How to to take care of a bird: pet bird care tips

Found your dream house sit but wondering whether bird sitting is too much of a… birden? Or maybe you’re a future pet parent, waiting in the wings for an impeckable match to fly your way. Either way, it’s vital you know how to take care of a bird properly, starting with the basics. So here, let’s eggsplore some top tips on general pet bird care to get your feathered journey flying high.

Get the right bird cage

Once you’ve taken the leap and decided to adopt a bird, the first thing you need to do before learning how to take care of a bird is to choose the right cage. When it comes to your bird’s cage, bigger means better. The more space they’ve got to move around in a large cage, the happier they’ll be. And be sure to choose a rectangular cage so that your bird has somewhere to feel safe and cozy. If you’re adopting more than one bird, the cage you choose will need to be even bigger - birds need their own space, just like us humans do. 

Once you’ve chosen the right cage, consider its placement in your home - a key area of pet bird care is meeting their social needs. Birds are super social creatures, and won’t be happy in an isolated room with no noise or distractions to keep them stimulated. Windows are best avoided not only because your feathered friend may get chilly, but also because it may provide a little too much stimulation, with the constant foot traffic from strangers causing nerves and anxiety.

Don’t smoke around your bird

Rule 101 when learning how to take care of a bird: don’t smoke around them. Deciding to smoke is of course a personal decision for us humans - a conscious one made with the facts we’ve got in front of us. But when it comes to our feathered friends, the negative health impacts of smoking are too terrible to ignore. The tars, nicotine and hydrocarbons present in the cigarette smoke settle in their lungs and air sacs. What happens? Well it's the same for birds as it is for humans - causing a rise in blood pressure, reduced lung efficiency, damage to the heart (and lots more!). So while your feathered friend won’t be smoking themselves, passive smoke is really damaging! If you’re thinking about adopting, make sure that you’ve got a strict no-smoking policy in your home.

Feeding your bird

Choosing the right food starts with knowing your feathered friend’s breed inside-out, and it’s a key area to be on top of when learning how to take care of a bird. Depending on the type of bird, some will be better suited to certain types of bird food - be it bagged, canned, dried or fresh, and their health depends on the right choices being made by pet parents to form a balanced diet. 

If you’re not sure what your bird can and can’t eat, chat with your vet about the types of food suitable before welcoming your new buddy home. Many pet birds thrive off a diet of bird seed, pellets, crumbles and nuggets alongside fresh fruits and vegetables that are hydrating, tasty and fun to crunch on. 

Whichever food you go for, be sure to keep it high up in the cage (alongside water) to avoid any droppings landing in food bowls! And when it comes to choosing the right time to feed your bird, the most important thing is to be consistent. Make sure you put the food down at a regular time each day, providing more meals for birds with higher metabolisms. If you’re bird sitting, ask the pet parents for a detailed rundown on exactly what to feed their feathered family members and when, and stick to it!

Bird baths

If you’ve ever been distracted by your garden birds bathing or even pigeons in the street (and trust us, we have), you’ll know that birds LOVE water. And even better, these feathered cuties are capable of taking care of their own grooming - making bird care a whole lot simpler. They love to take a dip when it’s warm outside, so prop your feathered friend safely outside with a cool water dish that’s large enough for a refreshing bath. In the cooler months, mount a perch onto your shower wall with suction cups, giving your buddy the chance to groom in the comfort of a warm home.

Sunlight

When learning how to care for a bird, knowing their body clock (and helping to keep it regular) is vital. To keep your feathered family member happy, healthy and in a good sleeping rhythm, give them access to natural light in the day time, then balance this out with around ten hours of darkness every night. While this can’t be achieved naturally in all countries, consider investing in a blackout cover or curtains to make sure your bird is getting the rest they need.

Exercise

Making sure your feathered friend has time each week to spread their wings (literally) is super important for their health and happiness. Choose a safe space where your bird has no chance of flying away (which is of course super dangerous for domesticated birds!), or keep them on a harness if you need to. Alongside out-of-cage antics, invest in a few bird toys to keep them occupied and to allow for bonding time between you, those you live with and your pet bird - your feathered friends might enjoy a bell, perch, pine cones or rope. And as your buddy will spend most of their time on their perch, set a few at different heights and positions around the cage for variety.

Hygiene

While your feathered friend is more than qualified to groom themselves, it’s up to you as the pet parent or bird sitter to keep their cage clean. Keep something flat at the bottom of the cage so that cleaning droppings, food and feathers is simple. Replace food dishes daily and make sure no traces of soap are left behind. Also, be sure to find out if any products you use to clean the cage or areas of your home are safe for birds - unfortunately, many are toxic to them.

Social interaction

If you’re pet sitting a bird or you’re thinking about adopting one, it’s vital you consider whether you’ve got the time to socialize with your feathered friend. They’re highly sociable animals, so need interaction, fun and attention to stay happy and healthy. Some birds are quicker learners than others, but have a go at playing games and teaching tricks to keep those birdy minds stimulated! Plus you can eat meals at the same time and pet them gently while handling for the ultimate quality time. If you’ve got the space, screening of an area of your porch or garden is a great way to help your feathered friends feel like they’re part of the fun from the safe confines of home.

Related article: Top pet bird names

Adopting a bird of your own?

Great choice! Just in case you’re still sitting on the fence though (or should we say perch?), here are seven reasons why birds make great pets.