When people think of pets, they usually go straight to the two main ones: dogs and cats. There are many breeds of these two common household pets, they’re usually quite friendly and playful, and they’re also relatively easy to maintain. However, if you’re looking for something a little different and a bit more exotic, then why not consider getting a bird? To help you make that decision and take the plunge, here are three reasons that will help convince you to get a bird as your next pet.

Birds don’t require much maintenance

Unlike your dog that requires lots of care, attention and walks, a bird doesn’t require much attention at all. Compared to other pets, birds are relatively easy to take care of. They can simply be put inside of a cage and they don’t require walks, petting or frequent feeding. If you want to give your birds a bit more space to flap their wings, then a walk-in bird habitat is the best option. It requires a little more cleaning but gives your bird more freedom and you can get inside the cage to clean it and interact with your flying pet. It’s far more convenient to wash a birdcage than having to constantly having to scoop up poop or clean a litter box.

Birds aren’t expensive to keep

You can give your bird a high-quality diet, but even then the cost of feeding your bird is lower than other animals. This is because birds are fine eating whatever fresh fruits and vegetables you serve them in addition to the pellets that you can buy from a pet store. This provides them with plenty of good nutrients to help them grow and stay healthy, and it allows you to spend less money on actual bird feed. This makes birds significantly cheaper to maintain. In addition, you don’t need to purchase too many things to keep them entertained. Birds also don’t require much grooming unlike other fluffier and larger pets. Birds often keep themselves clean so they don’t need shampoo or expensive haircuts. It’s a good idea to give their nails a trim to prevent them from accidentally scratching you when you handle the bird, and a quick wash with clean water is acceptable for keeping your bird fresh.

Birds are social creatures

Birds are comfortable around their owners and aren’t likely to fly off or do their own thing even when let out of their cage. Birds can even be trained to do little tricks if you’re patient enough. You can spend hours watching and playing with your bird and depending on the breed, they may even develop a habit of tweeting and singing when you’re in the vicinity. Despite their small size, they are affectionate creatures much like a cat or dog, and you can even take them out for walks if you want them to see the outside world a little.

As you can see, birds make fantastic pets as long as you’re willing to give them a chance. If you want a unique pet, give them a try the next time you’re at a pet store!