How Hard Is It To Take Care of a Pet Bird? (Here Are The Facts)

Last updated on October 15th, 2022 at 03:11 pm

Birds are intelligent and loving companion pets and a great choice for many potential owners. But before adopting a pet, it’s important to consider the required amount of time and energy.

So then, is it hard to take care of a pet bird?

How hard it is to take care of a pet bird largely depends on your past experience with one. Different species have unique needs, but you can count on daily cleaning and exercise, as well as specialized diets. Small birds are the easiest to care for, and may only require two hours outside the cage.

How Hard Is It To Look After a Bird?

It’s as hard as your current experience level is with taking care of a bird. Every day, they’ll need fresh food and water, exercise and attention, and you’ll need to make sure that you keep a clean and spacious cage.

Smaller birds tend to be the easiest to care for; you’ll need to invest more time and energy if you plan to adopt a larger bird like the macaw. 

Which Birds Are the Easiest To Take Care Of?

Different bird species will require varying degrees of socialization, space, exercise, and diets.

You’ll need to learn about the species you’re looking to adopt in detail before deciding because some will be more difficult to care for than others. 

Intelligent birds like parrots need more socialization than others, or they can become restless. Parrots also tend to bond strongly with one person or bird and can be territorial towards anyone else.

They also need exercise and should be routinely allowed outside a cage. For these reasons, parrots are considered the neediest of any pet bird.

All pet birds need at least two hours of time outside the cage every day, but you should plan on even more time for larger birds like parrots.

You should also ensure that any rooms where the birds are allowed to fly are free from hazards or escape routes.

Small birds, like budgies, are generally the easiest to care for.

Finches, too, are small and easy to care for but do much better in the company of other finches, so you may need to adopt more than one.

Ultimately, the right companion bird will depend on your own needs as well. If you have the time and desire, you’ll be able to fill the pet’s need for several hours playing outside the cage.

But if you already have other pets or a busy schedule, this may not be suitable. You can take a quiz to determine which bird is best for you at MyRightBird.

How Much It Costs To Have a Pet Bird

The cost of caring for a bird can be as much as $5,000, depending on what species you’re looking for. Caring for a small bird costs about $185 per year, plus about $100 in initial investments the first year.

Larger birds are more expensive to care for, costing anywhere from $450 to $2,500 a year, and have an even higher initial cost because they need larger cages.

A cage for a large bird, such as the Mcage Large Parrot Bird Cage, can cost several hundred dollars.

See the following table for a breakdown of costs by species:

How Do You Take Care of a Pet Bird?

The best way to take care of a pet bird is to simulate its natural environment as much as possible, minus the predators and scarcity.

For example, you’ll need to provide a diet that matches what the bird would naturally eat, along with a loving spoonful of socialization. 

Find the Right Bird Food

Each bird species has its own unique dietary needs, some preferring worms and insects, others seeds and fruit.

For this reason, pet suppliers have begun making edible pellets catered to each species, like the Kaytee Exact Rainbow Premium Daily Nutrition for Cockatiels.

Bird pellets are one of the best things to feed your pet bird because they include all the necessary nutrients. 

Bird pellets are much more nutritionally dense than seeds. An all-seed diet can cause weight gain in birds, and it’s vital not to let your bird become dependent on them.

When this happens, the bird will resist change, and you’ll need to follow a step-by-step process to wean your bird off of seeds and onto a healthier mix of food.

Some birds — like the lorikeet — also need to eat a special kind of nectar, like the Blessings Gourmet Lory Nectar, which you can find from specialty pet shops and online retailers. 

Some birds love to snack on fresh fruits and vegetables, and these make for good additional dietary supplements. These include many members of the psittacine family, like macaws, parrots, conures, cockatiels, and budgies.

Recommended fruits and vegetables for these birds include:

• Corn
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Yams
• Peas
• Apples
• Grapes
• Bananas

Besides these, you should generally avoid feeding table food to your bird, regardless of species. Chocolate, avocados, spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine are especially dangerous.

Keep the Birdcage Clean

Keeping your bird’s cage clean is important because it decreases the risk of certain infections for you both.

Necessary cleaning can be broken down into what needs to be done daily, weekly, and monthly.

Every day, you should follow these steps:

1. Replace the cage liner. Each day, the liner becomes dirty with discarded food and droppings, which create a hazard for the bird. This will also cut down on the stench.
2. Wash the food and water dishes with detergent. This will prohibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
3. Wipe down the bars, perches, and toys to remove other messes. 

Every week, do the following:

1. Wash the cage tray with a rag, water, and a cage cleaner, such as the Nature’s Miracle Bird Cage Cleaner. 
2. Remove and scrub the grate at the bottom of the cage to get rid of any dried-on droppings. 
3. Remove, soak and scrub the perches to prevent bacterial growth. If you have wooden perches, take extra care not to replace them until they are fully dry.
4. Remove, soak and scrub any toys. Birds play with them using their beaks, which means that toys need to be kept clean to prevent infection.

And every month, follow these steps:

1. Scrub the bars and base of the cage, using a cage cleaner for any dried-on messes.
2. Scrub the cracks at the base of the cage.
3. Rinse and dry every inch of the cage to remove any remnants of detergent or cleaning fluid. 

In all cases, when you wash a part of the birdcage, make sure that it’s completely dry before putting it back. Birds become chilled easily when they get wet. 

Take Your Bird to the Vet Every Year

When you first adopt your pet bird, it’s important you schedule a visit with an avian veterinarian to establish and resolve any possible medical issues.

Then, you’ll need to bring your bird back each year for wellness exams. 

In addition to providing checkups and care for your pet, the vet will be able to answer any questions you have and talk you through proper feeding and housing plans.