Pet birds have recently become very popular
as pets. And for good reason. They have
many positive attributes, but very few negative
characteristics. Many people who meet a
good bird for the first time are amazed
at how friendly and affectionate birds can
be. They offer a great deal of companionship
and will return all of the live you can
give. We, as a society, are becoming more
and more concentrated. Less and less space
is available. Therefore we are forced into
living in smaller dwellings. Apartment life
has become the norm. This may be one of
the reasons for an increased popularity
in owning a pet bird. Birds do not need
to be taken for walks; they are not susceptible
to fleas; they do not have an odor; and
most apartment complexes do not require
a pet deposit for a bird. In addition, they
are small, requiring less room than other
pets. Another factor dictating the popularity
of birds is the cost. Birds are the cheapest
pet to own and manage. The initial cost
of purchasing a bird varies depending on
which bird you get. The monthly feeding
cost is less than five dollars in most cases.
In addition, they do not need costly, monthly
heartworm prevention. Regular maintenance
is very low. Cage paper should be changed
daily. Fresh food and water should be given
daily (or more often if necessary). The
cage should be scrubbed and disinfected
weekly. These tasks should take less that
ten minutes per day and less that 45 minutes
on the week end. Birds are very clean animals.
Mites and other parasites are not a common
problem. Their droppings have no odor nor
do birds need to go out when it is raining.
There are some concerns that usually come
when people are considering a bird for a
pet. Below are some of the questions commonly
asked.
Commonly asked question:
1. What if I have dogs and/or cats? Most
people who have birds also have other pets.
When the bird is out of his cage, you must
make sure the other pets are not around
or you can supervise them very closely.
Most birds end up "ruling the roost",
being dominant over the other pets.
2. Are birds quiet at night? Birds cannot
see very well in the dark, so when it is
dark they go to sleep, and thus are quiet.
3. What veterinary care is required? Birds
should be taken to a qualified avian veterinarian
for annual checkups. This will ensure that
your bird stays healthy for its lifetime.
Annual vaccination against avian polyomavirus
is recommended. Birds do not need to be
spayed or castrated. They do not have fleas,
and does not need heartworm prevention medicaiton.
4. How long do birds live? Life spans can
range from 15 years for smaller parrots
such as budgies, lovebirds, and cockatiels
to well over 70 years for the larger species
such as macaws.
5. What do I feed a bird? The best diet
is a formulated or pelleted diet that is
given as a staple. Birds can consume nearly
anything that people can. As a treat you
may feed birds vegetables, fruits, pasta,
rice, etc. Basically, if we can eat it,
then they can eat it (with a few exceptions).
6. What if I work, will my bird be lonely
while I am away? Do I need two birds?
If you are considering a pet bird, then
become very educated on what it takes to
care for a bird and do some research to
find the best bid for your situation and
to find the best place to purchase the right
bird. Look for a place that offers extensive
counseling and healthy birds with access
to a qualified avian veterinarian.
