Which bird is best for you and considerations.

These are considerations before you get/what kind of bird is best for you.

1. The reason and who is getting it.

Why do you want one? Do you want one for companionship or just because of the beautiful feathers? Most birds (except for most finches and canaries) need social interaction. You also need to consider who is taking care of them in the first place, especially children. They may or may not know how to take care of the bird.

2. Talking and intelligence

If you want a parrot who has the ability to talk consider that only 10% have a vocabulary of any kind. Some parrots that have vocab include African grays, amazons, some macaws and budgies. If you want one that you don't mind the vocab but still want it to talk you have plenty of options, Cockatiels, large parakeets, parrotlets, and some caiques are just a few examples. There are plenty more but don't expect that every bird is a good talker. This also is the same with intelligence, the larger birds seem to perform more tricks and obidence training training than smaller birds.

3.Time

How much time do you have to spend playing and socializing with the bird? Most birds that are not breeding don't need to be played with because they have a mate or a flock to keep them happy. Finches and canaries don't need socialization because they are much less loyal then a parrot or other pet bird, and they usually never become tame. Budgies and cockatiels don't need hours in fact they probably only need 15 to 30 minutes. Cockatoos on the other hand need attention for at least 2 hours a day. Remember you need to keep a routine to do this (for example, if you usually have a spefic time like 3 pm and you have to stick with that) otherwise your bird may get extremely bored and even start behavior problems.

4.Cleaning and Mess.

How much are you willing to keep the cage clean each day. It needs to be spot cleaned at least everyday and a very good cleaning at least once a week. Lories need thier cages cleaned twice a day! Having birds is a big responsibility. You also need to consider which bird can you handle due to mess. Some are messier than others. You also need to wash bowls (yes, with soap and water and then dry) and feed them daily.

5.Dwelling

Ok, but what do you live in? An apartment or a house? People can have birds as pets in an apartment, but they need to choose carefully. Some birds are so loud that they can damage your hearing, while in case you don't mind it, some other people will! You also need to consider space, how much room you have for a cage. Most apartments will allow small birds since most make less noise and are in the cage as long as you you take them out.

6.Life span

How long will you live in order to take care of your bird? Most small birds live about 15 years. And large birds have lived to 50 years on average. It is a myth that parrots live up to 100 years most of the time (in many resources) but in rare casses they can live that long! If you are a older person and you have adopted a bird he can still out live you even if he lives to be 50 or 60. So consider your age and what bird you are getting. You should also consider after you pass away if there is someone to take care of him.

7. Expense

How much will your bird cost. They are not cheap, the bird itself costs 15-10`000 dollars(Budgies to the hyacinth macaw) It may cost 10 times as much with supplies (I mean it's true if you sum it up) which includes cage, toys, perches and food. The amount monthly costs 30-2000 dollars. You also need to consider vet care. A yearly exam and whenever your bird is sick. It is much more complicated then to put cage and seed and the bird to think he will thrive. Those unhealthy days of pet birds are over, after experience over the years of keeping birds over the years.

8. Chewing

How much damage can birds take down your house? Large birds can destroy alot of your furniture. For example, My father had a cockatoo and whenever he came out of they cage he would start chewing up the house. Smaller birds can just make tiny nibbles but macaws and cockatoos can make HUGE beak marks on your furnutire. That is why you need to spend a lot money on toys.

9. Childeren and other pets

Remember that kids and parrots sometimes get along with the bird but sometimes don't. Let's say if there was a small shy bird and an active litle child. The kid could accidently hurt the smaller bird. The bigger birds ould do some damage with thier large beaks. They can be in the same house as long as with close supervision (esspecially 9 and under). Older kids can be great but you can't expect them to work with birds on thier own. You must make sure that they are being taken care of everyday. What about other pets? Most pets (even cats) can live together with birds in the same house but you need to keep them seperate rooms and the bird must be suipervised when out of the cage at ALL times and kept away from the animal(s) otherwise they won't get along and maybe even hurt the bird which can even lead to injury and possible death.

10. Noise

This is one of the most biggest reasons why people change their mind on birds. Some birds are louder than others. Finches make the softest chirp there is while macaws on the other hand make very VERY LOUD squaks! A nanday conure can scream up to 155 decibels! (trust me, I am not lying and i've practicaly heard the real sound.) I was lucky to not get so close for hearing damage but the sound was really annoying.

11. Allergies

Only a few parrots are bad for owners with lung disease. But if you are prone to this do not get a African Grey, Cockatiel, or Cockatoo.

12. Cookware and smoking

Do you use any nonstick or PTFE items? If yes, will you give or sell all of it. The smokes of this cookware can kill birds. If you're a smoker smoke outside and away from the bird.

13. Vacations

Would you like to go on vacation? If so who will take care of your bird? You can't just leave enough food and water, the bird will get sick if the bowls aren't. Consider a good birdsitter or maybe board him at the vet or somwhere else nice.

So what did you think of the considerations? Birds are much harder than you think right?

Remember: they are mostly worth the fun and love, even if they have some cons to own as pets.