Pet Parakeet Care: Caring for Parakeets

Caring for parakeets is the most important step in keeping parakeets as pets. Remember their immune systems

can be touchy. This means that at the first sign of illness, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Even a simple virus can turn deadly overnight. A regular care and checkup of your parakeet can keep you away from visiting the vet too frequently. Caring for parakeets means:

• A regular checkup of their plumage - birds keep their plumage in peak condition by preening. You can encourage this by occasionally misting it with warm water.
• Selecting the right cage for your parakeet - choose a cage that is large enough to allow it plenty of exercise. Most cages come with 2 perches. For more specialized caring for parakeets, you can attach a cuttlebone to the side of the cage. It will help keep the bird's beak in good condition and will serve as a source of calcium and other minerals.
• A proper and adequate diet – this is the single most notable aspect in shaping the health, vitality, and permanence of your parakeet. Give them leafy green vegetables, rice, tofu, some seeds and fruits like orange and papaya. These would give them all the required nutrients to keep them healthy.
• Regular bathing of your parakeet – give your parakeet a regular shower of 5-7 times a week in the summer and 3-5 times a week during the winter. This routine will help you keep your parakeet clean and avoid skin related diseases.
• Proper grooming of your parakeet – proper and regular trimming of the toenails is very essential. Consult a veterinarian if you wish to clip its wings.
• Lack of parakeet care can result in feather plucking, moody and ill-trained parakeets at home. It is always a good idea to know what injuries and what diseases can affect your parakeet, what is the ideal diet for a parakeet, how many times a week should you give it a bath. These would help you undertake foolproof caring for your pet parakeets.

A healthy parakeet is more likely to be immune to diseases and can stay around for a long time to make you laugh, make you entertained and give you a moment to smile…

Pet Parakeet Care: Choosing A Pet Parakeet

If you see a small to medium sized parrot that is quite colorful and has a long pointed tail chance are it's one of the many parrots that belong to the parakeet family. Parakeets tend to be on the move throughout the day. They will be chewing on whatever they can get a hold of, playing with their toys, or just moving about.

The most common parakeets are the budgie birds which are often referred to as parakeets, even though they are just one of the many different types of parakeets.

Captive budgerigars are available in a wide range of color mutations, but in Australia where the budgie originates from they are a light green. With their intelligent and social nature budgies are easy to tame and teach tricks to. They can learn to talk, and in general the males are better at speech than the females.

Of all the talking parrots - quaker parrots are some of the best with their ability to for word association and clarity of speech. Quakers are about 12 inches long and somewhat stockier than the cockatiels are. They have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years.

Monk parrots or gray-breasted parakeets as they are sometimes called have gray throats, breasts, cheeks and foreheads with an overall green body. They have a blue tinge on their primary wing and tail feathers. If a small, intelligent, talking parrot describes your ideal parrot you won't be disappointed with the quakers.

Cockatiel birds are extremely popular pet parrots and are rapidly catching up to the budgies as the bird of choice for new parrot 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. Unlike some of the larger cockatoos, they don't require constant companionship. As long as they get a little attention each day they will become tame and quite cuddly.

Cockatiels are small, inexpensive and highly intelligent birds that make a great pet parrot for someone with a limited budget or space.

Pet Parakeet Care: The Ringneck Parakeet As A Pet Parrot

A ringneck parakeet is a medium sized parakeet bird that is 16 inches long a good part of which is it's tail. These parrots have an average lifespan between 20 to 25 years. It's possible to find domesticated ringneck parakeets in just about any color imaginable, but the wild ringnecks all have a green body.

You can find pied ringnecks, lutino ringnecks, cinnamon ringnecks, blue ringnecks, and gray ringnecks just to name a few. Male ringnecks have a rose and black ring around the neck and both sexes have a red beak.

An adolescent ringneck parakeet will go through a stage known as bluffing. This will tend to make it more aggressive and prone to biting.

Slapping a parakeet bird, yelling at it, shaking you hand vigorously, or any other aggressive action is not the way to teach it to not bite. Biting is a parrots way of defending itself. If you make your bird afraid of you it will only serve to make it bite more. Ignore your pet parrot when it bites and try to remain calm until it stops.

Ringneck parakeets are easy to handle and train when they aren't in the bluffing stage. Their ability to mimic speech is well known and they are good at learning tricks. When a ringneck parakeet has bonded with a person they become protective and act aggressively to any bird, pet or human that it feels is too close to that person.

Without daily handling and socialization ringnecks can revert back to being aggressive and wild birds. Your parakeet also needs time out of it's cage on a regular basis to play and explore. Just be sure to keep an eye on it. They will chew on everything in sight and can soon destroy your furniture or get themselves in trouble.

Ringneck parakeets are playful, intelligent pet parrots that make a great addition to any home.

Pet Parakeet Care: Ringneck Parakeets and Parakeets - Small and Smart

There are many different parakeet bird species in the world, all with varying personalities, handling and feeding requirements. Although this makes every parakeet bird species very different, they are also similar in many ways. All parakeets are constantly on the go, curious about their surroundings and always playing with toys or exploring the world around them. Also, they all look very similar - small, colorful birds with long, tapered tails.

Parakeets are easy to take care of because they don't have many specialized requirements, unlike larger parrots that are available as pets. They are also easy to tame and tend to get along with other bird species, making them a good choice for a child's pet. They are also incredibly entertaining, having the ability to learn tricks as well as learn to talk. This can provide endless entertainment for you and guests to your home.

Ringneck parakeets or rose-ringed parakeets are easily tamed and trained choices for a household pet. They are naturally green in color with red beaks and the males have a black and rose colored ring around their necks (hence the name 'rose-ringed parakeets'). However, it is possible to obtain different colored ring neck parakeets that have been specially bred such as the blue and cinnamon ringneck.

The only downside of ringneck parakeets is that they need a lot of attention as they tend to get moody and nippy if you don't handle them daily. If your once gentle bird turns into a biting menace, resist your first instinct to be aggressive back as this will only encourage it to bite more. Instead, ignore it and be gentle so that it realizes that you aren't a threat to its existence.

Their intelligence causes them to become bored easily and when they are bored, ring neck parakeets chew things. Thus, it is important to provide them with toys and other suitable objects to chew on or else you run the risk of them destroying something that you value.

Pet Parakeet Care: Buying A Parakeet

Parakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus) are one of the most common birds purchased as a pet bird. These delightful pets are usually friendly and relativly easy to handle. Although they can sometimes be difficult to understand, with a little hard work they have been known to mimic our sounds.

Parakeet Facts:

Life span: 10-15 years (up to 20).Origin: Australia. Colors: the normal wild coloration is green with black bars on the wings, back and head.

Determing Sex: The area around the nostirls is called the cere. You can use this as a way to distinguish between males and females. Mature females will have a beige colored cere. Males will have a blue tint to their cere.

Temperment: Known for being a very doscile and friendly bird, they are easily tamed if you aquire them while young. I've found that having more than one parakeet resulted in the parakeets being hard to handle and less vocal. When I have just one parakeet, the bird looked to me for interaction and was much easier to handle and actually could say a few words. I placed a parakeet mirror in the bird cage and was amazed at how much my parakeet played with his own image in the mirror.

Choosing a Parakeet

I highly recommend you choose a young bird that has been handled regularly and has been hand fed. The extra costs you experience buying a hand raised bird will be worth it in the long run. While their is nothing wrong with a store bought parakeet, my experiences have taught me that they are slower to adjust to being handled.

Use the same techniques you would use when buying a pet dog or pet cat. Look for a parakeet that is active and has shining and smooth feathers. A bird that is inactive and its feathers are puffed up may be a sign it is sick. Take note of the birds feet. Make sure the scales are smooth and the nails are in good shape. Don't forget to inspect the birds beak for any problems.

Parakeets are playful and active and do well in large cages. We always kept our parakeets on top of our refrigerator. We bought a cage that would fill the entire top of the frig. Add a couple of rod perches and maybe a bird swing along with your water and feed bowls. Even with a large cage, parakeets need a little time outside of the cage as well. Letting them out once in a while to stretch their wings is a good idea. The exercise is very benefical for your pet bird.

Pet Parakeet Care: Train Your Parakeet to Talk

Parakeets are small, vibrant and lively birds that can be a wonderful addition to your family. While some parakeets learn to talk without coaching or training, some will require encouragement to get their beaks speaking. Some parakeets only start talking when their owners let them hear specific phrases, words and sounds. If you successfully train a parakeet to talk, you and your family will love your pet even more.

A nourished and well cared pet will more likely demonstrate an interest in repeating sounds as well as talking. A parakeet that is watered, well-fed, and has a mirror and other plaything in his cage is the best aspirant for speech training. This is for the reason that loved pets will want to gain knowledge on how they can communicate effectively with their master and provider.

It's important to note that the male parakeets are distinguished as good talkers. So if you want to have an outspoken pet, it's best to adopt a male parakeet. This doesn't mean that female parakeets just make sounds and do not talk, but in general the female birds are slower in adapting new words and training a female bird might not give you the results you are looking for.

Remember, even if you choose to train a parakeet that is a male, it doesn't give you a guarantee that it will talk. Some parakeets only become skillful in whistling, but talking is not a talent every bird of this kind desires to learn. You should be patient enough to see results. Some breeds of parakeets that are more likely to utter words are the Alexandrine, Australian, English, Plum-head and Ring-necked parakeets. They are also known for having the ability to distinguish individual objects and even people.

Parakeets find it easier to repeat or reiterate words exhibiting hard syllables. You should examine what words are more difficult to speak than others. One of the common phrases parakeets speak is "pretty birdie". This specific phrase encloses hard syllables that make it effortless for talking birds like parakeets to repeat or mimic. You should think of words and phrases containing hard syllables and say them to your bird frequently.

Birds respond well with a dark surrounding. So when you start your training session, you should darken the room to get your parakeet's full attention. Begin saying a phrase or word and repeat it several times. Teach your bird three times a day for about fifteen minutes each. Don't get disappointed if your bird didn't talk immediately. Put in mind that most birds take several days or even weeks before it speak the phrase or word you're teaching.

If you go to work during weekdays, consider making speech training sessions on a recorded tape and leave it to someone who stays in your house. This will not only save you time and effort but the training will be more consistent with this strategy.

If you follow these steps to train a parakeet, your pet will start repeating sounds and words in no time. This will also make your pet the center of attention in your home, making you the proudest mentor ever.

Pet Parakeet Care: Signs of a Sick Parakeet Revealed

If you take care of your bird long enough, chances are he'll get sick sooner or later. Since he will do his best to hide whatever is wrong, it's important that you learn to recognize the signs of a sick parakeet. This article will share a few things to look for.

Droppings

One of the most common symptoms of a health condition is a change in your bird's droppings. It may change color, be watery, or appear looser than usual. Also take note if you every spot seeds in the droppings. However, a change in droppings can sometimes be attributed to a minor cause such as a change in food.

Appetite

Speaking of food, one of the next common signs of a sick parakeet is a change in appetite. You should also be aware of your keet's eating habits. That way, you can easily tell if it changes one day. So, be on the lookout for excessive eating or a reduced appetite. Birds with a reduced appetite will also start losing weight.

Feathers

The appearance of your bird's feathers can also tell you if something is wrong. They shouldn't be ruffled or puffed up for long periods of time. They also shouldn't be discolored.

Discharge

The appearance of discharge can also tell you if there is something wrong with your bird. Sick birds can sometimes produce discharge from their nostrils or eyes. This may also be accompanied by sneezing or eye swelling. These are usually serious symptoms that require prompt veterinary attention.

Breathing

A sick parakeet may also experience difficulty breathing

. You should particularly look for rapid breathing, wheezing, or breathing through an open mouth. Some birds will also bob their tail with each breath they take.

Pet Parakeet Care: Four Expert Tips for Taking Care of Parakeets

Parakeets are very popular pets. They're very sociable and playful. They also come in many different colors, so you can easily find the perfect one for you. If you're thinking about buying one of these birds, there are a few things you'll need to know. This article will give you a few tips for taking care of parakeets.

Cage

The type of cage you buy is very important. Make sure that the cage is big enough for your keet to flap its wings completely without hitting the side. Also, the door should be big enough for you to easily reach inside to get your bird out. Although there are cages available in many shapes, it's best to get a rectangular design.

Bathing

When taking care of parakeets, it's important that you bathe them frequently. It's best to do so two or three times each week. Some birds like a dedicated water dish that they can use for bathing. Others like it better if you use a spray bottle to mist water on them. Whichever method your bird uses, make sure he has a bath in the morning. This will give his feathers time to dry off before night.

Trimming

It's important that your bird gets exercise time out of his cage. If you let him out, it's best that you have his wings trimmed so that he can't fly away. You will also need to trim his toe nails periodically whenever they get too sharp. His beak will also get sharp and need to be trimmed with an emery board too.

Companionship

When taking care of parakeets, you should know that they are very sociable. Your bird will feel a lot less lonely if you provide him with another keet to keep him company. However, this will severely reduce the bond that you share with your bird. This is due to the fact that birds would rather bond with each other than humans.

Pet Parakeet Care: Stop Parakeet From Screaming

Ways to Handle Your Pet With Care

If you have set your eyes on parakeets to be your pets, you are making a good choice because these are known as intelligent and beautiful animals. You must make sure though that you know the basic things about caring and how to stop parakeet from screaming before you proceed with the purchase. You may want to enjoy the bird as your pet, but you also have to consider the people living with you or near your house. These birds' natural behavior is to scream when they were still living on their original habitat. They do such act in order to call the attention of other birds and as their means of communicating with their own kinds.

There are various things that you must learn more about aside from how to stop parakeet from screaming. If you will be able to be good to your pet, they will definitely reward that with good behavior and may even abide most of the things that you tell them to do. If this is going to happen, you will have fewer problems with their attitude. You will also be able to enjoy their company and be proud that you are the owner.

Here are some basic ideas about proper caring for the birds in order to keep them satisfied and to limit the times that they will resort to making loud noises.

1. You must find time to bond with them or teach your birds some tricks that you want them to follow. This is your opportunity to be close with the bird. This is your chance to start introducing your role as their owner.

2. Make sure that the bird is comfortable in the cage that you have chosen for them. Get the kind of cage that is intended for small birds with cage bars that have narrow gaps. The larger the cage, the better it will be so that the bird will have enough room to move about and open their wings fully. Choose the one that has a swing. It is also advisable to get something with at least two perches. You can attach a cuttlebone on the side of your bird's cage where it can trim its beak whenever it wants to.

3. Your must make sure that you give your bird right amount of food and drink everyday. They will resort to making noises if they get hungry, so make sure that you handle the matter properly. You can buy a good mixture of seeds that are intended for these birds and you can give them with supplements like vitamin drops and bird gravel that can be bought in most pet stores.

4. You have to understand that they get frightened easily. You have to handle them with care and you have to be gentle whenever you try to approach and touch them. Do not make sudden movements and avoid unnecessary noises whenever you are handling your pet. You must be very careful, especially during the first few days that you have brought the bird home. This way, you will be able to gain their trust and you may also succeed to stop parakeet from screaming after some time.