What is Pet Bird Insurance?
Pet birds need an exotic pet insurance policy, which covers a variety of animals, including lizards, rabbits, snakes, rats, turtles, and guinea pigs. Exotic pet insurance policies cover injuries, conditions, and medical emergencies for exotic pets like birds. Some policies can reimburse you the total cost of exams and treatment, or you may be required to pay a smaller amount as your co-pay. There are also discount programs that help you save money on veterinary costs. Exotic pet insurance covers services such as:
Wellness checksVaccinesExamsImagingHospitalizationLab testsPrescription medications
Is it Worth it?
If you choose to opt out of pet insurance for your bird, you may have to come out of pocket for a range of pricey services, from $200 for minor exams and procedures to several thousand dollars for major surgery. However, finding insurance for your bird can be tricky as there are limited options, despite there being over 20 million pet birds in the US alone. And the available options don’t always have the best reviews. Overall, exotic pet insurance is worth it to give you peace of mind and save you money. But you should do your due diligence on researching the company before you decide.
The Most Expensive Pet Birds to Insure
Discover the four most expensive pet birds to insure and why they cost so much. To get an exact amount, you will need to call the insurance company and get a quote. But most high-maintenance birds will cost around $50 a month and anywhere from $10 to $50 per veterinary visit, possibly more, depending on the service.
The Macaw
It costs anywhere from $2,000 (scarlet macaw) to $40,000 (hyacinth macaw) to buy a macaw. They are the most expensive parrot species, and the larger the macaw, the more it costs. These high-maintenance birds require an aviary or custom-made cages, and healthy pet birds need plenty of space for exercise, mental stimulation, adequate nutrition, and lots of attention. Macaws are susceptible to several health problems, including macaw wasting disease (PDD), beak and feather disease, parrot fever, sinus infections, chronic depression, sunken-eye syndrome, feather picking, allergies, and asthma. PDD is a fatal neurological and gastrointestinal disease found in more than 80% of parrot species. An average vet visit for a macaw can cost $100 or more.
African Grey
An African grey parrot can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000, and like all parrots, they are high-maintenance pets. These birds can live up to 90 years and require lots of daily exercise, a specific diet, and a large cage. Their common medical problems include feather picking, respiratory disease, circovirus, nasal blockages, and PDD. Most of their vet visits cost between $100 and $250, and emergency care is typically around $300 to $1,200.
Cockatoo
The cost of ownership of the cockatoo is wide-ranging, from $100 to $40,000. Cockatoos can live anywhere from 15 to 50 years, depending on the species. They are physically and emotionally high-maintenance, requiring lots of time outside their cage and daily cage cleaning. But besides their demanding hygienic standards, cockatoos suffer from several common health problems, including obesity, liver disease, kidney problems, respiratory distress, herpes, and reproductive disorders. Their average vet visit costs $100, and $200 to $300 for a full workup.
Best Exotic Pet Insurance
There are limited options for exotic pet insurance, especially in the US. Here are the best options for bird insurance:
Nationwide Pet InsuranceExotic DirectPet Assure
Check out this article: Best Insurance For Your Exotic Pet, for an excellent breakdown of each option.
The Most Low-Maintenance Pet Birds
Are you looking for a pet bird that isn’t so demanding? Check out these choices for the lowest maintenance birds.
Canaries don’t require much space, have an easy diet consisting of seeds and plant matter, and prefer not to be handled too much.Parakeet has an easy-going temperament and can entertain themselves in smaller cages as long as there are lots of toys for entertainment.Cockatiels are tame birds who are also happy with toys to play with in smaller cages and have no specific temperature settings.Finch requires no handling or out-of-cage play and is content as long as they have food, water, and a clean cage.
Up Next:
Is Pet Insurance Worth it?Exotic Pet Insurance: What It Covers, And When To Get ItPet Insurance for Multiple Pets
