Explore the charm of Mynah birds as potential pets and navigate the legalities of ownership. Discover A Mynah bird quirks in this concise guide
The little black mynah bird is an adorable pet with a brilliant ability to mimic speech, arguably second to the African grey parrot.
These little balls of plumes come packed with a great deal of personality that’ll keep you busy and entertained for days on end and are not too hard to care for.
So, yes, mynah birds make good pets.
However, note that not all species of mynahs are available in the exotic pet industry. Hill and common mynahs are perhaps the most popular ones, with the latter less desirable than the former.
Arguably, hill mynahs are better talkers, plus the common mynah is considered and labeled an invasive species in many places around the globe.
Another sort of disconcerting fact you’ll note is mynah birds are not as common in the hobby as they were, say 30 years ago (in the ’80s), more so in Europe.
As such, you may have to look far and wide to get a well-raised, hand-fed mynah to purchase.
There is also a chance mynah birds might be classified as Cat 2 or 3 of endangered species in your local area, so consider a little research before you get one, rest you err too close to the side of illegal.
Read on for insight on looking after your mynah and more.
Is it Legal to Own A Mynah Bird
As pets, mynah birds are incredible. They are intelligent, can talk, and constantly learn new things…
…, but mynah’s suitability outside the native wild, including as house pets, is tainted with quite a few unknowns.
So, is owning one illegal?
Well, it depends on where you are in the world and the authority you ask.
Besides, there are more than several types of mynah, so it will depend on which one you want to keep or are referring to.
For the most part (and most places), hill mynahs are the species kept as pets and are perfectly legal to own, perhaps only in their aboriginal home in Southern Asia, because they are a native species widely protected by law.
Even in the UK, where Indian (common) mynahs are considered an invasive species (borderline illegal to keep), tones of people own talking hill mynahs, usually bred in the hobby, hand-raised, and socialized with humans.
The Indian penal code (part of the aboriginal home in Southern Asia I mentioned) gives a hazy description of what birds you can cage, but what is clear is keeping native bird species is deemed illegal.
Eddie Waithaka.
Harshit Sharma, Quora.
Now, for your future reference, the rule of thumb is any bird you want to keep as a pet should not be endangered, invasive, migratory, or native to the place you live.
Of course, it might not be an issue of law, but the bird should also be tameable. You can’t take a seagull or grouse home just because you like one😁😅.
How Much Do Mynah Birds Cost
Mynah birds are almost as pricey as, if not more than, a mid-sized parrot, like a quaker or conure, because they fall right stuck in the middle of the exotic birds’ realm that can talk and mimic sounds.
A mynah from most reputable breeders will cost you anywhere from 400 dollars for a baby bird, which you can hand-raise yourself, to upwards of 1800 dollars for a grown mynah bird that is well raised to its prime.
The pricing varies depending on the breeder, color, age, size, and skills of the bird, but by-far, the mynah species seems to skew the cost a lot more.
If the mynah bird you want is deemed a rare species, the price may be upto four times the cost of a common breed.
For instance, an Albino hill mynah may cost you 1800 dollars, whereas an Indian hill mynah will set you back 700 dollars and a large crested, 350 dollars.
Keep in mind mynahs are not typical to local or chain pet stores, so you will more likely get one from a localized breeder miles away from your location. As such, remember to include the shipping cost in your budget.
How Long Do Mynah Birds Live For (+In Captivity)
On average, a myna bird can live for up to 25 years, but as with any pet bird, this lifespan reduces significantly in captivity, especially when not well cared for.
A less-than-ideal diet, housing, and even environment may cause your birdie not to go past 5 years. However, 15 and even 20-year-old mynas are not uncommon when raised by experienced owners.
How Do You Take Care of A Mynah Bird
No doubt mynahs are incredible, intelligent pets that constantly learn new things, but as with any pet bird (including parrots), caring for Hillies is not a stroll in the park.
A mynah needs constant interaction with you and will push boundaries every so often to check how far you are willing to let them go; Kirsty Richmond.
Their lively, social, and outgoing personality will require you to spare a few hours each day to socialize with your bird.
Hand raised babies socialize better with humans and often make the best mynah pet, easier to tame and train, although they are less cuddly than parrots.
Mynahs adapt well to living indoors as long as it big enough. The cage should not be less than 4 feet wide, 2 feet high, and about 2 feet deep.
Since hillies enjoy hoping around, add several perches at different heights and varying textures, diameters, and sizes to give your birdie the best experience.
However, do not keep your mynah in the cage all the time. Allow her several hours a day outside, maybe even in an outdoor aviary if the weather allows, similar to what she would enjoy in the wild.
These little starlings also enjoy occasional baths to keep their plummage moist and tender, so offer them a bowl to dive in, especially when you let them outside, where they can dry in the sun
You can also mist your bird with a spray bottle inside because air conditioning and space heating will dry your bird’s plummage too far to wait for the next bath day to roll over.
Perhaps one last thing to note is mynah birds are soft bills that prefer to eat fruits and soft-bill pellets at home. So don’t be tempeted to offer them for hook-bills like parrots.
Moreover, do not house them will parrots because theyve got no protection aganist a hook-billed odd ball.
Well, thats all for this post. See you in the next one.
Happy birding🦜🦜🐦 and take care.