When it comes to choosing a household pet, you have plenty of options. However, while the likes of dogs can be high maintenance and fish lack interactivity, birds offer a happy middle ground. You’ll have a companion you’ll love and a highly rewarding pet ownership experience.
If you’re yet to be convinced, there are many great reasons why a beautiful bird should be on your wish list. Join us as we go through the 10 biggest reasons why birds make great pets.
1. Intelligent Companions
Many animals can be a little boring to watch, but that’s not the case with birds. Many species, including the popular parrots and cockatoos, are highly intelligent and can even mimic sounds. They can respond to their owners and form close bonds.
This intelligence makes them engaging and interactive pets. It makes them not only great to play with but also great to watch. Depending on the species, you can even teach birds to perform tricks, solve puzzles, or even participate in games. It makes birds a huge amount of fun.
2. Low Maintenance
Compared to many larger animals, birds are low maintenance. There are no daily walks required or cleaning a litter box. Most birds only need their cages deep cleaned once per month, and they don’t create a huge amount of waste.
Your only daily tasks will be opening the cage to give them some flying time, a quick clean, and refilling their water and food. If you lead a busy life or have little time for maintenance, they are a great option. Added to their ease of ownership, birds have a simple diet and don’t require much grooming.
3. Long Lifespan
Many common pets don’t have a long lifespan. Some large parrots can live up to 50 years or more, with many smaller varieties often living up to 15 years. The likes of budgies and canaries have shorter lifespans but it’s not uncommon for them to reach 10 years or longer.
This allows you to develop a long-term relationship that you can’t get with many other common household pets. You can form a deep and meaningful connection with them without worrying about them dying after a few years.
4. Space Efficiency
If you want to have a pet that doesn’t take up a lot of space, a bird is ideal. Their cage can be hung up in a corner and you don’t need to worry about moving any furniture around or putting down the likes of a litter tray or bed.
While the cage doesn’t take up much space, one of the aspects you do need to consider is they do need room to fly around. Make sure they have enough space to stretch their wings before getting back into their cage. However, in terms of having a small footprint, birds are highly efficient.
5. Minimal Allergens
Pet dander can cause many people to go into an immediate sneezing fit. For many people, getting a cat or dog just isn’t feasible, no matter how much they love them. Birds produce very little dander, making them perfect for allergy sufferers.
Some people can still be sensitive to feathers and dust, but this is rare. The dander caused by birds can also easily be cut down with cleaning and cage maintenance. This also makes birds great for multi-people households.
6. Birds are Sociable and Affectionate
If you’re deciding between a bird or another small animal, their sociability could well persuade you to opt for an avian friend. They can often be a little shy at first, but soon, they will thrive on interaction with their owners.
Parrots (and their sub-species) are particularly known for this, but it applies to many other breeds as well. If this is what you’re looking for, then seek one of the many birds that enjoy being handled and petted. They’ll soon form a strong bond and give you plenty of affection in return.
7. Birds are Beautiful and Entertaining
Along with being great companions, birds also have a lot of aesthetic appeal. They come in a wide range of different colors and patterns. Whether it’s their vibrant features or delicate beauty, your bird is going to be a joy to look at.
It’s not just their beauty that will appeal either. Many of their natural behaviors, such as singing, dancing, and mimicking speech, can be hugely entertaining. Casting your eyes on your bird every day is sure to bring a smile to your face.
8. Birds Encourage Routine
Having a pet is a great way to give yourself a routine and a sense of responsibility. This can be great to help those who benefit from routine, or it can also be perfect for children to teach them the importance of responsibility.
Birds are quite low maintenance, but they still need feeding, cleaning, and interaction. Having this responsibility can make you more active with other parts of your life that need routine. For many, it can give them a sense of purpose.
9. Unique Personalities
No two birds are the same. Given their small size, they can have remarkably different personalities. Getting to know this personality can be hugely rewarding as you’ll learn how different birds respond to different behaviors.
Some birds can be playful and outgoing, while others may be more reserved and affectionate. You may even want to get a bird that can talk! You’ll find joy in learning how to communicate with them and learning how to best interact with their little personality traits.
10. Conversation Starters
Birds may be a fairly common pet but not compared to the likes of dogs, cats and fish. This makes them great conversation starters. Anyone that comes around to your home will be fascinated and you’ll always have them to bring up in conversation.
As mentioned, their unique personalities can be fascinating, and everyone loves watching them fly around the room. Added to that, you may even get a bird that can mimic speech or has especially beautiful plumage. It can help to make your social interactions more engaging and enjoyable.
