Don’t wing it! Adding a feathered friend to your homerequires research. Here are some tips to get you started.

By BARBARA JARVIE CASTIGLIA

So you’re thinking about adding a pet to your household, but you say dogs don’t do it for you, cat’s aren’t your meow, and reptiles leave you cold. How about a bird? There are so many varieties, each with unique personalities and varying colors and sizes, which can provide years of devoted love and fun for the whole family.

Do Your Homework

Bird experts agree that anyone considering bird ownership needs to educate themselves prior to adopting. “Research, research, research,” advises Deb White, owner of superbirdtoys.com and avianenrichment.com, a bird care reference site.

There are many species of birds, says Nikki Moustaki, author of Parrots for Dummies and 23 other books on bird care. “You will want to find the one that will fit best with your personality and lifestyle.” She notes birds can be both noisy and messy. “Most bird owners like to hear their birds talk, but to some it may be an acquired taste,” she says.

Seek out other bird owners so you can pick their brains, suggests Christine Brown, owner of mollysbirdtoys.com. “Find a ‘bird mentor’ at a local bird club or online,” she says. “Bird people are usually more than happy to share their knowledge.”

Dena Tucker, owner of creativebirdtoys. com, says many times the decision is not just up to you. “Birds pick you as much as you pick them,” she says. “They are extremely intelligent creatures.”

Make sure you can deal with a considerable time commitment. “Birds can live anywhere from 10 to 50 years and longer,” says Dr. Thomas Edling, director of veterinary medicine for PETCO. A good rule of thumb is the smaller the bird, the shorter the life; the larger the bird, the longer the life. “Something small like finches can live a few years, while Amazons can live 80, even 100 years,” says Tucker.

Factor the Costs

When purchasing all the necessities, a cage can be the biggest investment, but the bird will require food, fresh fruit and vegetables and toys. Tucker points out that the dowel perch that comes with many cages is not sufficient for the birds to exercise their feet and suggests getting natural branches. She advises getting “how big of a cage can you afford,” noting space restrictions as well.

Moustaki says you don’t have to break the bank. “Used cages can be purchased at garage sales, second-hand shops or online for a fraction of the cost.” She recommends testing it and all toys with metal to make sure they don’t contain lead which is toxic.

Toys are important for birds, Tucker points out. “They need something to occupy their time. And they need different toys – ones for shredding, others for banging.”

It’s also important to find an avian veterinarian and make sure the bird has periodic wellness checkups.

Teach the Children

For younger children, Brown recommends smaller birds like finches and canaries, which don’t come out of the cages as much. For older children, she recommends parakeets, budgies and cockatiels, because they require more interaction.

Tucker notes that parental supervision is a necessity. “Always respect the beak,” is one rule that children should be taught, she says. “Birds are fragile, and it only takes a second for a fatal accident to occur,” adds Moustaki. “Kids should be taught to move slowly around a bird, not to make any sudden movements, and not to be afraid of the bird.”

Possible Hazards

Birds can be susceptible to a condition called “Teflon toxicity,” which is the result of lethal fumes emitted from overheated cookware that is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene, according to PetSmart experts. As a general rule, don’t keep a bird in the kitchen area. White suggests birds belong in a non-smoking environment. Additionally, birds are very sensitive to other fumes such as household cleaners, air fresheners and candles, notes Brown. And avocados, chocolate and items containing caffeine should never be given to birds, says Tucker.

Moustaki runs the charity pet website, The Pet Postcard Project, at petpostcardproject. com and a bird behavior consultation site at goodbird.com. Molly’s Bird Toys (mollysbirdtoys.com) is offering a 50-percent discount to Family readers by entering the code “family” while paying through PayPal.