This Is How Much A Talking Parrot Will Cost You

Having a pet become part of the family has a myriad of benefits that it can offer. It can be a great way to exercise, an excuse to go outside, and an opportunity to socialize. Walking and playing with them can decrease cholesterol levels and blood pressure (Source). 

Pets are also a great way to curb loneliness. They provide companionship, and many US households own at least one. 

Parrots kept as companion parrots range from small to large parrots. The cost of these parrots differs per species. Depending on their size and characteristics, these birds may range from $100-$4000 or more. 

The small parrots include cockatiels, lovebirds, parrotlets, parakeets, and budgies. The mid-sized parrots have conures, Pionus, and Quakers, and large parrots include cockatoos, Eclectus, macaws, greys, and amazons. 

Other species are messier. While you can keep them as pets, they are more aviary birds. These include lories and lorikeets. Many parrotlet species are also considered aviary than companion birds because of unavailable or difficult dietary needs.

When Is The Right Time To Buy A Baby Parrot?

Choosing to purchase baby parrots is one that you shouldn’t take lightly. While it offers a rewarding feeling, it requires excellent knowledge and commitment. It would be best if you did not buy them before weaning to avoid health issues until they have been weaned (Source).

Once these young ones finish weaning, they should be fed vegetables, fruits, and soft seeds. It is until they are old enough to consume dried seeds and pellets. Also, the recommended temperature you should keep them in is 65-to-85-degree Fahrenheit. 

Baby Parrot Growth

In their first weeks, all baby parrots are likely to do is eat, sleep, and go potty (repeat). Then one day, out of the blue, they become energetic, talkative, athletic, playful, and spunky. Their personality traits become very clear. Each parrot from every species behaves differently (Source). 

According to an aviculturist, some character traits are behaviors unique to particular species. Some behaviors last their lifetime, while others change once weaning is complete. Others exhibit different characteristics when they hit sexual maturity. 

Therefore, when looking into owning a bird, one should become familiar with the early development of the particular species. It helps one understand their bird and get insight on how to work with them. 

Babbling In Baby Parrots

Human babies are known to babble. Usually, it’s impossible to understand. One could mistake it for baby talk, where a group of babies could know what they are saying. Interestingly, according to researchers, baby parrots also babble (Source).

For baby parrots, however, it’s not a goo-goo-ga-ga equivalent. They repeat back parrot sounds they hear from parrot adults and other fellow babies. It includes everything the babies have listened to from birth. 

In the study, scientists dealt with green-rumped parrotlets, vocal learners known to mimic the sound. The sounds started when they were less than a month old. Researchers identified 27 different calls. These included growling, clicks, and soft peeps. 

Purchasing Baby Parrots

The cost of baby parrots can amount to thousands of dollars. It depends on the species that one decides to purchase. While smaller parrots are cheaper compared to larger parrots, they are all comparatively expensive to own (Source). 

Additionally, parrot ownership requires massive responsibility. It includes feeding and healthcare, among others. Therefore, you should take careful consideration before committing.

Which Is The Cheapest Pet Parrot?

You aren’t alone if you’ve committed to bringing a parrot home and are concerned about the costs. Initial purchasing costs can be pretty expensive. Unfortunately, newbie parrot owners overlook the other expenses they may incur when raising the parrot. Considering the lifespan is crucial as others live for as long as 25 years (Source).

Upfront costs will include the parrot, a cage, food, and toys to keep it entertained. While upkeep may not cost as much as the initial cost, it is equally essential to consider. Doing your due diligence to ensure you purchase from a reputable dealer is necessary. Some traders illegally trap and sell these birds resulting in their decline in the wild.  

The dietary needs of parrots include seeds, fruits, and pellets. The prices provided below aren’t fixed prices. They may vary depending on availability, location, and breeder (Source).

1. Finches

Although not parrots, finches make great pets as they are cheap. A great starter bird to work your way up to a parrot. These birds cost $10-$100. The emotional health of parrots is highly vital. Their environment should support the same. Finches, for example, prefer other finches to humans as companions. Owners should, therefore, purchase more than one as they stay in small flocks.

2. Parakeets

Parakeets are also known as budgies. These tiny birds cost $10 to $35. Their small size makes it relatively cheap to care for and feed them. These birds require more than pellets, according to veterinarians. 

3. Parrotlets

Parrotlets can achieve a lifespan of more than 20 years with the proper care. One should ensure they are committed fully before purchasing this parrot. They cost $100-$300. 

4. Canaries

The canaries are active parrots. They cost $25 to 150. Because of their playful nature, a pet owner should prepare to purchase the right-sized cage. They need adequate space for flying around and various toys to ensure they aren’t bored. 

5. Caique

Lately, the Caique has become more popular. It is because these birds have unique personalities and striking appearances. They are outgoing and funny. However, they can be aggressive and stubborn towards other birds. One can expect to pay $300 to $400 for their care (Source).

6. Love Bird

A love bird is an excellent choice if you want an intelligent and playful bird. These parrots are famous, and unlike popular ones, they can survive without another bird of their species and live up to 20 years. Their care costs around $200 to $300 per year. 

Which Parrot Is Best For Talking?

Talking birds are generally birds that mimic human speech. Scientists still debate whether birds talking have a cognitive understanding of what they speak. The talking ability of birds varies from species to species. There are those capable of mimicking several words and phrases, while there are those with an extensive vocabulary (Source).

How Do Parrots Learn To Talk?

The hill myna and the European Starling, for example, are known for their talking ability and mimicry, respectively. Wild parrots can learn how to speak from captive parrots through cultural transmission. Wild Australian cockatoos are known to have learned how to speak this way. 

Other young birds learn how to communicate by imitating parents and social learning. Since birds have no vocal cords, they may use throat membranes and muscles to make sounds and tones. They face limitations for lacking similar anatomical structures to humans, such as lips (Source). 

The two common bird species that imitate sound include parrots and songbirds. Pet owners can also take the time to teach birds to mimic their speech. When such birds move to the wild, other birds pick up their words and phrases (Source). 

Strong Parrot Talkers

1. Eclectus Parrot

With early training, the Eclectus parrot can develop strong talking abilities. Parrot owners can also pick macaws if looking for a strong talker.

2. Grey Parrots

The African Grey parrot is famous in the bird kingdom for its strong cognitive abilities. These birds are also great talkers. The age at which each species learns to speak is different. Those likely to learn younger include Congo Parrot and Timneh parrot. Pet Congo parrots learn how to speak in their first year, but others take up to one and a half years to say their first words.

3. Amazon Parrots

Yellow-headed Amazon, yellow-naped amazon, yellow-crowned amazon, lilac-crowned amazon, and blue-fronted amazon are among the amazons that speak. When in social environments, these birds outperform the greys. It is because amazons relate the sounds they make to relationships.

4. Cockatoos

Cockatoos can also speak. However, each species has a different level of speaking. Australian galahs, for example, don’t talk as well as other parrots. Female galahs are also harder to teach than their male counterparts. 

Cockatoos are known to be very clear when they speak the long-billed corella. Yellow-crested cockatoo, on the other hand, is a reasonably good talker.

Are Talking Parrots Expensive?

As mentioned, the price of a bird depends on how rare the bird is, its health, and its age. Some prices may be reasonable, but others are painfully expensive. Talking birds, particularly those with great speeches, can be more costly (Source).  

When people think of parrots, they automatically think of pets that can talk. Some may get disappointed when they realize their parrot doesn’t talk as well as they hoped, especially if this is the cheaper option. 

However, parrot owners shouldn’t despise these feathery friends for lack of this one quality. Parrots have so much to offer. Appreciating their beauty, playful personality, and companionship are all factors. With that said, below are some talking parrots and their cost.

Talking parrots and their cost

1. Budgie

Budgies are the cheapest parrots with a talking ability in the world. Those who want a talking parrot but have a low budget can opt for a budgie. This bird is capable of learning a good number of songs and phrases. 

However, their voices tend to be a bit undefined and low. It makes it difficult to understand them despite their excellent speaking abilities. With training, male budgies can speak better compared to female budgies. They cost $15 to $100 (Source).

2. Parrotlets

Parrotlets are tiny parrots. They are also the smallest of captive-bred parrots. These birds are not more than five inches from tail to crest. Like other parrots, male parrotlets are superior at talking compared to female parrotlets.  

These birds require time, patience, and repetition. Within no time, you’ll hear them uttering words and phrases. The plumage colors are one of the reasons people are attracted to them. For this reason, they cost about $150 to $400. 

3. Blossom-Headed Parakeet

This parrot is extremely rare. It means it’s equally rare to keep these birds as pets. However, they are good talkers because of how they are, they are a bit pricier, costing about $600 to $900.

4. Indian Ringneck

If you’re looking for a clever bird, the Indian ringneck is it. This little bird can learn numerous words and phrases. Additionally, their sentences are clear. Instead of mimicking the pitch of humans like most parrots, these birds speak with their voices. Just like the Blossom-headed parakeet, there are rare species of this bird that can cost higher. Also, others have unique colors that equally make them costly. This bird costs around $175 to $250.

Which Is The Cheapest Parrot That Can Talk?

The budgerigar is considered the cheapest talking parrot. You can prefer these birds as shell parakeets or common parakeets. These birds are small, have long tails, and like eating seeds (Source).

Many know them for their nicknames, parakeet or budgie. These captivity birds are bred with yellow, white, and grey colorings.

You can easily differentiate adult budgies because of their behavior and cere coloring. With chicks and juveniles, it’s a bit difficult as they are monochromic. 

Puck, a male budgie, holds any bird’s most significant vocabulary world record. 

He knew 1728 words. Camille Jordan, an American, owned the feathery friend (Source). 

Conclusion

Owning a pet is a rewarding experience. Having these birds talk back to you is like icing on the cake. Newbie parrot owners should, therefore, conduct initial research on how buying and taking care of a talking parrot will cost them.