so you want to get a pet bird?

Birds can be affectionate and loyal companions and lots of fun, though there are some things to consider before you decide to get an avian companion.

Can you give your bird at least an hour of attention and interaction a day?

Birds are highly-intelligent and social creatures. They need human interaction, or the company of another bird, or they will languish and can pick out their own feathers from boredom. They can invent and play games with you and enjoy your attention. If you work and there's no one to play and interact with your bird while you're away, you may want to consider getting a companion bird. However, this varies with the breed of bird. For example, cockatiels are usually happy being the lone bird, whereas a parakeet needs more companionship. This doesn't mean cockatiels aren't as social and affectionate (they can sometimes be too affectionate!), it's just a difference in personalities. It's a good idea to leave a radio on while you're away from your bird.

Something else to consider is a lone bird will bond with you, but if you have two birds they will bond with each other, especially if you get a male and female. This doesn't mean two birds won't bond with you also, it may take a little longer. It also depends if you get one bird, then another after you've bonded with the first. This can create jealousy of the new bird; be sure to give your first bird time with you alone. It can be fun watching them compete for your attention!

Birds are noisy!

And the bigger they are the louder they can be, even the tiny parakeet can make quite a ruckus! The parakeets larger parrots can emit earsplitting calls and if they think you're ignoring them they can make you aware of it in no uncertain terms! Though male bird calls are usually for territorial reasons, birds appear to vocalize for no other reason than, "I'm happy to be a bird!"

Birds are messy!

In the wild you don't see the mess birds make, but in the home it's quite apparent. They like to throw stuff out of their cages including food, toys and paper they've shredded. There will be seed husks and food around their cage. They're constantly growing new feathers, which means they're constantly shedding old feathers (moulting). The paper in the bottom of the cage needs to be changed regularly.

Birds like to chew on things

Like their cages, toys, paper and, if you let them out, most anything in their immediate surroundings is fair game, including books, plants, jewelry (birds are often attracted to shiny objects), curtains, paint, etc. There's a pipe running through my apartment for the fire extinguishers that's held up by steel straps. One of my budgies (parakeets) has chewed the paint off both straps down to bare metal. Be sure you don't have lead-based paint in your home before getting a bird!

Indoor plants

Some plants are toxic to birds. You'll need to find out if you have any toxic plants and put them somewhere your bird can't get to them. This means outside, or out of their sight, as birds are very smart (they can have the intelligence of a four year-old child) and can figure out a way to get to something you thought was bird-proof! The best situation is to have no toxic plants inside your home. There are lists of toxic and nontoxic plants on the Internet and in bird books. It's a good idea to cross-check with another list, or call a bird veterinarian to be sure a plant isn't toxic.

Taming and hand-fed birds

macaw A hand-fed bird is already tame because it's gotten used to human hands and associates them with food. Getting a bird that wasn't hand-fed will take more time and patience to tame. Even hand-fed birds that are left in pet stores long enough will revert to being 'wild' again and will need to be re-tamed. When you buy a bird and want it tame to begin with, be sure it hasn't been in the store long enough without hand-feeding or handling to revert back to a wild state. Have an employee take a bird out you're considering and let it sit on your hand or shoulder. Just like people, birds have different personalities and temperaments -- you can usually get an idea by handling it a bit. If its immediately comfortable with you that's a good sign.

Secondhand smoke, chemicals and air filtration

We now know secondhand smoke can kill and is even worse for birds' smaller respiratory systems. There are 43 carcinogenic substances in cigarette smoke. If you smoke, my advice is don't get a bird or quit smoking.

Birds are sensitive to household chemicals like cleaning supplies, furniture polish, new paint, etc. Though some say any exposure to chemical fumes is bad for them, I think that's going a little far. Be reasonable - don't clean with a bucket of ammonia close to birds and open windows when using toxic chemicals. Better yet, get cleaning supplies that don't emit toxic fumes, like Amway's L.O.C. (Liquid Organic Cleaner).

In a well-sealed home the air pollution inside can be worse than outdoors. Birds, like humans, need fresh air. That doesn't mean opening a window when it's 20 degrees outside, but something that's good for birds (people, too!) is an air filter / ionizer. There are many types, from a basic fan and regular filter, to more expensive hepa-filter and exotic UV light types. They vary in the area (sq. feet) they cover. Some include negative ion generators, that is recommended as they help neutralize odors and the positively charged dust (it makes it fall to the floor) while filling your environment with beneficial negative ions - think of the air right after a good rainfall - that are beneficial to mood and can help some respiratory problems.

Where to put the cage and lighting

A cage is your bird's home and thought needs to be given to its placement. Your new avian friend needs to be able to see people and be in an area where there's activity, like a living room. A bedroom is a poor choice since most people don't spend much time in there except to sleep and kitchens are out due to cooking and chemical hazards.

Some bird manuals don't recommend putting a cage next to a window, citing drafts as bad for birds. However, I have my cage in front of the big, plate glass window in my apartment. Since it doesn't open drafts aren't a problem. It's usually OK to put a cage next to an open window when temperatures are 70 degrees and above or there aren't high winds or a storm, but if it gets colder either shut the window and be sure there are no drafts, or move the cage. Birds need some sunlight or artificial, preferably broad-spectrum, light every day. A bird can become depressed and listless if it's in a dark area. Broad-spectrum, or grow / aquarium, lights are recommended as they mimic sunlight. They're good for humans, too!

Is keeping birds in cages cruel?

What to do before you buy a bird

You should have everything ready before you bring your feathered-friend home. Taking a bird away from its siblings, putting it in a box and introducing it to a strange environment is stressful. The cage should be in its proper location, food, water and toys should be ready.

What to do when you get your bird home

When it's time to get your new bird be sure you can drive straight to the pet store, or breeder (they are usually cheaper than pet stores), and straight home. When you get home gently carry it inside, open the cage door, open one end of the box and put it in the door. The bird will usually come right out. If it doesn't place the box inside the cage. It'll usually flap around a bit then settle down. Leave it alone and let it adjust to its new surroundings. Every now and then talk to it in a soothing voice, but generally leave it alone for the first 24 hours.

Typically, after the first day your bird will be settling into its new home. Signs like eating, preening, moving around its cage and vocalizing mean it's feeling more comfortable. You now have an intelligent and loyal companion that'll give years of enjoyment!

This is only meant to be an introduction to bird-keeping. I recommend going to either a breeder, or a mom and pop bird shop, before deciding to get a bird. Avoid the large pet stores, like PetCo for accurate information (unless you've already decided on the kind of bird you want), since they hire employees off the street.

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