I am a bird owner & have been since about 1985. I have had a variety of birds of different types & sizes. I fostered birds also & I honestly can’t say how many but my guess would be between 40-60 birds. I have personally had Finches, Parakeets, Canaries, Lovebirds, Conure, Cockatiels, & Amazons. I currently have 3 Cockatiels & 2 Amazons & will mostly likely get a Canary within the next year. I miss the sounds a Canary makes when they sing.
If you’re considering getting a bird there are some things you will want to think about & know. First off birds are not neat, they are messy. They toss seeds on the floor & their feathers, feather & food dust can be found on many objects in your home in 1-3 days. I say pet birds aren’t for neat freaks. Birds are good pets for those who are away from home for more than 8 hours, unlike a dog who needs to be let out to go potty. during the day. Many birds do like to interact with their owners, but not all do. Small birds like Finches & Canaries are comfortable being in a good sized cage & not interacting other than through the cage bars. Many medium & larger birds that are hand tamed want & sometimes demand their owners attention. Some will scream or squawk loudly to get their owners attention. Hand-fed birds need to spend time outside their cages with their owners, or they may not stay tame. Many like to sit on their owners hand, finger or shoulder & some even share some of their owners food (the items safe for birds only please). My Amazons are not tame but still need time out of their cages to explore & interact with each other. The type of dwelling you live in can help determine which type of bird is best for you. Apartment dwellers have to consider how well neighbors can hear what happens in their apartment. This can also be an issue in some condos or town-homes depending on the thickness & insulation between residences. I had a Conure years ago when I lived in an apartment & I had to re-home him due to the noise level as he matured (high pitch sound that traveled). Large Parrots usually need to live in a single dwelling due to the risk of high noise levels, but there are exceptions. I have had Amazons while living in an apartment, it was an old house converted into 4 apartments & you rarely heard neighbors Amazons don’t really make a sharp or high pitch sound, nor are they usually very vocal.
If you rent be sure they allow birds (be honest about what type of bird you want to get) & get it in writing. I would also recommend you do a lot of research about the type of bird you are interested in.
Some birds like Finches, Canaries & Parakeets (also called Budgies) normally live between 4-7 years. Lovebirds, Cockatiels, Quakers & similar sized birds can live 20-30 years. Larger Parrots like Amazons, Cockatoos & Macaws can live into their 40-60’s, some longer, but in captivity this is probably more realistic. I say this as it is something to consider when deciding on what type of bird would be best. Be thinking about how old you are, how old of a bird should I get, who will take the bird if you were to pass away? I personally have friends whom we have agreed to take each other’s birds if something happens to either of us. Not all people are bird people so please don’t assume your family will want to take them in. Honestly none of my living siblings have ever shown interest in birds. Birds are not for everyone & I get that.
Another thing to consider is the financial cost of having a bird, the upfront purchase or adoption fee, cost of a good sized cage, toys, perches, food & other things needed for a bird. You will need to find an Exotic Vet who has a strong knowledge of birds & carries medications or emergency things in case of an emergency. Note that exotic Veterinarians usually cost more than a traditional dog & cat Vet, mostly because they are specialists with additional training in Exotic pet care.
If you want a bird & you think one will fit into your lifestyle & living situation now & in the long term, then the next quest is where to find a bird? There are stores that specialize in birds, so check online for places near you. Bird fairs & bird shows are other options, of course there are people who sell them online, but I always recommend you meet the bird & see them before you buy. I honestly hope you will consider adopting a bird & this can be done by looking at websites on line such as Petfinder.com or adoptapet.com & most likely more sites depending on where you live. Some county shelters take in a variety of pets including birds.
I have written other posts about birds & you may find them interesting, some are about care & some are about my birds. These published posts are #4, 10, 13, 28, 54, 59, 60, 77, 83, 87 & 90 & you can find the table of content for my published posts on my home page under the 3 lines (Show) in the upper left corner. I am available via email if you have a particular question or comment, my email is echoinggreatpetcare@gmail.com I hope you will help me get the word out about my blog, you can do this a variety of ways: visiting often, clicking the “like” button at the bottom of the posts, sharing my blog with others on your social media sites &/or emailing the link. Commenting helps more people to see my site. Subscribing, so you get a notice when I publish a new post. My goal is to reach as many pet parents as I can & share my 20 yrs fostering experience & a lifetime of pet loving & caring for them. Thank you, & please come back soon, Debbie
Echoing Great Pet Care 