Are You Ready for a Pet Bird?
Beautiful and captivating, pet birds are a large part of many people's lives, providing love, companionship, and unsurpassed entertainment to those who are lucky enough to call one their own. However, pet birds are not the best choice for just anybody. It takes a very special person with specific traits and characteristics to be a good bird owner. Read on to learn more about some of the quirky things that go along with inviting a feathered friend into your home. While birds can certainly be exceptional pets, you may be surprised to find that owning a pet bird isn't always as glamorous as it may seem.
It is a simple fact that all pet birds bite, so if you decide that you want to own one, you should prepare yourself for the reality that sooner or later, you will be bitten, and it's likely to hurt quite a bit. This is not to say that all birds are aggressive -- in fact, the bigger reason is that birds, particularly parrots, tend to use their beaks as a third hand to grasp things, steady themselves, and climb. Many people mistake a bird grasping a finger to step up as a bite, but while it can hurt and be unpleasant, it isn't an act of aggression. Conversely, even the most tame and loving birds can exhibit aggressive behavior when they are stressed, ill, or going through hormonal periods, so it's wise to just assume that your bird will bite you at some point.
Many people make the mistake of assuming that because pet birds tend to live in cages, they are cleaner and easier to maintain than more traditional pets like cats or dogs. As someone who has owned a variety of animals, including cats, dogs, birds, fish, and more, I can tell you that this assumption could not be further from the truth! In fact, my birds are quite possible the messiest pets that I have ever had, and it's a safe bet that other bird owners would tell you the same thing. It's normal and natural for birds to be messy eaters -- in the wild, the food that they drop from the treetops goes on to feed countless creatures on the ground below. In the home, however, you will end up sweeping and vacuuming up discarded food, shredded bits of cage liner, unwanted toy parts, and whatever else your bird flings into the radius around its cage, sometimes several times per day. This prospect puts a bad taste in the mouths of many potential bird owners, so if you find yourself in that category, then a bird is not for you.
It's not a secret that birds make noise, but some bird species have a propensity for being especiallyloud, and most parrots vocalize too loudly to be considered wise choices for those who live in apartments or condos. Unless you can handle a pet that can and will wake you up in the morning with loud vocalizations such as screams and screeches, then it's probably best that you do not adopt a pet bird.
Pet birds in general have fairly long lifespans and require hours of daily attention from their owners over the course of many years. Make sure that you can commit this sort of time to a pet bird before bringing one home. Otherwise, you are going to end up with a pet that feels depressed and neglected, and who will likely develop emotional and behavioral problems as a result.
The initial cost of a pet bird and its housing and supplies are just the tip of the iceberg for bird owners in terms of expense. There are also vet bills, the rising cost of feed, toys, and countless other expenses to consider. If you feel like providing top notch care for a bird might strain your budget, then it may be best to go for a more low-maintenance pet instead.
•Can you deal with a pet that bites?
It is a simple fact that all pet birds bite, so if you decide that you want to own one, you should prepare yourself for the reality that sooner or later, you will be bitten, and it's likely to hurt quite a bit. This is not to say that all birds are aggressive -- in fact, the bigger reason is that birds, particularly parrots, tend to use their beaks as a third hand to grasp things, steady themselves, and climb. Many people mistake a bird grasping a finger to step up as a bite, but while it can hurt and be unpleasant, it isn't an act of aggression. Conversely, even the most tame and loving birds can exhibit aggressive behavior when they are stressed, ill, or going through hormonal periods, so it's wise to just assume that your bird will bite you at some point.
•Are you ready to clean up lots of messes?
Many people make the mistake of assuming that because pet birds tend to live in cages, they are cleaner and easier to maintain than more traditional pets like cats or dogs. As someone who has owned a variety of animals, including cats, dogs, birds, fish, and more, I can tell you that this assumption could not be further from the truth! In fact, my birds are quite possible the messiest pets that I have ever had, and it's a safe bet that other bird owners would tell you the same thing. It's normal and natural for birds to be messy eaters -- in the wild, the food that they drop from the treetops goes on to feed countless creatures on the ground below. In the home, however, you will end up sweeping and vacuuming up discarded food, shredded bits of cage liner, unwanted toy parts, and whatever else your bird flings into the radius around its cage, sometimes several times per day. This prospect puts a bad taste in the mouths of many potential bird owners, so if you find yourself in that category, then a bird is not for you.
•Can you handle a very loud pet?
It's not a secret that birds make noise, but some bird species have a propensity for being especiallyloud, and most parrots vocalize too loudly to be considered wise choices for those who live in apartments or condos. Unless you can handle a pet that can and will wake you up in the morning with loud vocalizations such as screams and screeches, then it's probably best that you do not adopt a pet bird.
•Can you devote ample time to a bird?
Pet birds in general have fairly long lifespans and require hours of daily attention from their owners over the course of many years. Make sure that you can commit this sort of time to a pet bird before bringing one home. Otherwise, you are going to end up with a pet that feels depressed and neglected, and who will likely develop emotional and behavioral problems as a result.
•Are you able to afford a bird?
The initial cost of a pet bird and its housing and supplies are just the tip of the iceberg for bird owners in terms of expense. There are also vet bills, the rising cost of feed, toys, and countless other expenses to consider. If you feel like providing top notch care for a bird might strain your budget, then it may be best to go for a more low-maintenance pet instead.
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