Which Birds Would Suit Me Best?
Are you thinking of becoming a bird owner? Birds are cheerful, they sing, they can learn funny tricks, they sit on your shoulder or even run up your arm and mimic words or even full sentences! Well, that’s the idea! Something to remember: not all birds can talk and not all can be hand-tamed or learn tricks.
This test will tell you whether certain bird species’ skills and needs would suit your expectations, your life and your home.
Below the test, we’ve come up with some interesting info for you to consider before buying. Please wait until the test has loaded.
Our Pet Bird Section
Bird profiles as well as useful tips for keeping them and for the cage are available in our pet check!
Birds as Pets
Birds might be small, but that doesn’t mean they need less attention. They deserve just as much respect and commitment as a dog or a cat. Before you buy birds, you should definitely know the pros and cons of these pets.
The good stuff first: birds are joyful animals that cheer us humans up with their singing and silliness. Walks? Ha! With a dog, you have to brave the great outdoors in any weather. With birds, you don’t have this issue.
But there are a few downsides: you can’t hug them like you can a dog or a cat. They are noisy and dirty. The most important thing to remember: birds have to be let outside the cage to exercise (find out more below).
Birds Need a Lot of Time and Space
If you want pet birds, you should first check if your home is suitable. Ideally, the birds should have their own separate room. And they need to be let out to fly around for a long time every day. This takes up a lot of time.
At the beginning, you’re so excited about your new feathered friends that you don’t mind and you can’t imagine ever getting annoyed about it. But then the novelty wears off. There’s just so much else to do in everyday life. Maybe you’ll get a new hobby that also takes up a lot of time.
People often manage to convince themselves that their birds are “fine” in the birdcage. Anyone that feels this way should try it themselves - stay in one small room for several days without being allowed to leave.
Proper Preparation: The Cage
Birdcages in pet stores are often too small. Please get some advice from a specialist and don’t pinch pennies. The bigger the better. Where the cage is kept also important. You can’t just stick it a corner that happens to be free. Your home will have to work around the cage, not the other way around.
For example, a cage shouldn’t be kept in a draft, should be kept at eye level, should have one side to the wall and be one thing above all: quiet. TVs or neon lights in the room are a no-go. Find more information about birdcages and keeping birds as pets here.
