Are birds alot of work?

Question

my dad had two birds before I was born and they were BIG and my sister and I both want birds but both of my parents have both shot down the idea with the answer of they are to much work. are cockatiels alot of work to.. or are all birds?

Answer 1

I HAVE 2 COCKATIELS AND THEY NEED LOTS OF ATTENTION A BIG CAGE LIKE :http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js... LOTS OF TOYS ALSO THEY NEED TO BE LET OUT OF THEIR CAGE FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS OR IF THEY TRUST YOU THE WHOLLEE DAY EACH BIRD NEEDS A PLAY SET OR PLAY CAGE WITH TOYS AND STUFF THEY NEED THE BOTTOM OF THE CAGE WITH ALL THE DROPING 2 BE CLEAN WEEKLY AND WATER CHANGED WEEKLY ETC..CHAT WITH ME IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ..::[e-mail] =]

Answer 2

I know that the larger birds are definetely a lot of work and a long-term commitment as they have a longer lifespan. Birds get depressed by themselves. If you only have one then you need to be sure that you are around almost all the time or they get depressed and might mutilate themselves. They are also very sensitive to smells and chemicals. Many of the things that you'd normally have in your home such as perfume, scented candles, spray on deoderant can be lethal to a bird if breathed in by them.

Answer 3

All birds are alot of work. Every day you have to give them fresh food and water. Also, you have to tame the birds to be comfortable around you. Although they are alot of work, sometimes it can be fun! You should do some research about the type of bird you want before you get it that way you know how to properly take care of it. Good Luck!!! Feel free to email me if you need more help! :)

Answer 4

Hello-

This is a good question! :-)

They are a bit of work, but it all depends on what YOU consider to be work.

As with the responsibility of owning any animal, there is maintenance with the ownership of birds.

The amount of maintenance you would put in, depends on the type of parrot/bird.

Canaries, finches, etc are mostly seed eating birds. They require a few greens such as lettuce, alfalfa sprouts etc on occasion, and fresh water each and every day.

Cleaning the cage, keeping it p**p free would be a change every week.

These birds you would just enjoy having, however you can't pick them up and handle them. :-)

Parrots are a bit more work, but they interact with you more and talk and you can handle them. But they are a bit messy.

All parrots require a varied diet full of fruits, veggies, egg, sprouts, and the occasional pasta(without butter or oil or cheese).

Parrots make a mess when they eat, they tend to flick off the food off their beaks..:) They p**p a lot and ALWAYS need a fresh supply of water.

The fresh supply of water can be a it tricky as parrots love to dunk their food into the nice clean water YOU JUST CHANGED and after a bit this water can grow harmful bacteria.

SO, you always have to keep an eye on the water, or have two water dishes.

Right now I have a Scaly Breasted Lorikeet and he LOVES to flick his nectar mix off his beak onto EVERYTHING. He is messy and requires me to clean around his cage EVERYDAY. Because he uses the water to mix his food, I change his water about three times a day, and he has two water dishes.

I have to take his cage apart every weekend and clean it. Otherwise the nectar mix gets sticky and sticks all over the bars!!

I love him to bits, so to me it's not a big deal. I make the time to look after him.

You must ask yourself, how much responsibility you are willing to accept and if you can devote the time- all animals look up to you to look after them.

I hope this has helped, and good luck ;)

Answer 5

hi

birds are fun and not so much work

i mean, they p**p a lot but you only have to feed them once a day. the best birds to start with are cockatiels and if you dont want to breed them get 2 females.

hope my advice helps...

Answer 6

Keep in mind three things: Time, expense and responsibility. You must have the time to devote to your bird--daily-- they need attention and social interaction. Without this interaction they will be lonely and bored and that can lead to serious behavioral problems. They can also be loud and messy. Feathers will fly, seed will get dumped over, and birds are loud in the morning and night. They communicate in nature through bird calls so that is what they do in a home too. If you, your family or neighbors like quiet- a bird is not for you.

You will need a good cage, food and water bowls, a variety of perches, toys and swings, and pellets, fresh food and seed. The cage should be well cleaned daily and the water cups need to be changed at least once a day. Fresh food should be removed before it spoils. You also have to plan on new toys, perches and regular vet checkups as well as emergency care.

You will need to find a vet that specializes in bird care- called an Avian vet- and that can get costly. Medicine, vet visits and treatment for illness or injury must be factored in to the cost of caring for a bird.  

You will be responsible to make sure the bird is on a regular eat, play and sleep schedule. Birds need at least 10 hours of sleep each night. They are very sensitive to odors and can get sick if you have smoke, teflon, scented candles, fresh paint, perfume, hair spray, and many, many other things in your home. Please research this topic as not knowing could cause serious harm or worse.    

They do need care and attention every day- plan on it. I love my birds but I sometimes have to give up outings or get home early from events to make sure they stay on a proper schedule. Your bird will rely on you for entertainment, socialization, and care. If you go on  vacation, someone will have to take care of the bird. If you are moving,  going to college, traveling a lot, or you don't have the resources or time to devote to the bird -wait. You can always get one but you must remember the bird will grow attached to you and if you have to give it up it will miss you and may not due well in another environment.    

Having a bird is a big responsibility and costs a lot more than just the bird.. so only you can answer if you have the time (now and forever), money and commitment.  One more thing--birds can live from 10 years to over 50--- a long time.