Question for parakeet owners...I really want one, but?

Question

there's something that's really holding me back. It's pretty dumb, but it's still preventing me from buying one. It's poop. It would really bother me to have it all over the room when it's loose, or have it poop in my hand. A dog or cat you can train not to go to the bathroom in your house, but I'm pretty sure you can't train a bird not to go in your hand, right? I reeaallly want one, but the idea of it just loosely pooping in my hand or on my carpet is bothering me. So what do owners do about this? Do they just not care if they get pooped on and wash it off? What about the carpet? And also...do parakeets go a lot? How often? I really hope there is something I can do about it so I can buy one!

Answer 1

Good on you for being responsible and thinking before buying a pet. Yes it is possible to train a bird to poop , but it does not work all the time. Many hours training. Birds are so intelligent and beautiful companions.

Answer 2

I'm glad to hear you're taking something like this into consideration before buying a pet- way to cover all your bases. The poop really isn't too big a deal. As far as training goes, it sounds like "Kat F" really knows what she's talking about, as a bird owner I can tell you that she's right in what she said about care and training. You will get used to the poop, and it dabs up very easily with a napkin or tissue. The trick is to just touch it with the tip of the napkin and it picks right up - if you try actually closing the napkin around it you may just smear it since it's so small!

Parakeets really do make great pets. If you can get past the poop, they are easily one of the most entertaining pets you can own. On a personal note, I have had several parakeets; some kept individually and some kept in groups (I currently have 3 that are kept together) and I would not trade them for the world. They are so curious and energetic, I could watch them for hours. It is nearly impossible to be disappointed with a parakeet for a pet. Trust me- once you own one and learn to care for it, you will be addicted!

I hope these answers are helpful to you and best of luck if you decide to purchase one. Keep us updated!

Answer 3

First off, if you are considering buying ONE parakeet, I'm sorry to say, edges on the border of cruelty. Parakeets (also called "budgies") are probably close to being one of the most social of all birds. In their native habitat (Australia), budgies travel in flocks of thousands, yes, literally thousands. They are without a doubt the best example of "group think". So don't just get one budgie, get two at minimum (if left alone for any length of time -long term - they become rather psychotic. I got a budgie from the Humane Society and it was evident this bird had spent it's entire life by itself - and it's mirror. He wouldn't have anything to do with any of the other birds - for almost 1 year. He eventrally got back into being a regular bird but it was a sorry sight to see him hugging that mirror.) Secondly, budgie poop is so tiny, it barely makes any difference. They poop a lot too. Some species of birds can be potty trained but I don't believe this would be common for budgies, although I'm sure it can be done - if you want to devote hours and hours to it -- and if you can remember yourself to position them over a towel or wastepaper basket every few minutes. The poop is comprised of seeds and whatever vegies it eats - no animal waste i.e., it doesn't smell. It is also easily washed off or wiped off with kleenex. When it dries, it is easily picked up or swept up and leaves little if any mark. It sounds as if this would be an issue with you and I would strongly advise that you either get over this phobia or don't get a budgie because they do poop frequently and everywhere.

Answer 4

I have 6 birds and they do poop a lot. They are free flying birds who have free roam of a whole room in my house. The poos are small and clean (much better then cat or dog poo! Basically no smell!)

They dry quickly and are easily vacuumed up or you can wipe them off tiles and other surfaces. Also, you can to an extent limit where they poop. They tend not to go while they are flying, only while they are sitting and still for a moment. If you make areas where they can perch and land (such as getting them an play stand and hanging toys in a certain area) and put newspaper under it or just make these areas ones that are easy to clean, the majority of the poo will be done on these areas.

Believe me, tiny little budgies poos everywhere are So much nicer then ever one or 2 cat poos in a kitty litter box. They don't smell and they're so much easier to clean up and they are very, very small.

As for being pooed on, it's really not that bad. I was hand rearing a baby cockateil recently and she used to sit on my shoulder and every now and then she's poop on me.

Hints are, where the birds are standing on you, put a paper towel under them. Or wear a shirt you don't mind getting dirty when you go near them. Or just wipe it off when they do go on you. It's really easy and doesn't even stain! A damp towel will get it right off.


Good luck!

Answer 5

These are all pretty great answers, I agree with most all of them. A decent clean store will not purchase from anyone but an established breeder. And, as kramor22 said, there are too many already, and it is extremely hard to shift a bird to a new home, unlike a dog or cat who accepts new people easier. I too, do the home refuge, and these guys tend to bond to one person. There are two ways of thinking; one is to advertise, and ask around, but be selective, please, a kid will not give it the time and care it needs unless it has a parent very dedicated. It will just get given away again. Some say a free bird is not good, as the person they give it to has the mindset that they didnt spend anything anyway,so no biggee if they cant keep it either, thus starting a bad cycle for the poor little guy. But selling can be hard. Maybe offer in an ad to sell for $20, including the cage, food, toys, etc. that way there is SOME investment at least, then please be selective. They love interaction, and ask how many hours they can spend with it, ask about other animals in house.. dont place with a cat or dog if you can possibly help it. Generally birds are not good gifts, they need to bond to the person, but exceptions can be made. I have heard that there are organizations to put animals with homebound people, elderly, etc, and they might take it free, and it would get a person there all the time to love it. I know sometimes life dictates we cannot keep our critters no matter what we hope, but please, if its just that you are tired of it... dont get another pet for awhile. Take care.

Answer 6

You can train your bird to poop on command. You have to watch their behavior and when it goes poop say your command like "Go Poop" or "Tinkle" or whatever you want to use. Do this for about one week. Then when you want to take it out of it's cage you give it the command and it will go, or just wait until it goes and say the command and pick up for reward. Then about every fifteen minutes take it back to the cage and give the command to go and praise the bird for obeying.

This worked with my Red Lory, so it will work but may take longer for a parakeet.

Answer 7

they poop like ever hour depending on how much they eat i hve 2 parakeets and their poop is like a mm lomng like this long __ thats it and its really ea=sy to get of of things also a couple tips for parakeet ownig 1 get a pair if you dont want a lazy parakeet that dosnt pay attention 2 have 20 min play sessions 1 1/2 hours apart so they dont get tired. 3 have their wings cliped so that the dont fly to a high place like a curtain rod and also get their toenails clipped because mine kept getting its toenail stuck in my shirt and almost died and 4 at night put a light sheet or towel over the cage but leve an sir space prefferably at the front and back oh and buy toys and every month switch them out and thet love when you put their cage outside for a little bit(be supervising) so they can listen to other birds.

Answer 8

im also glad you are doing your "homework" on birds before jumping in a getting one.

parakeets tend to make poop every 10 minutes or so. it is possible to potty train a bird, but if this training is taken too far, a bird may never poop until given the command, and birds die because they hold it in so long. please be careful. if you go ahead and train your bird to poop on command, make sure to not make it so strict and over trained. this means that it is YOU that will need to be aware of your bird and its needs...for example, before a bird poops, they usually wiggle their back end. you have to be aware of this and when you see that shake, you would have the bird step up on your hand and you must take your bird where it is safe to "poop".

accidents WILL happen, and you should NOT punish your bird for pooping somewhere where s/he can't. its natural to poop when they need to and you shouldn't really play around with natural behaviors too much. it could jeopardize their health.

bird owners, like myself, get used to the every day poop. when i come home, i change into some "play clothes" that is safe to be pooped on, because i KNOW it will happen. when i do see that rear end shake, i try to bring my bird over a poop-safe place and give the command, but i wont be upset with a bird if they poop on me or on the ground (poop-off works wonders in cleaning up poop!).

really think about it. if you think you can't enjoy a bird soooooooo much that you can't get over a little thing like poop (and parakeet poop is usually very tiny - about 2 or 3 milimeters in diameter) they i wouldn't get a bird. when you love your bird(s), poop is a small thing compared to their companionship. but its really all about the individual. some people just cant stand the poop part. and its okay...it just means that you aren't a bird person.

Answer 9

The pooping isn't really that bad. If you leave him out of the cage alot it will be mostly on curtain rods or ceiling fans because they will perch on the highest thing they can. When you get them in pairs they have each other for companionship and won't pay to much attention to you. If you get just one it will be more people pleaser and easier to train. However, its not a good idea if you don't have time to spend with it cuz they get very lonely.

Answer 10

If your wigging out about a bird pooping on you, you should reconsider on getting a bird...Your just going to make the poor little bird a nervous wreck, by being scared of its poop..Get a stuffed one..problem solved..