The fascination for birds among humans has existed for ages.There are a variety of birds that make wonderful pets. Their colorful plumage, their bright and affectionate personalities make the idea of owning them as pets pretty exciting.Every bird species come with a personality of their own. Some enjoy attention and are very social, some enjoy close contact and cuddles, and some offer you companionship and are a joy to chatter with. With the variety of species of pet birds out there, you might have a hard time choosing one as a pet bird. So, it is best to get the homework done beforehand about the choices of the best pet bird for you. Think about why do you need a pet bird? Which are the best birds as pets? Do you want a small, medium, or large-sized bird? What is your budget? Do you have time to give enough attention and energy to your feathered friend? How much room do you have for the cage? When you have some idea about these questions, choosing a pet bird will be a lot easier.As a beginner, it is best to go for a pet bird that has is naturally sweet, friendly, and gentle. Parakeets, cockatoos, cockatiels, conures, doves, parrotlets, finches, canaries are among some of the best pet birds to have. Pet birds should be treated as individuals and should be adequately taken care of. In no case should you get a pet bird if you do not have the time and means to care for it - be it its food, adequate space, social needs, etc. When you can take care of your pet bird as a family member, it makes for a mutually enriching relationship; else, it is cruel to keep it as a pet just for your fancy whims.If you enjoy reading this article about birds as pets, you will also find our articles on birds symbolism and cardinal state bird useful and enlightening. Be sure to check them out.Birds As Pets: Pros And ConsEveryone has their reasons for their choice of pet. A feathery companion is a great pet option to introduce to the family, and there are several positives of having a bird pet. Let’s discuss some of them here.Birds are typically very adaptive; they get used to their new environment and quickly integrate into households and families. For your kid to learn about the responsibility of pet ownership, pet birds are a great choice. They are low-maintenance and do not generally need large spaces like other pets such as cats or dogs. It would be best to give them time, but unlike dogs, you don’t need to take them out every day. Some bird species cannot be treated as pets as it is illegal but also inhumane.Some bird species are stunning with their colorful and attractive plumage. With their visually attractive looks, they are a treat to the eyes. It is fun to watch them play. Birds like the African grey parrot are very intelligent and can be trained to talk and interact. They can mimic human speech, talk, and learn tricks and games when given adequate training time.Some bird species have a long average lifespan and can be your life companion. The veterinary care of birds is relatively cheap as compared to other pets. They do not need any vaccination, which makes taking care of them hassle-free. Over time birds bond with their human companions, become a part of the family, and look forward to the company of their owners.The downside of having pet birds is that they can be messy and noisy. Also, you cannot leave a bird by itself in a cage for a long duration. They need your company from time to time; else, they can feel depressed and develop aggressive behavior. They tend to peck at shiny objects, so you have to be a little careful with the things around your home or even your jewelry and clothes when handling them.Birds As Pets For Beginners Birds are a popular choice for those who want to get a pet for the first time. And the good thing is that there is a wide variety of them out there to choose from. The larger the bird’s size, the harder it is to care for it and the more expensive it gets. So, if you are interested in exploring some options as a beginner, go for species that are gentle, friendly, and easy to take care of. Some possibilities for best pet birds that you should consider include canary, finch, conure, parakeet, cockatoo, dove, parrotlets, cockatiel, green parrot,Are you looking for a bird species that doesn’t need much petting and talking but twitters melodiously? Well, then canaries will fit the bill. They have an average size of about 3-4 in (7.62-10.16 cm). These petite birds have a sweet voice and are loners, and can live alone in a cage quite well. They come in a few colors like yellow, white, cinnamon, green, blue, orange, etc., and some are multi-colored as well. They are delightful pet birds for beginners and can have an average lifespan of around 8-10 years when properly taken care of.Finches are another popular species of bird for beginners. They are friendly, gentle, easy to take care and do need much handling. If you are keen on getting one as a pet, be sure to get at least a pair of finches. These are social birds and need company and interaction with their kind to be happy. They are small birds with an average size of around 3-10 in (7.62-25.4 cm) but need to be housed in a spacious horizontal cage as they need adequate room to fly around. Their feathers come in various colors, bright red, yellow, blue, green, and more.Another of the popular and best pet birds are parakeets. A parakeet is a small-sized parrot of around 7-14 in (17.7-35.5 cm). They are popularly also known as budgies. They are long-tailed parrots and come in yellow, green, blue, and multi-colored hued feathers. They are energetic, friendly, noisy, and social birds who enjoy the attention of their owners. With proper training, parakeets/budgies can learn to talk, play, and perform fun tricks for their owners, making them excellent pets.Cockatiels are another bird from the parrot family that is popular as one of the best pet birds. The average size of a cockatiel is about 12-13 in (30.5-33 cm). They are affectionate, playful, friendly, and quite clever. A cockatiel is a good choice for beginners as it is pretty adaptable, low cost, and can be taught all sorts of fun tricks. Conures, also from the parrot family, make for one of the best pet birds. Conures are attractive, intelligent, playful, and make for delightful pets. Their size range from about 10-20 inches. Suppose you are considering stepping up from a parakeet/budgie or a cockatiel and are not yet interested in being an owner of more demanding birds from the parrot family like the cockatoo, macaw, or the African Grey. In that case, a conure parrot is an ideal choice.If you are looking for a mini version of parrots, then check out some cute little parrotlets. They are about 4-5 inches in size but have an adorable personality and are pretty low-maintenance for parrots. It is fascinating to watch them. However, these parrots are social birds and need enough attention and love from their owners. Lovebirds, Pionus parrots, grey-cheeked parakeets are some of the popular choices. Some people also go for pigeons and doves as they are pretty friendly and gentle.How To Take Care Of Pet BirdsWhen you bring a pet bird home, you bring in a new family member, and it is your responsibility to take of its health and well-being for life. It takes time, money, and effort to take care of the feathered companion.You have to take care of their diet, health, housing space, veterinary care, and their need for socialization. There is more to a bird’s food than a bowl of seed. A healthy diet for a bird includes fresh fruits, veggies, seed mixes, and bird pellets. When birds are exposed to food of different tastes and textures, it stimulates their minds and is psychologically beneficial.Different species of birds have different nutrition needs. So, depending on what is best for the species you get as a pet bird, you should feed it accordingly. For example, for birds like cockatiels, budgies, and cockatoos, 25% of their nutritional need come from seed mixes, 50% from quality bird pellets, and 25% from a blend of fresh fruits and veggies. Birds like finches and canaries have different requirements and need 80% crumbles, 10% veggies, and 10% seed mix for their nutrition needs. When serving veggies to birds, chop them into small bits. If serving any stone fruits, the stone should be removed. Safe veggies for birds include beans, corn, broccoli, carrot, pumpkin, peas, squash, zucchini, etc. Birds enjoy fruits like kiwi, grapes, blueberry, strawberry, apple, and melon. Avoid giving chocolate, onion, garlic, and rhubarb.Birds need ample space to open their wings and fly. So, ensure that the cage you get for your pet bird is the right size for it. The bigger the cage is, the better it is for the bird. It would be best if you got an enclosure that lets the bird open its wings fully and let it fly for at least five wingbeats.A bird’s need for socialization varies with species. Some love to be petted and cuddled, while some need the company of their kind to be happy. So, it would be best if you took utmost care in meeting their social needs. When getting a new bird, take out time every day to spend with the feathered friend and make it get used to the new household. Birds with long lifespans can develop complex bonds with their human caretakers over time.Pet birds can get infected by internal and external parasites, so you must take care of them. Common internal parasites to infect birds include tapeworms, roundworms, protozoa, and flukes. If your pet bird has access to the outdoors, worming is essential to keep them healthy and infection-free. Mites and lice are external parasites that typically infect birds. They cause itchiness and cause skin-related problems on their face and feet and make them look dry and crusty. Cockatiels and budgies are pretty vulnerable to them. The use of mite spray every month on the birds helps to get rid of lice and mites.Tips For Raising Birds As PetsNever get a pet bird for a fad or trend. Taking care of anther living creatures comes with a host of responsibilities, and birds are no exception.When raising a pet bird, make sure to give it adequate time, effort, and space. Birds are pretty intelligent, and some can be trained to follow instructions. Spending time with them helps the bird form a close bond with their owners.Accessories and toys are handy to keep pet birds busy and mentally stimulated. Foraging, swings, and hanging toys are pretty popular and convenient. It would be best to keep rotating the toys as they get bored playing with the same toy after a while. You can also perch in their enclosures for them to sit on.Clean their cages and toys at regular intervals. If the enclosure is metal, keep an eye on any area that might be rusted or peeling. Such enclosures are hazardous and must be changed.Some everyday household things that are toxic and life-threatening for pet birds include air fresheners, scented candles, tobacco smoke, houseplants like lilies, amaryllis flower, etc., and fumes from nonstick cookware. So, if you are welcoming a pet bird home, you will have to audit your house to make it bird-friendly and do away with dangerous things for birds.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for birds as pets, then why not take a look at what do baby birds eat or Blue Jay facts?
The fascination for birds among humans has existed for ages.
