Birds are known for their beautiful, varying feather formations and vibrant colours. These animals are surprisingly easy to train as they are fairly intelligent; take the African Grey Parrot as an example! But before you start thinking about the amazing things you have planned for your feathery friend, start planning for their transition. There are many aspects to caring for a pet bird, and if you’re a new pet bird owner, consider this guide we’ve curated for you! 

Pet Bird Species for Beginners

Cockatiel looking suave and feeling good

Bird species for beginners include:

The Essentials

Before welcoming your new friend into your home, it’s important to have the following:

  • A cage
  • The perfect spot picked out in your home
  • Bird food
  • Information on the type of care and attention the species needs

Getting the Right Cage for Your First Pet Bird

Depending on the size of your bird, you have to consider the following:

  • The amount of space they have to move around.
  • Pet birds that can fly need enough space to move around: enough for wing flapping, playing with their toys, and exercise.
  • Larger birds with longer tails and wingspans require a space that they are able to fully stretch out.
  • Depending on the size of bird, consider the spacing of the bars according to their body.

two pet bird budgies in a cage one is green one is blue

Getting the proper cage for your new friend truly impacts their ability to adapt to their new environment. You want to make sure they feel safe, cared for, and as stress free as possible.

If you decide to decorate their home:

  • Perches — a wooden bar for pet birds to sit and rest on, must be made out of clean and parasite-free wood
  • Find water and food bowls that are shallow
  • When buying them toys, make sure there isn’t anything than can be swallowed or entangle them

Pet Bird Food

The avian diet does not just consist of seeds and pellets. Most birds need a nutritious and balanced diet alongside those options for healthy skin, happy attitude, and feather production. Birds in the wild eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, flowers, insects, and essentially any food suitable and available for them during different seasons. On the other hand, a pet bird eats what is available to them in your home. The foundation of their diet should be a nutritionally complete feed for the type of bird (pellets for example), and other foods are considered snacks.

You should ideally incorporate fruits and vegetables in your bird’s diet. Commonly loved fruits and vegetables include:

  • bananas, melon, mango, oranges, apples, papaya
  • dark leafy greens, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots (avoid avocados, onion and garlic as they can cause issues with your feathered friend)

Keep in mind that there is no single diet for birds. Birds can be picky, and you can see what their favourites are as they will leave the stuff they don’t like on the side.

Create a Bird-Safe Environment

The first steps to creating and choosing the perfect spot for your feathery friend revolves around many safety factors. Birds are highly sensitive to smoke and fumes; certain cooking and cleaning procedures may potentially harm your bird.

a yellow pet bird canary sticking its head through a bird box

It’s recommended that you place your bird in a space that isn’t breezy, a place that is not too hot, and not in reach of other household animals or children that could potentially harm them.

Don’t Just Wing It!

If in doubt, contact your local veterinarian about further solutions for your new friend. Learn more about other household pets through Pep & Pup’s blogs.

Image credits:

Photo by Ursula Gamez on Unsplash

Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash

Photo by Hugo WAI on Unsplash

Photo by Prasad Panchakshari on Unsplash