Parakeets

- Sexually mature at 1 year
- Life span: 10 - 15 years
- When parakeets mate, the male needs his flight feathers to help him balance
- Diet: Seeds, pellets, fruit and vegetables
- Egg Incubation: 18 days
- Size: 6 inches
- Weight: 25-30 grams

The term parakeet refers to several varieties of small, long-tailed parrots. The species of parakeet most commonly kept as a household pet birds in the United States is known as a budgerigar parakeet.

Perky and sociable, a parakeet seeks the company of other parakeets. If there are none available, parakeets bond well with humans. In fact, it is essential that you spend a lot of social time with your parakeet. If left alone for prolonged periods of time, it may suffer depression and start negative behaviors like feather plucking.

Like all members of the parrot family, parakeets are extremely intelligent. This is why it's a relatively simple task to teach them to talk. Another essential for keeping your parakeet mentally healthy is a whole lot of appropriate pet toys. This is not "spoiling" your pet. It's giving your bird mental stimulation, which as important as a good diet in the case of a parakeet.

Regarding the diet, mix it up a bit. The same little food dish of parakeet seed day after day, even if it's the correct type, will lead to boredom and your bird may not eat as well. It may also not provide all the nutrients for a healthy diet. Add cooked beans, whole wheat bread, cooked rice, pasta, fresh vegetables and greens, some hardboiled egg, water-packed tuna, and well-cooked meat. Parakeets are omnivores and do eat a bit of meat with their seeds and produce. http://www.lisashea.com/petinfo/articles/bird_food.html

At the pet store, buy a "cuttlebone" to ensure your little pet is getting enough calcium and hang it in the cage.
Care and Tips
1. Feed a variety of foods for a healthy diet.
2. Offer alot of toys, parakeets love them.
3. Parakeets do poorly in temperatures below 70 degrees.
4. Keep the cage clean.
5. Keep wings clipped.
6. Trim nails regularly.
7. Keep Quickstop (a styptic powder clotting agent safe for birds) handy in case of bleeding pin feathers or nails.
8. Offer fresh food and water daily.
9. Parakeets love to bathe, offer a bathing tub or bowl of water.
10. Cuttlebone provides necessary minerals.
Toxic for Pet Birds
- Insecticide sprays
- Ammonia
- Bleach
- Oven cleaner
- Glue
- Nail Polish remover
- Paint
- Perfumes
- Teflon Note: If non-stick cookware overheats, the smoke and fumes can be fatal to birds
- Chocolate
- Avocado
- Rhubarb
Species
- Budgerigar
- Carolina Parakeet (extinct)
- Monk Parakeet
- Alexandrine Parakeet
- Barred Parakeet
- Blue-crowned Parakeet
- Green Parakeet
- Pacific Parakeet
- Red-masked Parakeet
- Red-breast Parakeet
- Rose-ringed Parakeet
- Australian Parakeet