Birdkeeping: Good birds for beginners?

 Bird Care: Lesson 1

Choosing a proper bird


This is the first of many posts to come based around proper domesticated bird care. Allow me to start this off with a disclaimer. I do not believe most birds should be kept as pets. Bird care is a responsibility unlike any other domesticated pet, because birds are not truly domesticated, especially many breeds of parrots. It is impossible for humans to fully replicate the experience they would have in the wild, which can lead to many pet birds suffering early deaths from malnourishment, mental disorders, and unknowing neglect. That being said, this blog aims to inform people about proper bird care, and I encourage those interested to look into adopting birds, and to not buy them from bird farms or pet shops. It is also a good idea to understand how different types of birds should be cared for so you can choose a type that best fits your lifestyle. This first post, I will be discussing a few different birds that are good for beginner bird keepers!

Bird 1: Zebra Finch


While native to Australia, zebra finches can live in almost any climate, making them suitable for other countries, save for the extreme temperatures. Their diet consists of a variety of small seeds, some insects, and occasional fruit, meaning they are not expensive to feed. They are some of the smallest birds kept as pets, but are also quite loud. You should only get a finch if you are willing to put up with noise, but this goes for any bird you can keep as a pet.

Bird 2: Diamond Dove


Doves are a far less common bird to be kept as a pet, but the Diamond Dove is one of the least common breeds. They are one of the smartest dove species, and come in brilliant blue colors. Their diets consist of mostly seeds and millet, though it is also recommended that you feed them dark leafy greens once a week. While doves are not as loud, they still make lots of noise with certain behaviors. They can be very affectionate birds, making them good for companionship.

Bird 3: Budgies


The budgie, also known as the Parakeet, is the most common pet bird, and is a good parrot for first time bird keepers. Unfortunately, they are often kept as throwaway pets, due to how easy they are to breed. When buying a Budgie, research the distributer of the bird beforehand, and make sure their animal keeping practices are humane. Budgies are a delicate breed of bird, but are still fairly manageable. Their diets, like most parrots, must contain at least 60% fruits and nuts. Blackberries and apples are a common treat for these birds. The other 40% of your birds diet can be a mix of seeds, millet, and other bird-safe foods. ALWAYS do your research before feeding your budgie anything new. Make sure your sources are reputable.


These three birds, Finches, Doves, and Budgies, are in my opinion some of the easier and more tame birds to take care of. I hope that in future blog posts to come, I can help you make an informed decision when picking out your new feathered friend!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bird-proofing Your Living Area

  Bird-Proofing Your Living Area Birds are very delicate creatures. Because of this, creating a safe environment for your bird outside of it's cage is very important. Taking your bird out of it's cage helps with enrichment, physical health, and mental wellness. It provides room for socialization, exploration, and promotes exercise. Your bird will also be more comfortable in the space they live in if they are given the room to become familiar with the area. Without this type of enrichment, birds can become stressed, which can lead to many harmful behaviors. This can include louder, more frequent screaming, biting, and feather plucking. It also leads to your bird becoming more inactive, which can lead to internal health issues. They may develop obesity problems. The lack of movement can cause their wing and feet muscles to cramp up and become weak. This can spiral into more health issues if not taken care of, so it's better to take steps to prevent these sorts of problems bef
Read more

Cleaning Your Bird's Cage

  Cleaning Your Bird's Cage Cleanliness is an important factor in your bird's health. Birds, like any pet, are able to make messes in their enclosure. Today I will be talking about how to properly clean your bird's cage. When you get a birdcage, it will almost always come with a tray underneath the floor wires. This tray has a purpose. It is meant to be lined with paper (newspaper will do just fine) in order to catch any waste products or food that drops onto the bottom of the cage. You should change this lining daily. Sometimes however, waste is not caught on the paper lining, and instead, is caught on the bottom wires of the cage. This, and other parts of the cage, should be cleaned thoroughly, weekly. Always remove your bird during these cleanings and put them in a safe place while you work. A secondary smaller cage will suffice as long as the bird is not there for too long. To clean the metal wires of the cage, use warm water and a small amount of apple cider vinegar, o
Read more

Outdoors?

  Should you Let your Bird Outside? Bringing your bird outside is a rather controversial topic among bird keepers. Many will tell you that it is good for your bird, and many others will tell you it is dangerous. It all comes down to each bird, and where in the world they live. Temperature has a big part to play in how comfortable your bird will be outside. Many domestic birds are parrots, which are evolved to live in warm environments, so if where you live is cold, it is a good idea to not take your bird outside, so they do not get sick or feel uncomfortable. Weather also has a big factor in how safe the outside is for your bird. If it is raining, or snowing, even just a little bit, it is definitely not a good idea to take your bird outside. This will most definitely lead to them getting sick Another problem is the local wildlife and domestic animals in your area. Your bird may panic and feel unsafe if they see dogs, cats, or even other large birds. You need to be able to be responsibl
Read more