Parakeets require devotion and attention

Are parakeets good pets for everyone? Not exactly. If you don’t have enough time to tend to their needs, this might not be the best moment to assume this responsibility. 

 

Owning a parakeet involves a lot of attention and devotion, and you must have a budget for it, too. Finding out how to take care of parakeets also involves a learning curve. 

If you didn’t know, parakeets could live for up to ten years, which means that getting a pair is a long-term commitment. The lifespan or parakeets can sometimes even go up to 15 years. 

 

Besides making sure that the birds have food and housing, you’ll also have to take them to the vet once in a while.

Find the right birds

When choosing your parakeet pair from the store or the breeder, make sure that they are bright-eyed and lively. 

They shouldn’t be dirty or have missing feathers, either. Look at the housing the budgies were kept in, too, as it can give you a clue as to whether they were kept in good condition.

The parakeets shouldn’t have any abnormalities or growths, either, and they should be clear of mites. Their toes should be in pristine condition since they spend all day long standing on their feet. 

Buy a pair of parakeets

The budgie personality is a very social one, which means that they always have to have a companion, whether that be another bird or a human friend. 

Since it is practically impossible for people to be at their parakeet’s side all the time, it’s highly recommended that you get two budgies instead of one.

Diet

Caring for parakeets also means knowing what to feed them. People who do not do enough research on this might risk feeding them an all-seed or all-pellet diet, which can be unhealthy. 

Parakeets need a varied diet to thrive. There are also foods that you should never give them as they risk causing intoxication and even being lethal. 

The seeds of some fruit can contain toxins, too. Other concerns range from you feeding them moldy nuts by accident to giving them human food that does not address their needs and could endanger their health. Here’s everything you should know.

What do parakeets eat?

A standard parakeet diet should consist of pellets, seeds, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and treats. 

While seeds and pellets should make up a big portion of their diet, they should be fed small amounts of veggies, and fruits every day. 

When it comes to what seeds you can give them, they range from safflower and groat to white sunflower and canary seed. Pellets are made to mimic seeds, and they are often mixed with them so that they provide the nutrients of both grains and seeds. 

Fruits have a somewhat high sugar content, which means that you should feed them to your parakeets only two or three times a week. Vegetables are to be fed every day as they are healthier. 

 

Some safe fruits range from banana and apricot to peach, apple (without the seeds), and fresh berries. Healthy vegetables range from swiss chard to carrot, zucchini, and broccoli, but there is a bunch more you can feed your bird.

Foods to avoid

What is a good treat? While bread might be the first thing that could cross your mind, it’s actually not the best choice. 

Sandwich bread has a number of preservatives and additives and even sugar, so it is unsuitable for parakeets.

Other foods can be particularly toxic to parakeets. Here is a shortlist.

• Yucca
• Mushrooms
• Chocolate
• Tomato leaves and stems
• Avocados
• Raw peanuts
• Uncooked beans
• Coffee
• Salt
• Sugar

The seeds and pits of most fruits (including apples)

While the majority of the fruits and vegetables that people eat are considered to be safe and healthy, they might have been exposed to dangerous amounts of pesticides and could be risky for parakeets. 

Treats

Budgie care involves giving your parakeets treats. 

It’s a good idea to give your pet birds treats only when training or for positive reinforcement because they aren’t the healthiest food choice of all. 

 

They can contain too many seeds for the recommended amount that a parakeet should receive on a daily basis or they could contain honey, which is rich in sugar. 

A safe parakeet treat is spray millet. 

Water

To be healthy, budgies need clean water at their disposal all the time. This means that you should change your pet birds’ water at least once a day. 

It is best to use stainless steel bowls that clip on the side of the cage for your food and water and you might actually have to change it three to four times a day, since bird poop can get into it by accident. 

What type of water is safe? Tap water can be used if it is known to come from a clean source, but many pet bird owners say that it contains too many minerals if it’s classified as ‘hard water’.

To solve this problem, you can give them filtered or bottled water. 

Where to place the cage

Providing the right home for your budgie pair is essential for both their safety and their health and happiness. Your parakeets are going to spend a while inside their cage, so it needs to be as spacious as possible.

Place the cage in a safe, warm, and active room but not to active, but don’t keep it right next to the window as budgies can easily get too hot or cold.  

Every day, you will take your parakeets out of the cage, either to take them to the vet or to let them enjoy  freedom. Make sure that you release them in a safe environment that doesn’t risk hurting them. 

 

Cage

The parakeet house has to provide your pet birds with enough space for them to feel at ease. One parakeet needs a cage that measures at least 18″ x 18″ x 24. If you can afford a bigger cage, get it, since it will maximize your bird’s comfort level. 

Double the size if you get a pair of parakeets instead of just one bird. The cage bars should be closely spaced as there have been cases in the past of budgies catching their bodies in-between the bars. 

Moreover, the cage has to be made of safe materials as parakeets use their beaks to climb on the bars. The last thing you’d want would be for your pet birds to accidentally ingest zinc or lead, as both of these are toxic to them. 

Bamboo cages are not a good choice, either, since parakeets are known to be able to chew through them and escape. 

Cage accessories

When it comes to parakeet care, a number of accessories are a must and others; you can do without. Here is a list of products that you should get and that are necessary for all parakeet cages.

• At least 4 perches 
• A swing 
• 3 metal food bowls ( for water, pellets and veggies) you can also mix pellets with the veggies so you would only need 2 bowls
• A mineral block
• Newspaper for the bottom of cage
• TOYS! Lots of fun toys! Make sure they are shreddable and safe! I like foraging toys for my birds as it is good for them to forage.

If you want to keep your birdcage as clean as possible, you can consider getting a birdcage skirt. This will at least keep part of the waste inside the cage, with you being able to slide the tray out and clean it with ease. 

No matter the type or number of accessories you get, make sure they are made from materials that are marketed as being safe for parakeets.

Toys

Learning how to take care of a parakeet also means understanding that they can get bored if they don’t have any means of entertainment. 

 

But what types of toys do budgies like the most? 

• Shredding Toys
• Foraging Toys
• Bells
• Ladders

Pick toys that are as colorful as possible as birds are capable of seeing the full spectrum of colors and even beyond what people are able to see. You can also have some duller colored ones.

Change the toys occasionally or rotate them on a week-by-week basis so that your parakeets never get bored of them. You can rotate them as often as you like!

Health

Signs of a healthy animal

Healthy parakeets have a good appetite, particularly in the morning. If the bird loses its appetite, it might be a sign that something is wrong health-wise. Moreover, budgies are active and acrobatic, and they don’t remain unresponsive or calm for too long.

A healthy parakeet spends some time grooming themselves and their pair every day. Their feathers have to look good, be smooth, and ordered, and there shouldn’t be any missing. A healthy budgie’s grooming habits shouldn’t fluctuate. 

Since budgies’ feet are prone to several diseases, you should keep an eye on their claws and feet. They should be clean, without any encrustation, and their claws shouldn’t be overly long, either. 

When it comes to the parakeet temperature, you should know that it is physiologically between 102 and 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Birds can have a fever just like other animals, so if you notice that your budgie is lethargic and feels too warm when you hold it, it might be sick. 

Here are several other signs of a healthy parakeet.

• An even flight
• A waxy cere
• A firm and intact beak
• Firm droppings

Common diseases

The most important parakeets info you should be aware of are the diseases that most affect them. Knowing the signs will help you prevent them in the future.

Here are the most common health problems that a parakeet or your budgie pair can experience:

• Chlamydiosis
• Feather plucking
• Diarrhea
• Mites

Chlamydiosis in parakeets is an infectious disease that can be passed on from an infected bird to a healthy one. It’s characterized by appetite loss, green droppings, conjunctivitis, and nasal discharge. 

Feather plucking can be either a result of boredom or a sign that your parakeets’ diet is lacking something essential, such as minerals. 

Diarrhea can show up whenever the budgies have consumed something that has upset their stomach, but it can also be a result of food poisoning. 

Mites can be common in some parakeets that live in unsanitary conditions in pet shops. In this case, the budgie would have white deposits, particularly on their legs and feet, but sometimes even on their beak or eyes. 

In any and all of these situations, seek out avian veterinary care. 

 

Red flags

When it comes to parakeets care, knowing when it’s time to take them to the vet can prevent any health condition from worsening. Here are some signs that should give you a clue that your budgies aren’t feeling well and that a visit to the vet clinic should happen swiftly. 

• Nasal or ocular discharge
• White deposits around the legs and feet
• Lack of appetite
• Red or swollen eyes
• Runny droppings
• Green feces
• Fluffed or soiled feathers (fluffed feathers can also mean they are happy)
• Coughing or respiratory distress
• Beak swelling
• A lack of a grooming routine
• Avoiding to sit on a perch

If you notice any of these signs in your parakeets, please take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible. 

Maintenance

The task of caring for your parakeet pair doesn’t end once you have bought all the equipment they need. Maintenance should be a big part of your responsibility and it ranges from cleaning the birds’ cage to regular visits to the vet. 

Keeping your budgies’ living environment fresh and clean is important as it can prevent them from getting sick. Their droppings contain bacteria and other germs just like those of any other birds or mammals. 

Cage cleaning

If you have come across some parakeet information according to which you should clean your birds cage once every couple of weeks or even less frequently, it is incorrect. 

You have to clean their housing at least once a week, scrub it down with pet-friendly detergent and wipe it clean with a non-toxic disinfectant. 

Once you have disinfected the cage, you need to brush it once again so as to remove any trace of the disinfectant. 

The waterers or food bowls, along with the rest of the accessories have to be cleaned in the same way. Even the toys have to be cleaned every week or once every two weeks as they can get soiled, too. 

And every day change the newspaper in the bottom of the cage.

 

Mix up food

Just like every person can get bored of eating the same thing day in and day out, the same can happen to parakeets. 

Not only is it good for you to mix things up once in a while to prevent boredom, but you can also use this method to make sure that your budgies are getting all the nutrition they need.

While the basis of your budgies’ diet should consist of veggies and pellets, it’s good to add , fresh fruit, and seeds to their weekly diet. 

Don’t stick with the same kind of treats, fruits, or veggies, all the time. Budgies love to experiment, and as long as you are feeding them safe food, they will love the variety. 

Handling

Socialize

Socializing a parakeet takes some time and effort, and the best time to begin this process is a few hours after you get them. The budgie needs constant socializing, whether to new people, objects, or places. 

Budgies learn the most when they are babies. Their minds begin an imprinting process, which makes it possible for the parakeet to learn as much as possible from their living environment. This happens during the first year of their life. 

A parakeet is a social animal, and because of this, it cannot cope for long periods of loneliness. If the bird doesn’t get any interaction, whether, from the pet parent or another budgerigar, it will suffer. 

Here are some tips for socializing your budgie parakeet. 

 

• Start offering different kinds of foods, especially when they are young
• Move the cage around the house so that they become acquainted with different settings
• Talk to your budgies every morning and every evening or whenever you have some spare time
• Expose your parakeet to various toys and obstacles, especially when you’re out of the house
• Leave the TV turned on to entertain the bird

Let them out of the cage

Every bird owner will need to let their bird out of the cage every day But knowing how to care for parakeets when that happens is essential. 

Birds have to be allowed to fly only in secured rooms where there is no chance of them escaping. 

Pet birds can be harmed by a variety of items inside and outside the house, so the first thing to do is to ensure that there are no open windows or doors in the room you let them fly in. 

Here are some other tips for letting your parakeets fly around the house:

• Make sure there are no other pets in that room (cats or dogs)
• Get rid of any plants that might be toxic if ingested by your budgies
• Turn off any fans
• Don’t leave any pointed or sharp items in the room
• Remove the blinds as a parakeet can get stuck or tangled into them
• Don’t leave any closets or drawers open that might make it impossible for the parakeet to get out 

Sleeping

Keeping parakeets as pets is convenient as they tend to sleep for 10 to 12 hours per day. Most of this happens during the night. 

To make sure that your budgies go to sleep, you can cover the cage with a cloth so that their living environment becomes a safe place. 

However, if you do this, you need to make sure that the cage is still properly ventilated and that there is enough air going in. 

If your budgies tend to be particularly loud at night, covering the cage usually solves the problem and stimulates them to go to sleep. 

As for the sleeping behavior of a parakeet, you might notice it during the day, too. 

For example, they often take a nap just by closing their eyes, but they can sometimes perch on one foot and give the other one a bit of rest. 

Others can tuck their head against a wing.

How to know if your parakeets are happy and healthy?

When you start keeping budgies as pets, you will notice that they are very active. So, a happy parakeet will always be on the go, whether flying, chewing, playing, or climbing on different perches in the cage. If you have a pair, they will also talk to each other rather frequently. 

 

Healthy parakeets also make a number of happy sounds, which can range from chirping to whistling and even downright singing. They will also nibble food throughout the day and sometimes even between play sessions. 

An unhealthy parakeet looks unhappy and will show some changes, such as lethargy, a decrease or lack of appetite, listlessness, vocalizations from a bird that’s reasonably quiet, and a bad general appearance, too.  

In sick parakeets, you might notice changes in their droppings, the way their feet and beak look or ruffled, messy, or dirty feathers. Happy and healthy budgies groom themselves and their pair, so the lack of grooming behavior is a sign that something wrong has happened. 

 

That concludes parakeet care 101!

Of course I can't tell you everything you need to know so go watch some youtube videos as well!