Cutting costs to adhere to a budget? If, like most of us, you're feeling the economic squeeze, then you're probably looking for ways to save money on pet bird care and supplies. It's true that the prices of bird food, toys, veterinary care, and other necessities can be costly, but you'll be surprised at how much cash a little bit of creativity can save you. Best of all, you can provide the same high quality care for your pet without spending as much money -- and that is really something to squawk about!
Switch to Homemade Bird Toys
(c)2009 Alyson Burgess licensed to About.com, Inc.
A dilemma that many bird owners face is the problem of providing enough toys for their precocious pets. While many great bird toys can be found online and in pet shops, paying retail prices for toys can get expensive -- particularly if your bird is a heavy chewer and destroys his toys very quickly. To help cut the cost of providing playthings for your pet, check out these common household items that you can turn into safe homemade bird toys. It will help keep playtime fun, and practically free!
Feed Your Bird Fresh Homemade Meals
Ginny Dille
Sharing a meal with your bird can be a wonderful bonding experience, and it can also be quite a bit more cost efficient than paying retail prices for pellets and seed. As a bonus, preparing fresh foods for your pet at home can help make sure that your bird maintains a varied, nutritious diet. Try serving up one of these cheap and easy bird food recipes next time your bird is craving a snack. They are packed with taste as well as beneficial vitamins, and best of all, you'll save money on buying those expensive commercial bird diets!
Use Homemade Cleaning Supplies
(c)2009 Alyson Burgess licensed to About.com, Inc.
An easy way to save money on bird supplies is to cut out the expense of buying pricey cage cleaning solutions. A better alternative is to mix your own homemade cage cleaner using safe and natural household ingredients. As a bonus, homemade cage cleaning solutions lack the harsh chemicals and fumes found in some cleaning agents -- keeping your bird healthier and your vet bills lower.
Take Your Bird for Regular Vet Checks
Dean Golja/Getty Images
While some bird owners are tempted to skip their pets' veterinary health exams unless their birds are showing signs of illness, the truth is that the cost of a yearly check-up examination is pocket change compared to the expense of treating a major avian health problem. Keeping tabs on your feathered friend's health and body condition can help prevent many costly medical problems, and can help you catch existing issues in their early stages. This strategy can help you save plenty of money, and in many cases, the bird's life as well.
Learn to Groom Your Bird at Home
Courtesy of Patricia Lowery and Marvette Hillis
Learning how to perform regular grooming tasks at home can save you both time and money. Next time you take your bird to the vet, ask the doctor to show you the proper way to clip your bird's wings and trim a bird's nails. Set up a daily misting schedule mist your bird with plain water from a clean spray bottle. The water will benefit the skin and growing feathers, and will save you the cost of buying expensive and unneccesary feather conditioners.
