Parakeets
"Overcome Your
Parakeets Fear
|
| They are found throughout Australia in the drier regions of the
Australian interior. They can be a variety of colors ranging from yellow
to blue, violet to green, even albino. They are beautiful and friendly
little parrots that have been kept as pets since the late 1700s. There are two main species of the Budgerigar: the American Parakeet and the English Budgie. They are really the same bird, but the English Budgie has been bred to be larger in size with a more pronounced forehead. The American Parakeet reaches 7 inches from head to tail tip; the English Budgie is 10 inches from the top of the head to the tip of the tail |
 |
Almost all
parakeets that can be purchased are bred in captivity. They live to be 10-15
years in captivity.
Parakeets are generally considered to be easy birds to raise and keep, however
if they're kept singularly they can become quite difficult. Parakeets are are
extremely social birds and they must be kept in pairs to avoid harmful behavior
problems like biting, screaming, and feather plucking which are all signs that
something is missing in their environment. That being said, parakeets may need
to be kept separate during breeding season or they can become agressive.
Parakeets are known to be quite shy and a fair amount of patient training and
socializing is required to make them comfortable with their owners and their
surroundings. Once they're properly socialized and comfy in their new digs then
the real fun can begin.
A patient and devoted owner can teach their Parakeet to speak a few words and
they can even learn a few tricks. A bond of trust is critical for all birds to
live companionably in captivity and the parakeet is different. Regular training
will build and maintain a bond of trust.
Parrot owners often complain about how loud their birds can be. The Parakeet is
much quieter than other parrots, but they can make themselves heard if they need
to. Another problem Parrot owners have is biting. While it is possible for a
Parakeet to bite, it doesn’t happen that often unless they have a very good
reason to do so.
If your Parakeet is too loud, or it does start biting,again usually a sign that
something is missin in their environment, don’t let these behaviors continue.
Budgies do not bite in the wild, so their reason for biting a human probably is
a result of fear, being territorial, due to jealousy, or out of shear
irritation. They probably feel they don’t have any other way to get your
attention. No matter the reason that they bite, this activity is not acceptable.
Never hit a bird because they won’t understand this form of discipline. Hitting
or yelling will only serve to encourage them to bite again. Agression begets
more agression. Instead of reacting it is best to not react at all. Ignore the
bite and continue what you were doing. You won’t reinforce the biting. Be
patient with your Parakeet, this may take more than one attempt to get the
action to stop.
Other potential problems include health concerns. While the parakeet is
considered a hearty bird, owners can run into trouble if their parakeet lives in
less than sanitary surroundings. Optimal care means a clean cage, good
nutrition, and quality sleep not to mention plenty of time outside their cage
for exercise.
Signs of illness include; lethargy, loose stools, a head tucked under their
wing, poor appetite, weight loss and discharge from eyes or nose. Any signs of
illness require immediate attention from your avian veterinarian. Common
illnesses include Aspergillosis, Candidiasis, diarrhea,thyroid gland
enlargement, Pacheco's Disease and psittacosis.
Parakeets have long been welcome additions to families for hundreds of years.
These beautiful little parrots make wonderful pets. They can be extremely
entertaining and make a great choice for your first avian friend.