- Place the cage up off the floor in a secure, peaceful and preferably low traffic area.
- Do not place the cage in direct sunlight or in the path of a heating or air conditioning vent.
- Cover the sides, back & top of the cage. Slowly move the cover back until it is removed by day 7.
- Put seed in the cup and sprinkle some on the floor of the cage until your bird is using the seed cup.
- Extra birds require extra seed cups. When adding a new bird, add extra food cups. Two per new bird.
- Do not handle the bird for the first 7 days as it is already frightened by its new surroundings.
- Refill the seed every day, removing empty hulls. The water cup should be washed every day.
- Quiet birds are frightened birds. Move slowly until your bird is active and acclimated.
- If your bird is not eating by the end of the second day, call our store for more tips and adventurermation.
The parakeet is one of America’s most popular pet birds. Their small size, bright colors, and cheerful disposition make them perfect pets. Parakeets come in a large variety of colors including pastel blues, yellows, dark greens, violets, solid whites and almost limitless combinations of the same.
Young parakeets can easily be trained to sit on your finger. It is calming to listen to their quiet chattering and chirping. Some parakeets even learn to talk! They are playful and inquisitive, wanting to know what makes a bell ring and “what is behind that toy.” Parakeets normally live seven to twelve years, with some living much longer.
Parakeets have modest tastes in cage sizes. However, they won’t complain when a medium to large size cage is chosen. Choose the largest cage your budget will afford. The cage will need to be large enough for your parakeet to move around comfortably inside. There also needs to be room for toys. Your bird needs at least two to start off with, and would appreciate two more!
Most cages have food and water dishes included, as well as two perches. Position the perches carefully. Parakeets have long tails, so leave some space between the back of the perch and the cage wall. Also, do not place perches directly above cups. You don’t want to have your bird going to the bathroom in its food or water dish.
Parakeets should have a large variety of grain and millet seeds. Abba® Parakeet food is an excellent choice. Abba uses a large variety of seeds so that every bite is something different. The seed is guaranteed fresh, too. Fresh seeds taste best. As this is their daily diet, make sure they receive fresh food every day.
Parakeets hull their seed which means they take the “skin” off the outside of the seed before eating it. This “skin” normally drops back into the dish, so it may look like their dish is full, but if you blow on it, the “seed hulls” disappear. And, because parakeets hull their food, they do not need grit.
Parakeets need fresh water, and their water dish cleaned, everyday. Water left to sit for a long time will grow bacteria that is not healthy for the bird.
When you change the water, add a few shakes of Nekton S to it. Nekton S is a vitamin designed to make your parakeet’s diet complete. It contains amino acids not found in a total seed diet. Amino acids are important for good development of feathers. Nekton S also contains important minerals and vitamins vital for good health.
Millet spray is their favorite treat. “Popcorn on a stick” is fun to eat. For a parakeet in a new home, it is also a comfort food. A new house away from other birds can be scary. But if your bird can see the millet and feels safe eating it, then your bird will feel safe when it decides it is time to look around the rest of the cage to check out where the food and water dishes are located.
Honey sticks are another good treat. These require more persistence when trying to pull the seeds off, so parakeets get a little exercise while eating. Honey sticks come in a variety of flavors to add zest to your bird’s life.
Parakeets also love and benefit from eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Favorites include broccoli, leaves of flowering kale, shredded carrots, peas, corn, slices of apple or pear, and grapes cut in half. Experiment to discover what your parakeet likes best!
A cuttlebone has a soft and a hard side. You can easily press your fingernail into the soft side, and this is the side that should face the bird. Cuttlebone contains calcium for strong bones and iodine to prevent goiter. It may take a while before a parakeet uses or chews on the cuttlebone. A change of location may encourage use. Use a fork or butter knife to scrape a little into the food dish if your bird hasn’t used the cuttlebone after the first month.
And finally, toys. Toys are a vital part of a parakeet’s life. When no one is around to chatter to, parakeets need something to do. There are a lot of different types of toys made for parakeets. A “must-have” for every parakeet is a bell. At least one toy should have a bell—if not every toy! Bells are wonderful because they are shiny and pretty, and if moved in just the right way, they make noise. Some parakeets make waves in the fashion world by trying to wear a bell on the top of their head.
Parakeets love bright colors. The more lively the colors, the more interesting the toy. Little wood blocks, pony beads, and leather straps are all excellent media for parakeet toys. Hang them near perches for ease of playing, or hang them out in the middle of the cage to encourage exercise.
There are many reasons for keeping a parakeet’s wings trimmed. Most obvious is to avoid the bird accidentally flying out the door and out of your life. Other reasons involve safety. There are many dangers in our homes including windows, mirrors, open flames, boiling water, and open toilet seats—to name only a few. Keep your pet safe by keeping its wings trimmed.
Another reason to keep them trimmed is for training purposes. A parakeet that can fly is an independent bird. It is really difficult to teach your bird to “step up” when it is hanging out on the curtain rods. The trimmed feathers molt and re-grow within a year. When your bird starts to get a little lift when jumping off your finger, that’s a good sign that it’s time to have the wings trimmed again.
Nail trimming is as much for our comfort as it is for theirs. Normally, by the time the flight feathers have regrown on your little friend, nails need to be trimmed as well. Keeping toe nails at the proper length helps keep your bird’s feet healthy.
Call your pet store or vet if you notice these symptoms
- Diarrhea or wet droppings:
Caused by change in food or water supply, stress or change of environment, too much fresh food or a bacterial infection. Treatments include the addition of millet, ornalyte®, ornabac® or hulled oats to the diet. Your vet may prescribe an antibiotic for bacterial problems.
- Sneezing or wheezing:
Caused by an upper respiratory infection, a cold, dust, pollen or mold. Treatments include providing a clean and draft free environment, and a call to your veterinarian.
- Puffy appearance with feathers “puffed out” in the bird’s attempt to keep warm:
Usually caused by a draft for a prolonged period of time (like 4 hours). Treatment: warm your bird by covering the cage and placing a heating pad beneath the cage. Call your vet.
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Sunken eyes, which indicate dehydration:
Call your vet.
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Growth on feet, cere (nostrils) or beak; or spongy appearance to the beak:
Cause is probably “Scaly face mites” which can easily be treated. Call your pet store or vet.
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Rhythmic clicking sound as the bird breaths:
Probably due to goiter from lack of iodine. Call your veterinarian.
Keep cuttlebone (great source of iodine) available, and /or add a mineral supplement to prevent this.
