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Realizing the Costs

Keeping a pet parrot can be far more costly than you might imagine. Please take the information shared here into a thoughtful decision when calculating the cost of caring for a pet parrot.

Many people believe birds to he 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 obtain a general idea of the costs involved.

Start up Expenses - $400 to $1500

  1. A good sized cage should cost from $250.00 for a Conure sized cage to several thousands of dollars for a macaw cage.

  2. Play gyms, tee-stands - $100 to $300

  3. Toys - $50 to $100

A bird that must spend a lot of time in his or her cage will require a much larger cage than one that spends their days out on play gyms or with his or her guardian.

We are often asked, "What is an appropriate sized cage for a macaw?". Our response is 900 square miles. As these complex and intelligent creatures were designed by evolution to fly up to 30 miles each day in search of food in the wild, there is no possible way for us to offer them an environment where they can fulfill their wild inheritance. We suggest that although large cages can be purchased to house a parrot during unsupervised periods and at night that you offer your treasured friend as much time out of the cage as is possible. The use of hanging play‑gyms and free standing tee‑stands around your home will allow you to bring your feathered friend with you as you move about your day's chores. A small to medium sized room can be converted into an ideal environment allowing free alight and a stimulating life.

As a general rule of thumb a cage measuring 3 1/2 to 4 wingspans wide, 2 to 3 wingspans deep and 2 to 2 1 /2 wingspans wide should be offered as MINIMUM requirements.

Monthly Expenses

   

Macaw

Gray/Amazon

Conure
1 Seed mix. Any mix will do and should make up one third of total diet. $15 $12 $10
2 Pelleted diet. Get one your bird will eat. One third of total diet. $20 - $30 $15 - $25 $10 - $20
3 Fresh fruit and vegetables and other "people" food. One third of total diet. $30 $25 $20
4 Toys $25 $20 $15
 

Monthly totals

 $90 - $100 $70 - $80 $55 - $65

 

Yearly Expenses

    Macaw Gray/Amazon Conure

1

 Veterinary bills

$100 - $200

 $100 - $200 $100 - $200

2

 Emergency care* $350 - $2000 $300 - $1200 $250 - $1000

3

 Vacation boarding
(for a 10 day stay)		 $150 $100 $75

*

 Although emergency or prolonged care may not be needed each year you must be prepared to face this financial possibility

Properly caring for a parrot can cost you (and you should be prepared to spend) from $1200. for a Conure to as much as $2400 a year for a larger bird like a macaw. If you are wanting to adopt because you cannot afford to buy a parrot you should think twice before getting into a situation where you cannot afford to take a sick bird to the vet.

And finally, can you afford the time required to keep your pet bird happy and mentally healthy?

Will you be able to include your bird in your life or will he or she sit alone in their cage while you are at your 10 hour a day job, at the beach, or out with your friends for the weekend?

Will you be able to keep this sensitive being for the rest of your life? Can you imagine a reason that might require having to give up the bird? A marriage? Divorce? Children? Moving? How will you find a responsible home for your feathered friend after you have gone. Remember, many of these birds can live For 100 years or more.

If your parrot matures into a bird that does not live up to your expectations will you remain committed to him or her for the rest of their life or will he or she be discarded or left alone in their cage?

Think very carefully about taking a parrot as a pet. The days of thinking of them as just "animals" are fading into the past as we learn more about the intelligence and emotions in their "bird brains."