Thinking about getting my first parrot...Some questions!

So I've really been considering getting a parrot lately because I've moved to a new and bigger place and have always been an avid bird lover!! And I'm really stoked for this

But before I dive into research and get some valuable hands-on experience with rescue birds I wanted to propose a few questions

FIRST, I know that cost is a big one. I can calculate how much pellets will be as well as get an estimate for fresh fruits and veggies but how much do you guys pay for toys yearly? On average? I know that toys can be really expensive and I want to write everything out so I have a reference

How often do you guys rotate the toys? How many are in the aviary at a time? And importantly, for those in the U.S., what stores do you get the toys from?

SECOND, how much time should the bird be out? I've heard somewhere that too much time out will cause the bird to be overly dependent on you and obvi too little time out is harmful. What do you guys recommend? Thanks

EDIT: Please do recommend any stores you know of that sell engaging and enriching toys. Whether the store is expensive or a thrift store, all recommendations are welcome because I'm not worried about the cost. I just like to plan and write things out, thanks guys

1) SO glad you’re here! If you pay close attention, you’ll be a better parront.

2) Some of your questions will be dependent on the species you’re considering. For example, a Macaw will need much bigger, more expensive toys-and probably more often-than a parrotlet.

3) Noodles123 will likely be along shortly and write you a very long, comprehensive list of things you can’t have in a home with a bird, but I’ll give you the short version: no nonstick cookware/appliances, no candles, wax melts, other smell enhancers, no strong chemical cleaners.


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SO with my small Amazon, Salty, we go thru about $100 month in toys, and another 40 or so in pellets and veggies and nuts. Annual vet wellness checks are around $300.

Salty is out of his cage 6 or 7 hours a day, but my wife is home all the time, in normal situations. Parrots need as much out of cage time as possible, in my opinion.

My bird (upfront re-homing fee + cage +some toys etc was easily $5000. With vet bills etc, I would say about $1000 + per year after that initial cost of setup etc (WITHOUT significant health issues/vet visits--- tack illness on and that number goes up)...They are VERY expensive long-term...remember- vet bills, new pots and pans (no teflon/ptfe/pfoa/pfcs), safe cleaners, toys, air purifiers, groceries....
The bigger the bird, the more expensive, but even the tiny ones will burn a hole in your pocket...
Remember-- many live for 80+ years...

Here is something I always post for new parrot people---and I want you to really understand, that adopting a parrot is like adopting a 4-year-old child with special needs who never grows up and lives for 20-80+ years (depending on the species). They are extremely complicated pets. That having been said:

Since you are a first-time owner, I am also posting this (because it's stuff you may or may not know, but definitely need to know). If you already know it, disregard.

I am going to write a ton here because it sounds like you are very new to this and there is a lot to learn. I don't mean to overwhelm you!

One really important thing when keeping a pet bird in the house is that you cannot use scented products or chemicals/fumes in your home (even things that smell nice to us(---things like smoke, perfumes, air freshener, standard cleaners, vaping, burning food, incense, cigarettes, glue, paint, window sealing kits, polishes, aerosol sprays etc can harm your bird's sensitive respiratory system (which is not the same as mammals'). Using products that heat or are heated which contain Teflon/PTFE/PFCs = very very dangerous. These products off-gas and can kill a bird in under 5 minutes. Teflon/PTFE/PFOA/PFCs are most commonly found in the kitchen (pots, pans, cookie sheets, drip trays, air fryers, popcorn poppers, baking mats, crock pots, toasters, toaster ovens, popcorn poppers, waffle irons, electric skillets etc. They can also be found in space-heaters, curling irons, blow-dryers, straighteners, heat lamps, heat guns, irons, ironing board covers etc. These fumes have killed birds through closed doors and on separate floors of a home, so you should replace your cookware with stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic. You may be thinking-- well, I have used them before and my bird is fine, but they kill very inconsistently and it depends on what you are cooking, the age of the pot/pan, the specific bird etc. There was a member who lost many of her birds from a pan she had literally used for years...then one day, her husband cooked an egg (without burning or overheating) and many of them died, while the rest showed signs of respiratory distress.

You will need an avian-safe cleaner to use within your home (both on the bird cage, but also, around the house). Again, chemical cleaners cannot be used in the home unless avian safe. F10 SC (the yellow/clear concentrate) is a great, avian-safe disinfectant. Other (less effective) options include products such as "poop-off", white vinegar + water, grapefruit seed extract + water, baking soda etc. Peroxide is also fairly safe for disinfecting places like your bathroom, but you do not want your bird to come into contact with it.

Some foods are toxic to them--avocado, coffee (even decaf), caffeine, rhubarb, alcohol, onions/garlic/leeks/chives, mushrooms etc. Salt is also very bad for them, as is most human food. They love it, but it's not healthy.

They should not just eat seed--you will want to feed lots of washed fresh vegetables. Fruit is fine in moderation, but too much can lead to obesity and behavioral issues due to sugar. I feed my bird a mix of high-quality seed (no sunflowers, no peanuts) and pellets (in addition to fruit/veg). Fruit pits are toxic, as are apple seeds. Corn cob and certain nut shells (if swallowed in big pieces) can cause blockages, so you should be very cautious if you give your bird nuts in the shell. Peanuts can harbor aspergillosis, and should be avoided altogether (even they you often see them marketed towards parrots).

It is important to make sure that your bird's toys and cage are made of safe metals. Stainless steel is safest. They can get metal poisoning from playing with or mouthing objects made of unsafe metals.

They need a set amount of sleep each night (at least 10 hours) and the largest cage you can manage with lots of different perches. You want to avoid the totally smooth/round ones as they can lead to a condition called bumblefoot. Never place a cage near drafts and never allow cool air to blow on a bird. They are sensitive to drafts and any temperature shift greater than 10 degrees can cause a shock to their system.

They need lots of safe toys and safe wood to chew. Not all wood is safe, so don't just assume you can give them any kind you want.

They hide illness and so you have to watch them to make sure they are eating normally and pooping normally etc. You should try to find an avian vet (certified avian) if at all possible and take your bird AT LEAST 1 x yearly for an exam. An avian vet is NOT the same as an exotics vet who sees birds--- so if a certified avian vet is available within a few hours of where you live, you will want to set up care.

All parrots can easily confuse the relationship with their human for a sexual one. You don't want this to happen, even though it seems sweet at first. Stick to petting on the head and neck only (the rest is sexual) and do not allow your bird to play in shadowy places, like boxes or under furniture, as these spaces are similar nesting sites and are hormonal triggers. NO SNUGGLE HUTS/TENTS!

Food and water should be replaced daily--- wash the containers daily. Never leave wet food out for more than a few hours (as it can lead to bacterial growth). Never try to medicate a bird via drinking water and never add vitamins to water. Vitamins can be over-dosed easily and harm a bird. Plus, when you add things to water, it makes it impossible to know how much they have gotten and it also encourages bacterial growth. Sometimes it can prevent them from drinking adequately if they don't like the flavor of whatever it is you added.

These birds have the intelligence of a 4-year-old human, but they are wild animals (not domesticated like dogs). This means that they see the world (and humans) in a very unique way and so you must learn about their behavior in order to prevent problems (screaming, plucking etc). They need lots of time out of their cage daily and a lot of interaction (at least a few hours). At the same time, you don't want to spend TOO much time with a bird of they will become overly dependent and not know what to do with themselves when you go to work etc.

Finally, baby birds are ALWAYS sweet compared to adult birds. When your bird hits puberty, expect that it will exhibit some annoying and problematic behaviors (much like a teen). A through knowledge of behavior and setting expectations at an early age will make your life easier when that time comes, but do prepare yourself and expect that things will not always be so smooth-sailing. Think about a baby human compared to a teen...

I am sure there is more...but that is a basic overview of caring for birds.

Here is an excerpt from another post (which you may want to reference when shopping/ calling about Teflon:
The most insidious is the Teflon/ptfe/pfoa/pfcs because you have to call the company to verify that anything that heats or is intended to be heated does not contain these substances ("PTFE free" doesn't mean PFC free and so there are a lot of marketing gimmicks out there to make people buy what seems like healthier cook-ware, even though it still contains a version of the same chemicals). Also-- these chemicals can be woven into fabric, mixed into metal during the moulding process, applied as a powder, applied as a clear-coat, or mixed with a colored coating. You cannot assume that you will be able to identify them visually, so, when you call, you must provide all abbreviations and full names + spellings of each chemical compound (and then they usually give you "the run around" for a week or so IF they ever answer your questions at all---because sometimes it's a "trade secret"). It's all very sketchy and DuPont (manufacturer of Teflon) claims that off-gassing only occurs at really high temperatures, but there have been numerous documented/scientific and anecdotal reports of birds passing away at temperatures in the 300 F range (and again, it kills through closed doors and on different floors).
FYI- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
A perfluorinated compound (PFC)
Teflon (a common brand-name of non-stick cookware containing these chemicals)

10- 12 hours nightly for sleep, so if you get up at 6 and make a bunch of noise, you will wake the bird up (even if they are still covered). If they wake up at 6, bed should be between 6-8. You want to keep it around the same time if possible (because that's how it is in nature).

Food- I leave a high quality mix of pellets and some seed in my bird's cage (no peanuts, no sunflowers, avoid fillers like corn etc)..Fruit/veg daily (more veg than fruit if at all possible--and not too much fruit). Citrus and fruits high in vitamin C should be given in extreme moderation because they can cause "Iron Storage Disease" (for a cockatoo, 1 small tangerine slice 1-2 times a week was okay, according to my vet). She gets something interesting/ cooked (no salt or sugar or unsafe spaces-- like a grain) 2x daily as well but she is picky as heck, so you have to watch it because some birds will fill up on one thing and not get proper nutrients or they will eat too much and become obese.


OH-- something I didn't mention in my last post-- stainless steel is really one of the only safe metals for them. Research the heck out of your cage and make sure that if it uses a powder-coating it is truly non-toxic. Birds can get metal poisoning from playing with sketchy toys (many made in China do not adhere to best practices) and just mouthing things like money, bolts, locks etc can cause toxic impacts...A man I know allowed his bird to play with un-used toothbrushes and (unbeknownst to him) there were small copper bits that held the bristles in place-- this nearly killed his bird even though the bird didn't actually swallow the pieces. The bird had to have chelation therapy. Similarly, many tapes and glue adhesives (including those on paper-towel rolls etc) contain toxic levels of zinc.

noodles123 said:

My bird (upfront adoption fee + cage +some toys etc was easily $5000. With vet bills etc, I would say about $1000 + per year after that initial cost of setup etc (WITHOUT significant health issues/vet visits--- tack illness on and that number goes up)...They are VERY expensive long-term...remember- vet bills, new pots and pans (no teflon/ptfe/pfoa/pfcs), safe cleaners, toys, air purifiers, groceries....
The bigger the bird, the more expensive, but even the tiny ones will burn a hole in your pocket...
Remember-- many live for 80+ years...

Click to expand...

Toys are $5,000 per year you say? Thanks for all the information you gave me, HUGELY helpful!!

inger said:

1) so glad you’re here! If you pay close attention, you’ll be a better parront.

2) some of your questions will be dependent on the species you’re considering. For example, a macaw will need much bigger, more expensive toys-and probably more often-than a parrotlet.

3) noodles123 will likely be along shortly and write you a very long, comprehensive list of things you can’t have in a home with a bird, but i’ll give you the short version: No nonstick cookware/appliances, no candles, wax melts, other smell enhancers, no strong chemical cleaners.


Sent from my iphone using tapatalk

Click to expand...

lol inger--- you are so right! <3

cowboybebop said:

noodles123 said:

My bird (upfront adoption fee + cage +some toys etc was easily $5000. With vet bills etc, I would say about $1000 + per year after that initial cost of setup etc (WITHOUT significant health issues/vet visits--- tack illness on and that number goes up)...They are VERY expensive long-term...remember- vet bills, new pots and pans (no teflon/ptfe/pfoa/pfcs), safe cleaners, toys, air purifiers, groceries....
The bigger the bird, the more expensive, but even the tiny ones will burn a hole in your pocket...
Remember-- many live for 80+ years...

Click to expand...

Toys are $5,000 per year you say? Thanks for all the information you gave me, HUGELY helpful!!

Click to expand...

NO-- $5000 would be the bird and the cage (for me---my bird was cheaper than many). Then I spend easily $1000 + dollars per year for vet, toys and food. She's pretty healthy, so it's mostly toys and food (but with health issues, that number increases fast)...and groceries etc..They live for a long time. So, in theory, over 80,000 in a lifetime if you bird is a long-lived variety. I have a large bird, so a smaller bird (while still expensive) won't be AS expensive.

What size / kind of parrot are you thinking of? That will make a Huge difference in your expenses.

First - The cost of owning parrfots - great link to see realistic costs.

Second - Out of cage time depends on the bird and your schedule. My 4 cockatiels have a huge flight cage they stay in most of the day since we're away at work. If you have only one bird then I feel they do rely on you more than multiple birds in a cage so I would recommend a single bird to be out of the cage at least 1-2 hours a day.

Toys - I don't necessarily rotate toys as much as I replace them with new ones. My birds love to chew so they get foraging and chewing toys but also swings. I recommend buying on Chewy.com or Bonka Bird Toys who ships internationally.

Welcome to you!

Here's another decent break-down of the costs people don't often consider + some of the obvious ones:
The Cost of Keeping Parrots - Parrots

Consider re-homing a parrot if you can. It may be the hardest road possible but, its the best. We have 2 parrots 1 dog 2 cats and a pigeon that crash landed in our front yard with a broken wing 13 years ago. All of them were adopted or rehomed in one way or another. Whatever, you choose try to encourage foraging as a food source. Good luck.

Welcome to the forums, deep respect for researching and soliciting opinions and experiences!

Plenty of great information already discussed. Depending on species, DIY toys are possible. Most of my flock just loves to chew, so I purchase 10' natural wood 2' x 4' planks and cut to size, generally 1' lengths. Drill hole, string on stainless steel chain and hang.

I use Harrison's Pellets, a bit pricey at $135 for 25lb bag. Fresh veggies and fruits are a cornerstone diet for most species.

Good idea to identify a certified avian vet in advance and have a reserve of funds if needed.