Birds Kept as Pets | Healthy Pets, Healthy People (2023)

FAQs

Is it healthy to have a pet bird? ›

Bird owners should be aware that although their pets might be highly intelligent and fun companions, they can sometimes carry germs that can make people sick. Although rare, germs from birds can cause a variety of illnesses in people, ranging from minor skin infections to serious illnesses.

Birds make great pets and owning a bird can be a seriously rewarding experience. They are sociable, intelligent, and with the right socialization, can form wonderful bonds with their families. They even do well in homes with children, and are relatively easy (and inexpensive) to care for and train!

It makes us feel wanted and loved, while releasing endorphins. For the elderly, when children have flown the nest, pets can fulfil that need to be nurturing. Pet birds are particularly good for this, because they require a lot of personal attention and interaction with you in order to be healthy.

Pro: They tend to be very social and bond closely with their owners. Con: They are known to easily get sick, and require medical attention.

Many families find that the best pet bird species for children is the parakeet. This type of bird can be gentle and playful, making it a great choice to help your kids learn about responsibility while building their social skills and having fun with an adorable companion.

There's no other way to say it: Birds really do make us happy. They force us to stop and pay close attention, to notice details more acutely. When we're out birding, we're experiencing the joy of being fully immersed in the present moment—very much in line with what mindfulness practices advocate.

Physical hugging or scratching around the head is acceptable, but scratching, stroking or petting your bird around the back, rump, and hind end may cause sexual stimulation. Redirect your bird's attention towards other toys and healthy interactive play with you, the owner.

Pet birds are different than cats and dogs, but they are not any more difficult to keep healthy. The right pet bird diet, a clean cage, fresh bird food and water, safe bird toys, exercise, and lots of attention are the basics.

Another potential issue that may arise from the bond between bird and owner is that they may become protective of and bite individuals who get too close to their imprinted human. They may also become protective of their cage or become defensive if they feel threatened, also leading to biting.

What impact do humans have on birds? ›

In addition, millions of birds are directly killed by human-caused sources such as collisions with man-made structures such as windows and communication towers. Human-caused mortality impacts are exacerbated by the landscape alterations resulting from a changing climate.

Often, as soon as the bird realizes your presence, it will take off. Being able to observe birds up close is a rarity, and a coveted interaction for many birders. But there are some bird species that can grow comfortable with human interaction—even to the point where they will eat out of people's hands.

When birds travel, they take the seeds they have eaten with them and disperse them through their droppings. They bring plants back to ecosystems that have been destroyed, and even carry plants across the sea to new land masses. Birds have helped to shape the plant life we see around us – and around the world.

Birds were able to become flying machines largely through the evolutionary gifts of feathers, powerful wings, hollow bones, warm blood, a remarkable respiratory system, and a large, strong heart. These adaptations all boil down to the two prime requirements for any flying machine: high power and low weight.

It is not ethically right to keep the majority of the birds that are at present kept as pets, due to the origins of some species, and for others, the large number of nutritional, health, and behavioral problems that occur due to inadequate keeping conditions and incorrect husbandry by the bird owners.

Is lovebirds a good pet? Yes, lovebirds make a good pet bird even for beginners due to their affectionate, social, intelligent, and gentle nature. However, they're slightly more aggressive than parakeets and cockatiels.

Birds that have been raised in captivity for the pet trade, should never be released to the wild. They don't know how to be wild birds, and don't have the skills necessary to survive the weather, finding food, recognizing predators, or all the other dangers birds can face.

A parrot might respond to this by biting or trying to fly away, so a child that has lots of energy and not much self control over his or her movements or desires would not make a great pet bird owner. This is why we often recommend that generally, the child be 12 years old before getting their own pet bird.

Why are birds good for mental health? ›

Listening to birdsongs alleviates feelings of anxiety and paranoia. The birdsongs you are hearing may already be helping your mood. A second study found that listening to short — just six-minute — audio clips of birdsong could reduce feelings of anxiety, depression and paranoia in healthy participants.

Birds are incredibly complex and simply beautiful all in one. They are such a diverse group of fascinating and often flat-out adorable creatures, that the answer to “why?” feels pretty much like a given.

Can you hear one chirping? If so, you might be getting a mental health boost. A study recently published in the journal Science found that being in the presence of birds made people feel more positive.

Birds are phenomenal pets, and they can bond to their owners and live many, many years, especially some of the larger parrots. But it's not automatic. Birds don't just come into your house, love you, feel comfortable with you, and bond with you immediately. This bond is something that you have to work toward.

If you're looking for a one-person bird, there are a few different types to consider. Macaws, Eclectus parrots, African gray parrots, Amazon parrots, and cockatiels all make great pets for single bird enthusiasts.

While many young birds do learn to enjoy cuddling, this can actually be detrimental to their health as they mature, especially for a female bird. When parrots are young, they may live in flocks and have companions within the flock.

Parakeets (AKA Budgies or Budgerigars)

Parakeets are perhaps the most popular type of pet bird the world over. They are exceptionally affectionate and friendly companion birds when properly trained and cared for.

Sure, birdwatching, photographing and feeding birds is a fun hobby, but there's much more to it than that. This simple activity can provide major health benefits and add to the quality of life for just about anyone.

Toys: Like all animals, birds love to play with toys. A multitude of toys should be available at any pet store. Just make sure the toys are safe and have no small parts that could cause choking.

Lovebirds are friendly and easily form bonds with their owners and other companions – regardless of whether those companions are feathered or not. Lovebirds have beautiful feathers and also are easy to care for.

Are birds loyal to their owners? ›

While not all birds will form a close emotional bond with humans, some do, and they can be very loyal and affectionate pets. While it hasn't been scientifically proven if birds can love or not, bird observes can see a bird's affections through their personality and behavior.

It depends on the situation. Some birds prefer to remain uncovered during bedtime, and other birds simply cannot sleep without a "security blanket." On average, birds need about 12 hours of good, quality sleep each night to remain in peak condition.

Recent studies have shown that birds can recognize humans and may know their voices too. Their research shows that birds recognize humans, their faces, and in some cases our voices. For example, pigeons will get out of the way for specific humans that have previously shooed them away.

How do birds communicate with humans? Wild birds do not usually communicate with humans, but pet birds certainly do. Pet birds often communicate vocally and visually in ways that their attentive owners can learn to understand.

Birds Perform Loudest in the Morning

They warm up, to help ensure that when it's their time to shine, they perform at their best. Duke University researchers have discovered that birds do the same thing in the early morning, just as the sun is shining.

Birds Remember Your Face

Although many wild birds have been documented, both scientifically and anecdotally, to recognize humans, certain birds are more known for it. Crows, magpies, pigeons, robins, mockingbirds, and jackdaws have some of the most well-documented cases of facial recognition.

And it isn't the first time such research has suggested that birds can recognize individual humans. For instance, a 2012 study showed that trained pigeons could distinguish one human from another, according to Science Daily.

Birds are self-serving creatures and their loyalties and trust may shift on a whim, if you don't give them the time and attention they want. They easily throw tantrums, are extremely loud and their hormones can make them more and more unpredictable as they grow older.

Bird feathers

Although not as common as bird feces, feathers can also be responsible for the spread of diseases. A bird feather, particularly from those living in urban environments, can often play host to a range of parasites, bacteria and viruses.

What diseases do birds carry to humans? ›

Zoonotic diseases associated with birds include avian tuberculosis, erysipelas, ornithosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, salmonellosis, cryptosporidiosis, campylobacterosis, and escherichiosis.

Physical hugging or scratching around the head is acceptable, but scratching, stroking or petting your bird around the back, rump, and hind end may cause sexual stimulation. Redirect your bird's attention towards other toys and healthy interactive play with you, the owner.

For instance, habitat loss is thought to pose by far the greatest threat to birds, both directly and indirectly, however, its overall impact on bird populations is very difficult to directly assess.

Pet birds are different than cats and dogs, but they are not any more difficult to keep healthy. The right pet bird diet, a clean cage, fresh bird food and water, safe bird toys, exercise, and lots of attention are the basics.

Pet birds make great companions. They are full of personality and offer loyal friendship if raised and cared for properly. Some birds are easy to connect with right off the bat, while others may take some time to warm up.

Disease Overview

Psittacosis is an uncommon infectious disease that is most often transmitted to humans through exposure to infected birds, especially parrots, cockatiels, parakeets and similar pet birds. Psittacosis can affect the lungs and may cause inflammatory illness of the lungs (pneumonia).

Chlamydia psittaci is a type of bacteria that often infects birds. Less commonly, these bacteria can infect people and cause a disease called psittacosis. Psittacosis in people is most commonly associated with pet birds, like parrots and cockatiels, and poultry, like turkeys and ducks.

Psittacosis (also known as ornithosis) is a disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci, carried by birds. Humans most commonly catch the disease by inhaling dust containing feathers, secretions and droppings from infected birds. Older people generally experience more severe illness.

Birds: Birds can also carry fleas into your yard. If you have bird feeders, make sure to clean them regularly to prevent fleas from taking up residence.

Can humans get viruses from birds? ›

Direct infection can occur from exposure to saliva, mucous, or feces from infected birds. Bird flu infections among people are rare; however, human infections can happen when enough virus gets into a person's eyes, nose, or mouth, or is inhaled.

Domestic birds, like chickens and parrots, may carry these lice on their feathers and bodies. When the parasites infest pets or wild birds in the house, they may cause problems for homeowners, as well. Nesting sites close to vents and windows or pet cages indoors give bird lice easy access to living spaces.