If you are interested in a bird as a pet, there are many things to consider before deciding on a species. Carefully considering things like how much time you can devote to a bird and how much noise you can tolerate can help you make a good decision and find a bird that fits your personality, lifestyle and family. Finding the right bird is essential to paving the way for a long and happy relationship with your bird!
Cost
How much can you afford? Don’t forget to consider the cost of the cage and other equipment you’ll need, as well as ongoing costs such as food, toys and veterinary care. Birds can cost up to tens of thousands of lei. The larger or more exotic the bird, the more it will cost, and caging large parrots can be very expensive. Avoid the temptation to get a bird at a bargain price; a healthy, carefully raised bird is worth the cost in the long run.
I commit
How much time should you spend with your bird each day? If you don’t have a lot of free time, think twice before getting a single parrot (including cockatiels and parakeets). Finches or a canary might be a better choice if you aren’t home much. You also need to consider the commitment required to care for your bird throughout its life. Larger parrots have long lifespans (50 years or more), and some bond so closely with their owners that adjusting to a new home can be difficult.
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Noise level
Parrots often scream. There is no way around this problem, so if you live in an apartment or house, a large parrot may not make you popular with your neighbors (especially very powerful parrots like the nymph and macaw).
Likewise, if you don’t handle noise well, some birds may not be right for you. Canaries, cockatiels and lovebirds can be quite noisy in their own way, but not as noisy as larger parrots. Finches, pigeons and canaries are better choices if noise is a problem.
Space bar
How much space do you have for or cage? You can’t skimp on cage size; Even smaller birds like finches and canaries need large cages because they generally only exercise in their cages. The larger the bird, the larger the cage needed. Parrots (including parakeets and cockatiels) will also need time out of the cage for additional exercise. It’s good to give larger parrots a separate space outside the cage, such as a playroom or enclosure.
Misery and destruction
Birds can be messy (e.g. when they eat) and it is not always easy to contain the mess in the cage. Some also produce a lot of down (a fine white powder produced by special feathers, particularly prized by cockatiels, pigeons and coots). Parrots also love to chew, so you will need to keep your birds well supervised at home when they are out of the cage, not only to protect your belongings from destruction, but to prevent the bird from being injured or poisoned.
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Diet
Most pet parrot species require meals consisting of preformulated diets (e.g., pellets), a variety of fresh foods such as vegetables, sprouted seeds, grains, and fruits, along with some seeds (generally, the larger the parrot, the less seeds it should receive). Some birds require very specialized diets, but some (finches, canaries, pigeons) have less complicated dietary needs. Find out exactly what your selected bird species requires and decide if you can provide it.
Socialization
How much do you want to interact with your bird? Some birds don’t really feel winded after being handled (e.g. finches and canaries), while others bond very closely to their owners and can be quite docile (e.g. cockatiels and other large parrots). If you want a bird to interact with socially, you need to be able to set aside time to do so, as more social birds can be very attention seeking and may resort to neurotic behavior if they are denied the interaction they need.
Talk and train
Many people choose parrots for their ability to talk. Although some species are famous for their ability to speak and imitate, think twice if this is your motivation for getting a parrot.
Even within species known to speak, the ability to speak varies between individuals. However, most parrot species are intelligent and can be trained to perform various tricks and behaviors. Even some of the smaller parrots can be trained to whistle tunes and can be quite entertaining.
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