HELP! parekeets?

Question

i am thinking about getting a parikeet does anybody have any practical advise?

many thanks

Answer 1

Parakeet Care

About Parakeets:

Parakeets are members of the parrot family. They are native to Australia, but no longer
imported. Most parakeets in the US are now raised domestically. They are affectionate
and enjoy attention. With patience they can be taught to sit on your finger or shoulder,
say a few words and do tricks.

Housing

Parakeets need room to exercise, so your cage should have room for your bird to flap
around inside. You will want at least two perches inside to keep your keet active.
Adding swings, more perches, hanging toys and mirrors will help your bird’s mental
health as well as physical health. Keets can be housed singly, in pairs or in groups.

• Birds like room temperature (from 60-80 degrees farenheit).
• It is very important to keep your cage out of drafts.
• Also keep the cage out of direct sunlight so your bird doesn’t overheat.
• Do NOT place your cage in the kitchen! Birds are very susceptible to toxic fumes.
The fumes from an overheated Teflon pan, iron, or skillet can kill a bird in minutes
• Avoid housing your bird in utility areas as well: paint fumes, turpentine, hairspray,
perfume, nail polish and remover and even cigarette smoke can all be lethal for a
bird.
• DO place your cage in an area where there is family activity. Give your bird a
couple of days to get acclimated before trying to handle it. Talk in a soothing
voice so your pet gets used to your presence. During the first few nights cover the
cage in the early evening.
Nutrition

Birds have a high metabolism. Even though they spend a lot of time just sitting on a
perch—their internal engines are constantly racing so they are capable of taking flight
instantly. Because of this they need lots of calories packed into their food. A good
commercial quality parakeet mix should be the basis of your bird’s diet. You can
supplement with millet spray, honey sticks, dry greens, or commercial parakeet treats
(these are especially helpful if you are training your bird). Some fresh fruit is also ok
in small portions. Give your bird fresh food every day, first dumping out the shells.
(Don’t be fooled by a full dish—often your bird has eaten the food and just the shells
remain). Fresh water in a dish is also a daily must.


A teaspoon of Grit (parakeet gravel) should be sprinkled on the floor of the cage or put
in a separate dish from the food. The gravel goes into the birds gizzard and helps him
digest all the other food.

A cuttlebone should also be attached to the side of the cage and changed every couple
of months. This will keep your bird’s beak in top form and provide calcium.

Taming and Training

You will want to think about trimming your bird’s wings. Trimming is painless for the
bird but renders him unable to fly for two months until the feathers grow back. With
wings clipped you can open the cage door and allow the bird to climb around the outside
of its cage. Once a bird learns it can’t fly it will stay close to the cage and be much easier
to train.

Training should be done in several short periods (10 minutes) throughout the day. Work
with a reward system and very soon your bird will be riding on your finger or shoulder
and enjoying your company.

For any advice or health related concerns consult your veterinarian.

Answer 2

We have had our pair for 2 years or so now. We bought ours from a older gentleman who got them as company while his wife was taking care of her dying relative. When she got home it was time to go to Arizona.

Make sure you get a nice cage you like. They are very easy to feed and take care of. Most grocery stores carry there food and there grit. These birds need the grit to digest there food. If they do not have these little pebbles they will die.
Parakeets are a GREAT pet to have. Like all birds they are messy. Not as bad as parrots. If there is a plant nearby your parakeets cage make sure they can not get to the leaves, and you may even have all sorts of seedlings growing from the parakeet tossing food.
They do not like having more food in there bowl then they can stick there heads down into without covering there air wholes, this is how food is wasted. You can also blow the seed hulls out of there food.
Males have darker color band above the beak, the females have the lighter color. We have a pair and it seams the male is the more nicer of the two. I have had both sexes though who were both great as pets. We do not take them out of there cage I wanted them for there noise.
They come in every color these days. I am a sucker for all birds :0)
Hope this helps?

Answer 3

I have 6 parakeets. I love them all. I bought 4 of them from a pet store when they were about 3/4 months old. I've been working with them everyday and they are all very very friendly. The other two I got from my Aunt and they were very mean when I got them, I have been working with them also and they now will sit on my finger but still alittle skittish. I also have two cockatiels. I leave all their cage doors open and they all get along well together. If you work with the male cockatiels they can learn to talk and whistle. Females can talk and whistle to but not as well.

You have alot of good advice on taking care of parakeets, one thing I wanted to let you know, do not give them chocolate or onions and dairy product.

My birds favorite people foods are cooked noodles, broccoli, corn, crackers, cheerios, kix cereal, bread and toast.

I also have a water bottle, I mist them with the water about once a week.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

The average lifespan is around 8-10 years.
Buy a big enough cage so your parakeet will have room to move around, up and down and play. He must be able to stretch his wings, have space to flutter around.
Make sure your cage is long rather then high.
Take into consideration the things that will be inside the cage and do not clutter the inside.
In the evenings cover up the cage with a towel, tablecloth or something like that, it will give your bird the feeling of being secure.
Don't position his cage in direct sunlight, open window, draft, etc.
They like companionship and daily exercise, Bird toys to play with, they need a cuttle bone to keep their beaks trimmed.
They need a calcium and mineral block...all that is available in Pet Stores.
Feed him a healthy mixture of Parakeet seeds, lettuce, spinach, vegetables (fresh corn, bok choy, broccoli, chopped or grated carrots, celery, fresh peas, zucchini),
fresh fruit such as apples, grapes, mangos, melons, oranges, peach, pears, strawberries, ...all at room temperature.
They like treats such as millets, honey sticks, etc. Fresh water and seeds every day!!!
NEVER EVER feed .... Avocado, Asparagus, Eggplant, Cabbage, Milk, Potatos, Rhubarb.
Do not keep your budgie locked up in its cage day in and day out.
When you let your bird fly make sure you don't have any toxic plants around, other animals, children, hot stove, open windows and doors....you get the drift.
Once you have established a routine allow your budgie to be out
on a daily basis - even if it just sits out on top of its cage for a while.
They are dusty.....keep that in mind!!!!
Good Luck

Answer 5

Well i had mine for 7 years.......they were okay. I had 2 and they died within a 2 months of each i think also because the remaining one got lonely. Mines liked to be feed treats every once in awhile. Be careful when cleaning the cage you don't want them to get out. And they make noise sometimes and if want them to quiet down or go to sleep at night you throw something over the top of the cage like a towel and i think they think its night. Just make sure they have clean water and food everyday and remember to feed them or they will let you know by making noise.

Answer 6

I just got parakeets today actually! So far they have been very nervous, but they were just shipped to the pet store where I got them and then brought to my house. I can see why! When I was younger I had two parakeets. They were GREAT pets!!! They can live up to 15 years! Thats pretty long for little fellas like them! I have been 100% happy with buying them. I think you definately should!

P.S. Check out the internet and learn up on them BEFORE you buy one, trust me, it'll help!

Answer 7

Before you buy your parakeets, know that they can live from 8-20 years.

Let them fly around in your bathroom.
Change their food daily. Give them clean water.
Change the water every two or three days.
Give them a bath monthly.
Clean the cage monthly.
Give them plenty of toys in their cage.
Talk to them for a minute every time you pass the cage.

You CAN clip their wings.
You CAN train them to come on your finger.
You CAN teach them to talk.

Good luck.

Answer 8

I have 2 parakeets. A male and a female. They are easy to take care of. Just feed and water them. Talk to them and they will be happy. On the warm days in summer we take their cage outside and let them get sunshine and air. That is all that I do to take care of them. I clean their cage once a week.

Answer 9

there is not something incorrect with having a yellow parakeet. The yellow shade is a sturdy shade. the really component that the yellow one do have is red eyes. which potential they're basic smooth. in case you want yellow, get a yellow parakeet! i appreciate mine!

Answer 10

cockatiel would be best & are easier to train. heres a website!
http://www.cockatiels.org/articles/care/healthcare.html