Parakeets: How to Feed and Take Care of Your Pet Budgie


© Veronica Armstrong
Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic

Jun 24, 2003


Parakeets are the most popular caged birds in the world. The parakeet is a smaller member of the parrot family, and comes from Australia. They are also known by the name Budgerigar.

Parakeets are friendly, intelligent, and enjoy the company of humans. No other companion bird offers such a wide variety of colors.

Feeding

In the wild, parakeets feed on grass seeds, eucalyptus leaves, buds and bark and a large variety of greens. Parakeets are vegetarian by nature, and should never be fed meat, milk products or animal proteins, as their digestive system cannot process them. Parakeets seem to do fine on either a pelleted diet or a "parakeet seed" diet. Feed them finely chopped greens and other fresh vegetables daily.

The biggest mistake new owners make is thinking that if a seed cup is full, it still has food in it. The truth is that parakeets eat the seed and leave the hull behind, often in their dish. Don't forget to give fresh water daily –to drink but also to play and bathe in.

Housing and Handling

Parakeets can be kept individually, in pairs or in large aviary groups. Parakeets need to be able to fly, so your cage must allow for this. Keep the cage away from drafts, windows and out of direct sun.

Parakeets, especially hand-fed ones, can become very tame. They bond well with their human owners. If you can't play with your bird at least twice a day, consider buying two parakeets. All parrots are very social and need the company of either humans or another bird.

Special Requirements

  • Companion birds are very susceptible to bacteria; it is important to keep their cages very clean.
  • Toys are essential for birds in order to prevent boredom.
  • Always supervise children around any parakeet, because when they are frightened, their bites can be painful.
  • Parakeets are sociable and like watching the action. Living rooms, family rooms and kitchens are great places to keep the cage.
  • Do not cook on Teflon pans if you own a bird, the fumes are lethal to birds.
  • Chocolate and avocados are lethal to all companion birds.

Both you and your parakeet can have a long and happy relationship, as long as you keep its cage clean, offer a variety of foods, and interact with it daily.

Go To Page: 1


Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo
Print Article Print Article
Email Article Email Article
View All Articles View All Articles

Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
1.   Jun 24, 2003 1:44 PM
I know dogs cannot eat chocolate. Had never heard it of birds until now, so that is nice to know. Also, the info on Teflon is interesting as related to birds. Hmm. Wonder what it is doing to human ...

-- posted by Dubh_Sidhe



Join the latest discussions

For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Veronica Armstrong's Companion Birds topic, please visit the Discussions page.