Parakeets , often known as budgerigars or " budgies " for short , are a pop raspberry species found in home around the globe . With right parakeet caution , let in appropriate feeding , socialization , environment , and quotidian veterinary treatment , they can be entertaining pets for many year to total .
How to Take Care of a Parakeet
Parakeets are frequently view in pet stores and are reckon as sluttish - to - care - for hiss . While this is passably correct , it does n’t stand for they do n’t have their own private prerequisite to keep their health and felicity . Understanding how to good handle for your parakeet prior to bringing them home is the best approach .
Diet
parroquet can not survive solely on seed and should have a wide-ranging diet . Pelletsare recommended over seeds and are take form by grinding protein , seed , grains , vegetables , and fruits and baking them into unvarying shapes . Unlike seed mixtures , which tolerate a parakeet to take only the seeds they opt and discard the others , pellet give up balanced nourishment with each meal . Birds consume nutrient throughout the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , so have roughly two tablespoons of pellets on script and replenish their dish as needed .
Whenever possible , choose raw color pellet instead of pellet that contain artificial colour , and be sure to choose the right size pellet for your pet , Brands likeRoudybushoffer shot sized for parakeets and a variety of other species .
Although the mass of your parakeet ’s diet should be pellets , they should be offer other foods for a well - rounded diet . Your parakeet ’s dieting shouldinclude a mixtureof pellets , vegetables , fruits , and treats . Fruits have mellow sugar mental object , so they should be restrain and only provided two to three multiplication per week . Safe fruits let in banana , peaches , and fresh berry . Vegetables should be fed on a daily base . urge vegetables include tomato , cucumbers , and zucchini .
Adding Minerals
Parakeets require minerals for bone and plume health and female parroket that cover egg require atomic number 20 renewal . Although pellet mixes hold mineral , you could also put a mineral block and acuttleboneon the coop ’s side for your parrakeet to chew on . parroquet do not require gritstone in their diet because they take seeds without the hulls .
Habitat
The correct John Milton Cage Jr. , placed in a order of payment - complimentary domain out of direct sunlight , will allow an passable home for your deary . parrakeet benefit from living in a roomy cage . You should bring home the bacon your pet with a John Cage that is no less than 16 inches long by 18 inch wide by 18 inch tall . Even advantageously , give them a cage that is 30 in farseeing by 19 inches wide by 18 inch tall so they have more elbow room to fly .
you’re able to even provide them with a larger escape cage if you have elbow room for one , as long as the stripe spatial arrangement is n’t too large . If you have two paroquet , the size of the cage should be doubled .
If they wo n’t be out of their cage frequently , purchasing alarger cageis recommend so they have way to fly . If buy a tumid cage , take a expression at the streak spacing to insure it ’s not too wide . Parakeets should be put up in John Cage with no more than a half - column inch between the cake . If the opening is larger than this , your pet may be able-bodied to shove their head through and become stuck or smart .
parrakeet cages should also have a grate flooring to forbid your parakeet from walking over their droppings . This also prevents the cage liner from being damaged , resulting in easy clean - up .
Cage Accessories
coop typically add up with food and water dishes , but there are some accessories you should consider include to ameliorate your darling ’s quality of life . For case , perch will put up your favourite with a place to sit and keep the world around them . Parakeets need perches that are roughly ½ to 1 in in diameter , but throw perches of slenderly varying diameters provides workout for their feet . Consider manzanita perches for longer use , and perhaps one cement perch to help wear down your bird ’s nail tips .
Many cages include a swing , but you should add one if your favorite ’s batting cage does n’t have one . swing can be very basic , but many swing come with attached toys or wad item .
Toys are also highly commend to keep your pet happy . Parakeets are extremely intelligent , and ennui causes stress . you could enrich your parakeet ’s environment by adding bird - safe toys to their batting cage . They can be found at almost any preferred storehouse and dramatically improve your pet ’s mental and strong-arm wellness . Maintaining a healthy supplying of toy is also recommend so they can be swapped out for newfangled experience . The following are case of toys that can be found at your local ducky shop :
Cleaning
A clean cage will help your favorite remain healthy , and the follow schedule will help keep you on track . strip the food and water containers day by day and change the water whenever you find it has been soiled . substitute the soiled cage lining every two to three days , or more often , if needed . architectural plan to wash the cage tray once a calendar week with a mixing of piss and vinegar , and dry it with paper towel before position the cage back together . Wipe down the John Cage bars and perches , as well .
Handling
You should give your paroquet some sentence to aline to their novel home before attempting to manage them . When they first arrive abode , incubate one-half of their cage with acage covering , towel , or blanket . This will allow them to expect around if they desire to , but also provide some privacy as they are have accustomed to their new home .
Give your new pet 48 time of day to de-emphasise and relax . You , and others , should fend off being around their John Milton Cage Jr. during their destress sentence . However , do not keep them completely keep apart as you desire him to get used to action in the home . An area where people are often such as a keep room is a good choice .
If Your Parakeet Is Accustomed to Handling
Once 48 hr have passed , you may lead off socialize them . Some have already been socialized at their prior location whereas others may need to be socialized slowly at their own stride . If they are already comfortable moving onto your hand , gently place your hired man in the cage underneath your bird . Place your fingers by the parroket ’s feet and he should move onto them if they have been groom to do . you could also ask them to " step up " which may have been used during training by their old possessor .
If Your Parakeet Is Not Used to Being Handled
If your parroket has never been handled or has been handle on rare occasion , it may take some sentence for them to become customary to not only being handled but also come out of their cage . If they seem started when you come near , do n’t jump in good order into manipulation . rather , take the air toward their cage slow until you notice them becoming uneasy . Once you point out them becoming distressed , break off and do n’t progress any further . go on this cognitive process until they allow for you to get close enough to their cage to touch it .
Once they are well-situated with you touching their John Milton Cage Jr. , you could begin offering a kickshaw like a strand of millet . Fruit or other treats can be apply , but millet is comparatively long and provide some aloofness between you and your young positron emission tomography result in less strain . If they do n’t want to eat the millet , simply place it on the cage with a clip . Do n’t be discouraged if this takes some metre . Some parrakeet become used to handling quickly whereas others may take several week of uniform grooming .
Health
Overall , parroquet are level-headed birds , but can be susceptible to the following ailments and shape :
Quarantine
If youhave other skirt , you should quarantine your new parakeet for a minimum of 30 days unless your veterinary says it ’s safe to integrate your novel favorite into your flock . Quarantining prevents the spread of virus and harmful bacterium . Always lap your hands after caring for a quarantine paroquet before you attend to the remainder of your flock .
Finding a Veterinarian
When you get your parakeet habitation , schedule aveterinary appointmentright aside for a check - up , and attempt to use a board - certified avian vet if you could . The veterinarian will valuate your pet ’s current health and likely perform gm stains to check for diseases . It ’s especially authoritative to have your pet checked for a disease calledpsittacosisbecause people can contract this illness from their boo . After the initial exam , your pet should have a well - sojourn checkup each return and spring .
Grooming
Regular training is necessary to sustain your dearie ’s emotional and physical health . While you may attain some of these tasks on your own , you should attempt assistance from your veterinarian for any eccentric of trimming . Mist your bird several times a hebdomad with quick pee to facilitate maintain the health of their feathers and peel .
bring down their nails about once a month or if they come out to be overgrown . Consult your veterinary surgeon to clip their beak if it becomes too long . offstage trimming is optional and somewhat controversial . However , in sealed circumstances , it can assist in keep accidental injury or escape . Discuss it with your veterinarian to obtain their perspective on the matter .
Lifespan
The life anticipation of best-loved parakeets vary between 5 and 15 years . There are many divisor that impact life expectancy , include their overall upkeep , genetics , and potential health conditions .
Is a Parakeet Right for You?
Parakeets may be little bird , but they are just as big of a obligation as any other pet . Caring for parakeets requires attention and dedication . verify you are ready to ply for all of your pet ’s motive before you wreak them dwelling house . Remember , this is a large dedication as with any other pet , and you will be responsible for their strong-arm , genial , and emotional well - being throughout their lifespan .
