If you are adding a bird to the family, be prepared for a long commitment. As a general rule, the larger a bird is, the longer it may live. In ideal conditions, you can expect these life spans from pet birds:
- Finches, canaries, and budgies can live fifteen years or more
- Cockatiels, lovebirds, doves, and pigeons can live twenty years or more
- Conures can live thirty years or more
- Amazons and African greys can live fifty years or more
- Macaws can live sixty years or more
- Cockatoos can live sixty-five years or more
Want to keep your bird happy and healthy? Watch out for household dangers. Birds are curious — parrots especially will explore everything using their beaks. Things around the house can prove deadly for your bird, with their small size and sensitive systems.
Cleaners like ammonia, bleach, and even nail polish remover can be deadly to your birds if they are ingested or inhaled. Strong perfumes can be dangerous, too. And use care when spraying insecticides in your home. Birds are very sensitive to contaminants in the air, like cigarette smoke and carbon monoxide.
Watch open water in the house, like sinks, bathtubs, and the toilet. Your pet bird can easily fall in and drown! Keep the lid down and don’t leave standing water if your bird is roaming the house.
Electrical cords can be very dangerous to a curious bird. Be sure to route cords away from the bird cage! You can cover exposed cords with plastic tubing to protect your feathered friends. Ceiling fans are another household danger, especially to birds whose wings are not clipped. You may also find that your bird is nervous when something moves above his cage — a running fan may cause stress. And watch your bird around windows, doors, and mirrors. Flying or clipped, your birds may injure themselves approaching a window or mirror.