How Should I Pick the Right Pet Bird for Me?

Picking the right pet bird can be a daunting task. There are so many different types of birds to choose from, and each one has its own personality and needs. With the help of this handy guide, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices and find the perfect bird for you and your home. So what are you waiting for? Start reading!

Birds come in all shapes, sizes and colors. We cover the questions that will help you choose the right bird for your family and lifestyle.

After long discussions and much thought, you and your family have decided that the right pet for your household is a bird. But, what kind of bird should you choose?

There are so many possibilities: pigeons, finches, and even parrots. You’ll want to decide before you head to a breeder, pet store, or bird rescue. Otherwise, it’s too easy to choose a bird based on how beautiful, or talkative, or clever it seems to be, and then to discover that it wasn’t the right choice at all.

Think about what kinds of birds appeal to you. When you think of ‘pet birds’, are you thinking of canaries or cockatoos? Are you thinking of falcons or waterfowl? Take a look at pet websites (such as this one!) to see the many kinds of pet birds there are. Once you’ve considered the shiny surface of the matter, here are the questions to ask yourself so that you can narrow down the right bird for your family.

BIRD KEEPING REGULATIONS

We might as well get this one out of the way, right out of the gate. It is simply illegal to keep most kinds of birds as pets in the United States and most other countries. When you’re looking at all the pet bird options on the Internet, some of them will be ruled out by local law. For example, Quaker parrots are banned in seven states.

The country has federal laws governing which birds can be pets, and the states and cities also have local laws. Check to make sure your pick is legal in your area.

Considering the local legal issues brings us to another question: Are you planning to move? Ever? A bird that is legal in Washington might not be legal in Florida. There are many species that may not be taken out of or into the United States.

LONGEVITY

Some of the parrots live longer than humans do. This is a serious commitment. If you choose one of these, you will need to plan for arrangements for its care after you pass on. Doves and finches have shorter life spans than the average parrot. Also, finches can be re-homed with less stress to the animal, if the birds outlive their keeper. Parrots tend to become very attached to their humans.

COST OF UPKEEP

The proper food, veterinary fees, and accessories for pet birds can prove to be expensive. Count on an average of $100 or so per month, for a pair of small conures. By contrast, the food and accessories for a handful of finches run less than half that. If you need to worry much about the cost of the bird itself or the cage, your budget probably can’t handle the parrots, softbills, or doves.

NOISE

Are you living in an apartment? Find out if there are any noise restrictions. It’s amazing how much sound some birds can produce. These vocal talents might narrow down your choices.

TIME

How much time and effort do you have available to commit to the care of the bird? Parrots need hours of interaction and flight time every day. A small flock of finches will get along quite nicely as long as the food, water, and bedding are kept up.

The flipside of this is, how much interaction are you hoping for? Do you just want to watch the pretty birds or listen to their songs? Canaries and other finches would be a good fit. Do you want to race your birds or teach them to ‘home’? Check out the doves and pigeons. Do you want to teach your bird to talk, or ride a miniature skateboard? You’re looking at parrots and some of the softbills.

HEALTH CONCERNS

Cockatiel feathers break down into fine powder, and so they are not the best choice for people with lung disease or asthma.

Just about any parrot larger than a budgie can break the skin with his beak, and some of the larger ones can break small bones. Does anyone in your household have clotting problems or other health issues that might make small cuts dangerous? Are there small children in the family? If so, maybe a softbill or a dove or a budgie might be a better choice than a cockatoo.

Birds are wonderful pets, but it’s only fair to them and to you, to know what you’re getting into when you bring one home to be part of the family.

If you think you’re ready, the next step would be to take a bird matchmaking quiz here.

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