behaviors to expect of your chosen species, how to prevent problems both physically and mentally, find a avian veterinarian close by and find out their rates, learn how to establish rules and guidelines for your new bird, how to bird safe your home…
After all of this hard work and thinking, now go into a reputable pet or bird store. Not all pet or bird stores are created equal. Look at the store you choose very carefully. Make sure the store is clean. The bird room, cages and play gyms should be in good condition and cleaned daily. Look at the birds and make sure that they are healthy, bright-eyed and active. Check that they are eating healthy pellets and human food, not just seeds. Ask questions and make sure the employees care and know what they are talking about. If you do not feel comfortable with the store, its employees and most of all the health of the birds, take your business elsewhere. Be comfortable with your purchases and the business you are supporting. Never buy a bird out of pity, never buy goods from a business that has practices you do not agree with.
I know I have given you a lot to think about, but by reading this you have brought yourself closer to buying your bird the right way. If you do your homework, and not buy impulsively, you will find your feathered companion. I promise.
GOOD LUCK * HAPPY READING
Recommended Reading
The Companion Parrot, by Sally Blanchard
The Beak Book, by Sally Blanchard
Companion Parrot Quarterly
Guide to a Well Behaved Parrot, by Mattie Sue Athan
Birds For Dummies
Birds USA - Annual Directory Issue
Birdtalk Magazine
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whether for free, or for profit, and whether or not for personal use is prohibited.
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