Pet Birds and Birdcages: What You Should Know
Having a pet bird involves whole different breed of pet caretaking than dealing with a dog or cat. Mammals, particularly cats, can often be much more independent than our feathered friends, and as such, may not require that watchful eye that someone responsible for a bird must have. Below, we’ll break down some potential areas of concern for taking care of pet birds, so that in the event you decide to keep one or more in your household, you can know how to approach the situation.
Birdcages
This part might give people pause, and it should. Birdcages need to be plenty spacious, and often homeowners looking to save space in their homes will sacrifice the space available to the bird for the sake of maintaining a less cluttered appearance in their living rooms. Birds need space. Though they may seem small, many have larger wingspans than you’d think, and only have a few cubic feet of space to move around in can really be uncomfortable for the birds. The cage should be readily equipped with a steady supply of water, and too many birds should not be crammed into the same cage all at once.
Choosing a Bird
Though it may be tempting to take in a bird you spot in your backyard or on a hike, you should NEVER capture wild birds and keep them as pets. Wild birds will not be easily contained in a confined space, and it’s harmful to the individual bird and to the species to force unsuspecting wild birds into cages. Pet stores and adoption agencies are your best bet. If you can only fit a smaller sized cage in your house, try to pick a tiny bird that will still have plenty of room to move around in. Larger birds should only be adopted if you have the space and the know-how that will help you provide for them.
Birds in the Same Cage
If you’re putting more than one bird in the same cage, you should again remember that size and space matters. Don’t cram half a dozen large birds into a restricted area: you’re setting yourself (and the birds) up for disaster if you do. Also, keep in mind that not every species of bird gets along in the wild, and many of these relationship statuses will hold true in captivity as well. If you want to avoid bird fights, you have to be selective about which birds you choose to cohabitate in the same available space.
This entry was posted on Monday, July 18th, 2011 at 11:41 pm and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.