How much is a parrot? A reputable herdsman may charge up to $3,000 for a parrot, or even more in certain situations.
If you find a parrot for a low price, it’s from a herdsman who’s in it for the money, not because they love parrots.
How Much Does a Parrot Cost?
Besides the bird itself, you’ll also have to pay for its cage, toys, food, and other accessories. A Macaw or African Grey parrot is a lot more costly than a parrot or Budgie, for example, when it comes to pricing.
Feeding and housing more giant birds are also more expensive. Because they have more distinct requirements than smaller birds. Toys, cages, and stands will all be more expensive as your parrot grows bigger.
The following are some of the most popular parrots kept as pets, with their typical prices:
|Types of Parrots|Cost|
| — | — |
|Macaw|$1,000-$3,000+|
|African Grey|$800-$3,500|
|Amazon Parrot|$500-$2,500|
|Senegal|$400-$800|
|Lovebird|$50-$200|
|Parakeet|$50-$800|
|Parrotlet|$150-$350|
|Mini Macaw|$700-$2,500|
|Conure|$250-$3,000|
Supplies - $300-$1,000
Besides the parrot itself, you’ll need a cage, carrier, toys, perches, and stands of the appropriate size.
The costs will vary if you have a smaller bird, like a Parakeet or Lovebird, or a giant bird, like a Macaw or an African Grey.
Annual Expenses of Parrot - $450 to $2,500 yearly
The yearly expense of raising a parrot, particularly for big birds like Macaws, may escalate when you include the price of food, medical care, and insurance. Must keep in mind that long-lived birds are also the most costly. Smaller parrots may live for a very long time, and the expenditures can soon mount.
Even if you can afford the initial cost of the bird, you’ll need to budget for years and years of significant expenses as well.
Healthcare - $120 to $400 each year
Your parrot will need a yearly checkup to ensure their health and twice or three times a year grooming to keep their feathers in good condition. In the event they get ill or need medical attention, their yearly expenses may rise. It’s always a good idea to have an avian healthcare plan, particularly if you have a big or costly bird. We tell putting away $200 in case of an emergency.
Check-Ups - $100 to $250 annually
For the sake of your parrot’s health, you should get it checked by a veterinarian every year. If this is the result of an adaptation to predators feeding on lesser birds. Then the sickness may have already advanced to a point where it cannot be reversed. Every six months or so is a preferable idea, particularly for elderly birds.
Vaccinations - $30 to $60 yearly
Birds kept in cages are seldom immunized since there is only one vaccination for pet birds. It is only essential for birds who often contact other parrots to get this vaccination. When administering this vaccination to your bird, it is ideal for providing it when it is only 4-8 weeks old. It then follows by annual booster doses. With an older bird, you’ll need to provide a double dosage, followed by yearly boosters.
Medications to Treat Parasites
To ensure that birds can fight off various parasites, provide them with nutritious food that improves their immune system. Giardia is the most frequent illness in the parrot family, and it may even be passed on to human beings. It’s not a big deal if your pet parrot isn’t with other birds.
Emergencies - $300 to $2,000 Annually
For big parrots like African greys and Macaws, emergency vet fees may go as high as $2,000 in certain instances. You should always be prepared for mishaps and diseases that may occur if you have many pets at home. Especially if they are birds or other small animals. For your protection, it’s a good idea to set aside $300-$500 for unanticipated expenses.
Food costs - $300-$1500 a year
The size of the parrot you own will affect the amount of money you spend on its meals each year. Even if you don’t add treats or fresh food, a healthy parrot may cost anywhere from $25 to $100 each month. To save money in the long term, buy food in bulk.
Upkeep of the Environment - $50 to $100 in a year
It doesn’t cost a lot to maintain your parrot’s environment. They are low-maintenance animals when it comes to their cages. To keep them occupied, they’ll need various chew toys, including wood blocks and cuttlebones. A large parrot’s love of chewing means that it’s a good idea to include these expenditures in your budget. It also includes the cost of toys, wallets, and wooden furniture.
For Entertainment - $50 to $200 a year
To keep your parrots physically occupied, you’ll need to offer them the required amusement. Because of this, you’ll likely have to buy new toys and ladders for your giant parrots. Parrots need a constant supply of new toys to keep them from becoming bored with the same old ones.
Costs might mount up over a year depending on what you buy for your parrots’ usual amusements, such as ropes, perches, and ladders.
Summary:
Owning a parrot can set you back between $1,000 and $2,000 a year. The yearly cost of having a parrot may mount by food, medical visits, and toy replacements. That’s before the initial setup expenditures and any emergencies that may arise. For a big bird, you may expect to spend at least $100 a month on food alone.
Conclusion
The initial and ongoing expenditures of keeping a parrot vary according to the species. Larger parrots are more costly to buy, house, and care for, and their lifespans are longer. So the expenditures pile up over time. Keeping a parrot is not a cheap venture, and these birds need a lot of specific attention and care. But, suppose you are willing to pay the high expenditure of having a parrot.