Exotic Birds As Pets

Before making the decision to care for exotic birds, you should know more information about their care and maintenance. Different birds require different types of treatment. Popular exotic birds are parrots, budgerigars, zebra finches and canaries.

If you are looking for a friendly bird, then parrots are the way to go. They are easy to train and affectionate.

Canaries live up to 10 years, come in a variety of bright colors, and male canaries sing better than females. Zebra finches are small, active, fun to watch, and quiet. They need a large cage to exercise in. Finches are social and should be kept in pairs.

Parakeets, or budgerigars, are another popular variety of small parrots. These birds are easy to tame, usually friendly, and are capable of mimicking speech.

You should try to choose a hand fed baby bird (or at least a young one) that's been acclimated to humans. These birds are more expensive but worth the extra cost. Birds purchased at a pet store have an unknown history. Older birds are a challenge to bond with and to tame.

When choosing a bird, look for one with smooth shiny feathers that lay down flat. Feathers around the vent should be clean, dry, and free of fecal matter. The feet should be smooth and nails in good condition. The nostrils should be clear and clean and should have a well shaped beak. The bird should be bright, alert and active. A bird that is quiet with puffed feathers might be ill.

Birds can be a major investment both emotionally and monetarily. Many things should be considered when buying a bird. Is the seller reputable? Is the bird as represented?

Does the seller have some guarantees if anything should happen to the bird within the first month?

Millions of pet birds are bred annually for the billion dollar pet industry. But, only a small percentage of those birds survive the grueling shipping process from breeder to retailer, and for the birds that survive this first stage, it is the beginning of a shaky, uncertain future. Although the average life span for larger parrots such as Amazons and Macaws is seventy-five years, most of them die before their fifth year. The smaller birds such as budgies, lovebirds, and canaries, suffer and/or die within their first year of life. Moreover, very few birds end up in loving or adequate homes, because even well informed consumers often find that they were not prepared for the instinctive traits that birds possess, such as screaming, biting, and chewing furniture.

Owning a pet bird requires a lifetime commitment. Potential pet owners should think twice about whether they want to invest the time, patience, and energy in owning a bird.