The price of shopping for a chicken varies relying on the species and whether or not it is bought from knowledgeable breeder or a pet retailer.
Past the price of the chicken itself, new house owners ought to finances for issues comparable to pellets and different dietary wants like seeds and fruits, correctly sized cages, and even bird-proofed rooms for bigger birds to fly round.
Relying on the breeder, availability, and placement, the price of your chicken might fluctuate exterior the given ranges. The record additionally consists of a few of the different bills you must plan for whereas caring in your new feathered buddy.
Contents
Prices for Chicken Care, Meals, and Housing
Generally (relying on the breed), housing, feeding, and caring for a chicken is cheaper than caring for a canine or cat. However the prices can rise dramatically relying upon the lifespan of the chicken (some birds reside so long as individuals) and your pet’s healthcare wants.
In response to Kiplinger, these are the common prices you must finances for when you’re contemplating a parakeet or different non-exotic small chicken:
- First-year price: $465
- Annual price: $250 (plus unexpected vet prices)
- Complete lifetime price: $3,750 to $4,500 for a median lifespan of 15 to 18 years
- Different first-year prices embrace the cage ($50) and the acquisition worth, which ranges from $15 to $40 for a parakeet. After the primary yr, annual prices embrace meals ($35), toys and leisure ($50), and routine vet check-ups ($25 to $150).
Bigger birds comparable to macaws and parrots are way more fascinating pets than parakeets, however they’re additionally dearer to purchase, home, feed, and look after. Whereas it is potential to purchase a birdcage for a macaw for lower than $200, likelihood is it should want substitute comparatively quickly; it is most likely smarter to finances at the least $300 only for that buy.
Small Birds: Budgies, Canaries, and Finches
- Budgies (Parakeets): $15 to $40. Since they’re small, budgies are comparatively cheap to look after and feed. Nonetheless, a food regimen consisting solely of seeds is just not sufficient; veterinarians advocate a food regimen that features pellets, recent fruits, and greens together with leafy greens.
- Canaries: $25 to $150. Along with what you may pay for the canary, be sure to have the correct measurement cage for these lively birds. They want room to fly round and loads of toys since they will get bored simply.
- Finches: $10 to $100. Most finches desire the corporate of different finches to that of a human companion. Ideally, they’re saved in small “flocks” when in captivity. So when you’re planning to get a pet finch, you could wish to get a couple of to maintain your chicken emotionally wholesome.
- Parrotlets: $100 to $300. The typical parrotlet can reside as much as 20 years or longer, supplied it is nicely cared for. Be ready to make that sort of dedication to a pet earlier than getting a parrotlet or another sort of parrot.
Medium Birds: Conures, Lories, and Doves
- Cockatiels: $50 to $150. These very social birds want common interplay in order that they keep tame. Speak to them and deal with them every day.
- Conures: $150 to $500. Within the wild, conures eat fruit, nuts, and seeds, however in captivity, they want a balanced, pelleted food regimen supplemented with nuts, seeds, and recent fruit and greens. Make sure that their meals (and their cage) is completely washed usually to forestall transmission of parasitic infections.
- Doves: $20 to $100. These easygoing birds want train, and never simply inside a cage. Chicken-proof a room in your home that enables your dove to fly round for at the least an hour a day. The room needs to be freed from straightforward escape routes and customary family hazards.
- Lories: $400 to $900. Not like the opposite members of the parrot household, lories want nectar of their diets, since that is their major supply of vitamin within the wild. The nectar formulation, obtainable from breeders and specialty pet retailers, might be a part of a food regimen that features recent vegatables and fruits and even edible flowers comparable to dandelions.
Giant Birds: African Greys, Cockatoos, and Macaws
- African Greys: $600 to $2,000. As a result of they’re so clever, African Gray Parrots might be fairly emotionally needy. They require frequent socialization and train, so your property will want a parrot-proof space the place the chicken can spend a number of hours every day.
- Cockatoos: $800 to $5,000+. All cockatoos wrestle with weight achieve, so house owners ought to monitor their fats consumption. Excessive-quality pellets, a reasonable quantity of seed combine, and every day helpings of recent, bird-safe vegatables and fruits which have been completely washed are the best food regimen for cockatoos. They usually want a minimal of three to 4 hours exterior of the cage day by day, in addition to chew toys for train.
- Macaws: $900 to $5,000+. When macaws get bored, they chew on issues, so ensure that your chicken is getting sufficient stimulation. These are costly and high-maintenance pets that require a major time funding from house owners.
