Choosing a Pet Bird for Children

If you're thinking about getting a pet bird, you have many things to think about before you make your decision: expense, care, size, time needed, and species. If you have children and the bird will be their pet, this is one more consideration you need to add to your list. Different bird species have different personalities and some are better suited for children. Here are some birds that make the best pets for children:

Canaries

Ever heard the term, "Sing like a Canary"? There's a reason. These birds sing beautifully and will sing for you for hours. If listening to a bird sing for hours doesn't appeal to you, you may not need one of these birds. If you do like the singing, you may want to choose a male bird as they tend to sing better and more often than females.

Besides singing, Canaries are beautiful birds that are around five to eight inches tall. They come in "canary yellow" but can also be found in shades of red and orange.

If you choose a Canary, you will need a large cage. These birds need room to fly in their cage to exercise their wings. You also need to take into consideration that female Canaries can live for five to six years and males can live up to ten years.

Parakeets

Parakeets or Budgies are a very popular bird. They are also a social bird and you need to get more than one so they will have company. This will keep your bird healthy physically and emotionally. These birds also live ten to fifteen years so you may have this bird even after your child has grown and moved away from home. This is definitely something you need to consider.

Finches

Finches are another sociable bird that needs to be bought in pairs. They are active little birds that are good if you want birds primarily for watching - not playing with.

These birds also need plenty of room in their cage so they can fly. They will need approximately an 18" square cage for one bird, larger for two or more with plenty of perches available.

Parrotlets

This bird is quickly becoming a very popular species. It is smaller than regular parrots and comes in a variety of beautiful colors. It is less demanding of your time and doesn't require another bird for company. As long as you keep this bird's cage stocked with plenty of treats and toys, it is pretty content.

Of course, you still need to play and interact with this bird but it is good at keeping itself and your child entertained. This bird can live from 15 to 20 years so be sure you are ready for this kind of commitment before you consider purchasing one.

There are many species of birds to choose from, so do some research. Read about different bird personalities, their temperaments, their demand for attention, noise level, expense, and life span. The Canary, Finches, Parakeet, and Parrotlet make good choices for children and will probably be your best bet.