What Kind of Talking Birds Make Good Pets?

Birds are entertaining, intelligent pets who require far less maintenance than other domesticated animals. Their basic care is relatively inexpensive. Talking birds that are renowned for their affectionate and lively natures, and some breeds can live as long as their owners.

  1. Types

    • The most popular and commonly available pet birds that can learn to speak are parakeets, African grey parrots, cockatiels and cockatoos. Parakeets are roughly 7 to 10 inches long and are available in an array of attractive colors including green, blue, yellow and white. Cockatiels are generally grey, yellow and white with occasional variations such as albino, pied, lutino, and pearl. African grey parrots are silver and light grey. Females are somewhat smaller than males with an average length of 13 inches. Cockatoos are predominantly white with bright yellow crests. With more than 40 subspecies, they can range anywhere between 12 and 20 inches in length.

    Considerations

    • Creating a safe and ideal environment for your new bird is important as there are many common objects that can pose a serious threat to your pet. "Bird proof" the areas of the home that the bird can possibly reach during periods of "free flight time." Household cleaners should be appropriately stored so they are completely inaccessible to your bird. Child safety locks often come in handy to ensure pet safety as birds are far more intelligent that most humans expect. There should never be any open water in sinks or bowls that birds may fall into and drown, and many houseplants are toxic to birds and should be removed from the home. Bird owners should never use Teflon cookware, as dangerous chemicals are released into the air that will eventually result in illness and fatality for the bird. Any smoking should be done outside of the home as birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems. When painting or using any other harsh chemicals birds should be removed from the house for this same reason. Birds should always be kept away from drafts and many will require surroundings set at a certain temperature with a certain amount of sunlight to maintain peak health and assist with the molting process.

    Interaction &Training

    • All birds will benefit from daily interaction and periods of flight outside of the cage. Hand raising baby birds will enable owners to develop a strong bond but will require many time demands and a lot of effort. Food must be provided every two hours at an exact temperature until babies are weaned or the chicks will not survive. They will also need to learn to fly. Hand training is a comparable substitute for older birds and can be equally as rewarding without consuming nearly as much of your time.

    Diet and Nutrition

    • All of these birds require a balanced diet. Seeds and pellets are the dietary staples, but also offer vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables as well as pastas, grains, nuts, beans and cooked meats. Spray millet is a treat that most breeds enjoy, while a cuttle bone is recommended for calcium enrichment. A constant supply of fresh water is vital for bird health, and should be monitored closely as birds will bathe in water dishes regularly.

    Lifespan

    • Parakeets have the shortest life expectancy at approximately six years. Cockatiels can live between 15 and 20 years. The Cockatoo has an average lifespan of 60 years. African grey parrots can live even longer than Cockatoos, with a final age ranging between 50 and 65 years when they are attentively cared for.