Parrots are not cheap pets to buy.
So yes, parrots are expensive
Question is Why are parrots expensive?
How much do they cost?
They will usually cost around a few hundred dollars, depending on the species.
Although the price may surprise you, there are many contributing factors to the parrot’s final price.
The breeders, the demand, and the difficulty of breeding parrots all play a role.
Here’s what you’re going to discover in this article
- Reasons why parrots are expensive (In detail)
- How much money does it cost to buy a parrot?
- The cost of owning a parrot
- Are parrots good pets?
So if you’re interested and want to know why parrots are expensive or maybe you’re thinking about adopting a parrot and want to know the costs involved then you’re going to love this article!
Sound good?
Great, let’s get started!
Reasons Why Parrots Are Expensive
Even though a parrot might be a fun addition to any household, the price often makes potential parrot owners gawk.
Smaller birds such as budgies and canaries are cheap in comparison, so many people opt for these instead of the larger parrots.
But why are parrots so expensive compared to other birds?
In short, people are willing to pay that amount for a parrot.
The simple rules of supply and demand often drive up the prices of purchasing a parrot.
These birds are gorgeous and come in varying colors and sizes, which makes them attractive birds to own.
Parrots have reputations for being exotic and coveted birds.
The high cost of purchasing a parrot is also affected by unique mutations that take several generations to produce.
Breeders work hard to breed specific parrots to get the desired outcome.
If you’re wanting a rare color, more often than not, you will be paying that much more money to reimburse the breeder for their hard work.
It definitely doesn’t help the parrot’s case that these birds are notoriously difficult to breed in the first place.
Parrots can be quite selective as to who they choose as a mate and once they do, they mate for life.
So it often happens that a breeder is stuck with a parrot that refuses to mate with another parrot.
This difficulty adds to the final price of the parrot.
Overall parrots are beautiful and they are very smart and intelligent too
They’re good company and they become family
How Much Money Does It Cost To Buy a Parrot?
Parrot prices will vary depending on the species, color, and breeder.
The price can range from $50 to thousands of dollars.
As a general rule, the smaller the parrot, the cheaper it is.
For example, a lovebird or a cockatiel will normally cost around $50 to $300.
On the other hand, bigger and more exotic breeds like a macaw will cost anything between $1000 to $5000.
Check out my article Why macaws are expensive where I go into much more detail. Similar to this article
Anyways,
Other parrots will usually fall in between the cheaper $50 to the more expensive $5000.
If you want to purchase a sizable parrot, though not necessarily a macaw, expect to pay $500 to $1000.
This will give you an idea on how much money you need to adopt a parrot
But then what about the expenses that come with owning a parrot?
Carry on reading to find out..
How Much Money Does It Cost To Own a Parrot?
The cost of buying a parrot is only a one-time cost, but there are other costs associated with owning this type of bird.
When you bring a bird into your life, you will need to think hard about providing for this bird by giving it good food, a nice cage, and even some toys.
These costs will vary depending on how large the parrot is.
There are a few other one-time costs you will need to think about.
First, you will need to purchase a cage.
Cages will range from about $50 to $1000.
The price will vary according to the size of the cage and the quality.
You’d want to buy a high quality large cage because this will last longer
So for example something like this
Prevue Pet Products Wrought Iron Select Bird Cage
It’s large and a trusted well known brand
You can get this over on Amazon if you want to check it out by clicking here
You will also need to purchase some stands, perches, and even toys to entertain the bird.
Depending on what you buy, you may spend anywhere between $50 to $200.
Then there are other small items you will need to buy such as food/water bowls, nail clippers, cleaning supplies, and wing scissors.
For the rest, you can expect to pay around $50 to $100.
Once you have the one-time purchases out of the way, you also need to think about paying for food.
Food for parrots will generally cost around $15 to $20 per bag for some high-quality pellets or seed mix.
On top of this, you should supplement your parrot’s diet with fresh fruits, vegetables, and more.
In all, budget around $30 to $80 a month to feed your parrot a healthy and varied diet.
Are Parrots Good Pets?
There are many reasons why parrots make good pets.
They are beautiful animals that make great companions.
Here are some of the top reasons parrots are good pets:
- They live long lives. Unlike dogs and cats, parrots live around the same lifespan as humans, which makes them great companions. You don’t have to worry too much about outliving your parrot as they will grow old with you.
- They are social creatures. Parrots love to interact with you and be entertained by you. They love cuddling their humans as well as playing with them.
- They require very little grooming. This makes them a whole lot easier to look after than dogs. Parrots like to keep themselves clean by preening, so that’s one less chore for you!
- They like to dance and sing. Parrots are great entertainment. These birds love to headbang to music and dance along to great tunes. You will often find parrots singing along with their favorite songs as well.
- You can teach them to talk. You can teach a parrot different things to say or even funny things to say. Have a read of my article 7 funny things to teach your parrot to say. You’ll have a good chuckle reading that!
- They will love you. Yes, parrots love their owners. I talk more about this in my article Do parrots love their owners
- You can play games with parrots. You can teach your parrot to play awesome games and have a fun time! Have a read of my article What do parrots like to do for fun?
Wrapping Up
Parrots love to hang out with their humans, they love to dance, and all-in-all, they are great companion animals.
You become part of their flock!
It’s no wonder that parrots are popular choices as pets!
These birds may cost quite a bit when you first buy them, but you’ll find that the upkeep is a lot easier and they are cheaper to feed than many other animals.
Although the cost may be daunting at first, parrots are a great addition to any family.
