How to care for exotic pets (Mostly birds)

Guide to Taking Care of Exotic Pets



Exotic pets aren’t the normal everyday house pet. They are animals that most people never see outside of TV or the Zoo. Exotic pets can be fun, and entertaining, but they’re also a handful to take care of. Most exotic pets are from out of country, which makes them require extra attention and work towards the animal.

I’d say that most popular exotic pets are rodents or birds. These are the two I know the most about, so I will form the guide around these two, and hints about other pets too.

Exotic birds.

Before you purchase, or even think about purchasing a bird, do as much research as possible, you may not know what you are getting into

Exotic birds, also known as tropical birds or parrots, are not quite common exotic pets. These birds are very enjoyable to have and take care of if you know what you are doing. There are tons of exotic birds and care is mostly the same for each of them.




The cage is important. The larger the bird, the larger the cage. Larger cages are always better. Get one as big as you can.





Birds will literally drive you crazy sometimes, they are not recommended for people who like peace and quiet. Exotic birds are best known for talking, but that is not the only noise they make. Don’t get me wrong, they do talk. But they also screech, scream, and babble an unrecognizable language at any given moment of the day.

Don’t try to teach your bird every word in the book, it is not rare for birds to not speak at all. So when you fill up their vocabulary within a week, that is all you will hear for the 30+ years you might have the bird. Yes, there vocabulary can fill up, fast. Unless you have a bird like the African Grey, who can learn pretty much everything.


(African Grey)

If you want the quietest bird, I would go for the common parakeet. They are not as fun or exciting as the others, so I recommend them for older people. They require minimum clean up and maintenance.

If you want a bird that will love you more than any other animal in the world, go for the Umbrella Cockatoo. This bird is best known for it’s pure white coat, and literally falling in love with it’s owners. This bird may be the most enjoyable, fun bird out of all of them, but its not likely the best choice. This bird has the loudest scream you will ever hear, it’s even known to break glass sometimes.

(umbrella cockatoo)

Once this bird falls for you, you can not ignore it. Each time you walk by it will demand your attention, and you can’t leave it by itself, or the screaming will start. (It’s better to raise these birds from a young age) These birds are originally from Australia, and they eat in flocks. So its best if they actually eat meals with the family, at the dinner table if possible. They can also eat most table food.





Make sure before feeding your bird you look up dangerous foods that can be harmful to your bird. Common dangerous foods are: Avocado, alcohol, caffeine, and onion.

Cleaning up after birds is also another hassle. They are messy things, and the cage needs to be cleaned once or sometimes twice a week. To prevent diseases from forming.

Even when it is not dinner time, make sure that your bird has food and water available to it at all times. These birds can dehydrate very quickly. Also provide your birds cage with a variety of colorful toys and objects, so it wont get bored.

Birds have beaks. They bite. You will love your bird, and your bird will love you, and though it may not happen often, it will happen. When a exotic bird bites, it’s not very enjoyable, their beaks are very large.

Finally, your bird is not a toy, you can’t play with it for a month and then forget about it for something new. This is the number one cause for birds dying or being harmed. They grow accustomed to the attention they start to receive and then when it’s cut off they can literally go crazy.


Bad signs: Bird is pulling all of it’s feathers out. Screaming is constant, there is no break from it. The bird is refusing to eat or drink or pay attention to you.






That’s all I know with birds


Onto Rodents

Rodents are far more simple than birds to take care of, and far more common. They don’t require as much attention or management, and they are better for younger children.

Rodents also may not be as entertaining as birds, but you can still fall in love with one. They still require care and time, just not as much. They don’t need as big of a cage as birds, but they still need room.

Rodents don’t like to be alone, it’s also better to have them a mate, as long as you don’t mind babies.

Ask your vet which food would be most suitable for your rodent, it depends on what it is and I’m not a dietary wizard. Ferrets, Guinea Pigs, Mice, Chinchilla Hedgehogs, Rats, and Gerbils may have different dietary needs.

Your rodent needs exercise. The classic wheel will work for most but some need it in the form of running and playing.

That is all I have for rodents at the moment.



A few tips.

Don’t get a pet that can possibly kill you in the future. Just because they are cute and cuddly now doesn’t mean they won’t be vicious. Instinct will eventually set in.

Always know what you’re getting yourself into, many pets and animals suffer today because of foolish owners.

Have fun with your pet!

That’s all.



Written by Greggy