In talking with the rescues and sanctuaries on our talks, we are hearing from rescues that the economy is taking its toil on bird owners. They are seeing birds show up in at an alarming rate. It seems that as the economy gets worse, pets are losing their homes and it is not just birds, dogs, cats, and horses too.

What have you changed with how you spend or feed your birds?

What do you do that help cut cost? Maybe you have always done it to save money, but if you have added something what would that be?

I have always, bought in bulk, used my freezer, canned, dehydrated things.

I also buy in bulk.
I make most of the toys.
I can't say I have changed anything though...still spend a ton on those guys.

We buy in bulk always. We also started a garden this year, it's not much but the birds get some dinners out of it. I like it because I know exactly what goes into the vegetables they're getting.

Absolutely nothing. I'm still spending a fortune. However, I've reduced my dinners down to those Ramon noodles. I would starve before my boy.

I buy food and toys in bulk at wholesale prices since I do rescue work. Once my 501c3 comes through I'll be able to get more of a discount.

Costco produce department is my friend ;-} So is my freezer.

I do NOT waste money on prefab foods made for birds. We never buy nutriberries or yogodips or beakappetite. I also do not waste $$ on the cage litter called pelleted food. I make my own treats, with only things that I know they will eat. If I'm trying something new, I buy a very small amount and feed small portions repeatedly for a week or so to determine acceptance. If it is a total dud, we don't try it again; if there is some enthusiasm. we buy more. The way I feed... I can better determine what goes into their bowls.

Also TOYS ARE NOW OFFICIALLY OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!!! I got some store bought toys yesterday for Tiki's birthday. They were selling toys for $50 that would cost me less than $10 in wood and parts to make. They now want almost $70 for a toy that would have sold for $15 5 years ago. Are people just dumb, or guilty?

I ended up buying a couple of their $15 shreader toys... which had I spent the effort to do them myself, would have been like $5. The bigger the toy, the higher their profit margin.

SAVE MONEY??



ALL the things I have for my fids (including them and their cages and their vet bills) were paid for by my credit cards! I racked up a HUGE debt Recently my mother paid off my credit card debt, and I will pay her back by allowing her to live on my property in the guest house (she'll be having built) for free.

Now when we need stuff we save a few hundred from each check and then make the purchase. I will NOT get into credit card debt again! I guess I DO save money

I guess we'll have another issue coming soon. Before we had a Macaw, toys would last FOREVER! Now Bailey is the toy destroyer. My big bin of toys is shrinking in its inventory! Its fun to see a parrot FINALLY enjoy the toys, though.

As far as the rescues and the economy go...it's the same for us down here. Our rescue gets a bulk of its birds because people are losing their houses and can not take the parrot into an apartment with them due to the noise and space. Then, of course, people are not adopting because maybe they can not afford the adoption fees, buying a cage, etc...

I find it is so much cheaper to let Ruby just chew up the entire house. It is taking her a good while!

Darn it! I thought that I was getting the guest house

Honestly? I can't say if I'm spending more money or saving more money with Pickle vs. Beetle. I think that the one bonus of having a single, small parrot is that it does keep costs down to a certain degree. I'm trying to buy him the best produce (organic and/or locally grown whenever possible) but since it's for one little guy, a little goes a long way. I think that fresh produce is the one thing that I'll always make room for, budget-wise. Not only is it important for Pickle's well-being but for my own. I've gotten really slack about my eating and that's got to stop!

I am trying to cook ahead and freeze so I'm prepared. I've only had Pickle a month this coming weekend. I made a batch of cornbread (with veggies) and Beak Appetit (couscous and veggies) that weekend and froze them in single-serve portions. I still have enough to last me into next week, which is nice.

I did have a bit of an obsession buying toys for Beetle. I had dozens that he had not yet used when he passed away. Most (if not all) are safe for Pickle, so that will save me in the end. And so far, he's not as destructive as my little lovebird was. Beetle could destroy a shredder in a day's time, if not mere hours. Anything with leather was ruined by week's end. Pickle certainly nibbles and gnaws but not quite like Beetle did.

I've already felt the bite of the parrot bug since bringing Pickle home but I've committed to waiting until after the New Year before giving it any serious thought. For now I must concentrate on getting the CC balances to zero... and treat myself to trips to the West Coast to visit my nephews

Sorry for the tl;dr: I don't know how this turned into such a rambling mess!