September 2008 - The Parklander Magazine

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
Choosing the
Perfect Pet Bird
By Steven Bromberg, VMD
Parrot
Sun Conure
Choosing the
proper pet bird is
more important
than selecting
other pets, as they
have longer life
expectancies than
cats or dogs, ranging
from fifteen years for a
cockatiel to over seventy
years for a large parrot. People
often purchase birds for the
wrong reasons. Rather than
making an emotional decision, one
needs to do his/her homework to
improve the chance of a successful “marriage”.
Issues such as budget (i.e. cost of bird, its cage,
toys, food, and accessories) along with annual veterinary
care need to be considered. In general, the
larger the bird, the more expensive it will be to maintain.
Important considerations include time commitments
spent with the bird, environmental issues
associated with the bird’s housing, and its relationship
with others in the house, as well as your next-door neighbor!
Young children and birds don’t always get along, and
sudden movements and loud noises can make some birds
very nervous. Perhaps the best bird for a household with
small children would be one of the smaller species like finches
or parakeets. Big birds have larger beaks, which can be very
intimidating to both adults and children alike, to say the least!.
Different birds carry different levels of responsibilities for their
owners. Some, like finches and canaries, are basically “ornament
birds”, that is to say, they are for visual enjoyment only. Budgies
(parakeets) and cockatiels are easily handled and make wonderful
starter birds for first-time owners. Conures can be quite playful,
but beware; some species can be quite noisy. If you’re looking for an
early wake up call this is the bird for you. Parrots, on the other
hand, are larger and require more time and attention. Their
popularity stems from their great ability to talk and mimic sounds.
Parrots, likened to two-to-three year old children, require regular
attention, or they may develop serious behavioral problems.
Cockatoos and macaws are for the more experienced bird owners, as
they can be very demanding of their owner’s time.
Husbandry, that is caging,
cleaning, and general care,
follows the same principles for
all birds. The difference is in
the size of area needed and the
amount of toys provided along
with appropriate changes in
quantity and the variety of foods
offered. Be aware also of the great
mess they make; regular hygiene
is the single most important step
in the prevention of potential
disease spread.
Birds that are hand-fed and handled
frequently as babies generally make for the best
socialized pets and are well worth the
little “extra” they cost. Visit with
the bird several times and handle it as
much as possible before you
purchase. Birds are intelligent,
social creatures that need to interact
with their owners on a daily basis. They
vocalize to communicate, so don’t cover the
cage and ignore them. Birds follow natural
biorhythms associated with the sunlight,
so don’t expect to “fool” Mother
Nature. Choosing the right bird
can be fun and rewarding, but
most importantly, it is a lifestyle
commitment involving the entire
family and should be well thought
out. To avoid health issues later,
make sure a veterinary health
certificate accompanies your purchase.
Good luck and choose wisely!
Steven Bromberg, VMD is Director
of Sample Road Animal
Hospital/Bird Clinic in
Coral Springs.
Zebra Finch
108