Keeping a pet Parrot can be far more costly than you might imagine.
Please take the information shared here into thoughtful consideration
when calculating the cost of owning a pet bird...
Many people believe birds to be a "low maintenance" pet.
Although the physical chores or cage cleaning and feeding can be dealt with in a short amount of time, the emotional requirements of a pet bird should involve several hours
of your time on a daily basis..
The following information is intended to be used to gain a 'general' idea of the costs involved.
START UP EXPENSES
A good sized cage should cost from $250.00 for a Conure sized cage , to $500.00 - $1000.00 for a Macaw cage.
MONTHLY EXPENSES
Macaw Amazon/Grey Conure/
Pionus
1. Seed mix. Any mix $15.00 $12.00 $10.00
should make up one
third of the total diet.
2. Pelleted diet. Get one $20.00- $15.00- $10.00-
your bird will eat. One $30.00 $25.00 $20.00
third of total diet.
3. Fresh fruit, veggies $30.00 $25.00 $20.00
and other 'people'
food. One third of total
diet.
4. Toys (important for $15.00 $10.00 $10.00
mental stimulation)
MONTHLY TOTALS = $80.00- $60.00- $50.00-
$90.00 $70.00 $60.00
YEARLY EXPENSES
1. Veterinary bills $75.00- $60.00- $50.00-
$200.00 $120.00 $100.00
2. EMERGENCY CARE* $350.00- $300.00- $250.00
$2000.00 $1200.00 $1000.00
3. Vacation Boarding $100.00 $75.00 $50.00
( for 10 day stay )
* Although emergency or prolonged care may not be needed each year, you must be prepared to face this financial possibility..
If the bird matures into bird that does not live up to your expectations, will you remain commited to it for the rest of it's life or, will it be discarded or left alone caged? (SERIOUS CONSIDERATION )
Even smaller species are an expense and need the love and devotion of their owners!!
This is a 'general' idea of the cost involved:
Monthly
Finches $10.00
Canaries $20.00
Budgies $15.00
Lovebirds $20.00
Cockatiels $20.00
Redrumped parakeets $20.00
Ringnecks $20.00
Lories/Lorikeets $45.00-$65.00
PLEASE, think carefully about taking a bird or any other animal as a pet. The days of thinking of them as just "animals" are fading into the past as we learn more about their intelligence and emotions!!!
updated 2-15-10
