Especially in this economy, everyone is looking to save a little cash wherever they can. As we all know, keeping birds can be expensive! We did some research and put together what we call the ‘Top 10’ ways to cut spending and make your money go a little further.

1. DIY Toys: You don’t have to be an “expert” in the field of toy making to create a design your bird will love. Some projects don’t require any tools and can save you a lot of money, especially if your bird quickly goes through the toys. Simple toy ideas include turning leftover household items—bottle caps, washed pill bottles, paper towel rolls, and cardboard boxes—into a birdlike Disneyland. My birds like nothing more than a nice roll of paper towels to wrestle with or a cardboard box to explore.
2. Buy in bulk – If you have more than one bird, you can dramatically cut costs by buying your food and other items in bulk. Instead of buying those 5 pound bags of food for $10 each, buy the 25 pound bag for $50! Of course, prices will vary depending on the provider, but buying in bulk has been shown to be easier on the wallet. Don’t you think you’ll be going through all that food anytime soon? Parrot food can be frozen for maximum freshness, simply repackage into airtight containers or bags and throw in the freezer.
3. This not only applies to food, but also to toys. Many online sellers offer discounted toys if you buy a certain quantity or more. One of my birds goes through grooming toys like it’s nobody’s business, so I shop online through a popular seller and get 5 at a time, saving a lot of money in the meantime.
4. Make your own food. You know it’s true, they say you can make food in your kitchen for less money than eating out. For birds that is also true. Instead of buying pre-made bird bread mixes, for example, you can easily go out and buy the basic necessities for less than the cost of a bread mix. The more you end up with twice the amount of mix you would normally buy, effectively cutting your costs in half.
5. Recycle old toy parts. Some toys have a shelf life of mere minutes. However, many birds will get bored with a toy before it is completely demolished. Removing the aforementioned toy once the bird is bored and taking it apart to reuse on other toys is a great way to save. Most toys, even those destined for destruction, have reusable parts, from a plastic chain to the metal quick link. I have a ‘junk bin’ so whenever my birds bite a toy, I take the toy out of the cage, take it apart and throw the reusable parts into the bin. When I want to make a toy, I look in the container to find the parts I need.
6. Shopping around. Take advantage of the wonder that is the world wide web and check out multiple stores before making your big purchase. You’ll often find products cheaper online than at your local store, and you can take advantage of free shipping deals to stretch your money even further.
7. Cage lining. What do you use to line the cage? If you use any type of pre-cut, store-bought cage liner, consider switching to newspaper. Can’t get the newspaper? I bet one of your neighbors does. People will gladly donate their old newspaper once they are done reading it. Better yet, if you have a large herd, call your local newspaper and ask if you can ‘trash dive’ into their recycling bins. Often newspapers are printed and have multiple stacks of newspapers that contain errors, so they just throw the newspapers away for recycling. Take advantage of those ‘mistakes’ and line the cage, for free!
8. Learn from others. You don’t have to go out and buy a stack of bird books to gain knowledge. Take advantage of the many online resources available. You can access web forums to chat with other bird owners, informative websites to learn about anything from species to nutrition, and even e-books. If you’ve heard of a great book but don’t want to buy it, head to your local library. Libraries will often have a large number of books available to you through interlibrary loan.
9. barter. If you know other bird owners, make friends and take advantage of what others have to offer. Are you going on vacation and need a bird watcher? See a trusted bird friend who will care for your birds while you’re away, in exchange for future bird care services from you. Bird owners are eager to help and always willing to lend a hand. Birds of a feather must stay together, you know.
10. Your bird doesn’t need 3 of everything. Remember that when you find that new product that you simply ‘have to have’, sit down and evaluate it. How is this new and improved toy different from toys stored or hung in the birdcage? Will this item really improve your birds’ quality of life or make things easier for you in the long run? What elements is this object made of and can it be replicated by you at a lower cost?

Consider the source. Just because an item is marketed specifically for ‘birds’ doesn’t mean you can’t buy that item elsewhere and at a cheaper cost, simply because it’s on the isle of dogs! I have found many toys wandering around the cat island from my local pet store. You can even find toy parts for a lower price at your local craft store, such as Michaels, then they are often sold at pet stores.