Bringing a pet in your home is a serious decision and is not to be taken lightly. It becomes even more difficult when you have a child or children, although they?re not the difficulties some might expect. You see, kids actually get along quite well with animals, and many animals love children and like to have them around. The trick is to know what kind of animal is appropriate when it comes to your child?s age.
If you are in the market for birds, you should know that they need a lot of attention, sometimes more than other pets. They are also very sensitive animals. And they are very cute and sweet! Popular birds for pets include canaries, pigeons, parrots, budgies and finches. Birds get along well with kids and are affectionate. Children will also love them since they are gentle creatures and quite small compared to other pets.
There are a few things to consider before you purchase a bird as your pet. Firstly, you should know that the average lifespan of a bird is between 10 to 15 years, and some can live up to 20 years. So if you are not ready to commit that long, maybe it?s not the right pet for you. Also if you travel a lot, have to periodically relocate, have no patience, are very busy or are allergic to feathers you should consider against owning a pet bird. The same goes for children if they are allergic to feathers. If they?re not, consider they?re age as a factor when purchasing. Infants, toddlers and children up to the age of ten can get along with birds, as long as you keep an eye on them, as some birds can bite and their beaks can be quite sharp. There is danger, especially if they bite you near the eye, so try and be careful in order to avoid such dangerous accidents. Also note that children below the age of ten are not fit to take care of them. The best age range for taking care of a bird is 13 years and older. Children younger than that may have the time, but lack the patience. Kids that are 13 or older don?t have the time for a bigger, more demanding animal, but they can have the patience necessary to take care of a small bird. Plus, it is a great way to teach them responsibility.
What type of bird you get depends on a number of factors, such as your lifestyle, time, attention, the house you live in and budget. For instance, if you want pigeons, it is best to live in a big house with a lot of space in your yard. It can also be quite costly and they can be demanding when it comes to cleaning their pens. If you want a bird that talks, parrots or budgies are obvious choices. If you want birds that sing a lovely tune, get a canary. Note that canaries don?t like living in noisy environments, so if you like to listen to loud music, do not buy a canary, as such noise will scare them easily and can even be fatal! And if you like a bird that looks lovely, buy a finch. They are easy to maintain, don?t require training, have beautiful colors, come from hundreds of breeds and each has their own distinctive personalities.
So, if you and your children think you are up for the task, then you will find birds make excellent pets.
