how hard is it to take care of a pet bird?

I have a parakeet. Pretty loud at times, and very quiet in a weird way at times.

I say a parakeet/budgie is the best to start off with, just like me. If you're home most of the time or someone else like your kids are home most of the time, than it's OK to get one because parakeets get lonley, and no matter what bird you get, you have to consider talking, singing, and reading to it (no matter how dorky it sounds, it's a must. They end up going crazy with no attention). If you are frequently out or working or your kids are at school, than you should get another and leave the radio on during the period when no one is home. Another thing to put in the cage while your not home and the music is jammin' (haha), you should get it MANY toys. Such as a ladder (any length), bell, swing, or any other toys in the bird section! (Most of the time, one toy has a few toys attached to it).

When you first get your bird too, you should let it sit in its cage with classical music on. As days pass, when you walk over to the cage you should start talking to it in a nice way to calm it down so it knows not to be afraid of you. As it gets more and more used to you, than you can start putting your hand in the cage with your finger out so you can teach it to go on your finger and take it out. As soon as the bird gets comfterable with your hand in the cage (like when it stars walking around, eating etc.), than you can pet it and feed it with seeds in your hand. Later on after a week when your bird learns to get on your finger, you should go to the vet with it to learn how to clip its wings so when you take it out it won't fly away. DO NOT I repeat DO NOT take the bird out of the cage until it's used to its surroundings and it's wings are cliped. Also if you want to take the bird out of it's cage for a bit, than bring it into a smallroom like a bathroom.

Also, one more thing to know abot the responsibilities of having a bird, it poops a lot. espically in the area it stays most. Every other day you should change the news paper and sometimes stick your hand in there to scrape all the poo off the bottom of the cage (I know!! It's gross!). If you do not clean out the cage properly, the cage will start to stink and the bird can get sick. Another way to also avoid it getting unhealthy is to give it any fruits or veggies (all without seeds) but avacados, chocolate, patatoes, onions (they're poisionus to them).

Last but not least, I'm sure a 10-year-old can handle this! When I was young (6 or 7), my friend had two parakeets. Whenever I came over (almost everyday), she would take them out and they even came and stood on my hands when I first just meet them! This is also a good way to teach your children responsibility.

And don't forget a nice-sized cage! Not too big - not too small! Just enough to get around in.

OK I am done. Well almost. Everything I said must be done everyday. Changing water and food (People mostly don't change food because they crack the shells and keep them in their food bowl), talking or whistling to them frequently, giving them attention, and everything above is just about everything you need! Good luck! I hope the parakeet is your choice. It's mainly up to you, but everything I had said is what you should do to care for ANY bird you get.

I have a lovevird and he is great but needs a lot of attention and takes more time for training. I think the best starter bird would be a cockatiel. My friend has one and he is so sweet. They learn quickly and attach to you pretty early on. The daily responsibilities include feeding them seed, pellets and other nutritious things like fruit and veggies. You will need to change the water at least two times a day to make sure that there is no bacteria in the water dish. Cleaning the cage every 2 weeks has worked well for me although some would suggest once a week. You will want to spend some time with your new bird every day practicing step ups and whistles. The cost for a cage, bird, food and toys will be around $150 - $300 depending on where you get it. Make sure the bird you pick is healthy and happy. If the feathers are not looking nice then the bird may be a little depressed or not have been cared for very well at the pet shop. Hold the bird and see if there is a connection before you just pick one. Hope you find a great pet!

First I'd like to say, Getting any Bird for a pet is a Huge responsiblity to take on! most people just get a bird as a pet just because they want it, but facts are and very upsetting to bird lovers.

Buying a bird just because you think the bird is either very Pretty or Cool looking is the 100% worst way of buying a bird!

Most that do, when they get them home have no Idea what they have gotten themselves into, and usually about 3 months down the line, there trying to find it a New home! which isn't fair to the bird what so ever!

Most birds that have been boughten on a whim are the ones that suffer the most! they get neglected within a few months, and become trouble some birds, ill birds, feather pluckers, biters and just plain out of control! And all because the New owner had no Idea how to take proper care of a bird!

My advise would be to decide what kind of bird you'd want to have and take care of, then go to your library and get all the Information you can on that kind of bird! Wether it be a parakeet or a cockatoo or parrot etc.

There are plenty of good books you can purchase from a pet shop, But never Buy a bird for a pet on a whim, just because you decided you wanted one! Plus if your going to let young childred have access to a pet bird, Always supervise the child when the child is with the bird! If your child is a hyper child or very ambungous, Buy all means don't buy the bird for the child! birds can be scared easily and the bird may never be comfortable around a hyper child!

And after all the researching of the kind of bird you'd like to have as a pet and what all the care responsibilitys are, Be sure to buy a very young one, You don't want to buy someone elses problem bird, you will just end up unhappy and wanting to get rid of it!

As far as the best bird to have as a pet for a beginner, would be a parakeet or a pet shop white dove!, I say white doves, because the ring neck morning doves are more stand offish, as the white young doves are very easily tameable! and doves can't really hurt you if they would ever bite! I raised plenty and not a one ever tried to bite!

And buying a bird from a friend or relative isn't such a good Idea either, most birds usually don't take to well going from home to home living and could most likely become an angry upset bird!

Taking care of birds today can be a bigger expense then most people would think, Bird foods and supplies are constantly rising in price, a 5lb bag of fortified parrot food is close to $20 a bag now, cages have really skyrocketed in price and buying the right size of cage for a bird, isn't a option, it's a necessity, if you buy a cage to small! you will have a very unhappy bird!

It would be like making you live the rest of your life in a childs play pet! You need the right cage for the right bird plain and simple! Cages today run from $50 to $1,000's so you will have that expense just as fast as you buy the bird!

Birds need a lot of attention, not just feeding them everyday, So do your homework first, then decide if you would still like a bird for a pet!

And if your wondering, I have 3 birds, a Yellow crested Cockatoo, a Cockatiel and a Goffin Cockatoo and have had them for many years! and they all are so tame that my 1 1/2 year old Grandson can handle them safely without getting bite or hurting them, Supervision is a Must with any age kids!

And if you already have a cat! A pet bird might not be a good Idea! a bird to a cat means food! it's a natural instinct! and I noticed you stated (not a fragile one), Well there all fragile! If they get loose out of there cage they could crash into a window or wall and get badly hurt easily, If you have there wings clipped, dropping them can hurt them badly! I never ever heard of an non- fragile bird yet!

I would think about what kind of birds interest you the most and what your budget and time may afford, and then research, a lot. Some birds require more attention, some scream more, some bite harder, etc.

I think all birds are relatively fragile if they are handled wrong, but I would hope a child mature enough to handle a bird would be mature enough to do it correctly.

Really, for a kid a parakeet is probably the best way to go on a first bird in the sense of human interaction, size, and price. Not all care to be handled, but if you get it young enough and work with it then the chances are good.

Must give the bird a lot of attention. Proper feed/gravel/water. Clean the cage every 3-5 days. Toys. Radio to listen to or TV to watch. Don't want the feather plucking. Large enough cage. Not to much daylight, not to much darkness. Not to be in noisy loud environment. You have zero allergies to bird dust? Some birds will bite! It can hurt!

Parakeets are a good start, smaller belly than a Lovebird to feed. Depends on your wallet/allowance.

Will this be the only pet in the house? Don't need the cat victimizing it, or the dog knocking over the cage or your younger sibling if be it.

This is a commitment to have a pet, not a spur of the moment MUST HAVE IT NOW hobby. Birds can live for 10 years or more. If taken care of properly.

Be sure to buy the companionship book about the bird at the pet store. Or subscribe to http://www.birdtalk.com/

All birds are fragile, so it depends on how mature your 10 year old is. I would start with either a Cockatiel or a Budgie and make sure you find the proper cage for the bird. The wire spacing needs to be where the bird could not get it's head through the bars, and the bird should be able to flap it's wings without touch either side, with toys included. They need two to three toys to keep active, and also a proper diet. Many people just feed these birds the cheapest seed possible, and this is very bad for the bird. They need fresh veggies, as well as a balanced diet, preferably a pelleted formula food, if they will eat it. Many stores already have them hooked on seed, and it can be hard to get them to switch to a better diet. Feeding them seed is like let your child eat cake all the time. Their cage needs to be kept clean, and the food and water should be changed daily.

Birds are very easy to work with, but you should learn as much as possible about them before bringing one home. From that point it is still a constant learning process, but it is a lot of fun and well worth the time spent. You are welcome to join my parrot help group on Yahoo Groups where you can lean everything you want to know about birds, as well as share experiences once you bring one home. I have included a link below.

In all honesty I think a 10 year old might not be old enough yet. Maybe a small bird who doesn't need to be handled a lot. A bird is a big responsibility, just as a dog or cat or any pet for that matter. It's not just making sure it has food and water. And depending on what type of bird you decide on can also determine how difficult it may be to care for it, a parakeet vs parrot, the parrot is going to be a little bit more responsibility than the parakeet.

I am the owner of a Quaker. A very young Quaker at that. I got him just after he was hand reared so he was fairly familiar with people. (I didn't hand rear him) He was only 5 months old and still a baby. These birds develop a relationship with their care givers. My baby looks to me as the mother, and my husband as the Alpha of the "Flock" and yes we are his "flock". I have to get up every morning at 7am (why 7am you ask? Because by 7am the bird is up and ready for breakfast weather I am or not and he lets me and the whole apartment building know this) he has to get a scratch on the head, a good morning kiss, fresh food and water and then I have to immediately ring his bell and tell him it's breakfast time. (EVEN on the weekends!) If I come home from work I have to go over to the cage scratch his head and give him a kiss. These birds need constant love and attention just like a human. They want to eat with you and eat what you are eating, be in the same room with you, be held and cuddled, talked to and taught how to talk, etc. They develop a bond with you like a child would! They want to play (and my bird likes his wings tickled) and be part of the interaction. If I leave the room he calls out to me until I return (I assume he does this so I don't get lost). I also have to once a month give my bird a good scratching and check his cones. They receive new feathers all the time and become cranky when molting, sometimes they need a good scratching. Wing clipping time is never pleasant!

Anyway I know this sounds like a lot of babble. And some people may think I am crazy. But if you want a bird who is going to be "nice" and not bite, and be handle able then you have to give them constant interaction. Otherwise in some severe cases animals feel unloved and will pluck themselves, sulk, and sometimes die from just plain ole depression.

With all this being said if you feel your child at age 10 is responsible enough to have a bird I recommend you first going to Google and start doing some research on some types of birds he might be interested in. Learn their behaviors. What types of food they eat. What types of food they can’t eat and WHY. (some foods are toxic). If they are handle able or not. (My ex used to have a Mustache Parrot and they aren’t very friendly, you can have them on your shoulder but you can’t really touch or pet them). Are they noisy birds, are they quiet? (This is very important if you live in an apartment building or in a neighborhood) And before saying yes to your sons wants determine which birds might be okay and which birds are totally out of the question. You definitely do not want a 10 year old handling a Blue & Gold Macaw, especially if the bird becomes cranky or irritated he could bite and possibly take off the poor baby’s finger! Most likely you would want your child to have a love bird, a parakeet, a finch, or a cockateil. I had a love bird as my first official pet and I was 11. They are sort of handle able if you handle them often enough. They whistle pretty but do not talk. And they are reasonably easy to care for. OK with all this being said I hope I was of some help. I hope you and your son are able to come to a compromise and possibly are able to teach him the responsibilities of having a first pet! Good luck, I hope all works out.

Well, what kind of bird do you want? A Parrot is a bird that will probably outlive you! and they do need constant care, like talking, teaching how to talk ect, cutting toe nails, vets sometimes..But a Bungee (parakeet) are the easiest to care for . Make sure they have water daily and maybe food every other day depending on how fast they eat! Clean the bottom of the cage daily(get the paper disks to put on the bottom to lessen) Keep out of drafts and kitchen areas due to being poisoned from some cooking agents causing repertory problems.

I've had alot of birds before. About 7 parakeets when I was 10 (they don't live very long, they've all died already) and now I have 3 cockatiels (I'm 13 now). They're pretty easy to take care of, but they make big messes.

If you decide to get a cockatiel, pretty much all you have to do is make sure that they have food and clean water every day, clean their cage atleast once a week, and give them alot of attention.

You should also take their cage outside once in a while when the weather's nice and spray them with water (for some reason mine likes that). You should also put a mirror in their cage & teach them how to whistle/sing, and maybe even talk (if you get one that's young enough to still learn how). They really like milletspray (type of seed) and sunflower seeds. You should also put sandpaper (to trim their nails) and cuttlebone (it's like this calcium thing they bite on the make their beaks strong) in their cage. Uhmm... let's see... Oh yeah, if you plan on taking them out of their cages alot then you should have their wing feathers trimmed so that they can't fly away...

Hope this helps!

Well, I don't know which kind to get, but the ones in Pet Co. have excellent details and variety of each certain type and they give a description about the birds in Pet co. they can say: "Great with other birds or certain type, likes to play, good bird for beginners, etc."

A pet bird or more, they are easy to clean, you can set-up in a big cage such as a simple cage you can buy from a store or a smaller cage. Then you can place a thick layer of newspaper. They fly around, chirp a lot, and great if you have friends over, make them a bit jealous.

If you plan to have a bird flying around your house, make sure it doesn't get out in the open or wires. Birds have to wonder around first, then after wards they have to get used to the people around them. Train them to be friendlier or aggressive depends how you teach them.

We had a parakeet for years and basically all the care it needs is changing the lining in its cage and fresh food and water daily. We had my son doing that when he was 12 so a 10 year old can probably handle it. We would occasionally give it a cuttle bone or a mineral block to peck at and put gravel covered perch covers in the cage so it could keep its claws trimmed down. Our bird was nearly wild when we got it. (Someone set a cage out with food and caught it so it was almost a stray.) My husband worked with it and got it so it would perch on our fingers and sit on our shoulders. We could even rub its belly if we were gentle. It did occasionally nip but it wasn't bad. I would definitely get a bird again. He wasn't too high maintenence or much expense. He squawked occasionally, especially at other birds outside but once he was covered he went to sleep. They make good pets. The main concerns are not to let it escape or get too cold. Keep in mind though, birds can live 15-20 years so they're as much of a committment as a dog can be.