Keeping birds as pets isn’t for everyone and it can be a little more complicated than, say, welcoming home something more typical like a cat or dog. 

With the latter, you have some kind of idea of what to expect and what needs you’ll have to fulfil, but if you’re a newcomer to the wonderful world of aviary birds, it’s advisable to do a lot of research first.

Before you do anything, you first need to decide which bird is the best fit for you – so here are just three of our very favourite feathered friends that would be perfect for anyone dipping their toe into the bird bath for the very first time. 

Need any further help or advice? Give the Johnston & Jeff team a call!

Zebra finches

Zebra finches are a really brilliant choice for novices as they’re really cute, fluffy and fun, with wonderful personalities. They’re also really easy to take care of so if you’re a little nervous, they represent an excellent gateway bird! 

Keep them in pairs so they don’t get lonely and leave the radio on for them if you have to go out. They’re relatively independent of spirit so they won’t mind you leaving them on their own for a bit!

You’ll want to make sure you buy them a nice big flight cage or aviary so they have plenty of space. And as for food, check out our ABZ Finch Mix, which was initially created with these birds in mind, containing a variety of millets, proteins and amino acids to give your birds everything they need to live long and happy lives.

Rainbow lorikeets

Looking for something vibrant and playful? Then a rainbow lorikeet could be the bird for you! 

Also known as lories, these birds are very sweet and a lot of fun – but be aware that they’re not especially laid back and love nothing more than being the centre of attention, so it’s important that you have sufficient time to hang out with them. They can also live for up to 30 years, so be prepared to share your home for a while!

If you hand-feed your bird while they’re young they’ll become more accustomed to human touch and will be less inclined to give you a nip. 

Food-wise, lories survive in the wild on flower pollen and nectar, so you’ll need to bear this in mind. Make your own fresh nectar mix a couple of times a day and you’ll have a very happy bird indeed!

Chinese painted quails

Also known as button quails, Chinese painted quails make for a very interesting addition to your aviary – but, fun fact, they’re not actually genetically related to the quail at all, despite resembling them in appearance. They’re actually members of the Turnicidae family!

Make sure that you provide them with a well-ventilated rectangular aviary to keep them happy. You don’t need to worry about giving them any perches as they prefer to scurry about on the ground and they don’t have a hind toe, so they can’t perch easily.

As for food, check out our Quail Mix, which has been specifically formulated with ground-feeding birds in mind. Happy bird-keeping!