Never feed a bird from your mouth, since some of the benign germs we carry can wreak havoc on a bird's system. Resist the temptation to overdo junk food or sweets, especially since birds that don't get a lot of exercise can put on unhealthy excess weight. And don't buy the boxes of grit you see sold in pet shops. But, pet birds have the leisure to munch, and studies show that grit offers no benefits. What's worse, some birds gorge on it and go on to develop blockages that can be fatal.
Birds do best when kept in the liveliest room of the house, close to the action.
Consider buying several birds so they have one another for company. But, if you buy a single bird, plan to make it a member of the family. While cages with vertical bars are fine for Canaries and Finches, hookbills enjoy climbing, and should live in cages with horizontal bars. And the covers rarely do what they claim to keep a bird's toenails files. Birds like an occasional bath too.