What do you do to save money on the things you buy or feed your birds?

[tamaran2]

In talking with the rescues and sanctuaries on our talks, we are hearing from rescues that the economy is taking its toil on bird owners. They are seeing birds show up in at an alarming rate. It seems that as the economy gets worse, pets are losing their homes and it is not just birds, dogs, cats, and horses too.

What have you changed with how you spend or feed your birds?

What do you do that help cut cost? Maybe you have always done it to save money, but if you have added something what would that be?

I have always, bought in bulk, used my freezer, canned, dehydrated things.

[Lori~D]

I buy feed/seed/nuts in bulk and mix my own mix - premade parrot mixes are too expensive. I buy bulk dehydrated greens and fruits to add to the mix and this winter I would like to do my own dehydrating (when there is more time). I get newspapers from work and leftovers from the newspaper carrier friend. I buy used cages and refurbish them myself (thus my birds have bigger and more places to spend time on my budget) I filter my own water instead of purchasing. I use a steamer (whole house) which save hundreds in cleaning supplies and a power washer in the summer which has reduced my overall water bill because it uses so much less water to get the job done in a fraction of the time. At the end of the holiday season you can get large bags of mixed (tree)nuts on sale and store them in a cool dry place for a long time or the freezer even longer. I make most of my own toys and perches.

[loyallyroyal]

I didn't know I did lol

Dewey is probably the cheapest one to feed, beans and rice and you have a happy birdy, though I splurge and bet him beans sprouts and sunflower sprouts from the grocery store

I also buy the frozen fruit and veggie mixes, that way I can buy in bulk without it going bad

baby resale shops also have great toys for less, rattles, links, those little pianos, the toys with the wooden balls on a track,
I bought this toy
Ocean WondersAquarium with remote control - Fisher Price Toys - babygear
for about $20 and Dewey loves it, he presses the little button with his beak

he also has this one
Walmart.com : Baby Einstein - Baby Neptune Soothing Seascape Crib Toy : Baby & Toddler Toys
but he cant press it himself, I have to do it for him

I think the biggest expense for animal owners is vet bills, I know with my ekkie its $70, the rabbits are $65, and the dogs are $45, just to walk in the door!

[LoveMyBeak]

I make my own toys with one of those radial arm saws and a drill, I made my own stand for the shower with pvc and vet wrap(my wife is a med assistant and gets skin colored vet wrap for free) and it only costed me about five dollars, I made my own T-stands out of wooden electrical spool ends, closet doweling, and barstools I purchased at yard sales.
believe me-I am poor arse broke, but I refuse to give up my birds, they will be the LAST thing to go.
I am still figuring out the food savings ideas........LMB

[donnakris]

I eat more peanut butter and jelly...lol

[phonelady61]

eat alot of beans and rice and peanut butter and jelly . I cut back on groceries and other things in order to do and provide for my birds and am always looking for deals on certain things and bust my butt to get there before they are gone . LOL !!!! My oh my what we do for our birds and animals period .

[Astrid660]

Originally Posted by donnakris

I eat more peanut butter and jelly...lol

hahahaha me too.
Birds first, me second. I'd have to be verrry homeless in order to give up any of my birds.

[prettypenguin]

I buy large quantities of seed and pellets and share my greens with them. They have a few big toys and swings but their favorites are those little twig balls that are really cheap so I'm lucky. I guess the biggest expense besides the vet is Poop-off!

[BigBird]

Ive got a heap of birds and have to buy in bulk for the seed. When I sell a baby I stock up on more bags of seed and lorikeet mixes. Veg and fruit cost a heap. Im slack and buy the store nut mixes and they charge an arm and a leg however the health food shops 1kg bags are much better value and quality that the small packs the pet stores sell and apparently according to the shop assistant a lot of people buy their bird food from them. I neverhave done this but it would be a good idea and know a lot who do do it. Go to the local markets and make friends with an owner and get the throw away stuff at a really good price if not free. Its usually only chucked because it may have a bruise on it or its the excess leaves etc. End of the day though its an expensive passion, but the rewards are well worth it.

[kali]

i work at a pet store so i get wholesale price plus 10%.

it definately helps me, without that i'd reallly be struggling. i also get a lot of sample toys for free from the reps if i promise we'll stock them in the store.. and one company supplies us dog food for free hoping we'll recommend it.

other than that, i just tell luke we need something and make him buy it if i'm having a really poor week.