How much do you spend per year on your parrots?

[Terry57]

How many birds do you have?

We have 6 softbills, 2 pigeons and 17 parrots.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

How many birds do you have?

If anyone finds that it's too expensive to feed fresh veggies to a lot of birds I suggest checking out your local food pantry. Our local pantries usually have too much food and a lot of produce goes to waste.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

We have 6 softbills, 2 pigeons and 17 parrots.

Wow! That sounds like a full time job! Do you grow your own produce in the summer?

 

[ravvlet]

Kirby’s chop mix runs us about $30-40 a month, but his pellets are only $15 for the small bag, he doesn’t go through much and always has leftover at night! He’s gaining weight too, which is endlessly amusing but also something we have to keep an eye on.

Otherwise, we bought a 5lb frozen bean/grain/veg mix from the parrot store that was $30 that should last us at least 6 mo, I don’t put a lot into his chop. Medical wise he’s been easy on us this year - he only had his yearly exam which was $350, and a $150 follow up exam and fecal to address some issues.

It’s his meds that get us! It’s about 30/mo for his enalapril and his joint and heart supplement. He is also on a $40 probiotic that looks like it should last us about 3 months per box.

Last year he had an emergency avian appointment after our other bird unexpectedly passed, and then had frequent nasal flushes until we sorted out his humidifier and his air filter situation. His humidifier ran us about $150, his new air filter was $180. Throw in another $30/mo as a very, very low estimate for cost of new toys; he has a stock of them already so we only buy two new ones every month to rotate in. We also got him a new cage this year for $300.

So, for 2023 so far… $1,625!

 

[Terry57]

Wow! That sounds like a full time job! Do you grow your own produce in the summer?

We are going to do that this year (I hope!)
We do have unlimited raspberries already. We mostly get the produce from the mark-down rack, and make a big chop to freeze if there is enough.

Before my back got so bad, I was spending between 8-10 hours a day between feeding, cleaning and time-outs. My kitchen is currently upstairs and all the birds are down and I can't make that many trips on the stairs anymore so my husband has been doing it all.
We're in the process of putting a kitchen in downstairs, that is going to make things so much easier! All I have to do is put the bowls on a rolling utility stand and push it into each bird room.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

We have 6 softbills, 2 pigeons and 17 parrots.

What's the noise level like with all those parrots? I imagine it can be deafening.

 

[Terry57]

What's the noise level like with all those parrots? I imagine it can be deafening.

The conure room is the loudest in the house! haha
All of the birds in the big room are loud individually., but thankfully they aren't loud at the same time.
However, Slater's scream is in a key not meant to be on earth and it feels like a spike is being drilled into my brain. I haven't heard him scream in a long time now, he and I finally got to know and trust each other and the non-stop screaming stopped

 

[SailBoat]

Oh! I thought you were either joking, the most creative tax evader I've ever heard of, or a bit nuts! Or maybe you knew something I didn't. Could you imagine having to explain to the IRS that Julio, the dependent listed on your returns, is a parrot?

If you have ever suffer with completing the long form and then in the Medical section determine at what point, you in fact receive a deduction, the amount of money spent is huge!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

If you have ever suffer with completing the long form and then in the Medical section determine at what point, you in fact receive a deduction, the amount of money spent is huge!

I've itemized my medical deductions in the past and got audited (what a drag that was) and I came out clean and all legitimate but it took three years.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

The conure room is the loudest in the house! haha
All of the birds in the big room are loud individually., but thankfully they aren't loud at the same time.
However, Slater's scream is in a key not meant to be on earth and it feels like a spike is being drilled into my brain. I haven't heard him scream in a long time now, he and I finally got to know and trust each other and the non-stop screaming stopped

You should make a thread about all your 25 birds. I'd love to "meet" them.

 

[Terry57]

You should make a thread about all your 25 birds. I'd love to "meet" them.

I'll do that just for you, my friend It may take me awhile..lol

ETA: I just can't look through the pictures today, it hurts too much. I'll definitely do this, though, they all deserve a thread Thank you for the reminder!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I'll do that just for you, my friend It may take me awhile..lol

ETA: I just can't look through the pictures today, it hurts too much. I'll definitely do this, though, they all deserve a thread Thank you for the reminder!

Thanks! Please include your dearly departed Justice and take your time.

 

[foxgloveparrot]

Bump!

 

[foxgloveparrot]

Bumping again

 

[SailBoat]

Well, with the vast effects of inflation, the costs of providing for HRH has increased with the average being some place North of 35% over the last three years.

With great luck, he has been healthy over this past couple of years, which had kept the Vet costs within reason.

 

[BirdyBee]

Damn I dont even know, maybe 300-500? Look, I dont have a job yet, and I live with my parents so
There is only so much I can do

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Damn I dont even know, maybe 300-500? Look, I dont have a job yet, and I live with my parents so
There is only so much I can do

TOO MUCH! But I love them, so it's worth it!

But I guess it's less than what it costs to keep a dog. I've never had a dog but they eat a lot more and seem to go to the vet much more frequently. Plus grooming, boarding expenses if you go out of town, doggie daycare, dog walkers, toys, leashes, treats, fencing to keep them in the yard. Plus expenses for replacing or cleaning things they damage or destroy (especially puppies or very geriatric dogs).

I don't know about cat expenses. They would seem to be lower than dogs.