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The parakeet is one of the smallest members of the parrot family. The term parakeet covers many different species. The most common bird that the term parakeet covers is the Australian budgerigar. The Australian budgerigar is the color green in the wild. Through many years of selective breeding processes the bird can be purchased in a variety of different colors.
Purchasing Your Bird
Purchase the bird from a reputable breeder or pet store. Make sure the parakeet has bright eyes and bright sleek feathers. If he is huddled up and droopy looking he may be sick. Observe the bird for a while and make sure he is active and interested in his surroundings. Make sure his vent is clean and his droppings are well formed.
Cage
Don’t pick out a fancy cage, especially one of those bamboo cages. The parakeet will chew it up and this can be dangerous. A wire cage is best. Wire cages can be sanitized easily. Parakeets prefer non-round cages. As with any bird, the bigger the cage the better.
The perches should be of various diameters for optimal foot health. Try to provide at least three different perches on three different levels. Wood perches are better than plastic perches. Parakeets enjoy chewing and can ingest some of the plastic. One of these perches can be a swing. Keep the swing and perches away from the food and water dishes. You want to keep the bird from eliminating in his food or water because this is not healthy.
Provide your parakeet with plenty of parakeet safe toys. Birds are intelligent animals and require mental stimulation. Rotate his toys frequently to provide variety.
Place a cuttlebone inside the cage. A cuttlebone is the skeleton of a cuttlefish. The cuttlebone provides calcium as well as keeping his beak worn down. A mineral block can also be used either with the cuttlebone or in place of the cuttlebone.
Nutrition
The parakeet is vegetarian. He enjoys seeds, greens and fruits. He should not eat dairy products.
Many seed mixes are available for parakeets commercially. I have seen very few parakeets that like the pellets. Basic seed mixes are made up of 40 % canary seed, 20 % French millet, 20 % panicum, and 20 % oats. Provide protein to the diet using a small amount of wheat germ or cod liver oil.
Provide your parakeet with fresh greens. Remove the greens from the cage after an hour or so to avoid spoilage. He will enjoy fresh grass. He will also enjoy and greatly benefit from seeds that have been sprouted. Leaves and branches from non-poisonous trees are good. Small amounts of fruits can be offered. Many healthy foods that you eat can be offered to a parakeet. Always provide your parakeet with plenty of fresh water.
Grit should be available to your bird. The grit aids in the digestion process. The minerals in grit are also beneficial to the bird.
Health
Birds have a tendency to mask illnesses. Since a bird metabolizes so quickly once a problem is observed the illness will progress rapidly.
To insure your bird’s good health provide plenty of good nutrition. Keep his cage and accessories clean and sanitized. Keep the bird out of drafts and sudden temperature changes.
If you observe your bird displaying symptoms such as hunched over, droopy, wet droppings, or uninterested in his environment he is sick. Take your bird to an avian veterinarian.
Your house has many dangers to the bird. He may get hurt on a ceiling fan. He may drop into a pot of boiling water or an open toilet. He could ingest poisonous plants. The fumes from overheated non-stick cookware are poisonous to your birds. Use extreme caution when letting your bird fly in your home.
Parakeets can be afflicted with parasites, the most common are the Ascaris and Capillaris worms. The parakeet should be wormed three to four times a year. Use Piperazine or Levimasole to worm your bird.
Birds can suffer from Coccidiosis. The symptoms of Coccidiosis are blood in the droppings, a soiled vent and the bird will look huddled up. This must be diagnosed with the use of a microscope. Take the bird to a veterinarian for diagnoses and treatment.
Ornithosis - Psittacosis is a disease in birds that can be passed on to humans. The symptoms are runny eyes and blinking. Take the bird to a veterinarian for diagnoses and treatment.
Birds can suffer with mites and lice. Birds will act lethargic and become anemic. Treat the bird with a commercial spray available at pet stores.
Play and Training
The first thing you should train your parakeet is how to perch on a finger. Remain calm and speak in a calming voice. Gently press your finger into his chest until he learns to step up upon your finger. Offer him praise and a treat. Parakeets can learn to mimic words. Repeat the word or phrase over and over. Male birds are much easier to train than female birds.
Birds enjoy sounds and music in the background. Many of the soothing earth sound tapes are great. Keep the volume low. Birds suffer from boredom too!
Provide your pet with toys and treats. The bird will enjoy playing with a bell. He will enjoy talking to himself in a mirror. He will have a great deal of fun with a swing. Pet stores have a great variety of toys available for parakeets. Put some of the toys away for a couple weeks and bring out new ones. Rotating his toys will provide him with new mental stimulation.
There are many healthy fun treats available for the parakeet. They will enjoy millet sprays, egg biscuits, seed sticks, fruit sticks and seed bells.
You might consider purchasing a bird playpen. The playpen has perches, swings and ladders. Your parakeet will have a great deal of fun with a bird playpen.
The parakeet is a brilliantly colored small parrot that makes a delightful companion pet. Their antics are fun to watch. They can be trained to talk and mimic your words. Keep his cage and accessories clean. Spend time playing and talking with your bird. Provide him with plenty of mental stimulation with toys. You will have a good friend for many years to come.
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