Most pet birds have a reputation for being demanding pets, especially when it comes to daily interaction. However, some pet birds do not care for hours of attention and wouldn’t love you any less for it.
Generally, the smaller pet bird species are low-maintenance because they take up less space in the house, do not destroy the furniture, and are easier to clean up after.
That being said, it is important to realize that no bird is zero maintenance. They require regular feeding, grooming, cleaning, and attention. If you have a hectic schedule, adding a bird into your lifestyle will almost certainly make it jam-packed.
We’ve rounded up 10 low-maintenance pet birds for those who want the experience of owning a bird, but don’t have hours to devote to their pets.
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Low-Maintenance Pet Birds
Consider these 10 low-maintenance pet birds that can suit your busy lifestyle:
Finches
Finches make excellent pet birds for people with busy lifestyles because of their easygoing and independent nature.
They find all the companionship they need from fellow finches in their cage. Along with that, they can freely fly within that space.
Finches thrive best when kept in pairs or groups, as they prefer the friendship of other finches over human company. Also, keep in mind that finches need a large horizontal cage because they like to fly from side to side instead of climbing the cage.
These birds do not need much of your time and are pretty fun to watch and listen to. So as an owner, you only need to provide food and water and clean their cage once in a while.
Canaries
Canaries are another beautiful songbird to consider if you can’t devote one-on-one time to your pet bird. They are quite self-sufficient regarding their social needs.
Canaries are solitary birds and don’t require interaction with people or other canaries. All they need is a nice big cage to fly around and keep themselves busy and active.
While canaries are pretty easy to care for, they can be messy birds. They have the bad habit of flinging seeds and vegetables on the floor, which requires more cleaning work on your part.
But the best thing about owning a canary is their melodious songs. Both males and females can sing but generally, male canaries are the better singers. Their songs are louder and more elaborate.
There are many species of canaries, some are bred for colors and some are bred for their songs. If you want a canary specifically for their singing ability, you should go for the males.
Doves
Doves are a bit more social than finches and canaries. They are sweet and affectionate pets that love all the attention they get from their owners.
They do not necessarily have high social needs but you do need to spend some time interacting with them.
If you pair two doves together, they will fulfill their need for socialization. However, they will not bond as closely with you.
Doves need a large and wide cage as they mostly move sideways. Along with that, a few toys and swings in the cage can keep your doves mentally stimulated.
Ring-necked doves and diamond doves are two of the most popular dove species to keep.
Budgies
Budgies are outgoing and playful birds that thrive on socialization. These small parakeets are every bit as charming and intelligent as the larger parrot species. They are generally considered easy birds to care for because of their friendly nature and small size.
However, a single budgie will still need several hours of time commitment. The good news is that budgies can also be kept as watch-only birds if provided with the companionship of another budgie.
If you have a busy schedule, consider getting two budgies to minimize their social dependency on you. Even after being paired, budgies can still keep a close bond with you as long as you maintain contact with them.
Two budgies might create a little more mess and go through the supply of toys twice as fast. However, this is a small trade-off for the happiness they bring into your life.
Lineolated Parakeet
The calm and mellow Lineolated parakeets require minimal socialization efforts, vocalize softly, and get along well with other people. A couple of hours of interaction daily and some out-of-cage time is sufficient for these parrots.
Linnies have a reputation for pooping very frequently. They typically have larger and watery stools compared to other parrots of similar size. This may lead to poops all over the house and necessitate more frequent cleaning.
Aside from being a bit messy, Lineolated parakeets are pretty low-maintenance birds. Also, their relaxed demeanor and friendly attitude make them a delightful companion.
Pionus Parrots
Pionus parrots are social and affectionate birds, yet are not overly demanding of attention from their owners. They enjoy spending time with people, but they are also good at keeping themselves entertained with toys.
This means they can be left alone for some time without them getting bored or stressed. That being said, you should provide them with adequate out-of-cage time and interaction daily to keep them tame and happy.
Pionus parrots also make great apartment birds because of how quiet they are. These birds do not make much noise outside of a few chirps and wheezing sounds here and there.
Senegal Parrot
Senegal parrots are ideal pets for busy people because of their laid-back demeanor and loyalty to owners. These parrots are surprisingly independent and can stay busy with their toys for long hours.
You can leave them at home while you run errands and they’ll welcome you back with happiness and excitement. Senegal parrots are not clingy pets and simply prefer to be with you without making any fuss. But you must devote a few hours towards playtime and care for these birds to reciprocate their love. t
Cockatiels
Admittedly, a cockatiel’s high-energy social nature and the constant shedding of dander can be too much work for some owners, but many people still consider them a low-maintenance pet bird.
Compared to some of the large parrots, cockatiels need far less care and attention. Their sweet nature and infectious positive energy have made them a favorite among parrot enthusiasts.
Cockatiels need a minimum of 1-2 hours of attention every day along with a spacious enclosure filled with a variety of toys.
Meyer’s Parrot
While super friendly, the Meyer’s Parrots are not completely reliant on people for attention. They can spend long hours perched in their cages and chewing on their toys.
These parrots are quite fond of people but prefer not to be the center of focus. As long as they are with you, they are content.
The Meyer’s parrot spends most of the day quietly on its perch playing with some toys. However, these parrots can become perch potatoes if not encouraged to exercise or train.
They are generally low-energy birds and as such you only need to spend about 30 – 60 minutes every day to meet their social needs.
Bourke’s Parakeet
The Bourke’s parakeet is a semi-nocturnal species, which means they are active during sundown. For the rest of the day, they lead a pretty sedentary lifestyle frequently dozing off in their cage.
They are one of the more mellower and gentler parrot species. Their vocalizations are infrequent and quiet, which makes them suitable for apartment living.
Although the Bourke’s parakeets are inactive most of the day, they require a roomy cage as they like to spread their wings during the morning and sunset.
Bourke’s parakeets are aviary birds and do well when paired with another bird. If you are keeping them as single pets, you might need to spend some time on their socialization to keep them from becoming lonely.
