westland garden health logo

Consumer helpline 01480 443789

10am-4pm, Mon-Fri

Wild Birds as Pets

If your children are badgering you for a pet to extend your family, why not harness the wonder of nature outside in your garden and show them that wild birds as pets are a great option?

No matter what time of year it is, your garden will be alive with all manner of beautiful wild birds, which can be admired and appreciated from the comfort of your home.

Adopt the wild birds in your garden and introduce them to the kids as wild pets. If they love animals, it’s a great way to gauge their interest and help them to learn. Wild pets don’t need kennels or expensive holiday care and they won’t break the bank with vet bills either. All they need is food and water and if you want them to nest nearby, a bird box or two.

Learning with nature

  • Set up a bird feeder in full view of a window from your home. Decide where’s the best place; maybe the lounge or the dining room, but somewhere that the children can see the birds. You can read more about choosing a bird feeder here.
  • Invest in some high-quality bird food; don’t be tempted by cheap mixes. Choose a bird food that’s rich in quality ingredients that’ll give the birds what they need during the different seasons.
  • During nesting season, the birds won’t just be sitting on their eggs, they’ll also be searching for food for their chicks and will need to sustain themselves through this period too. A well-placed feeder, stacked out with food, will become a vital source of food for them and help ensure the survival of their chicks. Read more about caring for birds in the spring here.
  • Introduce the kids to a few of your garden’s visitors. Help them to identify different birds and get to know the individuals that return to your garden on a regular basis. Buy them a bird book or download an app and learn about birds together. You can also find out more about some of our most popular garden birds with our interactive bird guides: Wren; Song Thrush; Siskin; Robin; Nuthatch; Long Tailed Tit; House Sparrow; Greenfinch; Great Tit; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Goldfinch; Dunnock; Coal Tit; Chaffinch; Bullfinch; Blue Tit; Blackbird.
  • Help them to understand that every creature is precious and that they all need somewhere to nest, drink and eat to survive.
  • Wild birds can become wild pets and it gives you the opportunity to teach them about nature. It’s also the perfect way to explain about eggs, chicks and babies.

Responsibility

  • Create a routine where the kids can help to care for their wild pets. Give them some responsibility for topping up the feeders, cleaning them, or telling you when they’re getting low. Help them to provide fresh water daily for the birds, just like they would for another pet.
  • Many children’s pets become the responsibility of the adults when the novelty wears off and the children get bored. Allow them to show you that they can care for something else, by looking after the garden birds, then you can decide if they are ready for a pet of their own.
  • Wild pets aren’t just for children. There are many adults who would love a creature to care for but aren’t able to because of where they live. A window feeder at a care home for the elderly, or in a flat can also bring the joy of wild birds to the housebound. Make sure there’s someone that can help top the feeders up with bird food on a regular basis for them.

Pest Control

  • Remember that having the birds in the garden will help to keep garden pests under control. For every bug, there’s a creature that feeds upon it.
  • See which birds eat what. Some birds eat mostly insects, while others are seedeaters. You can read more about this in a good bird guide but you can also learn a lot by studying the shape of the bird’s beaks.
  • Watch with the children and notice how some birds cling to the feeders eating the seed and nuts, while others scrabble around on the floor, cleaning up the seed that’s fallen. Different birds have different needs just like other pets.
  • Some birds, like robins can, with great patience, be trained to eat from your hand. Mealworms are the perfect food to tempt them with and even if you can’t get that close, these cheeky birds will follow you around the garden.

Enjoy your time in the garden and outside with the children, whatever their age. Nature bathing is good for your health and for your soul.

Related articles

Garden birds in October

Garden birds in October

October is when we expect a flurry of garden activity as many birds begin to prepare for winter. So what can garden birds can I...

August Garden Birds

August Garden Birds

Garden Birds You May See in August   August is well known as a quiet month for garden birds. Many birds are done with breeding...

July Garden Birds

July Garden Birds

British Garden Birds in July As we get into summer proper, our gardens can go quiet for birds but there are still plenty of garden...