Exotic Pet Birds
A pet bird can be a great companion and a lot of fun. Depending on the type of bird, they can also live a very long time. So before you choose the type of exotic bird that you want, consider these things.
1) Cost. Factor in all the cost associated with your bird including cage, food, toys, vet bills, vitamins, etc. Add this on to the cost of the bird itself. Is this particular bird one you can afford? Exotic birds range in prices from less than a hundred dollars to well over thousands of dollars.
2) Time and commitment. How much time do you have to spend with your bird? If you are not home a lot, a canary or finch might be your best choice. Parakeets and parrots are a more social animal and require a lot of attention from their owner. Take into consideration the life expectancy of your bird. Parrots can live 50 years or more and bond so closely with their owner that it is difficult for them to accept a new owner.
3) Noise level. Parrots will screech. Loudly. If you live in an apartment or condo, a noisy parrot is probably not going to make you too popular with the neighbors. Budgies, cockatiels and lovebirds can be noisy, but not as loud and may be the better choice.
4) Space. This is a very important issue. You cannot skimp on cage space. The cage must be big enough for the bird to exercise his wings. Parrots also need their own space outside the cage, such as a play gym or bird stand. You have to have enough space to accommodate this.
5) Mess and Destruction. Face it, birds are messy. There is no way around it. When they eat food flies everywhere and sometimes they are not very good at aiming those droppings into the bottom of the cage. They also love to chew on anything they can get their beaks on. You have to be very careful when your bird is out of the cage so that he does not get into anything that will harm him.
6) Diet. Most species of exotic birds require a specialized diet to stay healthy. Find out what type of diet your bird needs and make sure you have a source to get it from. Some birds can be very finicky eaters.
7) Socialization. Some birds don't like to be handled while others bond very closely with their owners and can actually be quite cuddly. If you want a social bird, you have to be able to devote the time the bird requires. Some birds will get downright neurotic if they don't get the attention they need.
8) Talking and Training. People will choose parrots for their ability to talk. But keep in mind, that even in species known for their talking ability, it varies among the individual bird. However, most parrots are highly intelligent and can be trained to talk to a certain degree and even to do tricks.
Follow the above guidelines to find an exotic pet bird that matches your lifestyle. You could have a friend for life!
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