Pet Birds For Kids
At my local pet store one day I overheard a young couple ask the clerk what kind of pet birds for kids would be best. Their tiny golden haired daughter was standing wide-eyed in front of a large cage that held a stunning red, blue and yellow parrot at that moment. It was clearly love at first sight for the little girl as she gazed with adoring eyes at the beautiful bird. I can't remember exactly what the clerk told her parents, but something along the lines that it depended on the age, temperament and personality of the child and also the bird. Their daughter looked to be around 6 or so and no pleading or whining. I thought she looked like a thoughtful child that might do just fine with a small bird that was of a nice even temper. I think they left the store with a darling blue parakeet.
It's not a good idea to do a test run to see whether a bird will work well as your child's pet. This isn't fair to the bird which requires a fairly serious commitment due to their longer life-spans. It is also hard on the children who rapidly become attached to their pets, not to mention the potential loss of money. A good thing to do is to make a list of pros and cons before buying a bird. If the cons, such as cleaning cages, cost involved, training, complicated diets, etc. seem overwhelming, then choose an easier pet for your child. Take advantage of information like that which you will find on this page, to get an overview and start determining if pet birds are right for your kids.
PET BIRDS THAT CHILDREN OFTEN DO WELL WITH
PARAKEETS are generally good pet birds for kids. These colorful little birds can be a lot of fun for youngsters because they tolerate being handled quite well and in fact need frequent activity time out of the cage. They are small and relatively easy to care for and some can even learn to talk! They have gentle personalities and can bond quite strongly with their owners, making them wonderful companions for young bird lovers. Choose a Parakeet if your child wants a bird that can truly be his or her friend. (Some call these birds Budgies since they are relatively inexpensive for those on a budget.) Most hand fed Parakeets are very sweet natured and not particularly loud. They need fresh veggies on a regular basis and can live for 15 years or so.
FINCHES require minimal interaction, make little mess comparatively and can live up to 7 or 8 years. They are one of the easiest birds to care for. These birds can make good pets for young children as they are beautiful, fascinating to watch, and provide soothing "music" with their soft chirps and chatter. Finches don't usually care much for interacting with humans, so if you decide on a finch, you must buy them in pairs so that they will have some company. Finches should NOT be taken out of their cage and handled, and so they need a roomy cage in which to fly around. If your child craves a bird that they can physically interact with you may want to consider another option.
CANARIES also make fine pets for some kids. They are members of the finch family and come in a wide array of colors. They can live 10-15 years when lovingly taken care of and are not as social as other birds in the finch family and so do not require a feathered companion. These little birds do not need a great deal of attention and the male especially has a lovely song. A canary can make a good pet for a first time owner.
COCKATIELS are the largest of the birds mentioned so far, and do best with older children who have the time to devote to interacting with their pet. Cockatiels can learn to talk, whistle, and do cute tricks, making them a delight for kids to work with. They relish their time out of the cage, and require a bit more time and work than some of the smaller birds. They need a good deal of room in their cage so they can get enough exercise, as well as nice perches and things to play with. Choose a Cockatiel for those who really have a desire to spend time with their bird and learning about it. If well taken care of, most cockatiels will live around 30 years.
DIAMOND DOVES can be tamed but really enjoy the company of other doves like themselves the most. They are small and need plenty of space as they won't be handled much. The diamond dove is a small bird, pretty and easy going. It doesn’t require as much one-on-one time as some of the parrots. It does need several perches and likes to roost or set on high, flat surfaces. Their life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.
PEACH-FACED LOVEBIRDS are small parrots that are a little more challenging as pet birds for kids. They are only about 6 ½ inches high but have a life expectancy of 20 years. They come in many different color patterns and are very high energy. They can learn some tricks and their noise level is lower than the larger parrots. This little lovebird can become protective and territorial. They also need a play gym, lots of toys and perches, daily water changing, cage cleaning, plus some good one-on-one time.
SPECTACLED PARROTLETS often make good pets for older children perhaps in their teens. They are small, only about 5 inches but very energetic and happy little birds. Besides their daily water changing, cage cleaning, and a good deal of personal interaction and activity time, they require lots of space in their cage to move from perch to perch and play with their toys. Parrotlets are not afraid of anything and can be quite curious and even feisty. These birds are hard to come by and are more expensive than many of the other birds talked about here. They often live 20 or more years, and any prospective owner should be aware...........these little guys love to eat.
SOME OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER
First consider your childs maturity level. The general consensus is that a child should be 7 or 8 before they are ready for the responsibility of caring for any bird, unless they are exceptionally mature. It's a good idea to visit a pet store or breeder and see how your child and a bird will interact. How long does the bird keep their attention and how do they respond to being bitten for instance. Ultimately a pet bird will be the parents responsibility. The birds need social interaction and daily attention to be good pets. Unless you as the parent are willing to take over that duty, you should know that the child is ready and capable of being consistent in caring for their bird. Even if your child begs you for this type of pet and promises to clean the cage, change the water every day, and give it fresh vegetables and so forth, you as the parent will likely have to re-enforce that behavior when the time comes. If you buy a bird for young children you should fully expect them to follow through with their promises, or you and the bird will be the ones to suffer.
How will your family tolerate the noise level? Some birds are very vocal and sing and chatter all day long. Others are quieter and make softer chirpings, but all birds in nature call out to one another and sing their various songs. Also birds in homes with children tend to be more vocal than those without, almost as if they are talking and responding to the childrens voices in play, etc. You should be aware of which ones can become extremely loud and which ones are quieter in nature if volume is an issue.
Can your child handle these small creatures without harming them or being harmed themselves? Even the tiniest hug or careless move can injure or kill a fragile bird without the child ever realizing it. The smaller the bird, the more vulnerable it is to being stepped on or sat on. The bigger the bird, the more likely your child may end up getting a bite should he or she frighten the bird. All birds bite at some time or another whether in play, to defend themselves, or when startled. Some of the bigger birds can even go through hormonal stages and children need to know when to keep these parrots in their cages and away from their faces. Some of the birds as discussed above need to be handled daily, but not without great gentleness and care.
Hopefully this has helped you to get a start on determining the right pet bird for your kids, or whether you should try another variety of pet altogether.
Pet Birds For Kids Club Site
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