Keeping a pet Parrot can be far more costly than you might imagine. Please take the information shared here into thoughtful consideration when calculating the cost of owning a pet bird...
Many people believe parrots to be a "low maintenance" pet. Although the physical chores or cage cleaning and feeding can be dealt with in a short amount of time, pet parrots are highly intelligent and emotionally complex beings. They require almost as much attention as a human toddler, to which they have been compared by those engaged in research into their intellectual capabililties.
The following information is intended to be used to gain a 'general' idea of the costs involved.
START UP EXPENSES
PARROT COST:
(Breeder's price, remember we don't buy from pet stores.)
Can range from $25 for a Budgie to $10,000 for a Hyacinth Macaw.
MONTHLY EXPENSES:
Macaw Amazon/Grey Conure/ Pionus
Seed Mix
(Should comprise 1/3 of diet.) $15 $12 $10
Pelleted Diet
(Should comprise 1/3 of diet.) $20-$30 $15-$25 $10-$20
Fresh Fruits, Veggies & Grains $20 $25 $20
(Should comprise 1/3 of diet.)
Toys $15 $10 $10
(A necessity for mental
stimulation of such an
intelligent animal!)
MONTHLY TOTALS: $80-$90 $60-$70 $50-$60
YEARLY EXPENSES:
Veterinary Bills $75-$200 $60-$120 $50-$100
EMERGENCY CARE* $350- $2,000 $300-$1,200 $250-$1,00
Vacation Boarding
(10 day stay) $100 $75 $50
* Although emergency or prolonged care may not be needed each year, you must be prepared to face this financial possibility, unless you want to have an animal euthanized simply because you don�t have the money.
If the bird matures into bird that does not live up to your expectations, will you remain committed to it for the rest of its life or, will it be discarded or left alone caged? (A SERIOUS CONSIDERATION!)
Even smaller species are an expense and need the love and devotion of their owners!! Below is a 'general' idea of the cost involved:
Monthly Expense
Finches $10.00
Canaries $20.00
Budgies $15.00
Lovebirds $20.00
Cockatiels $20.00
Red rumped parakeets $20.00
Ringnecks $20.00
Lories/Lorikeets $45.00-$65.00
PLEASE, think carefully before you adopt a bird or any other animal as a pet. The days of thinking of them as just "animals" are fading into the past as we learn more about their intelligence and emotions!!!