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Parakeet (budgerigar)
Rescuing Sprite the Parakeet
These two parakeets live on Maguire Farm. The above, green one is Sprite and below is a blue parakeet named, Click. Read about Sprite's rescue and introducing Click.
Scientific Name Melopsittacus Undulatus Other names Parakeet, shell parakeet, budgie Origin Australia Type Warm-blooded vertebrate animals that have wings, feathers, a beak, strong, hollow bones and no teeth. They have powerful flight muscles. Temperament Like any animal the more interaction with humans at a young age the calmer and tamer they will become. At first take it slow when interacting with your parakeet. Allow them some time to get used to you and its new home. Parakeets are playful, affectionate and highly intelligent birds. They love to explore and interact with humans and other birds but are also very independent which makes them great for novice bird owners. Gender To tell the difference between a male and female, take a look at their cere (the fleshy part above their beak). It may be hard to tell with a very young parakeet but when they mature the colors of their cere will show.
Males: blue or purple cere.
Females: white, tan or brown cere.Parakeet gender can also be told through their behavior.
Males: head bobbing, more singing, more active and social.
Females: bossy, louder, generally don't sing.Coloration Budgies are naturally green and yellow with black markings scattered on the nape, back and wings. In captivity, however, they have been bred to produce colors such as blue, white, purple and yellow.
White parakeets, often called fancy parakeets, are almost pure white with pale blue spots and some pet stores sell them as if they are their own breed.
Bird Size 8 inches in length from beak to tail feathers Life Expectancy 10 - 15 years Cage Size The bigger the cage the better since birds need to have room to spread their wings and fly. They like to climb as well as fly so having vertical space is just as important as horizontal space. (Minimum size for a pair of small parakeets: 39 in. x 20 in. x 32 in) Cage Environment The cage should have plenty of bird perches placed at various levels. They can be placed in front of food and water bowls as well. To help a parakeet keep its beak sharp place cuttle bone, lava stones or concrete perches for them to sharpen their beaks with. Branches should also be placed in the cage for them to chew on but do not use oleander, acacia, boxwood, horse chestnut, privet or laburnum because these plants are poisonous to your parakeet. Instead you can use willow, poplar or fruit tree branches. Different bird toys can be placed throughout the cage so your parakeet will not get bored. Thick hemp rope, bird swings and bird cage ladders can all be used to occupy your parakeet. Do not place thin strings or breakable items in the cage because they could cause your bird to choke. At night parakeets like to have their cage covered with a cloth. Humidity Level 60-70% If the air is dry or become dry certain seasons a humidifier may be needed. Clean Up The cage should be cleaned weekly with bird cleaner making sure all surfaces are washed. Grooming A bird bath should be given 2-3 times per week. There are many different ways to give your bird a bath but the easiest is to give your bird a flat dish of water at the bottom of the cage so they can get in and bathe themselves.
If there are a variety of textures in the cage then your bird may be able to keep its toenails clipped on its own but if not then bird nail clipper will ne needed to trim the nails. You should have styptic powder nearby just in case you cut too close to the vein because the nail will start to bleed.
Feeding Fresh food and water should be provided to your bird at all times. Cleaning out the food and water container once a day will help keep your bird healthy and avoid and algae build up in the water. There are many nutritionally complete bird pellets on the market that can be bought for your parakeet but giving it a mix of fresh and natural foods is best. Having multiple food dishes can allow your bird to choose what he wants to eat. Supply him with fresh fruits and vegetables, bird seed, meal worms and having a dish of bird sand and oyster shell will help your bird have a nutritionally balanced diet.
Do not feed your parakeet the following: avocados, grapefruit, lemons, cabbage, raw or green potato's, green beans, plums, rhubarb or any processed dried fruit these are either difficult for your parakeet to digest or poisonous.
Training To start training your budgie you must first allow him to get used to his new home and to you. Talk to your budgie and stick you hands near him in the cage, but do not try and grab or touch him at first. That will only scare him and cause him not to trust you. Just get him used to having a hand near him. After a while he wont mind your hand and you can move your hand closer to him. It's a slow process and will be different for every bird. If your budgie starts to freak out because you came to close then move away and stay at a distance that does not scare him.
To try and get your budgie to talk, repeat words in a high pitch, bird like, voice. If you play music that has a verse that repeats itself your budgie may start to say it. Budgies are hard to train to talk but not impossible. Playing soothing music for your bird can also be relaxing for him.
Exercise Parakeet should be let out of their cage for a couple hours a day so they can spread their wings and fly. Make sure all windows and doors are closed so your bird doesn't fly out side. Ceiling fans should also be turned off.
In the beginning do not worry about getting your bird to go on your finger or catching him and putting him back in his cage. Allow him to fly freely and eventually when he is hungry he will fly back into the cage.
Health Problems Parakeets are generally healthy birds but signs of illness include; lethargy, loose stools, a head tucked under their wing, poor appetite, weight loss and discharge from eyes or nose.
Parakeets will sleep with their heads tucked in their wings but if they are normally awake and active at the time they tuck their head then a red flag should be risen and you should pay close attention to any other signs of odd behavior.
A healthy parakeet will sing, play with their toys, explore their surroundings, chirp and seem to be happy.
Gestation Egg layer
Parakeet eggs are only about an inch long.
Origin N/A Poisonous to Parakeets Parakeets should not be given the following plants: oleander, acacia, boxwood, horse chestnut, privet and laburnum. If you are looking for a branch to place in the cage good branches to use would be willow, poplar and fruit trees.
Do not feed your parakeet the following: avocados, grapefruit, lemons, cabbage, raw or green potato's, green beans, plums, rhubarb or any processed dried fruit these are either difficult for your parakeet to digest or poisonous.
Other Parakeet Facts ~The term Parakeet refers to any small to medium species of parrot, that generally have long tail feathers.
The pictures above and bellow are green parakeets.
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Five fancy parakeets
The Material contained herein may not be reproduced without the prior written approval of the author. Contents & Graphics Copyright © Maguire Farm (C) 2001-. All Rights Reserved. Our work is not Public Domain.
