If you're looking for a pet bird, try a parakeet!
Parakeets, also known as“budgerigars”or “budgies”, are active, playful birds that make wonderful additions to a household. An average adult is about seven inches long and lives between eight to ten years.
Before buying the bird, get these items:
A cage. This is where your new pet will live. The cage should be at least 20 inches long, 18 inches deep and 18 inches wide. The cage should have quality perches for your bird to use.
At least two cups for the bird's cage, one for food, and one for water. If you wish, you can replace the water cup with a water tube. You can also buy different kinds of feeders.
Bird food. A parakeet's food should be a combination of bird seed, pellets, fruits and vegetables.
Cuttle bone and mineral block. These are basically “nail files” for birds. Your bird will gnaw on them when they want to trim their beak. They also give your bird other nutrients, such as calcium.
Toys, like bells, balls, and chew toys, to keep your bird stimulated and active.
When you're looking at a parakeet, see that it's active and chirpy. Its eyes should be bright and alert, it shouldn't be missing feathers, and no poop should be stuck to its bottom. A healthy parakeet should be your first priority, not what color the parakeet is.
Some people want to hand tame their birds. Taming a bird so that it feels comfortable being on your finger (or shoulder, chest, or head) requires patience and time devoted to your parakeet. Even if a bird is not hand tamed, it can still be a friendly companion for you.
If you only have, or plan to have, one parakeet, you need to socialize with him daily. Parakeets need interaction with others in order to be healthy and happy.
Parakeets can be messy, so you'll need to keep the cage clean and often vacuum or sweep the area around the cage. It's also important to make sure your bird has fresh food and water.
Parakeets can be noisy. They spend many hours a day singing and chattering, which most people enjoy. If you cover the cage at night, it will keep the bird quiet, but remember to uncover the cage in the morning. (Would you like to be in the dark all the time? Neither does your bird!)
Make sure you put your cage away from any place you commonly use cleaners, sprays, or fragrances, such as near the kitchen or the bathroom. Birds can die quickly if exposed to harmful airborne chemicals. Also, keeps the cage away from drafts coming from vents, windows, doors, or other places. If you take your bird out of its cage, first turn off all fans, close all doors and windows, and check for any other potential hazards.
Take good care of your parakeet, and it will happily keep you company for many years.
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