There are some pet owners who like having birds as pets, especially exotic birds. As a once upon a time bird owner myself, i honestly do not believe birds actually make the best of pets. One reason i say this is because most pet birds have to be caged for their entire life living in homes, while other pets such as cats and dogs gets to roam free many times in owners backyards or clear open land. And the thing about this is that cats and dogs are devoted, even if they do stray, they will find their way back home. Birds will simply just fly away once that cage is open and go make life the way nature intended them to do. Now with that off my chest, lets look at some tips in having exotic birds as pets.

Why People Like Exotic Birds
Well, just the name alone intrigues people, having something exotic really makes a statement. Other than that, birds are beautiful creatures and exotic ones come's in many beautiful eye captivating colors.  The thing about exotic birds are that every different bird can have its own unique pattern and colors based upon that species, this is similar to humans and finger print.

Does Size Matter When Choosing An Exotic Bird?
Well that depends on you doesn't it? What kind of bird do you like? These birds come in various sizes pleasing to anyone. Exotic  birds are large, medium and some are very small. So if you choose a large exotic bird like the Bird of Paradise, you would need a very large cage for this bird to feel comfortable in to fly around and pitch on branches in the cage and so forth. Remember, having large exotic birds will require you to setup very large cages.

Nutrition For Exotic Birds
Just like any other pet or animal, the nutrition should be as close as possible to what it would eat in its natural environment. Birds do not just feed on seeds, they do like to indulge in many tasty insects such as works, crickets, roaches, grasshoppers etc. There are many pet stores which do offer close to environment feed for your exotic bird.

All Birds Are Different
Not because all birds have feathers means that they are the same. The saying that say's "bird brain" is totally wrong as many birds have exhibited magnificent intelligence, birds such as the common crow.  You should at least do your research upon the temperament of the type of exotic bird you which to keep. Know the birds intelligence level, it's eating and nesting habits, health factors, lifespan and of course, sound and agility factors. Some birds are agility freaks and constantly move and seek things to keep them active. You can introduce bird toys to your exotic bird to see if it likes it and if it will use it any at all.

Some Exotic Birds Can Be Quite Fun
I must confess that parrots make great pets and are actually fun to be around. One of the reason most people like parrots as pets is because many species of parrots just love to talk. There are some species of parrots that try to discover how to speak by themselves. You can discover your parrot trying to mimic the sounds it is hearing through the course of the day. This would be a good sign which means you could attempt training it to speak much more. If you are really looking for exotic birds which are lively and fun and active all day then you must consider getting a macaw and other parrots. These birds are extremely playful and will provide hours of entertainment. 

People love birds, and they are pleasurous to just sit watch and admire. They are some of the most lovable pets in the world due to their natural beauty and many times playful nature. But remember, bird care exist. Many owners believe that once you get a get, stuff it in a cage and feed it seeds and water that's it. No, your bird needs much more than that and you should care for your bird the same way you would care for any other pet. Being a bird owner means being responsible.

Birds are one of the more subtle pets, but just like the cat or dog, you can consider having a insurance for your bird. So you might be wondering, who insures a bird and what does a bird insurance cover? Well, a pet insurance and coverage will certainly most depends on the kind of pet. But there are standard coverage which all pet insurance will cover and that includes insurance for birds.

An affordable pet insurance plan may cover anything from accidents and illnesses as well as examinations, lab fees, prescriptions, X-rays, hospitalization and more. And of course birds are not excluded from this coverage. Even though it is rarely that you may take your bird into an examination room, but at some point in time you may just have to. Insurance for birds is not only for single bird pet owners, but for licensed breeders and distributors as well.

Remember that when you decided on getting a bird as a pet, ensure you already know about the bird and all pre-existing or hereditary conditions as these may not be covered under the bird insurance plan.

Bird Insurance writers will normally cover most birds from love birds to exotic to even the Legendary Phoenix Bird!

When I mention Insurance for Birds to bird owners they normally chuckle and ask why they would spend money on getting bird insurance when the animal is safe in a cage and never gets ill. Well, I can’t argue with that but when I ask about the “what ifs”, they seldom have any good comment. What if your beautiful exotic bird breaks a wing? What if your bird becomes ill with one of the many diseases which may even affect you? Yes, birds may become infected with diseases which may spread over to us humans.

Germs from birds can cause a variety of illnesses in people, ranging from minor skin infections to serious illnesses. These illnesses are rare in the United States, but it's better to be safe and take steps to keep yourself and your birds healthy.

Common Bird illness Includes

1. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC, Avian Tuberculosis)

• MAC is a bacterial disease spread to people from birds and other animals through the environment. Affected birds can become depressed, thin, and weak, and might have diarrhea. Birds carrying this disease shed large amounts of the bacteria into the environment.

 

• Experts believe that people get MAC through exposure to the bacteria in the environment, though it is not clear exactly how the bacteria are transmitted. This disease primarily affects people with a weak immune system. Affected people might lose weight, have abdominal pain or diarrhea, and be anemic or feel tired.

2. Parrot Fever (Psittacosis; Chlamydiophila psittaci)

• Parrot fever is a bacterial disease that people can get after accidentally breathing in secretions of infected psittacine birds, including parrots and parakeets, or poultry and wild birds. Birds might or might not show signs of illness from parrot fever.
• People who become sick with parrot fever might have fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, difficulty breathing, and a dry cough. Symptoms usually begin 5–14 days after exposure but can take years to appear. Infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to parrot fever and might develop more serious illness.

At any given time you bird can become quite ill and you just may not have the money available at the time to pay for any type of treatment. But if you had an affordable insurance for your bird, it would have greatly diminished the financial burden of that initial pet care.

Just like having a cat or a dog, take in your pet bird for checkups and ensure that your bird is doing well. Don't just cage it, feed it and pour it water. It is an animal which requires the right nutrition, the same amount of love and of course good health care which can be easily achieved with an insurance plan for your bird.