.jpg)
Now that I’ve covered the things we should think about when adopting America’s two most beloved pets, cats and dogs, it’s time to branch out into the other many species of pets commonly available. Today I’m going to go over the basics of what to think about when getting a bird.
It’s hard to cover the details required when considering getting a bird, because unlike most breeds of cats and dogs, different types of birds often require very different types of care. Still, there are some universal ideas to ponder when determining whether or not your lifestyle is appropriate for a pet bird.
1) Whose bird will this be? Because some species of birds have long life spans, you need to consider who will take care of the bird and how long that person will be around. The bird may be the pet of a responsible teenager who will take care of all its needs while home, but what happens to that bird once the teen goes to college? Certain types of birds, like many breeds of parrots, will be your companions for decades, so make sure you’re ready for that level of responsibility.
In addition, birds might not always be the best pets for smaller children if the children want to pet and interact with the bird a lot. Pet birds are much closer to their wild counterparts than domesticated cats and dogs. They will bite. They might not bite often or very hard (or maybe they will, depending on the breed and individual bird), but they will bite. Also, they are more fragile than many popular furry pets and need to be handled gently, so they might not be ideal pets for younger children.
2) Noise. Birds can be very noisy. My cousins had pet birds growing up and my experience with them convinced me that I never wanted pet birds. However, some species are noisier than others, so with a little research you can save your eardrums if you’re not interested in listening to loud chirps all day. Still, birds chirp, no matter what type you get, so be prepared for that.
3) Companionship. All breeds of birds require socialization with their human owners. They aren’t like fish or many reptiles, happy to be left alone in their tanks all day. Because, like I mentioned above, birds are more of a wild species, they require this interaction to stay tame. Some species of birds are even less needy than many dogs and cats, and some time spent every day with their owners is enough. However, other types of birds require high levels of social interaction that just can’t be met by their human owners. In that case you will need to purchase at least two birds at a time to live together in a cage.
4) Care. Just like cats and dogs you will need to consider the dietary and veterinary needs of your bird. Consult your vet about your bird’s proper diet, which depending on the bird might be more complicated than just a handful of mixed seeds, but also include some vegetables or grubs. Also make sure you take your bird for regular veterinary checkups, just like you would a dog or cat.
I realize that I wasn’t able to go into specifics at all about bird care, because it varies so much depending on the type of bird. So in the near future look for a series of articles on many of the most popular pet birds, where I will cover in greater detail the needs of those breeds.
Related Articles:
What to Consider When Getting a Dog
What to Consider When Getting a Cat
Bird Basics: Choosing the Right Bird for You
*(This image by BekiPeti is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
