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A Bird In The Hand
By Lynn Whittaker, Owner, Bow Wow U
After four long years of reading, research, and speaking to other bird afficionados as well as bird rescues, I have decided to add a feathered friend to my home; a Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot, to be exact. My research and education on birds has been an enlightening process, and I wanted to write of my personal experiences so others who may be considering a bird might gain some insights. I have always wanted a bird, but until several years ago, never thought my dream would become a reality.
There are a number of things to consider before getting a bird, such as the time you are willing to invest with your feathered friend. Noise is another important factor. Some birds are very vocal and if you live in an apartment or share a home, a loud bird may not be a good choice. One can always hope their bird will be quiet, but it’s not something you want to wager over. Lifestyle, home environment and personalities are also important considerations.
How much can you afford to spend? You will need to allocate funds for a cage, which can be costly. Other equipment may be needed depending on the given bird and its’ needs. Toys can add up the costs and will need to be regularly replaced. Then you must consider the cost of the bird. Veterinary care is a must and wellness exams should be done yearly with extra funds made available in case a health emergency arises. Food is going to be an ongoing expense and not all birds are seed eaters. Some species require elaborate diets.
The time you are willing to spend with your bird should be a consideration when you are researching a species. If you are gone a lot and do not have much time to devote to a bird, a parrot may not be the best choice. Finches or Canaries might be a better alternative. The life span of a bird varies and some larger birds can live well over 50 years. Who will take care of your bird should you pass away is another concern. Not every family member may be excited at the inheritance of your bird. There are sanctuaries designed to take in your bird should you be unable to care for your pet, and you may want to look into the costs associated with placing your bird in such a facility.
Space should be another consideration. This will help determine what size cage you can obtain. The larger the bird, the more cage space required, and the larger birds need time outside their cages, so an additional play stand or perch should be purchased as well.
An important lesson I learned regards the diet of the bird. There are several companies that manufacture bird foods and each species has different dietary requirements. Some birds do better on home prepared diets and other birds thrive on seeds. If you are not the kind of person who cooks or wants to prepare home cooked meals for a bird, you may want to look at a bird that has less complicated dietary needs.
Some birds do not require a lot of interaction and there are those that are highly demanding of their human’s attention. Frequent handling may be a necessity. If you don’t want to handle your bird, again, a smaller bird such as a Finch or Canary may be better suited for you.
In the absence of handling or human interaction, some birds may exhibit behavioral issues like screaming or plucking, a major problem among domesticated birds. And lastly, knowing the intelligence of the bird you wish to have should not be omitted as a consideration. Parrots are quite smart; they can master many tricks and can be quite clever escape artists.
If left to their own devices, birds can be very destructive and can inflict a lot of damage in your home. This is why training, socialization and human interaction are so vitally important. I only hope that with the efforts to educate myself that I will make a great bird parront!
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