7 reasons to have birds as pets

Pet birds are the perfect mix of cute and funny – and most definitely deserve an entire day dedicated to their wonderful, unique personalities.

As it would happen, our feathered friends are in luck! September 17th is National Pet Bird Day, and in homage to our beloved chirping chums, we’re sharing some of the (many) reasons why pet birds are truly perfect companions. 

So, put your ‘Team Dog’ vs ‘Team Cat’ differences aside and join us as we delve into 7 top reasons why you should almost certainly consider keeping birds as pets…

Do birds make good pets?

Birds make great pets and owning a bird can be a seriously rewarding experience, as long as you know how to take care of a bird. They are sociable, intelligent, and with the right socialization, can form wonderful bonds with their families. They even do well in homes with children, and are relatively easy (and inexpensive) to care for and train!

Not 100% convinced? We think you will be after reading our 7 reasons why having a bird as a pet is a truly excellent idea… 

7 reasons why birds make the perfect pet

1. They’re easy to train 

Don't relish the thought of spending hours upon hours in pet training classes? You'll be in your element with a bird, then. 

Their high intelligence means birds are easy to train and can learn lots of cool tricks and tasks that are guaranteed to ‘wow’ all your bird-loving pals. 

Beware though - some pet bird breeds are masters of mimicry, and it's not unheard of for certain parrot species and parakeets to pick up sounds and words they hear from around the home. We've all seen those funny YouTube videos, right?

2. They’re great for apartment living

Because of their small (and seriously adorable) size, birds require minimal space, and so are excellent choices for those with small living spaces. 

Plus, birds are relatively low maintenance - at least compared to your typical cat or dog. They are pretty happy to chill at home in their cages when you’re at work or otherwise busy (meaning no danger of returning home to find the sofa clawed to pieces!), and require minimal grooming.

3. They’re super intelligent

Whoever coined the term 'birdbrain' was seriously misunderstood.

These avian Einsteins are highly intelligent - many have excellent problem-solving and cognitive abilities, and are keen to learn new tricks and skills. They possess excellent memories, too, and can also recognise their pet parents (which we’re sure will be very welcome news for all you Bird Moms/Dads/People out there). 

As we know, birds can also learn words and phrases - and if a talking bird doesn’t scream ‘clever’, we're not sure what does! 

As highly intelligent animals, pet parents will do well to invest in lots of toys and accessories that will help keep their little buddy's bursting brain stimulated.

4. They’re great family pets

Birds are popular pets with families, those with children, seniors, single pet parents, and couples alike. In fact, they are pretty versatile and in the right home, will undoubtedly make a great companion for all types of pet parents. 

Not got much bird-handling experience? Cockatiels, cockatoos, and parakeets are among some of the best family birds for first-time owners. 

Or, if you’d like to try your hand at taking care of birds before dipping your claw into the pet parent pool, there are plenty of bird owners looking for loving pet sitters, which is an excellent way to get some claws-on experience.

5. They’re incredibly sociable 

You might not think it at first, but birds are highly sociable creatures! In fact, many pet parents are pleasantly surprised to learn that the answer to ‘are birds affectionate?’ is a big, fat, flying YES!

With the right training and socialization, your pet bird can be just as sociable, loving, and affectionate as any cat or dog. Spend time with your bird outside of his cage, talk to him, love him, and it won’t take long for you and your new winged buddy to form a beautiful, long-lasting bond. 

6. They can even reduce stress

It’s been widely reported that being around our furry, fluffy, and yes - feathered friends - helps to reduce stress and blood pressure. And pet birds are no exception.

In fact, studies have shown that watching birds is great for your mental health - it can even lower the risk of anxiety and depression. And when you think about it, what could be more calming and therapeutic than watching a sweet, beautiful birdie go about his day?

7. They tend to live a long time

The only bad thing about being a pet parent? Our pets’ (heartbreakingly) short lifespans.

In a perfect world, our pets would live forever. Losing a beloved pet companion is one of the most heart-wrenching things a pet parent will have to go through, but, bird lovers will be happy to know that many types of birds live long, happy lives. In fact, some bird species, such as the blue and yellow macaw, can even live to the very ripe old age of 100! 

So, if you’re looking for a long-term pet for life, a bird may just be the answer!

7. They are (relatively) inexpensive to care for

Not only is your pet bird likely to stick around for a long time, they won’t cost an arm and a leg (or a wing) to keep around, either (explore our blog for more on how to take care of a parrot). 

Most pet bird feed is pretty inexpensive, and birds typically eat small amounts so what you do buy should last a while. 

Providing you don’t run (or fly) into any unexpected vet bills, most small birds are pretty inexpensive to keep. According to findings from Kiplinger, owning a small pet bird, such as a parakeet, is likely to set you back just $295 for the first year, with the ongoing annual cost in the $185 region. Getting a bird sitter to take care of your feathered family members while you're away shouldn't set you back too much either. For more on how to take care of a bird, check out our handy blog post filled with tips perfect for new pet parents and sitters.

Inexpensive, loving, intelligent… and always happy to welcome you home with a chirp at the end of the day? Now that’s priceless. 

Looking for pet bird names? 

So - did we answer all your ‘are birds good pets’ questions? We certainly hope we did, and that you're now confident a pet bird will be the perfect addition to your family!

Before you bring your new bird home, though, you’ll need to pick out a name for the little guy or gal - one that truly does their unique personality proud. Luckily, we have plenty of top pet bird names to inspire you.