If you have a green thumb and a spare room in your house, there may be a way to keep a hummingbird as a pet. Hummingbirds are often found in backyards that have gardens with lots of flowers or feeders with nectar on them.
They can also be seen flying from flower to flower looking for food. The biggest problem is they’re so tiny and fast, it’s hard to catch one!
There are some people who enjoy watching them too much though, and think about capturing their own little birdie friend. But how do you keep one? Read more below!
Table of Contents
What is a hummingbird?
A hummingbird is a small bird that can hover in the air and fly backwards. They are also the smallest birds in North America. Hummingbirds have long, thin beaks that they use to sip nectar from flowers.
They also eat insects. Hummingbirds are native to North America, Central America, and South America. There are over 300 different species of hummingbirds.
Hummingbirds are known for their bright colors. Some hummingbirds are black and white, while others are red, green, or blue. Male hummingbirds have brightly colored feathers on their heads that they use to attract females.
Hummingbirds are very active birds. They spend most of their day flying around looking for food. Hummingbirds are also very territorial and will attack other hummingbirds if they enter their territory.
Hummingbirds are very important to the environment. They help pollinate flowers and spread pollen. Hummingbirds also help keep the insect population under control.
Hummingbirds are a joy to watch and are a reminder of how beautiful nature can be. If you ever get the chance, be sure to watch a hummingbird feeder and see these amazing creatures up close!
Can you keep a hummingbird as a pet?
Hummingbirds are tiny, delicate creatures that require a lot of specialized care. They cannot be kept as pets in most cases.
If you live in an area where hummingbirds are common, it may be possible to attract them to your yard by installing a feeder. Once they become familiar with your yard, they may stay for a while.
If you can get close enough, you may be able to Hand-Feed Hummingbirds. However, attempting to keep a hummingbird as a pet is not recommended, as they are very fragile and require a lot of care.
There are some special circumstances under which it may be possible to keep a hummingbird as a pet.
For example, if you find an injured hummingbird, you may be able to nurse it back to health and keep it as a pet. However, in most cases it is not recommended to keep hummingbirds as pets.
How can you keep a hummingbird as a pet?
Keeping a hummingbird as a pet is an improbable idea, although with great effort and dedication you can make it come true.
It will be like having a tiny bird for two reasons: they are small and extremely active, so without your care their life span would not exceed several weeks at best.
The shortest recorded lifespan of a captive hummingbird is only 18 days – these were the unfortunate birds in the scientific experiment described below – but that doesn’t mean that keeping them locked up would be hopeless from the start unless that particular individual had some obvious health complication.
What challenges do you face when you keep a hummingbird as a pet?
There are a few challenges that come with owning a hummingbird as a pet. One is that they require a lot of food, as much as half their body weight per day. They also need a lot of fresh water, and you’ll need to clean their cage daily.
Another challenge is that they can be very active and energetic. They may fly around their cage or even try to escape from it.
They may also make a lot of noise, so you’ll need to be prepared for that if you’re trying to keep them in a room where you’re trying to sleep or study.
Lastly, they can be difficult to care for if you’re not familiar with their needs. If you’re not sure how to meet all of their needs, it’s best to find a hummingbird expert to help you care for your pet.
Despite these challenges, however, owning a hummingbird can be a very rewarding experience.
They are beautiful birds and they can be a lot of fun to watch. If you’re prepared for the challenges and are willing to put in the work, then owning a hummingbird as a pet may be right for you.
Benefits of keeping hummingbird as a pet
In the world of pets, birds are probably one of the most common pets found. In fact there are a ton of birds out there that you can get as a pet. But we also want to focus our attention on keeping hummingbirds as pets.
Well for starters, these pets require relatively low maintenance costs because they don’t need too much food nor a place to live since they’re not very big creatures (it doesn’t weigh more than an ounce).
They can live up to 8 years which makes it a relatively long-term commitment and you’ll get to see their beautiful colors and markings as they grow older.
Another great thing about hummingbirds is that they’re really easy to tame and make friends with, so much so that you can even train them to do some simple tricks.
They are also considered as one of the smartest animals in the world so you know that your little friend can keep you entertained for hours on end. As we said before, they also don’t require a lot of food which means that you won’t have to spend too much on bird feed or on toys for it.
Now if you’re still not convinced whether or not keeping a hummingbird as a pet is a good idea, let us give you some more reasons on why you should do it. For one, they are really fun to watch and their antics will definitely put a smile on your face.
They’re also great for people who are new to keeping pets because they’re easy to take care of and don’t require a lot of maintenance. Lastly, having a pet hummingbird can help you relieve stress and can be a great way to reduce anxiety levels.
So if you’re looking for an interesting and low-maintenance pet to keep, then we recommend that you get yourself a hummingbird. It’s definitely one of the best pets that you can have!
What to feed a hummingbird?
Hummingbirds are tiny creatures and they need a lot of energy to survive. To make sure your hummingbird is getting the right nutrients, you should feed it a diet that consists mostly of sugar water.
You can also give your hummingbird fresh fruits and vegetables, but be sure to avoid giving it anything high in fat or protein, like meat.
Here are some tips for making sugar water:
1) Use pure cane sugar or honey – don’t use artificial sweeteners, which can be harmful to hummingbirds.
2) Dissolve the sugar in hot water so that it’s easier for the birds to digest.
3) Make sure the sugar water is always fresh and clean – change it every day.
4) Provide a variety of foods to give your hummingbird a well-rounded diet.
A hummingbird’s diet should also include fresh fruits and vegetables. Some good choices for fruits are:
1) ripened figs
2) grapes
3) berries
4) oranges
5) diced watermelon
6) sliced peaches
7) pineapple
And some good choices for vegetables are:
1) broccoli florets
2) green beans
3) spinach leaves
4) chopped celery
5) cucumber slices
6) boiled eggs
If you’re not sure what to feed your hummingbird, ask your local pet store for advice. They will be able to tell you which fruits and vegetables are safe to feed your pet.
They may also be able to recommend some commercial hummingbird foods, but make sure to read the ingredients very carefully before buying any specific food for your bird.
Conclusion
You can keep a hummingbird as a pet! It may sound like an impossible feat but it is actually not that hard.
Here are some tips for keeping your hummingbird happy and healthy in captivity, including what to feed them with.
If you’re considering adopting one of these lovely creatures, we hope this helps you decide whether or not they would be the perfect addition to your household.
Our other posts on birds: Bird Sector
Hi there! My name is Sarah, and I’m the author behind “Bird Sector,” a website dedicated to helping bird owners learn more about their pets and how to take good care of them. I’m passionate about birds and love sharing my knowledge and experiences with others.