Why a bird is the ideal pet for Hong Kong's small homes

If you are considering a pet - and a dog or cat is neither practical nor appealing - then an ideal option may be a bird.

"Like getting any new pet, do your homework before you make the purchase. Different varieties of birds have different levels of care required to keep them healthy and, most importantly, happy."

There are also the different types of food and cages to research before bringing home a feathered friend.

Kenda recommends getting a bird that is relatively young, as this ensures that it becomes comfortable with being handled, can be trained to talk and can spend some time out of its cage. "However, beware of getting a bird that is too young, as rearing a very young bird by hand is best done by someone with a lot of experience."

The next thing to do is to spend time closely observing the bird. "Potential bird owners should look for sneezing, nasal discharge, dull, non-alert eyes, a puffed-up appearance, loss of any feathers or sitting on the bottom of the cage. Any of these signs indicate an unhealthy bird," Kenda says. Birds also have a very rapid metabolism, the vet adds, so if they get sick, their condition deteriorates quickly. This means if a pet bird looks unwell, it should be taken to the vet as soon as possible.