The cost of owning parrots

[GaleriaGila]

OH, WOW!
Good topic, good, good one... could really be eye-opening for prospective parronts, indeed.

Okay, I'll stick to actual costs (not what they could have been!)... here goes.

Cages over the decades, about one every five years...
2200 (shoulda gotten a stainless one back in '84 when they were ~1,000.
Pellets (Harrison's... about 10 bucks a month, x 33 years)
4000
Produce (this coes out of my ol' man's groceries... nothing much
~0
Chile Peppers (about 8 bucks a week, x 33 years)
13,000 (WHAAAAT?????)
Vet visits (so far, only routine, give or take inflation 1-300, once or twice a year (twice now that he's older)
9,000
Toys, perches and amusements (let's guesstimate 30 bucks a month, x 33 years)
12,000
Baby-sitters/house-sitters (maybe 200 bucks once a year)
7,000
Travel Carriers (total of 3, for about 300)
And then there's the cost of staying in our house as opposed to moving to an apartment after retiring... 1500/month? I'LL LEAVE THIS OUT' IT'S TOO AWFUL TO CONTEMPLATE!!!!

So total of about 47,000????????????????????

Oh, Rickeybird!

I'm glad this thread got ressurected. Just in time for am update on how costs can pop up.

After 34 years of great health, the dear Rb has finally developed some minor heart issues... not life-threatening... and treatable. But it still required evaluation, medication, medication trials, medication titration and a blood panel every three weeks for about three months, and of course ongoing medicine now. So, we can add about $500 over the last 3-4 months, and the vet doesn't even charge me for the office visits... just the labs and meds... he likes the Rickeybird!
But I'm not complaining. I'm grateful for a wonderful vet and a handy credit card.

 

[ChristaNL]

Oh....poor RickeyBird! I had no idea! He always comes over so feisty and all. :07:


But you make a great point: always have an extra well fed piggybank for unforseen expenses!

 

[condobirds]

I currently I have 3 parrots. The Senegal cost,16 years ago, $450 plus $600 California cage.
The Meyers and GCC were "free' as a rehomes. I had a good cage for the GCC but the Meyers cost another $600 for another California cage of appropriate size. Each have a rolling playgym that cost about $150 each at the time. The initial vet visits and the annual vet visits per bird. Each vet visit is $250 per bird for complete bloodwork, gram stains, cultures. PLus more if there are issues. My Senegal had a bout of Aspergillus discovered the first year. So medication and follow up visits add up. Toys are variable. Depends on the destructive desires of the bird. The large birds are very destructive and toys will be expensive to buy and replace. My Senegal is a chewer so I replace toys often for him. The other 2 not so much.
Then the food. i serve a version of "chop" but usually I don't buy special stuff as we are vegetarians and always have a wide variety of veg that I share with them. I do fresh sprouting that probably costs $100 a year for the sprouting mix and grapefruit extract and shipping costs. I buy a couple of variety of pellets that I restock about every 3 months plus some other odd items like Nutriberries, chili peppers and the cooked diets from Higgins Worldly Cuisine and other types I try from time to time. I would guess about $150 every 3 months. I also have a canary and finch so their food is included in this. In the end, birds are expensive. I live in south Florida where there are lots of folks with birds so availbility of bird stores and vets is no problem. Those who live in many other places should also consider the ease of getting supplies and qualified avian vets. Avian CAV vets seem to be a large problem in many locations.

 

[brighterdaysaviary]

I will just share what I except people who bring my babies home to purchase:

Initial:
Lovebird: $100-$200 depending on the mutation
Cage: $40-$200
Food for the first month: (Zupreem + Chop) $20
Toys: (At least 3) $20-$30
Perches: (At least 3) $20-$30
Swing: $4
Playgym: $50-$100
Cuttlebone: $2
Bedding for the first month: $10-$20
Bird Bath: $6
Bird First Aid Kit: $15
Foot Toys: $5-$10
Initial Vet Visit: $60

I have a flock of 15 birds and monthly costs easily go up to $100-$200 for just toys and food per month minus vet visits.

 

[Tami2]

Gail,

I’m sorry to hear about Rb. I’ll keep you both in my prayers.

 

[LeslieA]

You don't even want to go there with my flock. The ONLY reason the initial cost was so low was that they (except Tommy) were rescues.

I already had their night/transport cages with covers and 1 day cage already. Then traded down the rest to save money.

Of course, all but Tommy get almost free vet, lab, pharmaceuticals and nail trims. It also doesn't include my ER costs because Glenn thought I should die.

I make their toys and forage baskets from left overs, dollar store items, or items from the thrift store. Their branches and gyms come from my yard and the local sawmill for free.

I didn't mention the daily and weekly maid service or nursing care I provide. Don't leave out the handyman and repair services. There's also time spent preparing chop and meals.

Don't forget to include vehicle depreciation, home costs or utilities. And you thought birds were cheap and easy....