Birds can make excellent pets, but it’s essential to consider certain factors before adopting your feathered friend.
- The first factor is that most birds are not domesticated animals such as dogs or cats. They are wild and therefore, can be unpredictable in their behavior. Some have likened them to human toddlers that do not ever grow up!
- Second, birds can have lifespans that range from 20 to 50 years, so they’re a long term commitment.
- Third, air quality is critical to their health. While clean air is vital to birds, certain birds will create dust from their feathers. This dust will need to be cleaned regularly and could be a problem for owners with asthma.
- Fourth, it is advised that birds receive at least 4 hours of sunlight each day and 10 hours of sleep.
- Lastly, they require special care from veterinarians trained to work with birds.
To help you in your search, here are five options for types of birds that make great pets:
Parrot: Parrots are the most popular exotic bird, and there are 350 species of which to choose. They are known for their intelligence and their ability to mimic sounds that they hear. The African Grey Parrots are known as the best talkers and can learn a vast vocabulary if appropriately trained. While they are social and affectionate, they are best suited for bird owners with prior experience working with large birds. Their diet consists of fruits and seeds with some meat. They require a large cage and the ability to exercise by getting out and flying inside of your home.
Cockatoo: Cockatoos are from Australia and Asia and are well-known by their round beak and feathers which are very colorful. There are three main types of cockatoos: Moluccan, Sulphur Crested, and Umbrella. They are very social and may nip you affectionately. They will also tend to bond with one human and can become possessive. Cockatoos love to whistle and dance and can be extremely loud when communicating. They are also large birds, so it is best if you have some experience before adopting. They are also not advised if you have children. Like the Parrot, Cockatoos require a large cage with space to exercise and fly. These tropical birds enjoy various types of fruit in addition to their feed.
Canary: Canaries are considered a domestic bird and are very popular as pets. They love to sing and are very trainable, especially if trained when they are young. They are yellow /orange in color and have a lifespan of 6-16 years. They enjoy wide spaces to get their exercise. Their diet consists of birdseed and canary seed as well as a variety of vegetables.
Parakeet: Parakeets are also known as “Budgies” since their species name is Budgerigar. Very popular as pets due to their intensely social nature. They’re small in stature and recommended that you own a pair (one male and one female). Two males sharing the same cage can become too aggressive. Parakeets are good pets if you have children however you’ll need to supervise their handling. Their colors are mainly blue, green, and yellow, and they have 70 color classifications. Their diet consists of birdseed and fruits.
Lovebird: Lovebirds are known for their monogamous relationship with their mate and are faithful birds. They love snuggling and giving love pecks to those they love. The most popular color of Lovebird is Peach-faced, which is green with peach on their cheeks. Lovebirds are good with children but need monitoring when being handled. A challenge with Lovebirds is that they require constant attention and can be noisy. Their diet consists of seed, fruits, and vegetables.