Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
Round dog and cat logo

Chasewood, Where East Meets West for the Best

Location

Primary Location

2532 W. Indiantown Road #A2

Jupiter, FL 33458

561-745-4944

561-745-2520

Monday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Tuesday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Wednesday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Thursday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Friday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Saturday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Open mobile navigation
  • Home
  • Client Portal
  • Chasewood App
  • Covid 19 Protocols
  • About Us
    • Services
    • Meet Our Team
    • Testimonials
  • Online Forms
  • Pharmacy
  • Pet Assure
  • Contact Us
  • Articles
  • Pet Adoptions
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Choosing Your Pet >
  • Birds

Birds have recently become very popular as pets. And for good reason. They have many positive attributes, but very few negative characteristics. Many people who meet a good bird for the first time are amazed at how friendly and affectionate birds can be. They offer a great deal of companionship and will return all of the love you can give. More and more people are discovering that caged birds bring color, song or vocalization, and amusement into their lives. Many birds form strong attachments to people and make excellent companions.

We, as a society, are becoming more and more concentrated. Less and less space is available. Therefore we are forced into living in smaller dwellings. Apartment life has become the norm. This may be one of the reasons for an increased popularity in owning a pet bird. Birds do not need to be taken for walks; they are not susceptible to fleas; they do not have an odor; and most apartment complexes do not require a pet deposit for a bird. In addition, they are small, requiring less room than other pets. Another factor dictating the popularity of birds is the cost. Birds are the cheapest pet to own and manage. The initial cost of purchasing a bird varies depending on which bird you get. The monthly feeding cost is less than five dollars in most cases. In addition, they do not need costly, monthly heartworm prevention. Mites and other parasites are not a common problem. Regular maintenance is very low. Cage paper should be changed daily. Fresh food and water should be given daily, or more often if necessary. The cage should be scrubbed and disinfected weekly although their droppings have no odor. These tasks should take less that ten minutes per day and less that 45 minutes on the weekend. Birds are very clean animals.

Investigate the needs of the bird you are interested in owning. Some birds may require special seeds, fruits, or vegetables, while others need large cages. All birds require social contact.

The cost, care, and time commitment required to keep birds vary as much as individual characteristics such as color, size, personality, and life span. First-time bird owners should avoid the more expensive species. Finches, for example, are relatively easy to care for and may live only five to eight years. Canaries and budgerigars (parakeets) have a life expectancy between five and 15 years and are easy to care for; large parrots may live more than 30 years. Costs increase with traits and rarity. The cost of a male canary, for example, may be twice that of a female because only males sing. Birds of the parrot family are highly social, trainable creatures; however, large species can bite and can be expensive, ranging from $150 for a conure to more than $6,000 for a macaw.

If You Choose A Pet Bird

Cost
How much can you afford? Don't forget to factor in the cost of a cage and other equipment you will need, and ongoing costs such as food, toys, and veterinary care. Birds can be anywhere from less than a hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars. The larger or more exotic the bird, the more it will cost, and caging for large parrots can be very expensive. Avoid the temptation to take a bargain-priced bird; a healthy hand-raised bird is well worth the cost in the long run.

Commitment
How much time do you have to spend with your bird on a daily basis? If you don't have a lot of time, re-think getting a single parrot (this includes cockatiels and budgies). Finches or a canary might be a better choice if you are not home much. You must also consider the commitment needed to care for your bird over its whole life span. Larger parrots have long expected life spans (50 years or more) and some bond so closely with their owners that adapting to a new home can be difficult.

Noise Level
Parrots often screech. There is no way around that, so if you live in an apartment or townhouse, a large parrot may not make you popular with your neighbors (especially very loud parrots such as cockatoos and macaws). Similarly, if you don't handle noise well, some birds may not be a good fit for you. Budgies, cockatiels and lovebirds can be fairly noisy in their own way, but not as loud as larger parrots. Finches, doves, and canaries are better choices if noise is a concern.

Space
How much space do you have for a cage? You can't skimp on cage size; even smaller birds like finches and canaries need sizable cages because they generally only get exercise within their cages. The larger the bird, the larger the cage needed. Parrots (including budgies and cockatiels) will also need time outside of the cage for extra exercise. It is good to give larger parrots a special space of their own outside the cage, such as a play gym or stand.

Mess and Destruction
Birds can be messy (for example, when eating), and it is not always easily contained in the cage. Also, some produce lots of feather dust (a fine white powder produced by special feathers, most notable with cockatiels and cockatoos as well as pigeons and doves). Parrots are also fond of chewing, so you will need to thoroughly bird proof your home for times outside of the cage, not only to protect your belonging from destruction but to prevent injury or poisoning to your bird.

Diet
Most species of pet parrot require a diet made up of pre-formulated diets (e.g. pellets), a variety of fresh foods such as greens, sprouted seeds, grains and fruits, along with some seeds (generally, the larger the parrot the fewer seeds that should be fed). Some birds (e.g. lories, toucans) require very specialized diets, but some (finches, canaries, doves) have less complicated dietary needs. Find out exactly what your selected species of bird requires and decide if you can provide it.

Socialization
How much do you want to interact with your bird? Some birds do not really take to handling (e.g. finches and canaries), while others bond very tightly to their owners and can be quite cuddly (e.g. cockatoos, some other large parrots). If you do want a bird you can interact with socially, you need to be be able to commit the time to do so, as the more social birds can be very demanding of attention and resort to neurotic behavior if denied the interaction that they need.

Talking and Training
Many people choose parrots for their ability to talk. While certain species are renowned for their talking and mimicry ability, think twice if that is your motivation to get a parrot. Even within species known for speech, the ability to talk varies between individuals. However, most parrot species are intelligent and can be trained to do various tricks and behaviors. Even some of the smaller parrots can be trained to whistle tunes and can be quite entertaining.

Please read on to learn more about some of the bird species you could consider for a pet.

  • Budgies
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Birds

    Budgies (budgerigars) are an extremely popular pet bird, and for good reason. These small parrots make delightful pets, and are usually friendly and easy to tame. While they can sometimes be difficult to understand, they are quite capable of mimicking speech. Budgies are sometimes also called parakeets

    Read more
  • Canaries
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Birds

    The Canary species is called Serinus canaria and is actually a member of the finch family, native to the Canary Islands. The wild canary is greenish yellow over most of their body with yellow underparts. The domestic canary comes in an array of bright colors and can live up to 10 years. Male canaries

    Read more
  • Cockatiels
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Birds

    Cockatiels are among the most popular pet birds. Small parrots with a variety of color patterns and a crest, they are attractive as well as friendly and easy to tame. Because of their small size, cockatiel care and taming is easier than some other parrot species. They are capable of mimicking speech,

    Read more
  • Lovebirds
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Birds

    Lovebirds are very social and form deep bonds with their owners. If you are short on time to spend with your lovebird, then it is best to get him or her a companion. There are several species of lovebirds, such as the genus Agapornis. But the most commonly found species in the pet trade include peach

    Read more
  • Zebra Finches
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Birds

    In general, finches have an expected lifespan of anywhere from 5-15 years. The wide range here can probably be attributed to species differences as well as an increased understanding of their husbandry, especially diet. Zebra finches are arguably the most popular bird species found in the North American

    Read more
  • African Grey Parrots
    Category: Choosing Your Pet, Birds

    There are two subspecies of African grey parrot commonly found in the pet trade - the Congo African grey (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) and the Timneh African grey (Psittacus erithacus timneh). The Congo African grey is slightly larger than the Timneh, and has bright red tail feathers. The Timneh's

    Read more
  • 1
  • We Help Your Pet With
    • Chronic Conditions
    • Digestive and Oral Health
    • Diseases and Viruses
    • Pests and Parasites
    • Orthopedics
  • Today's Veterinarian
  • Choosing Your Pet
    • Birds
    • Cats
    • Dogs
    • Ferrets
    • Rabbits
    • Reptiles
      • Lizards
      • Turtles
  • Living With Your Pet
    • Bringing Your Pet Home
    • Providing Care
    • Travel
    • Saying Goodbye
  • Finding Your Pet
  • Newsletter Library
    • Tips for Pet Owners
    • Fun with Pets
    • Equine
    • Visiting the Vet
    • Unbelievable Pets
    • Seasonal Topics
    • Pet Dangers
    • Nutrition & Food
    • Recognizing Illness
    • Cats
    • Keeping Pets Healthy
    • Fleas & Parasites
    • Behavior & Training
  • Video Newsroom
    • Health Topics
    • Technology and Science
    • Other Interests
  • Client Survey
  • Pets4Kids
  • Feline

Chasewood App

Chasewood App Questions?

Featured Services

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

  • Covid 19 Protocols

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION! We have new appointment, or visit protocols in place to protect all involved from this Carona Virus.
  • Online Pharmacy

    For your convenience, we offer products such as tick & flea, heartworm medications, and more that can be shipped directly to you through our online Pharmacy if visiting the clinic is difficult.​
  • Services

    We strive to provide complete care for our patients. Learn more about all the services we provide.
    Read More

Office Hours

Monday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

Dr. Lowry

8:00 am-2:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Location

Testimonials

  • "Dr Maria, Ashley, Wendy and All

    Appreciate your time, care and attention to my newest family member. It has been since 2011 when I lost my standard tri-red to have an incredible new Aussie bud and mascot that had to be the right one. Many others have come through via rescue, long term care when owners were ill and fostering, but it took a long time to find Teddi.

    Thank you all under these current times continuing to provide the great care you always do.

    I refer all my real estate and networking contacts to you. Why would I suggest anyone go elsewhere when you are the best!

    Many thanks!"
  • "Hi all, I wanted to say that Chasewood has always had FANTASTIC vet techs!! But especially want to thank Sam for all of her special attention and love from Sitka!!! The whole team literally saved her life. Also, thanks from little Kenai, for just putting up with his naughty puppyisms. I promise, he’s getting better. I keep forgetting that labs stay PUPPIES for more than only 15 months!!!
    By next time he comes, he’ll be a GOOD BOY. THANKS- SAM hope you had a lot of appreciation for Vet Tech Appreciation Week"
    Bonnie & Rick​​ 10/22/19
  • "This Vet is the best! Maria is so experienced and knowledgable!! Her advice and instructions are priceless!! She's saved many of my animals over the years being able to diagnose most issues that other Doctors couldn't. I am indebted to her and her incredable staff."
    Lisa. M 11/27/19
  • "I have used Dr. Maria for 25 years always there when I need her. She has taken care of many of my pets over the years and came to my house so I could be with my Cocoa for his last day!"
    Dave & Jane M. 01/08/2019
  • "excellent care"
    Barbara B. 03/29/2019
  • "Friendly, knowledgeable and very accommodating. Having relocated from out of state, I’m glad we found Dr Maria and staff."
    Debbie S. 04/27/2019
  • "Everyone is so caring and helpful at this office."
    Jennifer/Andrew M. 05/16/2019
  • "It was our first visit to Chasewood Animal Hospital, they were recommended to us by our neighbor. it's been several years since I have had a dog, and its my wife's first.Dr. Maria and their entire staff are so nice, I feel we made the right choice and I look forward to keeping our little girl happy and healthy. Thanks Dr. Maria!"
    ​John M. 11/27/19
  • "Doc Maria and staff are always very caring and professional. Doc Maria makes me laugh!"
    Henry F. 04/13/2018
  • "On this visit he had teeth cleaned. Good job and not put all the way under. On other visits, I have requested blood work and the price was reasonable as well and the advice good. My dog doesn't have much wrong but Dr. Maria is on anything... I have been with her for most of the last 21 years."
    Frances M. 12/13/2018
  • "Dr. Maria and Staff are excellent. Very loving and caring. We have been going to them for many years. They are especially generous in helping pets find loving homes - we have adopted numerous cats from them including TomTom, Mr and Mrs Love, Maggie and Amy. We very much recommend them."
    Patricia P. 12/20/2018
  • "We have been bringing our cat Penny to Chasewood Animal Hospital for three or more years now. Dr. Lowry and her staff are really nice, competent, skilled and caring people. We have also boarded Penny there occasioally and have been very happy with all of the services Penny has received there. We hope to be seeing them for a long time to come. Ray, Elaine & Penny McGuire"
    Elaine M. 03/01/2019
  • "The staff at Chasewood Animal Hospital is so nice. Doc. Maria really knows her stuff and loves all her animals.​"
    Henry F. 05/07/2019
  • "We travel all the way from Delray Beach to Jupiter which is approximately 45 minutes to an hour just to have this vet. Many many vet's that are near us and not one of them come close to the care, knowledge, professionalism and care that she and her entire team give."
    Bill V. 08/27/2019
  • "Outstanding service and caring staff. I will be taking all my pets to Chasewood Veterinary from now on."
    James W. 8/22/19
  • "As always, Dr. Maria and her staff are pleasant, caring, and helpful. I am glad to have such a great place to bring my pets to where they get greatr care from people who really love animals!"
    Debbie S.​ 8/26/19
  • "Blue Velvet had a rabies vaccination and a checkup. We are pleased with the attention she gets with Dr. Maria Lowry. She does not hesitate to seek other advice when necessary. Everyone at the clinic really cares for the animals."
    Sue & Jim W. 02/08/2019
  • "Always caring and thorough and the best. R"
    Robert M. 02/18/2019
  • "I feel that the entire staff at Chase Animal hospital are very friendly and take great care of their patients ( animals).Dr. Maria is an excellent Veterinarian. My cat Brasco loves it here."
    Martha D. 02/18/2019
  • "I love Dr. Maria and all of her staff I have been going to her for almost 15 years and have always had nothing less than a great experience there. Her expertise, kindness, and caring cannot be found anywhere else."
    Haylee B. 03/01/2019
  • "As always, Dr. Maria Lowry was helpful, kind and always very knowledgeable. As well, the assistants in her office are helpful, kind and efficient. Of all animal hospitals we've been to in our 9 moves in 18 years, Chasewood Animal Hospital is at the top of the list!!"
    Jerry And Bev B. 03/18/2019
  • "Really like the Vet and her staff. Answered all my questions and they were really helpful. Very thorough."
    Dawn S. 05/02/2019
  • "Good Vet. All went well."
    Frances M. 05/23/2019
  • "We love Dr. Maria and the staff. They are always prompt and knowledgeable. My pets are in good hands!"
    Julie D. 07/20/2019
  • "CHASEWOOD ANIMAL HOSPITAL ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ALWAYS SO HELPFUL FRIENDLY AND KIND!!!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
    Beth P. 08/15/2019
  • "Love this office, staff is great but dr Marie is the best. I drive from Coral Springs to take my dog. Best vet in Florida"
    Shelly T. 09/28/2019
  • "Experienced and professional team! We felt the care we have been looking for here. I have wanted to make my girl's food, Now I feel equipped to do that. This team takes care from the ears to their waggy tails. Great Experience!"
    Linda B. 7/18/19
  • "They are always very nice. Dr Lowry is great and takes good care of my friend!"
    Brian W. 08/24/2019
  • "We just adopted two amazing Siamese kittens from Chasewood and the entire staff has been wonderful to us. They were very sick little guys and nursed back to 100% with love and patience. Stand out: Ashley rocks!!!!​​"
    Inez H. 10/04/2019

Featured Articles

    Keep Your Pets Safe From Toxic Household Items

    Do you know which household items can sicken your pet? ...

    Read More

    Preventing Obesity in Cats

    Even one extra pound could affect your pet's health. Find out how you can keep your cat slim and trim. ...

    Read More

    Pet Dental Care - Tips to Manage Your Pet’s Oral Health

    Do you know how to keep your pet's teeth and gums healthy? ...

    Read More

    Learn How to Master Walking Your Dog for Walk Your Pet Month

    Does your dog need a little help walking on a leash? ...

    Read More

    Bringing a New Pet in the Home in the New Year

    Are you planning on adding a pet to your family this year? These tips will help you prepare for the arrival of your furry, feathered, or finned friend. ...

    Read More

    Cold Symptoms in Dogs

    Could your sneezing, sniffling dog have a cold? ...

    Read More

    Cold Weather Pet Safety

    Do you know how to keep your pet safe this winter? ...

    Read More

    Keep Your Pet Safe During the Holidays

    Keep Thanksgiving day safe for your pet by following these tips. ...

    Read More

    November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month

    Do you know the symptoms that can occur if your pet has cancer? ...

    Read More

    How to Treat Common Injuries in Your Dog

    Would you know what to do if your dog was injured? ...

    Read More

Newsletter Sign Up

  • Copyright © 2021 MH Sub I, LLC dba iMatrix.
  • Admin Log In