Parakeets 101- Must Read to Keep Parakeets as Pet in 2022

Hello, the pet lovers! Are you wonder to hear the word a pet bird? Well, you may become a wonder to hear like this “pet bird”.

It’s alright! Let’s ask a child what their most-liked animal is? Well, you may normally get the more traditional reactions include cat, dog or fish.

You actually do not find much who thinks of parakeets as a pet. But the fact that these little wild birds make lovely feathered friends!

During my 12 years of experience, I have just coped with small pet birds so fortunately for some my knowledge I am here to talk about parakeets that are excellent pets and some related questions about these.

Whenever we think about Parakeet or Budgie, a bird of 6 to 7 inches long, soft and silky furry body with wavy lines and long tapered tails comes in our mind. The Latin name of this bird is ‘song bird with wavy lines’ and this is a felicitous portraiture of this bird.

It is very common to have other animals as a pet, but there are few who keep parakeets or budgie as a pet. So, to keep parakeet as a pet, you need to know something before adopting it.

Here I would like to give you some information about parakeet, that how you should feed them, where to keep them and so on.

I hope all my info will help you out in keeping parakeet bird as a pet.

If you have any questions about parakeet or pet budgie, you are here at the right place. Let’s have a start …. and check our FAQ for answers considering parakeets.

General:

1. Where Do Parakeets Come From?

The parakeet or cute little parrot seems to be the most popular of all captive birds here in the U.S.A. This little bird is native to central Australia, living in lands that include dessert, wooded areas, and scrub.

The first record of parakeets was made in 1805 by George Shaw, an English botanist, and zoologist. There was an English botanist and zoologist named George Shaw made the first record of parakeets in 1805.

It was founded to Europe in 1840 by John Gould who was an English ornithologist. In 1850 the first captive breeding began. The color difference was documented in 1870 and in the 20th century earned the popularity as household pets.

2. Is a parakeet and a budgie the same thing?

Today parakeets are becoming the most popular birds of America. Even though they are popular as a parakeet, but the bird is actually called a budgerigar. Budgie is simply the short name of a budgerigar.

Parakeets are a family of various parrot types. The Budgie or budgerigar is simply one of the different types of parakeet. So a Budgie is known as a type of parakeet, but parakeet is not a Budgie.

Especially in the USA Budgie is commonly named as a parakeet. It is not the right term for the budgerigar. But doesn’t matter how many of us like to use the word parakeet instead of budgerigar or budgie.

3. What is the difference between a parrot and parakeet?

Even though their similar name, parrot, and parakeet is not the same thing. The difference between a parrot and parakeet is as like as the difference between a small plane and a commercial jet.

Parrot is a broad term that refers to a class of colorful and intelligent bird where the parakeet means a small and particular member of the parrot family. So we can say, all parakeets are a parrot, but all parrots are not parakeets. Considering use differs by area many parrots are even named as parrot or parakeet.

Parakeets are small sized birds also familiar as budgies where a parrot is one of the largest species of external birds.

The parakeets are low maintenance birds that are happy to live in an enclosed area. But a parrot may need a more spacious place of tree branches or big cages.

4. How do you introduce a new parakeet?

If you want to introduce a new parakeet to an existing family member you need to take the following steps:

At first, you need to ensure by a vet to check your bird that it has no infectious parasites or diseases that can transmit to the bird you already have. It is also a better idea to clip the wings of the new bird.

Secondly, place this new one in a different cage that is close enough to the cage of the existing bird. So they can see to each other but not too close that they can reach to the rods of the cage and bite to each other.

You can let the birds have some overlooked socializing after a week, in the cage of new bird or either out of the cages. If it works and they become friendly to each other then put them in a new cage that is spacious enough for each bird.

5. How big is a parakeet?

Several species of parakeets have different sizes. The average length is about 18 inches. The largest species of Australian parakeet or Australian King Parrot aka parakeet is about 17 inches long in average.

Another species of parakeet known as Patagonian Conure aka parakeet (found in American continent) is also 17 to 18 inches.

There are also 16.5 inches of rarely-seen Yellow-Eared parakeet. There is also south Asian or Indian group of parakeet, and their average sizes are 13 to 15 inches.

6. Do all parakeets talk?

Parakeets are the talking species of birds. All parakeets can talk, but you need to train them. You need the patient to prepare them as it depends on the personalities of parakeets to train and talk.

7. How much time should I spend with my bird?

It is better to spend as much time as possible with your bird that he or she can’t felt lonely. If you spend at least 30 minutes a day, then it seems to be a pretty good for you and your bird.

I would like to suggest you that if you don’t have any other birds to play, then you need to spend even more time with it.

If you leave your birds alone for most of the times, then it guarantees that it will become more wild and uncontrollable.

So spend as much time as you can with your bird and make a close relationship with your bird.

8. My parakeet bit me! What do I do?

If your parakeet bites you when you put your hand into the cage, it happens mainly that he or she becomes frightened. There are a few steps to follow if you want to stop biting your parakeet.

Stay for a while with your hand in the cage without going close to the bird. You need to free with your bird and prove that you are not threatening to your bird.

If he or she comes nearer to you, then give them millet as they can eat some and come too close to your hand. If your bird is eating from your hand, then you think that he or she takes your hand as a positive thing.

9. Can parakeets get along with cockatiels?

Yes, they can because parakeets and cockatiels are living together in the wild. So it might be possible that they can share a cage with each other.

There are a few parakeets and cockatiels are found that they live together peaceably. But parakeets are more aggressive than cockatiels. So there is also the chance that one of them could get injured anytime.

Parakeet Cages:

1. How much space does a parakeet need?

Parakeets are efficacious and mischievous birds; they have an ardency to flutter around. So it is better if the space in cages is big enough. The more capacious the cage is, the more convenient it is for a Budgie. As a result, length is more conspicuous than height, because birds flew transversely rather than up and down.

2. What type of bird cage should I get for my parakeet?

Typically a parakeet is of 6 to 7 inches long. So for one parakeet, you can have a cage of 20 inches long, 18 inches deep and 18 inches wide. For a pair of parakeet, you can have a cage of 30 inches length, depth, and height. The more capacious the cage is, the happier is your Budgerygah. You should keep in mind that your Budgerygah can move freely inside the cage without any restriction. Buying a large cage also depends on your ability. So, if you can afford to buy a humongous cage, it is better for your Budgie.

3. Where should I place the cage?

It is very important to settle the cage in an appropriate place. If you place the birdcage in the middle of the room, then your Budgie will feel scared and anxious. It is better to place the cage in a corner where it can have the support of two walls and the height should be at the chest level. If the cage is placed at too much height then the Budgie’s will feel isolated. It is idle to keep them around the family members. Do not place the cage in front of air conditioning vent, because the rapid changes in temperature are not good for their health.

Health:

1. How do you take care of a parakeet?

A parakeet appertains from the brood of Melopsittacus undulatus. They are seed-eating mischievous parrot league and they are analogously painless to take care for. They need neighborhoods neat as a button, a felicitous nutritional therapy, intercommunication, psychological stimulation, and a capacious cage. As it is not that expensive, so it is often seen as a valuable pet. Most of the Budgie’s died due to mistreatment, accidents, or lack of knowledge about appropriate care.

2. How long do parakeets live in captivity?

Usually, Parakeets live for 7 to 14 years. If they are not in proper care and nutritional therapy, then their life span may decrease to 3 years or even less. But in wild zone, they can live up to 20 years.

3. How do I know if my bird is sick?

When your bird is sick you will find that it becomes lackadaisical. It will stay at one corner of the cage, won’t have food properly. It will try to puff its feather frequently to increase its body warmth. It is very important to know the signs of sickness so that you can respond quickly and get your bird cured. There can be several signs like, falling of feathers, not having food, to be on the floor of the cage at one corner, having cloudy eyes, feeling lumps or swollen parts in the birds’ body and so on. So these are the possible signs to understand that your Budgie is sick.

4. If tail feathers (or any other feathers) fall out, do they grow back?

Feathers reoccur like hair. So if it falls, it will definitely grow back like hair. A feather falling on its own is a different issue, but if you pluck the feathers then it might damage the underlying layer of skin. For which, the skin might get damaged so erroneously that the feathers will not regrow from that place.

5. How do I get my parakeet to take a bath?

It is very easy to get your parakeet to take a bath. You should allow your Budgie to take bath for at least twice in a week. You can keep a small bowl full of water in the middle of the cage and your Budgie will take bath on its own. You can also use a spray bottle and use it as a shower to spray on your Budgie. Fill the spray bottle with lukewarm water and you can spray it on your birds every day if you want to. Do not spray the water directly on your Budgie’s face, because some of them may not analogous to it.

6. What Temperatures Are Good for Parakeets?

Extravagant amount of stuffy or hiemal temperature is not good for Parakeets. Budgies can stay at the calefaction of approximately 100 degrees, if it has enough amount of water and if the air is not too sweltering. So in scorching days, you will often see your Budgies are prolonging its neck and holding their wings out and trying to cool off. If you change the temperature all of a sudden and keep your Budgie in a cool place from a hot atmosphere, this will surely kill your bird.

7. Do parakeets sleep?

Like a human, parakeets also need to sleep. Without the proper amount of sleep, a Budgie can become very cantankerous. A parakeet needs to sleep for at least 10 to 12 hours in a day. If you can cover the cage at night then it will create a beautiful moment for your Budgie to have a peaceful sleep.

8. How Much Sleep Do Parakeets Need?

A parakeet needs to sleep for minimum 10 to 12 hours every day. If they sleep properly they will have a fresh playful mood. If not then they will have a very grumpy attitude. This might affect your bird’s health, because they may not feel like to have their food on time, might not take bath or have water properly.

9. Why do you have to cover birds at night?

It is better if you can cover the birds at night. The birds usually sleep just when the darkness covers the surroundings. So after the darkness, it is better to cover the cage with thick, dark colored cloth. You can remove the cover early in the morning. While removing the cover you need to remove it slowly, so that the morning light can slowly get into the dark room.

Food:

1. What Do I Feed My Parakeet?

Parakeet loves to have seeds. But you can’t always let your parakeets feed on seeds. Because seed contains a low amount of vitamins and minerals and contains a high amount of fat which can cause paunchiness. If you want your parakeets to be healthy you should feed them different foods, which contains a balanced amount of vitamins, minerals, proteins. In case of seeds, it is enough to give 2 spoons of seeds every day. You can easily feed your parakeets with fresh fruits, vegetables.

2. Is Tap Water Safe for Parakeets?

Yes, it is safe. It is not always possible to feed your parakeets’ bottled water. Moreover, bottled water may contain chemicals, which can be harmful to your parakeet. Sometimes, you can fill the water dish with grapes or other fruits; this will attract your bird to have water. You can also add some honey to change the taste of water. But you always need to give them fresh water, because parakeets are very picky about the cleanliness of the water. If they found that the water is unclean, they will not have it. So it is better to give them fresh water and always try to keep the water dish clean.

3. Can I Give My Parakeet Fruit?

Yes, obviously you can give fruit to your parakeets. But you need to be alert of feeding them the fresh fruits. Because in case of packed and frozen fruits, it may contain some extra preservative ingredients that can be harmful to your Budgies. Always try to give them fresh fruits. There are some fruits which the parakeets like most:

Mango
Apple
Banana
Orange
Grapes
Coconut

You can also go for some packed foods like Avi cakes, Lafebers and so on.

Toys:

1. What Parakeet Toys Should I Buy?

As I have mentioned it earlier that parakeets are playful birds, so you can keep some toys inside the cage. This will help to keep your birds mind fresh, but the cage should be big enough to get hold of the toys, water dish and enough empty room for your birds to move comfortably. You should select bright colored, light-weight toys. Toys need to have some kind of texture so that your bird can play with its mouth, and they will enjoy playing with the toys, which produces audible sounds. Budgies love to chew, to keep their beaks healthy. So keep something like swing, ladder or soft paper-wood toys, so that they can chew and shred.

2. What Toys Should I Avoid?

You should avoid toys made out of metals, chain because these materials can be very toxic for your Budgies. You also need to avoid ring type of toys, because your Budgie’s head might get stuck into it. Do not use any synthetic fiber, if you want to give swings or ladders for your birds, then made it out of cotton.

3. I have two parakeets and they sit next to each other and rub their faces together. What does this mean?

If your parakeets are sitting next to each other and rub their faces together, it means that they have started liking each other. They are known as love birds and they like to sit beside their pairs. They try to sit next to each other as much closer as they can.

Gender:

1. How Can I tell if My Parakeet is Young?

All young Budgies will have black eyes. As time passes and they becoming older, the color of their eyes changes to light gray or brown. They will also have bars on their head all the way down to cere. This will tell that your Budgie is 3 to 4 months. After this when you will notice that the top feathers have been replaced and there is no striped, it means your Budgie is not young anymore.

2. What is a Parakeet Cere?

Cere means the fleshy covering of the base. It is a waxy-looking area just above the beak, encompassing the nostrils. If you do not know the gender of your Budgie, this cere will reveal the gender of your Budgie. You can understand it by seeing the color of Cere.

3. How do you tell the difference between a male and female parakeet?

The difference can be understood by seeing the color of Cere, which is above the beak of a Budgie. If the color of Cere is at the translucent quality, it indicates that the Budgie is a young male. If the color is of chunky quality, then it is a young female.

For an adult male Budgie, the color will be royal blue or bright blue. For female Budgie it will be light brown, tan, beige, white or pale blue. The color of the cere will change into dark brown during the breeding season.

Breeding:

1. Do parakeets choose only one mate?

No, parakeets do not choose only one mate. Yes, but it takes time for them to create bonds with another mate. But it is better to keep female Budgie with two male Budgies. You can keep two male Budgies together, but not two female Budgies. Because they will keep on fighting with each other.

2. How do you get your parakeets to mate?

Normally parakeets start mating in the spring season. In this season their hormones are at the peak of breeding. If you want to get your parakeets to mate, allow them to stay alone as long as possible. The actual mating time is very short, but you can see the effect of it, that means the changes in behavior for a long time.

3. How do I get my parakeet to breed?

To make your parakeets breed is not a difficult job. Before getting your parakeets to breed you need to be sure about their age. Both of the Budgies need to be at least 1 year old. You also need to select a suitable pair of mating. If the bonds between them are created from before, then it will be easier for them to mate and breed in a short time.

When you will see that the cere of the female Budgie has turned into dark brown, it means you can prepare for a round box to hold off the eggs.

4. After the mating, how long is it usually before the female lays her eggs?

It is a very common question, and normally a Budgie lay eggs on the 7 to 10 days after mating.

5. Can I tell if the female is pregnant?

Yes, you can tell if the female is pregnant or not. You can tell this by seeing the physical changes in your Budgie. She will walk slowly, and unable to fly. Her body will clearly show a baby bump. She will always look tired, and feel drowsy. So she will sleep most of the time, by fluffing her feathers. In this period of time, you will notice that the male Budgie is feeding the female Budgie frequently.

6. I found an egg on the bottom of the cage, what do I do?

If you found an egg on the bottom of the cage, it means that your Budgie will go to lay another one. If you want to have chicks, then you should immediately put a round-bottomed wooden nest box inside the cage. If the female Budgie does not sit on the eggs, then you can remove the eggs.

7. How long before they lay an egg when they have one inside?

A budgie lays 3 to 4 eggs at a time. To form an egg, usually, it takes at least 2 days, travel down the cloaca and come out. Before laying eggs you will not be able to tell whether your Budgie is pregnant or not.

8. The female is biting holes into her eggs – what does this mean?

It means that the female Budgie is suffering from the deficiency of Calcium. You can buy some vitamin drops immediately and mix it with her food. Do not mix the drops of vitamins in water, because bacteria will grow in water very quickly and this will harm your Budgie.

Finally I would like to conclude that this article will help you to have an elaborate idea about Budgies. Through this article you can take care of your Budgies properly with proper nutritional therapy.

Wrapping up

If you like to have a pet with low maintenance, loving, high energy and that will offer hours, even years of joy, a parakeet is right for you.

They love interaction, love to fly, be talked to, held and played with. I hope you will get all the queries and answers after reading these FAQ considering parakeets.