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Low-Maintenance Birds

low-maintenance birds

Looking for low-maintenance birds to raise as pets? You’re in the right place.

There are many reasons to raise birds. Some people do it for the sheer enjoyment of caring for a pet, others enjoy having fresh eggs in their diet, and still, others want to teach their children about nature.

Raising birds can be an enjoyable experience, but it does take some work and commitment on your part.

Fortunately, there are some species of birds that require a bit less care than others. In this article, we will walk you through the top low-maintenance birds you can raise.

 

Are Birds High Maintenance?

Having a pet bird might not require quite as much care as a dog or cat – but don’t be fooled into thinking that these animals are easy to care for.

While certain pet birds are more low maintenance than others, we will tell you all about them below.

A certain level of care and expertise is needed to care for these animals that you really should not ignore.

Aside from regular feedings and watering, birds are quite messy. You’ll need to clean the cage often, and if you don’t, your birds could become sick.

Birds need entertainment too. Providing your birds with toys or even with other birds to keep them company can help. But they’ll still appreciate socializing with you every once in a while.

Remember, too, that birds can be quite loud! Although they aren’t quite as loud as a barking dog, birds can still be noisy, particularly when they are bored, in distress, or not getting their way.

Therefore, if you live in an apartment or close to nearby neighbors, it’s a good idea to carefully consider their needs before you dive into owning a bird.

Birds are a lot smarter than you might give them credit for! Birds can recall their previous owners and will act according to their owners’ behaviors.

Treat a bird with the right amount of care and affection, and it will likely remain devoted to you for life.

13 Best Low-Maintenance Birds

low-maintenance birds dove

1. Dove

Doves are known for being easy to handle and remarkably low-maintenance.

Not only do doves love interacting with their caretakers, but they’re also happy to spend a bulk of the day entertaining themselves by playing alone.

Plus, these birds aren’t overly large, so it’s easy to clean up after them.

As long as your doves are fed healthy diets and provided with a few hours a day of exercise, they should be good to go.

Make sure you put your dove cage near a window so your birds can get some sunlight, too – these birds are prone to vitamin D deficiencies.

low-maintenance birds Amazon Parrot

2. Amazon Parrot

We’ve included the Amazon parrot on this list because, despite being significantly more expensive than many other low-maintenance birds we’ve told you about, they are some of the best if you’re looking for entertainment!

These birds are true class clowns – they’re beautiful to look at and love chatting away.

They do like a fair amount of attention, and they like to be the center of your attention, too.

They are relatively easy to handle, especially if you choose Amazon parrots like lilac crowns, white-fronted parrots, and blue-fronted parrots. Another good option is the red-lored parrots.

Choose one of these species, and you’ll find that they are undemanding and easy to handle.

They’re also quite quiet, provided that you allow them time in the evenings to socialize and plenty of toys and exercise.

Cockatiel

3. Cockatiel

Cockatiels are beautiful birds that are generally around 12 to 13 inches long.

Weighing just three ounces, these gray and yellow birds have bright orange cheeks that make them look as though they are always blushing!

Cockatiels are easy to care for in that all they need is a few hours of playtime outside of the age each day.

They aren’t nearly as demanding as other kinds of parrot species – as long as you can provide your birds with a roomy enclosure, they’ll keep themselves entertained for hours!

The only downside to raising cockatiels is that they aren’t as chatty as some other species of birds.

That said, these birds are brilliant and can be trained to whistle and even follow select commands.

Finch

4. Finch

Finches are some of the most common pet bird species  – and for good reasons!

Finches require a few friendly playmates and a roomy cage in which to play.

They love socializing with other finches and would rather play with other birds than with humans, in many cases!

So if you’re able to provide your pet finches with companions, you’ll likely find that your birds are magnificent left to their own devices all day.

This makes them some of the best low-maintenance birds for pet owners who work a day outside the home.

You’ll have to feed them and provide them with water – and they’ll provide you with endless amusing antics and quirky, quiet chirps of thank-yous!

Budgies low-maintenance birds

5. Budgies

Budgies, like most kinds of parrots, bond quickly and strongly with their caretakers. They appreciate a lot of attention, but it’s easy to keep your birds occupied as long as you choose a companion to go with your bird, too.

Also known as parakeets, budgies aren’t very messy, especially compared to other kinds of large parrots, so you won’t constantly be cleaning.

To keep your budgie happy, make sure he is given a spacious cage with many toys.

Bourke’s Parakeet

6. Bourke’s Parakeet

Bourke’s parakeet isn’t the most common pet bird species you’ll see in your local pet store.

However, it’s a great option for people looking for quiet and mellow birds. These birds tend to be far less active than other kinds of parakeets.

Most active at dawn and dusk, Bourke’s parakeets will then take it easy for the rest of the day.

Because of this, these birds are ideal for people who leave to go to work during the day and want to give their birds tons of attention in the morning and evening hours.

These low-maintenance birds generally have brown plumage at seven to nine inches long with a pink abdomen, blue rump, and yellow-brown beak. I

t’s easy to tell males and females apart since males have blue crowns while females’ crowns are white.

Canary

7. Canary

The canaries are part of the finch family, but they are often viewed in their own regard since each variety and type of canary has its own care requirements.

That said, almost all kinds of canaries are super easy to care for. They need a healthy diet, a cage for flying, and some toys to play with.

Otherwise, these birds are hands-off pets. At just five to eight inches long, they take up minimal space and will add a beautiful pop of color to your home, too.

Parrotlets

8. Parrotlets

Parrotlets are also popular as pets. These cute, tiny birds are known for being deficient in maintenance. They have entertaining, high-energy personalities and make wonderful companions.

However, if you plan on taming your parrotlet, you will need to have a bit more spare time – they require a bit more human attention.

But for the bird owner who works inside the home or has small children, this is a good option.

It likes to be around humans and is very social, so it shows this low-maintenance bird with tons of attention whenever possible!

Lineolated Parakeet low-maintenance birds

9. Lineolated Parakeet

If you are looking for a pet bird species that don’t need 24/7 babysitting, the Lineolated Parakeet is a great option.

This bird is one of the calmest members of the entire parrot family. A social bird does require a fair bit of interaction with its caretakers every day.

Particularly if you aren’t able to provide this bird with companionship from other parakeets.

That said, these small birds take up minimal space and won’t make a huge mess in your home – another benefit that makes them low-maintenance birds you’ll love raising.

Hyacinth Macaws

10. Hyacinth Macaws

We’ve included Hyacinth Macaws on this list because they are low-maintenance in all but one regard – their housing.

These birds are large, gentle giants known for their sociable and friendly demeanors. They like to cuddle and play and are known for being extremely cheerful.

Because of this, their behaviors are quite easy to manage.

You need to make sure you invest in a large cage for your macaws, though, since their large size makes them incompatible with smaller-sized cages.

Pionus Parrot

11. Pionus Parrot

Pionus parrots have a reputation for being loyal to their caretakers – while also having a helpful streak of independence.

Why is it helpful? You won’t be married to your bird-tending chores all the time.

Pionus parrots are content if you must leave them alone for a few hours. Although they adore playing with their caregivers, they’re also happy just playing by themselves.

Just make sure they get a few hours of exercise outside of the cage every day to help keep them healthy.

Quaker Parakeets

12. Quaker Parakeets

Quaker parakeets are perfect for beginners as long as you are sure to treat them with lots of care and respect. They are very affectionate and don’t require a lot in the way of special care.

It’s important to note that it is illegal to own Quaker parakeets in some areas – they are banned for agricultural reasons. Just check your local laws, and you should be fine!

low-maintenance birds lovebird

13. Lovebird

The lovebird is another excellent bird to consider raising if you are in the market for a low-maintenance animal.

These birds have all the energy and beauty of parrots but are far easier to raise!

For a long time, we thought that lovebirds had to be kept in pairs -however, a single lovebird can do just fine on its own as long as it has a few hours each day of interaction with its caregivers.

Just make sure you give your bird a roomy cage and lots of toys.

These birds only grow to about seven inches long at the most, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding a suitable cage.

Can You Leave a Bird Alone for a Week?

If you’re looking for low-maintenance birds to raise, you might be doing so because you frequently travel or need to be away from home.

In that case, a low-maintenance bird does make a lot of sense.

However, it would help if you didn’t totally ignore the needs of your pet bird – leaving a bird for a week or more isn’t a great idea.

While you might have several low-maintenance birds that get along well with each other and the ability to provide them with all the food and water they need while you head out of town, birds are deeply social animals.

Even more low-maintenance birds, like parakeets, require some interaction to stay content.

Plus, if you’ve gone for a week or more, you might discover that accidents arise or health issues crop up that are difficult to address when you return.

What is the Easiest Bird to Take Care of?

Choosing the perfect pet bird will come down to your preferences as a pet owner. While one family might do best with a  macaw, others do well with doves or cockatiels.

However, according to pet owners, one of the easiest birds to take care of is the budgie.

Also known as the parakeet or budgerigar, this bird is one of the most popular pet birds and is a great choice for new owners or families with young children.

These pets are not only low maintenance, but they’re also quiet, small, friendly, and super simple to care for.

Not only that, but budgies tend to be much more affordable than many other kinds of pet birds, too- a double win!

Otherwise, consider this list of the best low-maintenance birds as you begin your search. You’re sure to find just the right bird for your unique situation!

READ NEXT: 14 of the Most Popular Companion Birds

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Low-Maintenance Birds

One thought on “Low-Maintenance Birds

  1. I have been a bird owner all of my life, starting with a parakeet when I was 10 years old. Since then, I’ve always had parakeets, but then my love of them grew to having cockatiels, and recently, a pionus. Yes, they are “low maintenance” compared to dogs and cats, but they still need that consistent care, attention and love like any pet. And I disagree with the author, a bird, as with any pet should NEVER be left alone more than overnight . Also the larger birds mentioned in this article should especially be considered carefully because not only do they need more attention than the smaller birds, but they can live anywhere from 30-100 years.

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