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Your First Bird

© Shane Tully

Deciding to finally buy a feathered friend is a decision not to take lightly. One must take into consideration many factors before purchasing, such as housing, care, restrictions (apartments), and the time you will be able to invest into your new pet.

First of all, establish how much you are willing to spend; Costs can add up quickly. I often find that the bird is actually the least expensive of anything you will buy, it is the maintenance and the care that adds up the dollars. Cages can range from $50, all the way up to a few thousand dollars, depending on the bird and the design. Cages with extravagant designs can be very hard to clean, while a simple cage can be a breeze. For more on choosing a cage, see my article on the topic, Proper Caging. Accesories, such as dishes, toys, and perches, can also add up the price quickly. You will need to buy seed (preferably pellets) and supplementary food, such as budgimine/petamine.

Second, you should find out if there are any restrictions, if living in an apartment, condo, etc. about owning birds/pets. Some will only allow small, quiet birds, some won't allow them at all, and some welcome pets with open arms (fortunately a growing trend; there are even whole apartment and suburban complexes now that would be more than likely to accept you if you owned a pet).

Third, how much time will you be able to spend with your bird(s)? Will you be at work most of the day, and will only be able to spend a couple minutes? Or will you be able to put in a good amount of time? A very important question: Will you be so busy you will not have time to take care of the basics? If your answer is "yes" to the last question, owning a bird, or any pet for that matter, shouldn't be considered (I never thought I'd say this, but go get a giga-pet or one of those computer pets instead).

Choosing A Bird

When picking a type of bird out, spend some time around that certain species so you can get a feel for them, and how they act. I will give a brief summary of some of the more popular birds to give you an idea of each.

Budgerigar   (Melopsittacus undulatus)

Also more commonly known in America as the "parakeet". A lively, interactive small bird. Member of the parakeet family. Australian origin. Average life span around 7-10 years.

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