Indeed, birds are quite easier to maintain than any other four-legged pets like dogs and cats. Moreover, while there are no birds that fall under the zero-maintenance zone, some bird pets are much simple to groom for than others.
From parakeets to canaries, finches to doves, these cute little beauties won’t put unnecessary demands on a pet owner. However, they will still become good friends.
Cockatiels
Another popular parrot species, these birds are one of the highest-care bird species. However, like budgies, even cockatiels need an extra amount of playtime and maintenance on a daily manner.
On the other hand, cockatiels are never demanding like other larger parrot breeds.
Cockatiels Life Expectancy
They have a lifespan of around 10 to 20 years.
Cockatiels Personality
They seldom talk, but these parrot species are more intelligent and are easily trainable. Not to mention, they are highly suited for those individuals who are keen to spend a couple of hours daily to playing
Overall, when provided with a big enclosure, a cockatiel can remain a devoted pet for any bird lover.
Cockatiels Food
Captive Cockatiels perform best on high-quality seed and pellets, and a few occasional cereal pieces make good treats.
Budgies (Parakeets)
Many bird lovers prefer a bird they can train and maintain, and that can manage to learn a few words. Also, budgies or parakeets are a nice choice and the bird pet owner need not have to spend every second of every day.
Not to mention, parakeets like to move strongly with their pet owners as other birds do, they remain very easy to take care of. Keeping this in mind, a parakeet in a large cage well-provided with lots of bird toys can live happily.
Finally, this is quite different from many other parrot species, because many of those require at least 5 hours of playtime outside of their enclosure. So, any bird lover can adopt a budgie if you prefer adopting a parrot without any huge time requirement.
Budgies Life Expectancy
Care and vaccination play a significant part in extending life expectancy. The average budgies live somewhere between 5 to 9 years.
Budgies Personality
Budgies are quite jovial that love to explore and play. At times, budgies behave quite an independent personality. However, those who like to add extra birds to their home should avoid the temptation because budgies are less enthusiastic.
Budgies Food
Most experts advise that parakeets are provided with different varieties of vegetables. They also love to eat grains, root vegetables, and leafy greens.
Canaries
The Canaries are an excellent choice for any pet bird lover who loves a pet to be heard or seen instead of handled. Similar to finches, a canary always prefers to remain alone and hates human handling.
Not to mention, there are plenty of canaries to pick from, and each type has distinct maintenance needs. However, these cuties are a perfect choice for people who cannot spend a lot of time with a bird pet.
Canaries Life Expectancy
The canaries typically survive 10 to 15 years, but the average life expectancy is somewhere between five to six years.
Canaries Personality
The Canaries, in general, love the company of people. Moreover, these birds are solitary by nature, although it works well with other birds. These birds expect privacy and do not house more than one bird in a cage.
Canaries Food
They eat seeds and good quality seed food coated with vitamins are some of the best choices. In addition, you can feed your canary daily stocks of watercress, peas, celery, dandelions, broccoli, and kale.
Furthermore, you can also offer small quantities of fruit, including, melons, bananas, grapes, and oranges. Also, pieces of the hard-boiled egg are also given as a rich protein supplement.
Finches
In particular, finches are most happy when they are provided with a couple of flock mates to communicate with and a sturdy bird cage. Normally, finches love socializing with their species than their human counterparts and they keep to themselves.
This means people who do not have much time to spend other than only keen to clean up, water, and feed can move after them. In addition, adopting a small flock can create quite a mess, but, if you reduce the number, finches take care of other bird’s social needs.
Above all, the Gouldian finches feature a deep spectrum of colours, to zebra finches. Finally, Finches also will not create much extra work for you.
Finches Life Expectancy
Under normal conditions, they live at least 5 to 10 years and perform well when placed in small flocks or pairs.
Finches Personality
They are prolific egg layers, very communicative, and love building nests. Also, keep finches in horizontal, large cages with ample space for water bowls, and for perches. Moreover, these birds spend time building nests and do not play well with toys.
When overcrowded, they may suffer from leg mites and scaly face or respiratory tract mites. Especially, these are songbirds that make peeping noises and are more suitable for noise-sensitive persons.
Finally, these conditions are treatable by a vet when diagnosed early.
Finches Food
Feed them with excellent quality finch seed food. Finches also love eating sprouted seeds and millet sprays are recommended too.
Conures
Conures are very agile, self-assured, and curious little birds. They have one of the loudest voices, with a unique screech like a squawk.
Conures Life Expectancy
Under normal healthy circumstances, conures are known to survive 20 or even 30 years. They require a cage that’s not less than 24” x 24” x 36”, with provisions for toys, a water bowl, and food bowls.
Conures Personality
Conures are interactive, literally, they are on people with an outgoing personality. But, conures speak very little, but they adore to copy their owners’ personality and also love hiding and dancing in cupboards.
Based on their species, they are found in a number of exquisite colours, with shades of blue, green, orange, yellow, and red. Yes, conures love to shower with their masters and they require UV light for making enough vitamin D.
Conures Food
They eat a staple diet consisting of the market made pellets along with daily doses of vegetables and fruits.
Conures Health Problems
Conures suffer from feather picking when outside interaction is limited.
African Grey Parrots
Of course, one of the brightest of all parrot species, African grey parrots make excellent pets and are fine for people who have sufficient time every day.
Importantly, these birds need to spend time with their adopted families for several hours or they will resort to feather picking. Further, these parrots bond closely to at least one family member.
African Grey Parrots Life Expectancy
They live for around 40 years. In addition, the African greys require large enclosures with a size of around 48” x 36” x 24” with provision for toys, water bowls.
African Grey Parrots Personality
Since African greys have the intellect of a 5-year-old, these parrots require mental stimulation, and also they need puzzles and levers. Also, African Greys are not too keen to share their cages and they wish to remain as solo birds.
Overall, before bringing home an African grey, first consider the responsibility and commitment that such a long-lived bird entails.
African Grey Parrots Food
Moreover, these parrots love to steal human food and they are perfect for teenagers and adults alike. In addition, with love for breaking hard things like wood, African Greys might not suit families with small children.
Quacker Parrots
Also called as Monk parrots, these parrots have become exceedingly popular over a decade or so.
Quacker Parrots Life Expectancy
They can survive around 15 to 20 years. Additionally, these birds need a cage of size 24”x 24” x 24” with the cover on the bottom.
Quacker Parrots Personality
With amazing personalities in cute bodies, quacker pets can speak many words, remain kind, playful, and agile. They make the best pets for families who are ready to spend a couple of hours daily to play and interact with them.
In fact, they are called quacker parrots because of their bobbing and shaking behaviour. Especially, these parrots have grey and green feathers or yellow-green, blue with grey.
To sum up, quackers love to chew softwood, cardboard, or paper and love playing with toys.
Quacker Parrots Food
These parrots require vegetables and fruits, a fresh supply of drinking water, and good quality pelleted bird food on a daily basis.
In the same way, quacker parrots require a daily dose of vitamin D. Therefore, they should receive UV from the sun directly or from an artificial light source.
Quacker Parrots Health Problems
The quackers love the companionship of other birds and when their social needs get ignored, they try to feather pick. Besides, these parrots develop the fatty liver disease and are susceptible to obesity as well.
In reality, a fatty liver disease condition can be prevented with a proper balanced diet and exercise.
Caiques
Also called as “clown parrot”, caiques are suitable for families with older or elementary school-age. In addition, they are ideal for those who require an energetic medium-sized bird.
Above all, caiques love to perform tricks, roll on their soft backs, hang upside down and are brightly coloured with black, white, green, and orange.
Caiques Life Expectancy
With proper care and protection, caiques are known to live 20 to 30 years. Despite their short stature, these birds have strong beaks that can break cages. And hence they require a cage with size 48”x 36”x 24” with a wide range of bird toys.
Caiques Personality
Although caiques prefer to talk less, they will communicate their feelings through activity and body language. As a result, they are interactive and mischievous and enjoys spending time with their human partners.
They do well when housed separately because of their aggressive nature.
Caiques Food
Caiques need fresh water, commercially made pelleted food, and fresh produce daily.
Doves
Doves are medium-sized, strong birds who love talking with their owners but also like to spend time entertaining themselves. Moreover, unlike a macaw, doves do not call for daily attention.
Doves Life Expectancy
With enough care and attention, doves are known to survive 10 to 12 years on an average. However, doves are capable enough to live for somewhere close to 25 years.
Doves Personality
Doves display gentle and sweet dispositions when handfed, domesticated, and tamed.
Other than parrots, doves do little damage or rarely bite with their beaks. In certain cases, some doves show signs of nervousness but this trait can be handled with good bonding and socializing techniques.
Due to their kind-hearted behaviour, doves still remains as a bird pet for mature children who understand these birds.
Doves Food
In the forest, doves sustain on a meal comprised of seeds, berries, and fruits. However, some doves have the habit of eating an insect, but they generally survive on a vegetarian meal.
Additionally, doves love high-quality seeds mixed with commercial pellets and millet. In fact, these birds prefer bird-safe vegetables and fruits.
Doves Health Problems
These birds are susceptible to parasite infection or canker as they are called. Signs include sores or discolouration around the mouth. Also, doves kept indoor need regular dosage of UV lighting to prevent vitamin D deficiency.
Pionus Parrot (White-Capped)
If you have a liking for a larger bird, you can try the popular Pionus bird family that is well known for their subtle nature. In general, the Pionus parrots are known for their quieter nature. Besides, these parrots are strong birds that seldom need to vocalize regularly.
The most beautiful of the lot is the bronze-colour winged Pionous.
Pionus Parrot Personality
These parrots are comical and feisty and are also affectionate. In addition, these birds are very brilliant. Furthermore, these parrots are much quieter than hookbills. Also, the white-capped Pionus Parrots are not shy birds.
Overall, many parrot owners have stated that their white-capped ones love to wait, play, and dance.
Pionus Parrot Life Expectancy
When properly fed, the Pionus parrots can live for more than 30 years.
Pionus Parrot Food
In captivity, these parrots can be fed with good quality bird foods including pellet mix, seeds, vegetables and fruits.
Pionus Parrot Health Problems
Keep your bird in the bird-proofed area and ensure that your pet bird is always under supervision. Otherwise, your bird can get into trouble for eating anything toxic.
