Pet Forum / Birds / Birds / October 2008

Parakeets are also known as budgies. They are intelligent, beautiful
and friendly. To make them an entertaining and lovely companion, you
need to learn a bit about good parakeet care.

1. Parakeet Cages
A proper cage with narrow gaps between bars is required. The larger
the cage, the better it is for your pet parakeet. It should at least
enough for your parakeet to move around comfortably. Parakeets are
playful and they enjoy playing with different kind of toys. You will
need enough room for perches, swings and parakeet toys. A cuttlebone
in the cage will help your parakeet keep his beak trim.

To keep your parakeet away from his droppings, choose the cage with a
grated bottom drawer. A pull out bottom drawer will help you to keep
the cage clean easily.

2. Parakeet Food
Another essential aspect of parakeet care is parakeets need fresh
water and food in their cage. Budgies love seeds, greens and fruits.
Their food should consist of millet seeds and grain. Ready made seed
mixes are available at pet stores or supermarkets. Beside the seed
mix, you can also provide fresh greens and supplement their diet with
vitamin drops.

3. Parakeet Training And Taming
It all starts with the trust. Most of parakeets take a long time to
start trusting their owners. To gradually gain their trust, you should
begin the process of getting them used to you and your hand. You can
do this by placing your hand in their cage and leaving it there for a
few minutes, twice a day. After a period of time, you’ll be able to
place your forefinger under your budgie’s chest and he’ll hop right on
your finger and stay there for longer and longer periods of time.

Parakeets love to sing and chirp. They seem to be happy and love when
you play music and will often sing along. You might want to leave the
radio on for them when you are gone. Some parakeets do learn to talk.
However, it is possible if your parakeet won’t.

4. Parakeet Diseases
The most common and potentially fatal diesase for parakeet is
diarrhea. Keep an eye on her stools - they should be round and solid.
If they are consistently runny, then she could have diarrhea. Many
table foods can be harmful to a parakeet and give them diarrhea. Stick
to seed and treats designed for parakeets.  It’s their nature to hide
illnesses, so observe their behavior and if you think your bird is
acting strangely, take him to the nearest vet immediately.

Parakeets are lovely and make a great companion pet. Good parakeet
care doesn’t have to be complicated. If you give them your attention
and the correct care, They will be your great pet for a long time. And
it’s a good idea to invest in a good parakeet or budgie care handbook.

Source: parakeetcareblog.com