Pet Birds
Owning a pet bird is certainly a different avenue to take than going with your commonplace cat or dog. It can be very rewarding to bring a bird into your home, however, there are some things to take into consideration before diving right into pet bird ownership. Read a little bit about owning a bird right here before you begin browsing our classified ads for a pet bird for sale.
There are many advantages to bringing a bird into your home to be enjoyed by you and your family. They are intelligent, social animals, who are able to bond effectively with their owners. They're also fairly easy to care for compared to dogs and cats, and do not require as much space. Birds are aesthetically pleasing to look at too, not unlike fish swimming in a fish tank - it can have a soothing kind of effect.
As with any major decision, there are some drawbacks to bird ownership as well. Birds cannot be trained to do their business in certain spots, so you will almost certainly have to worry about poop if you let the bird out of the cage. Speaking of which, you do need to let the bird out of the cage sometimes - birds are meant to fly, and you do want to allow them to do so, because to do otherwise would be cruel. If you are someone who cannot handle an occasional accident on the floor, or even on your own shoulder, then perhaps a bird is not the right pet for you.
Birds can be noisy, which may be a deal breaker for some. If you have other pets or animals in the house you may need to keep the birds separated from them when you are letting them out of their cage. Although we mentioned that birds are social, certain birds may only tolerate and enjoy your company, and may panic when in the company of other humans; do not rely on your bird to entertain your guests. Finally, some houseplants can be toxic to birds, so you will want to do adequate research on whatever breed you end up going with to ensure that you avoid those particular plants.
Now, let us examine some aspects of bird ownership that are not necessarily disadvantages, but are things to be aware of. Birds can live a very long time, sometimes even outliving their owners. Birds eat fruits and vegetables in addition to seeds - this could be cumbersome, or not, depending on who you are. If you are someone who often eats fruits and vegetables (and let's face it, you should be), then it is no big deal to simply cut a share up for your beloved pet bird. Larger birds will require grooming in the form of having nails and beaks trimmed, and possibly also the wings.
Speaking of bird grooming, you will need to find a veterinarian who is adequately trained to deal with birds. If you live near the seller of the bird you end up purchasing, consider asking them where they took the bird for care and checkups. Of course, we also encourage all buyers to ask sellers many questions in general, to ensure both parties are satisfied with the transaction - ask why they are selling the bird, if they have medical or additional records and paperwork, and anything else you can think of.
Parakeets and canaries are a couple of excellent breeds to go with when it comes to pet birds for sale. Lovebirds are also nice, as they are quieter, so if noise is one of the potential drawbacks to bird ownership for you, then certainly look into lovebirds. Parrots and cockatoos are also popular pet bird breeds, however, these are more exotic, and therefore may require more care and involvement. Again, regardless of the breed you end up going with, do as much research as possible so that you can be sure both you and the bird are able to live happily and healthily together.
In conclusion, owning a pet bird is not for everyone, and if it is not for you but you still desire a pet, check out one of our other pet subcategories of classified ads here at Want Ad Digest. If you have decided that you are ready for the responsibility and enjoyment of owning a pet bird, we have some further links below to help you along:
How to Tell if Your Bird is Sick
