Do Birds Make Great Pets? Unraveling the Pros and Cons of Avian Companionship

1. Birds are easy to train

By intuition, birds are intelligent and training them is quite easy. You need not spend hours in training your birds.  As you may be aware, they tend to travel thousands of miles and that has made them extremely intelligent. They learn how to solve problems rather easily.

The mimicking skills  of parrots and parakeets can be one of the excellent options that can “vow” your friends and your kids. They are also known for being great problem solvers. Their cognitive skills are also quite commendable.

2. They can be a great option for apartments

Birds do not need much space. Because of their very small size, they have been known to be the right ones for those of you having a small living space. One of the best advantages is that they are happy chirping away in their small cages without the need  to be having a consistent look over them.

If you are living in a rented place, and if you have restrictions on keeping dogs and cats as pets, having a bird can be a good option. In fact, they also have the benefit of not being lost when in a small living space.

3. They are great family pets

Birds can be a good option for a family environment. Cats and dogs can be quite moody and may not get well with every member of your family. Birds, on other hand, do get well with each member of your family. The birds can be a good option for almost every genre of pet keepers which include children, seniors, single pet parents, and couples.

If you are just making an entry into the habit of keeping birds as pets, it is advisable to go with the best family birds such as Cockatiels, cockatoos, and parakeets. Most of the birds tend to be social animals and crve for the attention from their owners. It has also been observed that if they do not get enough care from their pet parents, birds are known to develop behavioural issues.

4. They live for a long time

Unlike cats and dogs which have a lifespan of around 10 to 12 years, birds live longer. That would be a great option for pet owners, as they tend to do away with the sad feeling of separation. While most of the birds can live up to 50 years, there are a few species that can live for up to 100 years of lifespan.

If you are attached to a pet a lot, having to lose it can be quite heart wrenching. A survey indicated that almost 48% of the people did not want to own a pet because of their short lifespans. For this category of pet lovers,  birds can be a great option.

5. Feeding them may not be much expensive

Except for a few high end birds, it may not be that expensive to feed them. Even the biggest birds need a very less amount of food. Yet another advantage is that they eat the plant based food which in turn are very inexpensive. This is in sharp contrast to the cats and dogs that need highly expensive food such as proteins and meta (or fish food).

Of course, there are times when you may need to feed high quality pellet food to your birds, but most of the times, your bird will eat from what your own meal times have on offer. You can even feed them small pieces of fruits and vegetables.

6. Birds do not need much grooming

One of the things I hate about cats and dogs or even other pets is that they need a lot of grooming. But, birds are an exception. They do not need a huge degree of grooming. Birds are generally hygienic in nature and do not need much of a grooming.

Of course, there are a few birds that may need to a little more grooming, but even then it does not get much complicated as in the case of cats and dogs. As for cleaning them up, a slight cold shower every now and then would be more than enough. This minimal grooming can bee one of the best reasons if you are someone who is quite busy.

Domesticated birds

You can easily get these birds from your local breedes or pet stores. Depending on your preferences, you can choose from among large, midsized and small birds to keep.

• Large Birds – They include parrots and similar birds. These may need specific care as they belong to the tropical animals. You will need to provide specific care requirements.
• Mid sized birds – A few examples can include  lovebirds, conures, and cockatiels. If you are just starting out pet bird owners, these birds make great first pets.
• Smaller Birds – These can include birds like parakeets, parrotlets, finches, and canaries. They can be quite good if you have a small space. But, the small birds come with an added issue – they are quite fragile and may need a lot of care and attention.

Flock Birds

In the good old days, almost every household kept flock birds. These included chicken, ducks and and geese. They ae generally not kept as pets, but as a means of earning or for food requirements. You can have your own egg production and also look for better rewards on the financial front.

One of the advantages the flock birds offer is they need not be housed inside your home. They do not need you to feed them. They can search for their food and can be quite self sufficient. However, you will need to make a few safety arrangements around your backyard to save them from predators.

Wild Birds

This is quite a rare option, but there are people who find it a good idea to keep wild birds as pets. It may also be noticed that  keeping the wild birds in captivity is not allowed in most of the countries across the world.

Keeping wildd birds as pets may not be advisable in many situations. It can quite challenging and many of us are not prepared to handle the requirements of the wild birds adequately. Moreoever, they can also be dangerous for children and the general public.

You travel a lot

Birds like parrots should never be left alone in your home for over a day. Thye generally need daily water changes and also need affection. If left alone in an empty home, they can also develop a few behavioural issues. Check if you can have a caretaker at your home while you are away, or else a bird as a pet should be  a big NO for a frequent traveller.

You are allergic to feathers or dander

Some of us then to have allergic reactions when exposed to feathers or feather danders. Of course, this is applicable to those having allergy to fur and thus avoid pets like cats and dogs. Before you can move on to find a pet bird for your home, make sure that you have no allergy for feather.

You have small kids

Birds like parakeets and paarots can bee dangerous for small children. Their sharp and pointed beaks and nails can injure younger kids. Wait till your kids grow a little older before you can consider bringing a pet bird into your home.

If you like cleaner homes

Some birds can create mess. Birds like parrots are known to chew up food and throw it all around the ccage or even on the floor below the cage. Some others tend to dip their food in water, making it quite difficult to clean the water. In short, if you are someone who cannot take mess for granted, keeping a bird as pet should be avoided.

You live an apartment where neighbors stay close by

Some apartments tend to have very thin walls, and the continuous squack by your birds can make your neighbors annoyed. Some birds can be quite louder and that can be a huge issue in smaller apartments. It can also be an issue for your children if they are in schools and disturb their studies. Pet birds make moe noise than their wild companions.