Bird Feeders: A Surprisingly Complicated Choice

By Author: Aneesa Stein
Total Articles: 14
Comment this article

We don’t really associate birds with Australian households. But you know what? That’s a bit of a mistake, as birds, believe it or not, are present in almost 10% of all Aussie homes. Birds, when you think about it, are the perfect apartment-sized pet. Small, but full of personality, typically quiet but also not boring, small pet birds like cockatoos have risen in popularity in recent years, and as of 2025, our country is home to no less than 4.5 million of them.

Yes, dogs and cats are more popular. Out of the 73% of Aussie households that own a pet, 49% of them have a dog, while cats come in second place at 34%. But you know who is in third place? Well, you are reading this post, so you can already guess: Our small avian friends. Birds present a set of genuine advantages over other types of pets, such as being small and adaptable to apartment living. While a significant number of landlords will have a problem in allowing cats and dogs on their property’s premises, birds are usually exempt from this rule, and therefore, they are often the best pet available for individuals limited by their living situation.

Do ...
... you live a quiet life, you don’t go out too much, you are away for most of your day because of work, and realistically, you don’t have the free time required to properly handle the responsibilities associated with a cat or dog? I’ve also been there, and honestly, going for a pet bird was probably one of the best decisions of my life. That said, not everything will be smooth sailing. In order to develop predictability, your feathered pal will require bird supplies. Among these, bird feeders are one of the most important.

It's Actually Not as Easy as You Might Think

Bird feeders are simple contraptions that can usually be purchased for $8, right? Well, yes, in most cases. But choosing the right one for the particular requirements of your bird will, in some cases, be a surprisingly complicated choice. Some birds are messier than others when eating, and most importantly, there is no universal size for all feeders. Are you the owner of a parrot? Then, you will likely try to find a stainless-steel coop cup that’s at least 150ML deep. Do you instead own a smaller bird, like a canary? In that case, a small, perch-like bird feeder might be a better choice.

The material you choose can also make a difference. Do you want to go for something classic? Then, stainless-steel bird feeders will probably tick most of your boxes. However, if you are feeling fancy, you can also go for plastic funnel-like feeders, with a size between 11.5 and 16cm. The options are plentiful and are only limited by the size of your cage and the budget you work with.

Speaking of budget, owning a bird, at least in Australia, is so much less expensive than what we usually associate with other pets like dogs and cats. While the average dog owner spends around $3,000 to $6,000 in the first year of their pet’s life, for birds, these costs are closer to $1,000 ( https://australiacan.org.au/pet-projects/the-cost-of-pet-ownership ). It’s a major difference, and it’s one of the main reasons why pet bird ownership in Australia is slowly but surely rising.

So, What to Look for In Bird Feeders?

Like it’s always the case with bird supplies, the number one thing you need to consider when going for metal or plastic bird feeders ( https://www.petshopdirect.com.au/shop/category/bird-feeders ) is the quality and size of the item you select. Seed feeders must be appropriately sized for the dimensions of your bird’s cage and be placed in a position that makes them easily reachable by your feathered friend. Food-grade plastic feeders are a solution to consider if you want something easy to clean that will probably never trap bacteria. However, if weight is not an issue, stainless steel is also a good choice.

Is your bird a messy eater ( https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/tips-manage-pet-birds-mess/ )? In such a case, going for a bird feeder that’s secured to the walls of the cage via separate clips will likely be a better idea than selecting simple seed bowls, which can be easily knocked over. But, if you go for clip-attached feeders, you must select a product that’s easy to detach, as you will need to disinfect it, along with the rest of the bird cage, at least once every couple of weeks. No-mess, acrylic or stainless-steel feeders are likely the safest choice around if you want a feeder that’s suitable for both small and large birds. However, if you have multiple birds, automatic feeders made of food-grade plastic should also be considered.

Where Should You Get Your Bird Supplies?

Not that’s the million-dollar question. Do you live in an urban-sprawl, and you are close to local, independently-operated pet stores that stock products for multiple species? In that case, you should probably at least consider utilising their services. You will support the local economy, and you might obtain personal bird supplies recommendations from staff passionate about their job.

You don’t know exactly what bird supplies you are looking for, or you require a specific product that realistically cannot wait for delivery? In such a case, the services of a local pet store will come in handy. But what if you are not active in a large city? What if you don’t have a pet store nearby, or you don’t have the free time required to regularly browse the collections of offline pet stores? In that case, the online route will be more up your alley.

Online stores permit you to compare the characteristics of multiple bird supplies at once; they are often cheaper than local pet stores, and, let’s face it, they are simply convenient. Personally? I go for both options, as the requirements of my pets are constantly shifting. Some accessories or toys can wait for a couple of days, and if they are not instantly available, well, it will not be the end of the world. However, for some products, in which time is of the essence, the benefits of a physical store are hard to beat.