added up my 2009 budget categories

[MommyBird]

and maybe I was better off not knowing!

I spent $3,045 on my birds this year. That is all foods, toys, grooming, vet. We didn't have any big medical problems or make any major cage purchases.
Sounds scary but- That's about $2 a day per bird. A bargain, yes!

I also spent about $1/day on the wild birds outside.

And a grand total of $137.46 for all clothing for me. That includes socks and underwear. It went mostly for field pants, sun-shirt and hat for my summer field (entomology) work.

Well, I guess we know where my priorities are.

Anybody else out there keep a budget and know what your totals were?

 

[Angelicarboreals]

I am not sure I want to know. Eight days into 2010 I am already up to almost $800. I would bet that last year it was fairly close to what you paid, if not more.

 

[Cory]

I don't know exactly how much I've spent on my birds but it is definitely A LOT. I have now been keeping records since January 1st 2010 so I'll know from now on.

A rough estimate of what preventative veterinary care, food, and enrichment will cost me annually is around $4700 - $5500 CAD. This figure is based on the cost of all of the birds in my signature photo plus an additional amazon that I might be getting at the end of the summer. It doesn't include the lovebirds and finches that I have for adoption.

An annual health examination for each of my birds is roughly $250 which includes a physical examination, a complete blood count, a blood chemistry, and a fecal gram stain. This past year I spend an additional $2000 or so on emergency veterinary care.

Food and supplements cost me between $90 - $150 every month depending on what I buy.

I figure I spend around $100 a month on buying and making toys.

This upcoming fall I'm going to microchip all of my birds (except for Kiwi my Parrotlet ). That will cost around $1000...
Plus whatever other countless expenses there are...

 

[thejoie]

To be honest- I'd be seriously afraid to actually tally the numbers out because I KNOW they'd be out of this world!!

 

[Shade]

Hmm...I guess I should keep track of what I spend, although if I do and my boyfriend sees the numbers..(I do try and keep a monthly budget and try to not go overboard, although if I spend less on a month, I might spend the balance in another month.)

Anywho, I definitively spend more on them than I do on me. But it so much more fun to shop for stuff for them than for stuff for me

 

[MommyBird]

I don't think too many people have any idea what keeping a bird will cost. (Of course there are those that won't provide vet care or toys.)
But folks need to be informed on what it could cost, and not get a bird if they can't afford it.

 

[Cory]

Here's a link to an information page on my website about parrot expenses:

Parrot Expenses - CEC Exotics Aviary

Note: I probably should edit it and add in that the prices mentioned are in CAD currency and from my personal experience and research. Of course prices will range! Feel free to give me suggestions too if you want.

 

[MommyBird]

Cory, I'm glad you have that info out there, it isn't discussed in general.

And I really love your pic on the website of the BFA and Caique, how cute! They seem really at ease with each other.

 

[Lolle]

I dont think i want to know what we spent the last year on birds.. I even ordered food from UK >_< and a huge cage, and all the birds were bought aswell in 2009...

Im off to a good start in 2010, we already ordered from TLA

 

[JLcribber]

I stopped looking at those numbers on purpose quite a few years ago. Scared the crap out of me. I also know its higher now than it use to be.

 

[drop]

I definately don't save any of the evidence... oh I mean receipts

 

[Sharpie]

I don't have a 'birds' category, just a 'pets' one, and it's probably US$5-6k.

 

[robin's my baby]

my summer field (entomology) work.

your an entomologist

 

[Holiday]

To be honest- I'd be seriously afraid to actually tally the numbers out because I KNOW they'd be out of this world!!

Same here, Joanna. I don't want to know