Pet Parakeet Care : Parakeet Cages Help Your Bird's Health and Happiness

The parakeet is a type of small, long-tailed parrot. The term parakeet actually refers to a number of unrelated small parrot species. In the USA the term parakeet typically refers solely to a bird known as the budgerigar which hails from all regions of Australia.

These colorful and vivacious little birds also have the power of speech. In fact the parakeet is ranked amongst the top five best speakers of all parrot varieties. One parakeet, Puck, was credited by Guinness World Records as having a vocabulary of 1,728 words. Another parakeet by the name of Victor was said to be able to engage in contextual conversations and even predict the future. While the spurious claims made by Canadian owner Ryan Reynolds are hard to test, it is obvious that parakeets posses a truly inquisitive and intelligent nature.

In order to foster their intelligence and keep them happy, a proper parakeet cage is necessary. The barest minimum cage size should be 18x18 inches wide. This cage can comfortably house two tame parakeets provided that they are let out for a few hours each day. Of course, larger cages are always recommended and can be obtained at relatively cheap costs. It is important that cages should be wider than they are tall. Because parakeets fly more like an airplane than a helicopter, vertical distance is more beneficial than horizontal space.

Parakeet cages should also be well equipped with a variety of bars and toys to keep these intelligent little birds busy. A bored bird can quickly make your life miserable. Not only will they constantly make noise and kick food and other debris from the cage, but they will begin to self-mutilate themselves in the search for attention. Birds need a lot of attention, so this is not a pet to consider if you cannot provide plenty of it. But even with lots of devoted attention, parakeets will still require a great deal of activities to keep them busy while you are at work or school.

Some great toys to keep your bird's cage stocked with include mirrors, things to hang from, chains, bells, and many other veterinarian approved devices to keep your bird busy. Another sign of parakeet intelligence is that they quickly become bored with existing toys. So even if you're cage was once a parakeet Eden, it is necessary to continually restock it with new items and toys. While new toys and activities are essential, the demand for new entertainment can be mitigated by frequently rearranging the cage as the birds crave variety more than anything else. It is also possible to reintroduce old toys after a few months absence to generate new interest.

These fascinating little birds are sure to amaze and delight. Keep them happy and they will reciprocally keep you amused as well. Wonders never cease as these funny little creatures chatter, talk, and sing.