Parakeets/Budgerigars

This small bird is called a Budgerigar or Parakeet. There country of orgin is Australia. In captivity thier life span is approximately 5-8 years but have been known to live longer depending on the individual birds health which is influences by the care provided, exercise and diet. Many captive parakeets die early due to improper nutrition and inadequate care provided by the owner.

 Parakeets come in a variety of colors and shades. The color of the cere (the fleshy part above the beak) is different between the sexes and changes as the bird gets older. A young bird has a pink cere, while the adult female has a brown cere. The adult male has a blue cere. The Parakeets trick and talking ability is low but some (most likely males) may learn to whistle, mimic sounds or speak a few words.

Parakeets are entertaining, active, playful and take up a small amount of space. They are not usually considered cuddly, but you can hold them close to you or have them perch on your finger. The best way to have a tame parakeet is to get a young one and not have it share a cage with another Parakeet. If you have two Parakeets in the same cage they will pay attention to each other and not you. If you don't wish to hold the bird much having a playmate is a great idea.

The Parakeets cage should be at least 18" x 18' and 24" high with metal bars spaced no greater then 1/2" apart. It's always best to provide the largest cage possible. Perches should be approximately 3/8" in diameter. A variety of sizes and types of perches is best to keep the birds feet healthy. Make sure the cage, food and water dishes are clean to prevent disease. To prevent boredom provide lots of toys.

Parakeets are one of the most common household pets. They are simple to care for, friendly and inexpensive. Even though Parakeets are small birds they are social creatures and still need your attention daily. Parakeets are often considered disposable pets since they are so inexpensive. They may become neglected once the novelty wears off. Many starve or die from dehydration because they are forgotten.

If a child is given a Parakeet as a pet please supervise the care given to the bird so as not to have an unfortunate accident or slow death.