You'll be surprised to know a bird might be a better pet for you than a dog or cat! How is that possible, you ask? Well, we have all the answers in this post
When you think of pets, perhaps birds are not the first animal that comes to mind. You’ll more often picture dogs and cats and maybe fish, but surprisingly, your life might be more suitable for a pet bird.
See…if you prefer a snuggly companion animal that forms deep bonds, appreciates your time and effort, and has a long lifespan, enough to live as long as you, a dog or cat won’t cut it, but a parrot will.
Pets birds are also more intelligent, with your average budgie or cockatoo as clever as a human toddler. These birds can mimic human speech and learn tricks with enough prowess to perform them on cue.
Because birds are affectionate and form lasting connections with their owners, they are also better companion animals for people with anxiety, regular loneliness, and depression.
However, pet birds are not without a downside. Most species are loud, destructive, and very needy. They require attention and socialization at least 5 hours a day, or they’ll develop neurotic behavior and psychological issues.
To better understand what makes birds ideal (or not) pets for some people, read the rest of this blog post with plenty of insight from our writer and Cockatoo owner, India Giannis, and reviewed by Veterinarian, Dr. Aisha Cole, BVSc, MSc.
But first…
Is Keeping Birds at Home Good or Bad
Birds make good pets as any other animal…and there is nothing ethically or morally wrong with keeping them at home. You only need to ensure the bird you purchase is captive-bred (not wild-caught) by a virtuous breeder, and there is no regulation or restriction on ownership of the species you want.
As a responsible bird owner, you must also have the capacity to create the perfect environment for a bird before you bring one home. Keep in mind birds require a spacious cage, plenty of out-of-cage space, a nutritious diet, and assorted enrichments.
They also require abundant attention and time, so your schedule should allow it.
They are only bad pets if you are ill-prepared, which happens often, causing birds to be rehomed or relinquished to rescues.
So, if you think a bird is the pet for you, research extensively what they are like as companions and how much work goes into maintaining them before getting one.
10 Reasons Why Birds Make Good Pets
Keeping birds as pets has several advantages to other animals and might be the perfect choice for you. From their lengthy lifespan and strong bonds, they’ll readily become more than just companions to an integral part of your family.
Below are 10 reasons why you might want a pet bird.
1. Companionship
Parrots make perfect companion pets. They are very loving and affectionate and require lots of attention. If you spend plenty of time alone at home, a parrot will keep you company by merely sitting on your shoulder or a nearby perch.
Most animals kept as pets, including lizards, hamsters, snakes, and fish (other than looking cute), will not give you companionship, like birds and perhaps dogs.
Birds are friendly and cuddly and enjoy spending time around you. They will preen you in endearment and hang out on your shoulder for hours on end. They also enjoy neck rubs and other forms of petting.
Parrots are especially popular because they form some of the strongest bonds of all pet birds.
2. Entertainment
Pet birds are priced for their goofy, quirky behaviors, which can be very interesting. They are naturally playful and love performing tricks. Some species, like parrots, will even mimic human speech, while others prefer whistling or imitating household appliances.
Birdies also more often involve you in their activities better than other pets. For instance, a tamed, trained parrot can hold a conversation with its owner, and depending on the level of training, some will talk in context or do tricks on cue.
We’ve also noted that birds are able to entertain you in more ways than most animals. They can interest your auditory senses through sweet melodies and chatty mimics, your sight by way of their beautiful colors and comical antics, and your sensory facets through preens and grooming sessions.
So…what are some entertaining antics you can expect from your pet bird?
Well…here are a few!
# Head Bobbing: Birds often bob their heads rhythmically, especially when they’re excited or happy. This behavior can be quite comical to watch, especially if they do it enthusiastically.
# Dancing: Birds, particularly parrots, love to dance, either to music or simply in response to their own inner rhythm. Their movements can be lively and entertaining, often accompanied by flapping wings, head bobbing or foot tapping. MJ, seems to be really popular among birdies. See these moves…and these ones.
# Playing with Toys: Birds enjoy playing with a variety of toys, and their antics while interacting with them can be quite amusing. Whether they’re shredding paper, swinging on perches, or solving puzzle toys, watching them play can bring a smile to any owner’s face.
# Imitating Sounds: Many pet birds are skilled mimics and can imitate a wide range of sounds, from ringing phones to laughter. Hearing them mimic unexpected sounds or phrases can be both surprising and hilarious.
# Chirping Conversations: Birds are social animals and often engage in chirping conversations with their owners or with other birds. These vocal exchanges, filled with chirps, whistles, and trills, can be both charming and amusing to listen to.
# Funny Postures: Birds sometimes strike funny or unusual postures, such as hanging upside down from their perches or fluffing up their feathers in a silly manner. These antics can be quite endearing and entertaining to witness.
# Bath Time antics: Watching a bird bathe can be a source of amusement, as they splash around in their water dish or under a spray bottle with exuberance and enthusiasm.
# Exploring with Curiosity: Birds are naturally curious creatures, and they love to explore their environment. Watching them investigate new toys, objects, or even household items can be entertaining as they show off their inquisitive nature.
3. Low Maintanance
4. Bonding and Interaction
5. Educational Value
6. Emotinal Support
Birds are excellent emotional animals because they show a high level of empathy. They can intuitively sense human emotions, including anger, stress, tension, and distress, and provide the support their handler needs.
ESA Doctors in these emotional support animals post observe that some bird species, like parrots, can even learn words and phrases that help the owner work through an episode or calm them down before it occurs.
Xander Zellner on an Audubon post also makes the same observation. He says that unlike dogs, cats, and other traditional pets, birds have a unique social aspect that many people find appealing. Having a bird can be very engaging—some say words and sing songs.
Moreover, birds are quite intelligent and readily pick up cues, tricks, and words, and are easier to train for emotional support than other animals.
7. Love of Nature
8. Unique Attributes
Birds are not like any other pets. They are more intelligent than most and come with unique personalities. Even between birds of the same species, each birdie will be different.
One unique trait you will observe in birds and not other pet animals is mimicry, melody, and whistles. Birdies, like canaries and finches, play sweet melodies and cockatiel’s morning whistles that many keepers enjoy.
They create a wild ambiance in a home regardless of where you live.
Other species, like parrots and myna birds, can mimic human beings and repeat words, something no other pet animal can do. It almost spooky for some people to hear an Amazon parrot or African grey talking for the first time because they speak with outstanding clarity.
Bird’s behavior is deliberate. Something that makes birds unique among most other animal species. Even primates such as monkeys, chimps, and gorillas haven’t shown these abilities, and they are our closest animal relatives: All Creatures Vet Care Center.
Away from these abilities, parrots have personalities akin to human beings. They can get emotional and develop an attitude, be sassy when they want to be, and sometimes throw a tantrum in disapproval.
They also get jealous and protective of their favorite person and dislike people who are mean or unpleasant to them. Intriguingly, a parrot can warm up to some family members and disapprove of others even when they’ve all lived in the same house for a similar period.
Perhaps the more interesting unique trait is when your pet bird is happy and wants to have a good time. Your little feathered companion will sing, dance, bob its head, and cockatoos and cockatiels, raise their crests.
And it’s not only parrots that have unique pet traits. Think of doves and pigeons that have an amazing homing ability, so accurate they were used as messengers.
9. Lifelong Relationships
Pet birds often kept as pets, such as parrots, have a long lifespan, with some, like cockatoos, living for up to 100 years. So, if you want a lifelong companion, perhaps a bird is the perfect choice.
To compare them to other pets, think of this…the longest-living dog lives to its mid-20s, while cats have an average lifespan of 12 to 18 years, almost as long as small parrots like budgies and Tiels live.
Mid-sized parrots, like IRNs, Sennies, Pionus, and Mini macaws, live longer, with species, such as African Greys reaching 40+ years as pets.
Because birds also form strong bonds with their owners, you are sure they will always offer you companionship throughout the years.
That said…you should have a succession plan because the bird will likely outlive you and need a familiar and interested person to inherit him.
Birds are also conscious of life changes (separation) and grief like humans, so the person who takes over your bird should be patient and ready to work with the bird through this period.
10. Creative expression
Are Birds Good Pets for Kids
Tiny and ‘easy’ birds like budgies and parrotlets are ideal for kids, but large birds, like African Greys are too demanding and aggressive for children. If your child wants a pet bird, I suggest a budgie, GCC, Parrotlet, Finch, or Canary for kids under 13 years.
For kids between 14 and 18, they can have medium-sized birds, like:
- Doves
- Pigeons
- Sun and Jenday Conures
- Cockatiels
- Lovebirds
- Quakers
- Sennies
- Pionus
- Bourke’s parakeet
Children often get bored with pets, and their commitment and responsibility are not honed enough to independently care for a pet.
Please remember birds are needy pets that require plenty of attention and socialization. They are also a lot of work to feed and clean after, so if you allow your child to have one, ensure you are actively included in caring for the bird.
If the idea of the pet bird is to develop a sense of responsibility, work with them towards that goal and gradually let them take up more responsibility in caring for the bird instead of allowing them freedom from the beginning.
Ideally, once children reach age 13 (teenage), they’ll mature up, and you can allow them to have more unsupervised interaction with the bird and even get them a slightly more demanding species, like Quakers or even a Blue Crowned Conure.
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Is it Healthy to Have a Pet Bird
What Diseases Can Birds Give Humans
Can Birds Cause Respiratory Problems to Humans
Is Bird Dander Harmful
Is it Ethical to Have a Pet Bird
Disadvantages of keeping birds in cages
Best Birds to Keep as Pets
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