Birds & Budgets | Our Whiskey Lullaby

The two words, 'birds' and 'budgets' have more in common than just the same first letter. If you are looking to get a pet ? whether a dog, cat, rabbit, or bird ? you need to be prepared and also financially responsible.

I grew up with a parakeet, (named Baby), and mostly had the "responsibility" of winning her in a street carnival and chasing after her in the house. Later on, I helped my dad with other "chores" related to Baby ? like cleaning out the cage and giving her food. However, I didn't have to deal with any expenses or even vet issues. It was an easy life! But, if you are an adult and looking to be a pet owner, there are some budget ??

and other practical ? concerns to keep in mind: What is Your Level of Commitment? All pets, from dogs to fish, do require a certain base level commitment. You have to be able to devote time, love, care, and money, to bringing the pet into your home and life. Many would say that birds are on the low scale of commitment ? in terms of both attention and money. However, according to Pet Place, the approximate annual costs of owning a bird can be anywhere from? $170 to $980 + (largely depending on what kind of bird you decide to buy).? And, since birds are generally less expensive to take care of then cats and dogs, you can imagine how it is three times more expensive to own and care for bigger animals. In terms of attention, some birds can be needier than you might think. The larger birds, like parrots and cockatoos, generally demand more of your time and require daily interaction to be happy. These larger birds also live a lot longer ? with records of birds living 100 years! Cockatiels live up to around 20 years while parakeets can live up to 5 -7 years, but 10 if they are lucky. So, get ready for the long haul! Get Ready for Some Unexpected Surprises Sure, surprises should be expected from all pets. However, growing up with a parakeet, we had quite a few big surprises. The biggest was when she started to lay eggs when we thought she was a he! Bird owners out there will back me up ? that it is not so easy or obvious to know your parakeet?s gender. We did our research and decided Baby must be a boy since he had a blueish cere (that area of hard skin around the nostrils). After some years, and no sign of eggs, we wanted to bring ?him? a female bird. That was a terrible mistake and unfortunately resulted in the new female bird getting killed by Baby. Unexpected surprises are not always positive, so it?s really important to do more serious research before making any big changes to your pet?s life. Later on, we found out she would still have been hostile to the new bird, even if it was a male. When birds have gotten used to living in their own cages, they will treat their cages like home and be on the defense should any new creature enter their space. Be Prepared to Spend Money When we?re thinking of getting a pet, the first costs that come to mind are those initial payments we make in the pet store. But, what goes into owning a pet beyond purchasing the animal?

Whether you adopt from a shelter, purchase a pet from a store, or find a stray off the street, you absolutely must take it to the veterinarian for its first checkup. This is very important as the vet will have a look over your new pet and be able to test him/her for health issues and concerns. This also gives you the opportunity to ask questions to the expert. So, don?t be shy, especially as this can be costly visit! The average dog checkup, for example, can be in the area of $150 ? and that often does not include the blood tests. Birds, while significantly smaller, will still cost a surprising amount ? usually around $80 a visit, before the added?

expenses of exams and blood tests.

Just because you made some purchase at the pet store does not mean you are off the hook for investing?

money and time into making your home more pet-friendly. It?s good to create spaces just for them, by adding small things like pillows on the floor, a blanket in the corner, or a perch area for birds. Of course there also needs to be a clear ?feeding station? where water and food are available on a consistent basis. Most birdcages come with the containers for water and food ? but you?ll want to accessorize the cage further with mirrors, toys, and perches. Some have said that birds need at least 10 - 14 toys in (or on) their cage at one time to help them not get bored! While vet visits, pet sitting, toys, blankets, pillows, and other expenses can add up, there are some ways to creatively keep your pet entertained and happy at low costs. You don?t always have to buy new toys as some everyday house items already work well enough! Birds, for example, love paper. They love biting into it and shredding it to pieces! So, make sure you have some dye-free paper and either fold it into interesting shapes, weave it into the cage, or cut out your own shapes for the bird. Either way, it?s actually a fun toy. Similarly, poker chips seem to attract birds, who like to knock them around with their beaks, bite at them, and toss them around in the air. Consider stringing them together on a rope and hanging them in the cage for some cheap entertainment J

Do you have a pet? Have any other tips or suggestions for those who are new pet owners and?

looking?to keep costs down?

Source: http://www.ourwhiskeylullaby.com/2013/07/birds-budgets.html

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