Laura S. Jeffrey - Choosing a Bird: How to Choose and Care for a Bird

Is a bird right for you?

The most popular birds to keep as pets are parakeets, canaries, finches, cockatiels, and parrots. Choosing a Bird will help you decide what kind of bird to get, what to feed it, and how to make it feel comfortable and safe. Learn how to keep your new pet healthy and happy for many fun-filled years together.

About the Author

Laura S. Jeffrey is the author of almost two dozen nonfiction books for young readers. She and her husband have two grown children and live in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.

About the American Humane Association

Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting children, pets, and farm animals from cruelty, abuse, and neglect. Today were also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine, and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training, and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies, and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit www.americanhumane.org today, call 1-866-242-1877, or write to American Humane Association at 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20036.

Some people keep pigeons as pets.

Birds are great pets. They are social, outgoing, and smart. They enjoy attention, and they will eagerly return affection and friendship. For all these reasons, birds are popular pets. More and more Americans are bringing birds into their homes.

Did you know that there are more than nine thousand different types of birds in the world? This is a cardinal.

This book will help you choose the right bird for you. It will tell you what to feed your new pet and how to make it feel comfortable and safe. You will learn how to keep your bird healthy and happy.

Birds can be very loving pets. Some birds, like this blue-and-yellow macaw, enjoy having their heads scratched.

The mynah is a very special bird in India.

No one knows when birds became pets. The first pet birds probably were doves and parrots. The ancient Greeks and ancient Romans had pet birds. In India, the mynah bird has been considered sacred for more than two thousand years.

In 1493, explorer Christopher Columbus returned from the lands he discovered with two parrots. He gave them to Queen Isabella of Spain.

Birds, such as budgerigars (budgies), are great pets for people who live in apartments or condos because they do not take up a lot of space.

More recently, miners used canaries when they went to work underground. If the canaries passed out, that meant there were dangerous fumes in the mines and that the miners needed to leave right away. Homing pigeons have been trained to deliver messages. Today, millions of Americans have pet birds. Several species have been bred just as pets. They do not exist in the wild.

Birds are friendly and loving. Smaller types of birds usually do not need much space. They also do not cost as much money to care for as other pets, such as cats and dogs.

Birds can live from seven up to seventy years. With proper care and attention, they will give their owners love and friendship for many years.

Larger birds, such as cockatoos, can live to be more than seventy years old. Be prepared to care for your bird for its entire life.

A Eurasian bullfinch

Each species of bird has its own unique characteristics. Before deciding which kind of bird to get, think about the following questions: Do you want a quiet bird or a noisy one? Do you want to tame and train your bird? How much time do you want to spend playing and talking with it?

Your answers to these questions will help you decide which kind of bird to get.

Birds like company. These lovebirds, for example, can form strong bonds with their owners. Place the birds cage where your family spends a lot of time.

If the adults you live with agree, you might think about getting more than one bird. In nature, most birds spend all day with their friends. Unless you spend many, many hours with your bird each day, it should be kept with others of its kind. Otherwise, your bird could become lonely and unhappy.

There are thousands of different kinds of birds found all over the world. They come in all colors and sizes. The most popular birds to keep as pets are parakeets, canaries, finches, cockatiels, and parrots.

A budgie is a type of parakeet. Parakeets are very popular pet birds.

Parakeets are good for first-time bird owners. Colorful and curious, they are easily trained. They enjoy playing with toys they can push around or climb on. They are very social and can live anywhere from eight to ten years. They like the company of other parakeets, but they may bond to a human more easily if kept alone. You would do well to think about how much time you can give your new bird. Then you can decide how many birds to buy.

Canaries do not like to sit on their owners finger. They are good pets for people who are looking for a songbird but not a playful friend. Both male and female canaries can sing, but male canaries sing more often and better. With proper care, canaries can live from seven years to fifteen years.

Finches usually do not sing, but they come in many colors and are fun to watch. If you want a cage filled with a lot of activity, think about getting finches. Finches do not do well alone. They should be kept in groups to encourage their normal social behavior. Remember that the more finches you have, the more often you will need to check on their food and water and clean their cage. Like canaries, finches can live anywhere from seven to fifteen years.