If you’re an animal lover and on the hunt for a new pet, a cat or dog seems like an obvious choice. However, these aren’t the only pet options out there, and many people are starting to opt for more exotic pets, like birds. Parakeets, for example, make wonderful pets for first-time bird owners. Often called budgerigars or budgies, they are members of the parrot family and are indigenous to Australia. Because they are often small in size and come in a range of breathtaking colors, these birds are a big attraction in the pet community.
With that in mind, the costs and responsibilities of owning a pet bird are going to be a bit different than owning a cat or dog. Between the initial costs of the bird and housing supplies, you also have to factor in recurring expenses like food, toys, and insurance. Those initial costs can be from $30 up to $500 depending on where you get your parakeet from and monthly costs are around $90–$215. Determining if you can actually afford a pet parakeet before actually buying one is crucial, so let’s get into what you can realistically expect to pay for one.
Bringing Home a New Parakeet: One-Time Costs
As with any pet you plan to bring home, the first thing you need to consider is the upfront cost of getting the pet itself. When talking about budgies specifically, you can expect them to live anywhere from 7–15 years in captivity, so you need to understand that these pets are a huge commitment, and it would be irresponsible to purchase a pet that you can’t truly afford.
When it comes to pet parakeets, it’s possible that you might be able to find one online or from a friend for free, although you’re most likely going to have to adopt one or purchase from a reputable breeder or pet store.
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Free
As we’ve mentioned, while it’s not entirely impossible to find a free parakeet, don’t count on it. There may be situations where a family member or friend can no longer care for their pet bird, which gives you the opportunity to take care of them. Or you might find posts on social media or websites about someone local looking for someone to take their parakeet in. However, this isn’t always an option, and you’re often better off adopting from a shelter or rescue.
Adoption
The price to adopt a pet parakeet will vary by location and the individual aviary rescue or shelter. These places should offer you a health analysis and a history of the bird, if they have that information of course. However, you should also ask about whether the bird’s cage is included with the fee, as this could save you some money down the road, assuming the cage is the right size for them.
Breeder/Pet Store
Because there are over 100 species of small parrots, the price you’re going to pay really depends on the breed, your location, and where you purchase from. For example, a common budgie from PetSmart is only going to cost you about $40. Meanwhile, purchasing a monk parakeet could cost you more than $500.
Initial Setup and Supplies
Once you’ve taken into account the cost of the bird itself, you then need to consider all of the other supplies you’ll need to buy for your bird’s set-up. This is going to include things like a cage, perches, toys, and more.
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List of Parakeet Care Supplies and Costs
Cage
$65–$200
Perches
$10–$20
Toys
$10–$20
Lining
$10–$30
Food
$10–$25
Treats
$5–$10
Cage Cover
$15–$50
Food and Water Bowls
$10–$20
Bird Carrier
$20–$50
Cleaning Supplies
$10–$25
Bird Bath
$10–$20
UV Light
$30–$40
How Much Does a Parakeet Cost Per Month?
The initial costs for your parakeet and set-up aren’t going to end there. You must ensure that you can afford the actual recurring costs of your pet, such as insurance, health care, food, and enrichment, and they can all add up pretty quickly.
Health Care
When it comes to the health of your parakeet, you need to consider the costs of high-quality food, grooming supplies, vet visits, and insurance. Let’s discuss these categories below.
Food
Pet parakeets aren’t too expensive to feed per month, certainly less than, say, a large dog breed. However, you must ensure that they are eating high-quality food that is specifically formulated for them to ensure they are getting all the required nutrients to thrive and remain healthy. You should also have some tasty treats on hand, like millet.
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Grooming
Aside from weekly baths in warm water and the occasional nail trimming, parakeets don’t need much else when it comes to grooming. Their nails and beaks may be kept short already thanks to the texture of perches and chew toys. However, it is possible that you’ll have to do this yourself from time to time as well. Just be sure to purchase your bird some chew toys, perches, and cuttlebones, as well as nail clippers, just in case you need to step in.
If you aren’t comfortable doing these things yourself, then you can certainly have your vet do it for you, although you’ll likely have to pay for this service.
Medications and Vet Visits
The monthly costs of your parakeet’s healthcare will vary. This is all dependent on your individual bird and any health issues they have. At minimum, they will need an annual wellness check. However, some caged birds also need vaccinations or certain medications, and your pet might become ill out of nowhere, thus requiring an emergency vet visit. Still, the costs for this should be rather small when calculating the monthly costs.
Pet Insurance
As of right now, the only pet insurance company that we could find to cover exotic pets, including pet birds, is Nationwide Pet Insurance. Their plans start at $21, but the costs could go up, depending on the plan you choose.
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Environment Maintenance
Both physical and mental enrichment are crucial for parakeets. You must ensure that they have plenty of toys and perches, as well as cleaning supplies to keep their enclosure free from bacteria and odors. Don’t forget that you also need to factor in the cost of UV bulbs for your lamp, as parakeets often won’t get enough UV light to produce vitamin D in their skin so they can absorb dietary calcium, even if their enclosure is next to a window.
Cage Liners
$10–$30/month
Perches
$10–$20
Toys
$10–$20
Cleaning Supplies
$10/month
UV Bulbs
$5
Entertainment
While we’ve already covered toys for your parakeet, you must ensure that you provide even more ways to keep them entertained. This could include things like adding sticks to their enclosure, hanging food from the top of the cage to encourage foraging behavior, and allowing them to play with things like cardboard, paper plates, straws, etc. Without plenty of enrichment and stimulation, your parakeet could start displaying unwanted or unhealthy behaviors, such as feather plucking.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Parakeet
The prices we have provided are just rough guidelines, and they are going to vary based on a lot of factors, like the type of parakeet you buy, where you buy them from, the food you buy, your bird’s overall health, and the stores you shop from. At the end of the day, you should be able to comfortably provide the absolute bare minimum that your pet needs in order to thrive. If you can’t provide them with an enriching life in terms of nutrition and physical and mental stimulation, then a parakeet might not be the pet for you.
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Additional Costs to Factor In
As with all things in life, owning a pet comes with lots of unexpected and additional costs. This can include things like needing a pet sitter if you go on vacation, unexpected illnesses and emergencies, medications, or even damage to your own belongings from your bird chewing on them. In some cases, you might even need to find a pet bird boarding facility to take care of them. All these factors need to be considered before you commit to your new budgie buddy.
Owning a Parakeet on a Budget
With all this in mind, it is entirely possible to own a parakeet while on a budget. You shouldn’t ever skimp on the most important things, like food and veterinary care, but there are other ways that you can pinch some pennies.
Saving Money on Parakeet Care
If you really want a pet bird, there are ways to save some money both for your upfront and monthly costs. Instead of purchasing toys, you could simply create your own homemade parakeet toys at home or only purchase them while they’re on sale. However, if you go the homemade route, you’ll need to ensure they’re actually safe for your bird to play with. You can also use coupons, shop the sales and discounts, and even sign up with certain sights for points or auto-ship options that offer savings to returning customers.
Conclusion
While the parakeet is a common pet bird to own, many people don’t take the time to figure out how much these pets actually cost before they rush off to the store to bring one home. However, if you can comfortably afford everything that a parakeet would need to thrive, then there’s no reason you can’t have one of these little birds by your side for plenty of years to come. We hope this guide has given you a general idea of what you can expect to pay so that you can start planning for your new feathered friend today!
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