Saucy Pet

Posts Tagged ‘Parakeets’

People adopt pet birds for different reasons. There may be some who find feathered friends extremely relaxing and love the colourful plumage. While, there are others who take interest on the ability of some birds to adapt human language.  

Pet birds can be both those common and domesticated breeds of birds.  People have taking care of birds since three to four centuries ago.  These birds graced numerous kingdoms and palaces before it entered out living rooms.

So, if you are thinking of getting a feathered friend and unsure about what to pick out, there are some considerations that you have to think about.  This would include ability to handle additional financial obligations and taking care of a pet.  Birds are not easy maintenance pets, unlike what most people think.These animals ar social and they need attention from their owners.The number of years these birds can remain alive will really surprise you!

If you have fully considered taking care of a bird but indecisive  of what kind you can take care of, here are some information about the most popular bird choices: 

• Parakeets – this bird can also be called a Budgerigar or sometimes Budgies.  These birds are ideal if you are just a starting bird owner, they are sociable towards each other and to humans.  Their size range from small to medium making it easier to care for compared with big birds.  Their life expectancy is about 12 to 14 years. But they tend to be noisy sometimes and destructive of their surroundings.

• Cockatiels -  are  birds members of the parrot family making them capable of learning human words. You will really enjoy their company as these are pretty much advanced in their singing and whistling capabilities. They are also very much capable of copying sounds like  a car alarm, ringing phone or other bird calls. There are different colors for these birds and can live up between 15 to 20 years.

• Canaries- are also very popular birds.Pet owners who have less time to spare and also can not pay maximum attention, such kind of birs are most ideal for them.  These birds pay little attention to humans and prefer to live in small flocks.They can live up to approximately 10 years. What‘s great about canaries is that they sing beautifully.  Male canaries have richer voices than females.

• Lovebirds – these birds are ideal if you live in a place where you are very close to neighbours who do not want too much bird noise. They can be very quiet and can live up to 20 years.  They are also part of the parrot family. Some pet owners would rather have a single lovebird rather than a usual pair, so that the bird can bond more with the owner than the other bird.

• African greys- are said to be the most intelligent of the birds, especially in terms of their vocabulary.  This intelligence is why it is important for an African Grey to have a lot of stimulating toys around their cage. The average life of this kind of bird is 50 to 70 years.

But not all pet owners are happy with having domesticated pet birds.  There are pet owners who prefer exotic birds which are usually from countries in Asia, Africa or Australia. Most of pet owners would choose birds from the parrot family since they would have very delightful colors and can show supreme intelligence.

But when importing birds from other countries, there are important regulations and rules which should be followed.  Smuggling birds in countries can have an effect on the number of birds in their natural habitat (which sometimes lead to endangerment) and worse health for the birds and humans too. 

Serious diseases happened in the United States because of failure in undergoing the proper procedure for bringing exotic and wild birds in the country.  Examples of these diseases would be avian flu or the exotic Newcastle Disease. 

When bringing in a bird in the country, make sure that you birds have been checked by veterinarians and avian experts for diseases.  They should have a health certificated from the veterinarian and at the same time the permit issued by  the government. Most cases of aviary disease and their outbreak can be traced to birds who have entered the country by illegal means. 

There are many options when picking out the right pet bird for you.  Regardless of its breed, size, or appearance, the most important thing is to take into consideration is that they would be around for a while.  So make sure to pick the bird that you can enjoy, because they are not just commodities that you can throw away if you no longer want them to be around.

Once you decide to acquire pet birds, it will be necessary for you to consider many factors that is to be accommodated when you choose to become a pet owner. You must be able to commit to the responsibilities and allot the right time and money to make sure that your pets will always be at the top of their game. You can choose from the following popular species of birds.

1. Cockatiels. Aside from having a medium built that makes it easier for you to care and entertain them, you will have fun when you have this kind. Most of us know that they are very interesting and delightful. These are part of the family of parrots and hailed in Australia. They are known for their singing and whistling abilities. They can also learn how to talk, but they often prefer to whistle. They also tend to mimic the usual sounds that they hear making them appear quirky and fun. They can easily get sounds like the barking of dogs or the telephone ringing. You can get these types in various color combinations. The life expectancy of cockatiels can be up to 20 years.

2. Lovebirds. They are among the smallest kinds in the species of parrots. Personality as well as intelligence both they have. That is why most owners will not trade these kinds to the larger kinds. Aside from such aspects, they are not that demanding and they are beautiful to look at. These are ideal for people who live in apartments and condominiums because they are fairly quiet. The size can be around six inches when it comes to length and their life expectancy can be about 20 years.

3. Parakeets. The most common of this kind, known as the Budgerigar, is perfect for kids. This is especially true if it is the first time for the child to own a pet, specifically a bird. You can make them choose among various pretty colors. Since these occupy less space, You will not have the much worries to accommodate them. They are small and yet intelligent. They can whistle as well as sing and they can also learn few words. They can live up to 14 years.

4. Canaries and finches. You will have to provide comparatively less space because of their size. These types can measure 5 inches or even smaller. They are known as waxbills or softbills. They thrive in small kinds of flocks. They also require little attention making them perfect companion for those who cannot afford to allot lots of time in engaging their birds in activities. These do not care much about the attention that they get from humans. Their lifespan can reach up to 10 years if you have cared and treated them well.

5. African Greys. They can give you company for your life time as they can live up to 70 years. They are known as the most intelligent kinds. They can even learn around 2,000 words if trained well. They are smart alright but sometimes tend to be demanding. They will get bored and lonely if you will not take time to engage them in stimulating activities. Your efforts will surely be rewarded because these are affectionate in nature.

So choose from the list what you want to acquire as pet birds. Make sure that as much as you will enjoy their presence, you will also be able to give them what they require from you.