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Any pet bird lover will tell you that when you have a pet bird, you have years of joy. You also have a very low-maintenance pet that needs only a few specifics. Starting with toys, we might not think of birds in the wild having them, but instead, come to find out that since we have now taken the winged creature from his/her wild habitat, he/she needs mental stimulation. Toys, which can be made of multi-coloured abstract blocks, flashy beads, tinkly bells, and bamboo sticks and wood, keep your pet bird mentally active and, therefore, mentally healthy.
Pet bird needs also include, of course, food. All captive birds require nutrient-rich diets. So as caring and careful human companions, we can take responsibility for the diets we supply to them, which go beyond a bag of seed–out of which most birds will pick their favourites and leave the rest, anyway, risking missing the necessary nutrients they need to live well. When choosing bird food, you might avoid the solitary mixed seed mixture, especially the coloured seed, as the colouring can be harmful to birds. Instead, balance the diet by making sure they have 1) plenty of clean water—which pet birds need to dip and moisten some of their food; need to digest, absorb, metabolize, and transport all nutrients; and need as an aid in flushing waste from the cells and organs.
Your pet bird also needs fresh fruits and vegetables–apples, bananas, basil, bell peppers, berries, broccoli carrots, coconut, grapes, nuts, oranges, parsley, pineapple, seeds, spinach, sprouts, strawberries, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes–which are all great for indoor birds, providing a combination of much-needed protein, amino acids, lipids (fats and oils), minerals, vitamins, and carbohydrates, the latter of which birds use for energy.
And, of course, seeds are a primary staple for pet birds. They provide the necessary fats, oils, fibres, and vitamins. So while the latest reports reveal that pellets are cheaper, less messy, and more nutrient-rich than seeds, some birds will still go for seeds – as well as for suet (animal fat), peanut butter, and fruit and nuts – as their main foods.
Grooming is not required for pet birds, who have their ways of washing and de-bugging, but of course, inside bird cages are a necessity. Once you study up on the kind of enclosure you need, depending upon whether the wire, plastic, or wood is for parrots, macaws, lovebirds, cockatiels, finches, canaries, parakeets, or other pet birds that will not be flying loose, be sure to keep it clean each day and covered each night. And with a clean home, good food, and a variety of toys, your pet bird will have a good life.
