Parakeets make amusing and entertaining pets. They do not need a lot of space and are easy to maintain.
Also known as budgerigars or budgies, parakeets originated in Australia. They are available in a variety of colors, so you can actually have parakeets of different colors, usually blues and greens with heads in a contrasting color. Â They belong to the parrot family of birds but are not parrots.
Buying a parakeet
Parakeets will be available in pet shops or in shops which specialize in birds. It is better to buy a young one rather than and older bird, because young birds can be easily trained. It is better to go in for a hand raised parakeet, though it will be a little more expensive.
Ideally you should buy them in a pair so that they can give each other company, particularly if you are away at work the whole day. However, one parakeet can also stay alone. But it needs to be around people, so don’t keep it alone the whole day as parakeets can get depressed and moody.
Parakeet cages
You should get a good sized cage for a parakeet made of metal, preferably stainless steel which is easy to clean and maintain. The cage should have a perch, some toys like mirrors and ladders, a bell, a swing, dishes for their food and water. You can also keep some edible plants in the cage so that parakeets can enjoy the feel of nature. Place the cage as high as you can reach, because parakeets like to feel on top of the world and look down on their surroundings.
It is always better to get the parakeet and the cage at the same time or get the cage before so that it is set up before you get the parakeet home. The cage should be kept away from drafts and you should keep in mind that parakeets are used to being in a temperate climate, neither too hot nor too cold. In the night the cage should be covered or semi-covered to allow the parakeet to wind down and go to sleep.
Feeding your parakeet
Like many birds, parakeets are vegetarians. You can get a variety of seeds and mixes for parakeets and you should check out a variety to see which one your parakeet is happy with. You can also feed it vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds.
Some things are dangerous to give a parakeet chocolate, apple and cherry seeds, cabbage, raw potatoes, beans, plums, milk and milk products, avocados and junk foods. It is a good idea to keep a cuttlebone in the cage to give the parakeet something to peck at or gnaw. The cuttlebone also serves to keep their beaks trimmed.
Training the parakeet
Parakeets are intelligent and can respond to your action and talk. They can be trained to perch on your finger. At times they also enjoy being lightly scratched. You can also train them to talk, by repeating words and phrases over and over again. Single birds learn to talk faster than birds which are kept in pairs.
Once you have trained your parakeet to communicate, you will enjoy the interaction much more. Parakeets also mimic sounds around them like the ringing of bells and phones or even music.
Parakeet needs
Parakeets need to be out in the sun for sometime so that they can get their quota of Vitamin D. Â While it is important they the cages be away from draughts, they need some unfiltered sunlight, so you could keep the cage near an open window for sometime.
If you have other pets like cats and dogs, make sure that your bird is safe from them. Try and allow the parakeet some freedom in the house or outdoors if you are sure it will not fly away. You can also keep some open perches around the house for the parakeet to fly and then perch.
