Parakeet
The Budgerigar or Budgie Parakeet
Scientific Name: Melopsittacus undulatus
Basic Description: These are great beginner birds for anyone. They live for as long as 25 years and they are usually 7 inches in length. Parakeets are very social animals and they do best with other Parakeets in their cage. You should play with your Parakeet about 30 minutes a day. They are very smart and can be trained to step up on your hand. Male parakeets can sometimes learn to talk to you. Parakeets are among one of the friendliest birds that you can own.
Food: Feed your Parakeet 1-2 teaspoons of pellet or seed-based Parakeet food daily. Make sure you give your Parakeet some fruits or veggies atleast three times a week. They enjoy fruits and veggies like apples, carrots, grapes, broccoli, and sweet potatoes. Make sure your fruits and veggies are cut up small enough for your Parakeet to eat. Parakeets are very messy eaters and will drop a lot food while they eat. It is a good idea to keep a cuttle bone in your Parakeet's cage at all times to supplement your Parakeet with all the nutrients it needs. Make sure that there is fresh, clean water in a bowl or bottle in your Parakeet's cage at all times. It is a good idea to change the water and food in the cage every day, even if they look full.
Home: The bigger your Parakeet's cage, the better. The minimum cage size for your Parakeet should be 14"W x 16"L x 16"H. It is always better to keep two or more Parakeets in one cage because they are very social. Keep atleast two perches of different sizes in your Parakeet's cage at different heights. Put your Parakeet's cage below eye level away from open windows, vents, and the kitchen. Parakeets are sensitive to strong odors and smoke. Cover your cage at night to prevent drafts. Give your Parakeet 2-3 toys to keep it entertained. Place them in a place where your birdie won't bump into them all the time. Move its toys around weekly to keep your bird interested in them. I reccomend that you clean your Parakeet's cage atleast once a week. Change the bedding and scrub the bottom of the cage. Also, wash the food and water containers. Washing the cage wires, the toys, and the perches is also a great idea.
Grooming: Give a birdbath to your Parakeet 2-3 times a week. You can give it a warm bath or mist it with warm water from a clean spray bottle. Your Parakeet will groom itself also.
Health: You can tell that your Parakeet is healthy if it has clear, bright eyes, clean, smooth feathers, eats throughout the day, has a curious and active personality, and normal droppings that are not runny for more than a couple of days. You can tell if your Parakeet is unhealthy if it is not eating and has lost weight, if it does not groom itself as often as usual, if it is sitting at the bottom of the cage, if it has a change in droppings for more than two days, if it is sneezing, if it has discharge from nose or mouth, and if its feathers fluffed for long periods of time. If you think something is wrong with your little Parakeet, consult an Avian Veterinarian as soon as possible.
Enjoy your Parakeets!
Scientific Name: Melopsittacus undulatus
Basic Description: These are great beginner birds for anyone. They live for as long as 25 years and they are usually 7 inches in length. Parakeets are very social animals and they do best with other Parakeets in their cage. You should play with your Parakeet about 30 minutes a day. They are very smart and can be trained to step up on your hand. Male parakeets can sometimes learn to talk to you. Parakeets are among one of the friendliest birds that you can own.
Food: Feed your Parakeet 1-2 teaspoons of pellet or seed-based Parakeet food daily. Make sure you give your Parakeet some fruits or veggies atleast three times a week. They enjoy fruits and veggies like apples, carrots, grapes, broccoli, and sweet potatoes. Make sure your fruits and veggies are cut up small enough for your Parakeet to eat. Parakeets are very messy eaters and will drop a lot food while they eat. It is a good idea to keep a cuttle bone in your Parakeet's cage at all times to supplement your Parakeet with all the nutrients it needs. Make sure that there is fresh, clean water in a bowl or bottle in your Parakeet's cage at all times. It is a good idea to change the water and food in the cage every day, even if they look full.
Home: The bigger your Parakeet's cage, the better. The minimum cage size for your Parakeet should be 14"W x 16"L x 16"H. It is always better to keep two or more Parakeets in one cage because they are very social. Keep atleast two perches of different sizes in your Parakeet's cage at different heights. Put your Parakeet's cage below eye level away from open windows, vents, and the kitchen. Parakeets are sensitive to strong odors and smoke. Cover your cage at night to prevent drafts. Give your Parakeet 2-3 toys to keep it entertained. Place them in a place where your birdie won't bump into them all the time. Move its toys around weekly to keep your bird interested in them. I reccomend that you clean your Parakeet's cage atleast once a week. Change the bedding and scrub the bottom of the cage. Also, wash the food and water containers. Washing the cage wires, the toys, and the perches is also a great idea.
Grooming: Give a birdbath to your Parakeet 2-3 times a week. You can give it a warm bath or mist it with warm water from a clean spray bottle. Your Parakeet will groom itself also.
Health: You can tell that your Parakeet is healthy if it has clear, bright eyes, clean, smooth feathers, eats throughout the day, has a curious and active personality, and normal droppings that are not runny for more than a couple of days. You can tell if your Parakeet is unhealthy if it is not eating and has lost weight, if it does not groom itself as often as usual, if it is sitting at the bottom of the cage, if it has a change in droppings for more than two days, if it is sneezing, if it has discharge from nose or mouth, and if its feathers fluffed for long periods of time. If you think something is wrong with your little Parakeet, consult an Avian Veterinarian as soon as possible.
Enjoy your Parakeets!