The eclectus parrot is a beautiful, brightly-colored parrot with origins in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and the Solomon Islands. Male eclectus parrots are almost entirely covered in emerald-green feathers with just a touch of blue and red underneath their wings. Females, on the other hand, are bright red with purple-blue markings on their chests, necks, and tails. If you’ve ever thought about bringing one of these birds home, you may be wondering how much it would cost.
You can expect to pay $270–$545 in initial cost and $150–$180 per month. In this article, we will break down in detail the costs of owning an eclectus parrot, including both one-time costs and monthly costs you should consider.
Bringing Home a New Eclectus Parrot: One-Time Costs
The total one-time expenses associated with bringing home an eclectus parrot can vary widely depending on where you get your parrot from. Of course, adopting a parrot from a shelter or rescue is going to cost you significantly less than buying a parrot from a breeder. In addition to the initial price of purchase or adoption, there are a few other factors you should consider, such as your pet’s cage, food and water bowls, and other supplies. Below, we have outlined these expenses and come up with an estimate for how much these one-time purchases will cost you.
Free
While it may be unlikely, there is always the chance that you will stumble across a bird that someone is willing to give you for free. Some animal shelters waive pet adoption fees with the goal of finding owners for as many animals as they can. You may also be able to get a deal on an animal that is considered to be “geriatric”. It’s important to remember, however, that the fact that it didn’t cost you anything to adopt your eclectus parrot does not mean that caring for your bird will be free. These birds can live to be around 30 years old, which means they are a long-term commitment. Even if you adopt a bird later in life, you are still responsible for its care and managing any health problems that may arise.
Adoption
If you are lucky enough to find one of these birds at a local shelter, the adoption fee will likely range from $125–$400, though the exact amount depends on the shelter. You can search for eclectus parrots in your area by using websites such as Petfinder.
Breeder
If you are buying from a breeder, you should expect to pay significantly more than you would if you were adopting an eclectus parrot, with the average cost landing between $1,000 and $3,000. When looking for a breeder, make sure to do your research. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about your parrot’s health history and lineage. You may even want to ask to tour the breeding facility. Remember, you are paying a lot of money for your pet, and you want to make sure that the animal you buy has been well cared for.
Initial Setup and Supplies
Beyond the initial purchase or adoption price, you should think about other initial costs associated with bringing home an eclectus parrot. As you can see, the total amount can vary quite a lot depending on what you buy. Among bird cages and aviaries, for example, there is a large range of available products. The larger the cage or aviary, the more expensive it will generally be.
List of Eclectus Parrot Care Supplies and Costs
| X-Ray Cost | $85–$100 |
| Microchip | $40–$150 |
| Cage/Aviary | $80–$200 |
| Nail/Feather Trimmer | $10 |
| Play Gym/Playground | $30–$60 |
| Toys | $15 |
| Food and Water Bowls | $10 |
How Much Does an Eclectus Parrot Cost Per Month?
Beyond the one-time costs, there are ongoing costs associated with owning an eclectus parrot. Some costs, such as food, may seem obvious; however, there are other expenses, such as pet insurance, that you may not have thought about. In this section, we will break down each of these costs for you.
Health Care
When considering your parrot’s monthly health care costs, you should account for the basics, such as food and treats, as well as costs associated with going to the veterinarian for routine or special visits and pet insurance. Keep in mind that while a single visit to the vet may cost several hundred dollars depending on your bird’s needs, if you break it out into an average monthly payment, the cost is much lower.
Food
Luckily, the eclectus parrot does not eat very much food on a daily basis. Your bird probably only needs about ¼ to ½ cup of pellets a day. You can buy many brands of parrot food in bulk, which makes it fairly affordable. In addition to pellets, you should also factor in the cost of treats, whether they are store-bought or homemade. Your parrot will benefit from a healthy dose of fruits and vegetables, so you may want to budget for a bit more produce when you do your grocery shopping.
Medications and Vet Visits
Most birds only need to visit the vet once a year for their annual checkup. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the fees associated with visiting an aviary veterinarian will likely be higher than those at a regular vet because an aviary veterinarian is considered to be specialized. It is also important to set aside extra money for any medications or other health needs your parrot may have.
Pet Insurance
You probably have home insurance and life insurance, but have you ever thought about getting pet insurance? If you haven’t, you should. Pet insurance is important because you never know what may happen; if your parrot needs special medication or medical procedure, you will be paying potentially hundreds of dollars out of pocket if you are uninsured. Of course, we all hope that our pets will have perfect health, but it’s a good idea to be prepared for the worst so that you don’t end up financially drained as a result of your pet’s medical expenses.
Environment Maintenance
Other than providing your parrot with clean water, fresh food, and new toys to keep it stimulated, there isn’t too much you need to do to maintain your bird’s environment. One thing you definitely need to do, however, is make sure your bird’s cage is clean. Plan to scrub your bird’s cage about once per week with hot water and disinfectant soap. You can also purchase cage liners to easily discard most of the excrement on the bottom of your bird’s cage.
| Cleaning supplies | $5/month |
| Cage liners | $5/month |
Entertainment
As you may already know, parrots like the eclectus parrots are very intelligent creatures that need a lot of mental stimulation. When they are bored, birds can exhibit destructive behaviors such as feather plucking or chewing on objects they aren’t supposed to chew on. One of the best ways to make sure your parrot gets the mental stimulation it needs is by providing it with plenty of toys. Of course, since parrots are naturally inclined to chew on things, toys can become destroyed quickly. One solution you may want to consider is subscribing to a monthly toy box so that your bird’s toys are always fresh and interesting.
Additional Costs to Factor In
We’ve just about covered everything you need to know about the costs associated with owning an eclectus parrot. However, there are always additional factors to consider depending on your pet and your lifestyle. For instance, if you are someone who likes to vacation or has to travel a lot for work, you will need to make sure that someone is able to come by and take care of your parrot while you’re away. Unless you have very generous friends, you will likely need to pay that person for their time. Other unexpected costs can always come up as well, such as emergency visits to the vet. Hopefully, having pet insurance should help mitigate some of those surprise expenses.
Owning an Eclectus Parrot On a Budget
If you think paying for your pet’s needs on a monthly basis is going to be difficult for you, the best advice we can give you is not to buy an eclectus parrot. Not only do they have a long lifespan, which will add up to a significant amount of money spent over time, but any health problems they have will require special avian medical care, which will likely cost more than a visit to your average veterinarian. However, circumstances can change, so you should know that it is possible to have a pet like the eclectus parrot while keeping a budget. Below, we have detailed a few tips for saving money while caring for an eclectus parrot.
Saving Money on Eclectus Parrot Care
Other than routine medical care, one of the biggest areas where you are likely to spend significant money on your bird is when purchasing toys. The good news is, your parrot will not care whether its toys were store-bought or not. You can create your own toys out of common household items such as a wire hanger, rope, cardboard paper towel rolls, and similar objects. The same goes for treats. In lieu of buying pre-packaged treats from your local pet store, you can make your own birdseed—or even save your parrot some unseasoned veggies from your own plate!
Final Thoughts
Overall, the amount of money initially you end up spending on your eclectus parrot can vary somewhat depending on whether you get your bird from a rescue, shelter, or breeder. However, the monthly costs will be similar no matter where you get your parrot. All things considered, you can expect to spend almost $200 a month on your pet. Given the fact that parrots can live 30 years or more, you’re looking at $65,000-$70,000 over your parrot’s lifetime! Of course, the joy you will get from your relationship with your bird is priceless.
Featured Image Credit: Audioscience, Shutterstock
