It is a fair question, and one we hear often from Ajax bird owners. The reason we quote each stay individually rather than posting a flat price is simple: a weekend drop-in for one tame budgie and a two-week extended stay for a pair of macaws are not the same job, and pretending they cost the same would only short-change someone. Below is a plain-English breakdown of what actually moves the number, so there are no surprises when you reach out.

Species and Number of Birds

The kind of bird matters because the care does. A finch or a single budgie is straightforward; a large parrot like an African grey or a macaw needs more space, more enrichment, more cleaning, and far more hands-on engagement to stay settled. The headcount matters too — boarding a bonded pair, or a small flock, takes more time and setup than a single bird. If your birds can share a space and a routine, that is usually more efficient than housing several solo guests, and your quote reflects that.

Length of Stay

A long weekend and a fortnight away are different commitments. Longer stays involve more days of food, cleaning, and attention, but they also tend to carry a lower daily rate than a short booking — the per-day cost on an extended stay is generally gentler than on a one- or two-night drop-off, because the setup effort is spread across more days. When you share your travel dates, we can show you how the length factors in rather than leaving you to guess.

The Type of Care: Visits, Overnight, or Extended

The single biggest driver is which service fits your trip. Daily sitting visits — where we check in, feed, clean, and spend time with your bird — sit at one end. Overnight boarding, with an on-site sitter through the night and a full evening and morning routine, is a higher level of care. Extended stays of a week or more fold everything from overnight care into a longer arrangement at a reduced daily rate. The right choice depends on how long you are gone and how much company your bird needs, and we are happy to talk it through.

Add-Ons and Special Needs

A few things can adjust a quote up or down. Medication administration, a strict or specialised diet, extra one-on-one training, or a bird that needs particularly careful handling all take additional time and care. None of these are hidden — we flag anything that affects the price up front, so the quote you see is the quote you pay.

What Every Stay Includes

Whatever the final figure, the essentials are never an add-on. Every booking includes fresh food and water to your bird's own diet sheet, daily cage cleaning, real enrichment and interaction, a climate-controlled space tuned for Ajax's humid summers and dry winters, photo and video updates to your phone, and a summary at pickup. You are paying for attentive, bird-specific care — not a cage in a back room.

How to Get Your Custom Quote

Because every bird and every trip is different, we give each owner a tailored quote rather than a one-size-fits-all rate. Tell us your species and number of birds, your dates, and the kind of care you are after, and we will come back with a clear, honest price and no obligation. Owners right across the neighbourhoods we serve in Ajax start exactly here. Get in touch for a custom quote — call (289) 212-8615 or email info@ajaxbirdingco.ca.

Helpful reading: Vacation and holiday bird boarding in Ajax and our full guides to the birds we board.