Pet Parakeet Care : Getting to Know Your Parakeet

Top Secrets Revealed

Getting to know your parakeet is one of the most enjoyable things you'll get to do with your pet, and even though it can appear a little uninteresting initially, one of the finest methods to become acquainted with your bird is to play with her or him.

Naturally there are more ways to become closer to your pet, but you want to start somewhere, and this is as good a place as any.

Start by learning how to hand feed your bird. One of the elementals in relationship building with any animal or person is trust, and the more that you can bond with your bird the more trust will build between you.

Getting to know your parakeet starts with these bonding experiences, and your bird will worship you for it. To start your bonding session, first take him out of the cage by placing your index finger on your bird's lower stomach. This should coax him onto your finger. Ensure he's relaxed. Next, put him up on the top of the cage and start speaking with him in a soft friendly demeanour. This is how your parakeet will recognize that you are being friendly.

After 15 minutes or so, let him go back into his cage. The trick is to do this each day, and after a few days your parakeet will become pretty close with you. The bond has started to develop, and this is something you'll see occurring right in front of your eyes.

Be certain that you provide your pet with plenty of fresh food and water, and spend as much time with him as you doubtless can. When you're with him, whistle a little and try clicking your tongue. This could keep him interested and it'll seem sort of like you are talking with him. Do not do anything that's likely to get him indignant.

Getting to know your parakeet will help with knowing when he could be annoyed. There are signs that your bird could be irritated, and a large amount of birds do this. They open and close their beak in a threatening kind of way, and it's a sign to say, I'm getting a little pissed off, but in bird talk! He might also squawk and try to bite if he is indignant, show any of these signs and you need to know to give him some space.

Let your bird out every day to exercise, and confirm to cover any mirrors in the house, otherwise he may fly into them. It is okay to have a little swinging mirror in his cage, but this is much different than having a six foot mirror in the lounge above the fire. Be with him when he's loose in the house. Clearly I do not mean this literally, unless of course your name is Tinkerbell, but be in proximity. He'll know you are there, and he'll enjoy your interest.

Ultimately as a means of getting to know your parakeet, always be mild with your pet. Birds frighten awfully simply and the very last thing you would like to do is inspire your pet to be frightened of you. It requires a lot longer (if ever) for you to unravel this fear, than it does to develop a friendly companionship that you're going to both get heaps of joy from.

Pet Parakeet Care : Parakeet Care

Parakeets are one of America's most popular birds today. They make great pets because they are very friendly, have a cheerful disposition and are very entertaining. They also have very beautiful bright color varieties. Parakeets don't require a lot of maintenance or money.

Parakeets are also known as Budgies or Keets. They are one of the smallest members of the parrot family. They originate from a desert-like area of Australia where it doesn't rain much, which makes parakeets very hardy birds. There are a variety of colors, such as yellows, dark greens, pastel blues, purples, solid whites and many combinations of several colors. The average life span of parakeets is 8 to 12 years.

In the wild, parakeets are flocking birds so they are used to companionship, so it is best to get more than one. However, keep the birds separate when they are young so that they will get used to humans. When they get older then you can put them together. If you plan on keeping just one bird, you should play with it as much as possible. You should also put a mirror in the cage so that they won't feel so alone when you aren't there.

You should choose the largest cage that you can afford for your parakeet. It needs to be large enough so that he can comfortably move around. You will also need room for toys and perches. The minimum size is 20" X 12" X 18". Parakeets are very playful and inquisitive. Because of this, they enjoy playing with a variety of toys. They especially love shiny objects, bells, bright colors and objects they can move around with their beak. Be sure that the toys you purchase don't contain any small parts that your bird could swallow and choke on.

Lots of parakeets take a long time to build trust in their owners. It will probably be very shy when you first get one. Every day you should just put your finger in the cage in front of the bird. Eventually it will get the courage to get on your finger. If you have the patience your bird will learn to trust you, but some birds even can take months to build trust.

Parakeets love to sing and chirp. They seem to love when you play music and will often sing along. When you are gone, you might want to leave the radio on for them. Most parakeets won't learn to talk. However, it is possible to teach some of them if you are consistent.

Parakeets always need fresh food and water in the cage. They are vegetarians and like seeds, greens and fruits. Their food should have a large variety of millet seeds and grain. Ready made seed mixes are sold at pet stores and supermarkets. Other than the seed mix, you should also provide fresh greens. However, do not leave these in the cage long or they will spoil.

The best way to keep your bird healthy is by providing a good diet and by keeping the water and cage clean. Make sure you clean and sanitize all the toys and accessories in the cage also. Birds are very good at hiding illnesses so if you think your bird is acting strangely at all, be sure to take it to the vet.

Parakeets are fun to watch and make a great companion pet. If you provide the correct care for your bird and spend plenty of time with it, you will have a great pet for a long time to come.

Pet Parakeet Care : Parakeet Bathing Tips

You might not realize it, but most parakeets love water and all parakeets need to be clean, just as people do. Parakeets are really no different in that respect from birds that you might see outside in bird baths.

Now, a lot of parakeets love water, but some only enjoy it in certain forms. For instance, filling a sink with water terrifies my boyfriend's parakeet, but the bird loves being sprayed with a misting water bottle, usually. So, it may take some experimentation to figure out what your parakeet likes.

Some parakeets enjoy taking a shower under the kitchen sink sprayer, for example. Others like to simply roll around on wet pieces of lettuce. Some even enjoy going in the shower with their human buddies.

If your parakeet likes at least one of those options, you're in good shape. If not, though, the fact remains that the bird still needs to get cleaned up occasionally. So, you may want to invest in a very small carrying cage. You can put the bird in the cage, and spray a little water in its general direction. The bird may take to the idea. If not, at least it will be over fast and easier on both you and the bird.

Finally, remember that parakeets usually like fairly warm temperatures and they can get sick easily. So, it's important to make sure that your parakeet gets thoroughly dry without getting a chill. If it's warm in your house, you can let the bird dry himself. If not, you may need to use a hair dryer on a very low setting, a towel or a space heater to warm him up after a bathing session.

Pet Parakeet Care : Three Popular Parakeet Species

Parakeets form a large group of small to medium sized parrots that generally have long pointed tails and colorful feathers.

Parakeets are active little parrots and it's unusual to see one sitting still for any length of time. They are constantly on the move hopping from perch to perch, playing with their toys, climbing and chewing one everything that they see.

Budgies are often what comes to mind when one hears the term parakeet, however they are just one of the many different species of parrots that are part of the parakeet family.

Native to Australia the wild budgie is a light green color, but breeders have managed to create a wide variety of color mutations in the captive budgerigars.

Their social nature makes budgies easy to tame, and their intelligence and inquisitive nature makes them adept at learning tricks. As far as learning to talk, both sexes can mimic speech, but the males tend to be better at it.

The cockatiels are becoming very popular pet parrots and are rapidly catching up to the budgerigars as the choice for new bird owners.

The second smallest member of the cockatoo family, cockatiels have the characteristic crest of feathers on their heads that are the trademark of cockatoos.

All cockatoos need attention, and the cockatiel is no exception. However they are nearly as demanding as the larger cockatoos are. Play with them a little each day and they will become tame and cuddly.

Even with the extras like a cage, toys, and food cockatiels are a relatively inexpensive entrance to the world of parrots, and with a little attention they are excellent pets.

Quaker parrots are known for their speaking ability and for their ability to associate words with objects and actions.

Quaker parrots live between 20 and 30 years and are about the same size of a cockatiel, although they are slightly heavier than cockatiels are.

Sometimes called the monk parrot or the gray-breasted parakeet they have an overall green coloration with gray on the throat, chest, forehead and cheeks along with blue on the wings and tail feathers.

You won't be disappointed with the monk parrots if you are in the market for a small, intelligent, talking parrot.

Pet Parakeet Care : Parakeet Diet

Parakeets are very active, acrobatic little birds and as such they require a good balanced healthy diet! But why leave it there? If you were forced to eat the same meal day in day out you would slowly grow insane! Budgies enjoy a varied diet, fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables are all great examples of what can make up a great Parakeet Diet!

Your parakeet will love sharing all different types of fruits with you. Apples, mandarins and pears are often met with loving looks and affectionate nibbles! It's very easy to help your little feathered friend out too, simply place a slice of pear, or whatever fruit you like, into your parakeets cage and they will do the rest!
Why not spice up feeding time as well! Turn this time into a bonding session with your parakeet where you can gain more trust and have some fun at the same time! Hand feed seeds and share pieces of mandarin or apple. You can even combine some greens with bathing if you offer your parakeet a wet lettuce leaf he or she can nibble and have a splash at the same time!

Green vegetables are another fantastic way of adding variety to your parakeet's diet. Believe it or not, some parakeets will enjoy kelp, mustard leaves, cabbage leaves, dandelion leaves, broccoli leaves, cauliflower leaves and even Bok-Choi! There are some greens that can have a negative impact on your parakeets though! So if you are in doubt it is best to consult a vet as some greens can cause liver problems and calcium deficiencies.

If you are thinking about breeding parakeets diet is something to seriously consider! When hens are in breeding condition it is important to have a mineral block and also a piece of cuttlebone somewhere in the parakeet's cage. A proper diet can mean the difference between unhealthy and healthy chicks.
Lentils, almonds, tofu, sesame seeds, and beans! No I'm not talking about last nights special at the Thair restaurant! Parakeets also enjoy these different nuts and grains and they can offer some more variety and nutrients to your feathered friend's existence!

Parakeets are quite clever animals and that means they need more stimulation and excitement than they are probably given credit for! Seeds are a great staple for budgies and parakeets, but don't forget to add some millet, nuts, grains, fruits and vegetables now and then to give your feathered friends some variety and stimulation. Your parakeet will thank you for their new exciting diet!

Pet Parakeet Care : Buying a Parakeet Bird Cage

4 Important Things to Know

When people speak of wanting a parrot as a pet, many times they are visualizing a parakeet. It is the term that is loosely applied to many small and medium long-tailed parrots including budgies and conures. So if you are thinking of bringing home one of these birds, you should first buy a parakeet bird cage. It is important that you have a home ready for your pet before you pick it up.

When looking for a parakeet bird cage there are a few things that you should know.

1. Size: Although parakeets are relatively smaller than many other birds they should not be housed in a cage smaller than 24"x16"x16". This is because your bird will need enough room to spread its wings fully. You should factor in the wingspan and room to spare in all directions.

A parakeet should never feel crunched for space from having its wings or tail brush against the sides when it tries to spread them. This will negatively impact their physical, and eventually, their mental well-being. So, as is the recommendation with any bird cage, you should pick up the largest parakeet cage you can afford.

Since parakeets do like to nest with each other, you can get a really big cage and keep two or three of them together. Many parakeet cages come with multiple feeder bowls and water bottles to accommodate such an arrangement. But you should avoid housing a parakeet with other kinds of parrots as this can lead to behavioral problems.

2. Shape: Whatever size cage you are able to afford, it is key to note that parakeets benefit more from a wide rather than a tall cage as the birds tend to fly back and forth. Height almost tends to get wasted in regards to flight but it may come in handy if you have perches at varied levels to encourage climbing.

In terms of the recommended shape of the cage, a rectangular one with one side of the parakeet cage against the wall will probably make the bird feel most secure. Repeatedly, we hear parrot experts say that a round cage is not the best idea.

3. Bars: Given the small size of the parakeet, the cage you choose should have bar spaced no more than ½ an inch apart. A wider spacing may tempt the bird to push its head through and this can be dangerous as it can get stuck in that position. Speaking of bar spacing, experts recommend that two cage walls with horizontal bars may be ideal for parakeets as they love to climb.

4. Type of Material: The next question is what material is ideal for a parakeet cage. Stainless steel tops the list of recommendations and wrought iron and cold rolled steel are also candidates.

Stainless steel is easy to maintain and rust resistant and this is the reason it the material of choice. Avoid cages made of brass, lead, galvanized steel or zinc as these can be toxic for the parakeets.

Parakeets like to chew and explore and they may ingest poisonous tarnish or rust that can cause serious harm. This is the also the reason to keep a constant eye out for chipped paint or dislodged metal. Look for a cage that is made with naturally treated materials rather than ones that use too many chemical elements.

With this list in hand, you will have no trouble locating the perfect parakeet bird cage.

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.

Pet Parakeet Care : Parakeet Bird Cages

How to Choose the Best One

If you have a parakeet, choosing a bird cage for your bird will not make you any problems, however, there are still several important thing you need to know before you make a decision which one to buy. In this article I will share a few important tips on choosing a great bird home which will make your parakeet's life better. So let us start.

The most important thing in any cage is its size. Experts say that each bird requires different size. For example if you home canary in macaws cage, it will fill itself in jail. Small birds require smaller homes, however there should be enough space to fly and spread wings. Parakeets are usually small and do not need huge cages or aviaries.

You should also consider materials. The problem is, there are materials which can be harmful for your pet. For example, you should avoid zinc or brass cages. Of course, usually they are less expensive as wrought iron or stainless steel cages, however, if you care about your bird, avoid these materials.

I do not recommend wooden cages too because they can be easily damaged by any bird, even parakeet. They like to chew everything they see and wooden cage will be the perfect thing to chew. if you do not want to change it every month, choose stainless steel. Personally, I prefer stainless steel and wrought iron cages since they are very durable and easy to maintain. It is undoubtedly a perfect house or any bird.

Pet Parakeet Care : Parakeet Training Tips

If you're getting a parakeet, you may be wondering how to train it to do tricks, or even to talk. So, here are a few tips to help you out.

First of all, don't give your parakeet access to any distracting toys during training sessions. Also, don't have any distracting music or TV programs on. Another good idea is to cover mirrors and close windows, so that your parakeet isn't distracted by its own reflection or by passers by outside.

Next, get yourself a training clicker or decide on a specific noise that you can make when the parakeet does well. Also, get an appropriate reward to offer your parakeet for a job well done. Most parakeets love a treat called millet, which typically comes on a stick.

When you're training the parakeet to talk, be sure not to confuse it by changing words. For example, to you and I the words "hello" and "hi" mean the same thing. To your parakeet, though, they won't even make sense yet. So, he won't know that they mean the same thing. Choose which one you want him to learn and use it consistently in training.

Finally, remember that parakeets have short attention spans, but decent memories. That means that your training session should be short, but frequent, if you want the best results. Ten minute training sessions 2 or 3 times a day is better than one 30-minute session. Although, regardless of session length, you have to have patience. It can take your parakeet quite a while to learn new words. It's not done in a day.

Pet Parakeet Care : Parakeet Illness Symptoms

Spotting parakeet illness symptoms is something you ought to know how to do. The good news is that these little birds are rather strong and don't get sick often. The fact that you are keeping one or two little birds in a small apartment can be an advantage. This will likely keep them quite isolated from diseases.

Budgie parakeet is among the most resistant pets kept in captivity and he seldom gets ill. Still, it does occur. And since you can't take the pet to the avian vet on a daily basis, it would be nice to know how your pet looks when he is sick.

You did all you could to ensure your parakeet gets good care - but he still got sick? You should not lose hope. At that moment it is more important to make sure we recognize some parakeet illness symptoms and contact the vet or do some emergency measures (first aid) until we do contact one.

Have an avian vet on speed dial

As a reminder, it would be good to find an avian vet before you bring your pet home. It is sometimes hard to find a good vet specialized in birds even when you have time, let alone when it comes to having an emergency bird situation.

Most of the times these little birds will get sick suddenly, you will not see it coming. But the symptoms are pretty noticeable.

Behavior alterations

First parakeet illness symptoms can be put into behavior alterations category. The bird is not interested in things he usually likes. He is not playing with his toys. If he normally plays with you, you will see a change there too. Even the most tamed parakeets do not let people catch them; well, it will be very easy to achieve this once he is sick. The pet will just behave as he does not care.

Visual aspect

A sick parakeet looks all fluffy. He keeps his eyes shut. His head will likely be stuck into his feathers. These are parakeet illness symptoms you definitely should not ignore as they are clearly showing something is wrong with the pet.

The posture

He is not standing the usual way but sitting down (or better yet - laying down) with all of his lower part of the body on the ground. His tail is just hanging.

Desire for food

The bird has no appetite and at times he sits next to the food dish just looking at the food. The bird might even be throwing up and you can see how the area around his beak is dirty.

Excrement

Your parakeet's droppings are always going to tell you a story about the illness since it is one of the very first symptoms of any complication. When seeking advice, you need to tell a veterinarian exactly how the droppings look like. The droppings are something you will probably discover the first. It will be your alarm to take the budgie parakeet to the vet.

Additional parakeet illness symptoms

Sometimes the bird's wings are hanging and whole body is trembling. He breathes heavily with his beak wide open. When he is in pain he will stand with his legs wide spread and beak open trying to get some air. At the same time the bird has trouble maintaining his balance on the perch.

More parakeet illness symptoms are: feathers falling out in large amounts, strange swellings on its body, scabs, change in body mass, etc.

It is necessary to learn to identify the symptoms so you could provide care for your pet. There are so many parakeet illnesses and majority of them can be treated. Learn how to recognize the symptoms so your pet can have a long and happy life with you.