Melopsittacus Undulatus
Parakeets/Budgies
Adult Size
6-7 inches in length, weighing about 1-1.5 ounces.
Life Span
15-20 years
Male/Female Differences
The cere or “nose” of the parakeet, which is pink in juveniles, turns a blue or purple in males when they become mature and white or brown in females.
Compatibility
Budgies are highly social animals, and as such compatibility can often depend on the individual personalities of the birds. Very often multiple birds will be compatible, but care must be taken to ensure they accept each other. Also, pairs will pay more attention to each other and tend to shun their owner.
Origin
Inland Australia, budgies are nomadic birds. The common parakeet has been bred in captivity for almost two hundred years.
Climate
Warm and dry.
Day Cycle
Diurnal (awake during the day)
Temperature Ideal
70-80 degrees Fahrenheit
Lighting
No special lighting is required, but budgies, like all creatures will benefit greatly from natural sunlight and a normal day cycle.
Humidity
Ambient humidity is ideal (60-70%).
Habitat/Territory
Light forest and grassland.
Substrate/Bedding
Aspen shavings (cedar and pine shavings can emit gasses that may lead to liver problems), compressed hardwood pellets, or recycled paper products. Newspaper is sufficient if changed whenever it is soiled.
Hiding Place/Den
Budgies will enjoy an area high in their cage which makes them feel secure. .
Parakeets make very good pets as long as they have a lot of attention and love. These birds are very social by nature and don’t like to be left alone. If you own only one bird and you work 8-hour days, think about possibly getting him a mate to keep him company. Parakeets are monogamous, so once they find a mate, it is usually for life. However, if one of them has an untimely death, the other will find another mate. Parakeets are gentle birds that will not harm children or pets and are great for beginners.
Parakeets come in over 100 color forms but primarily in green (typical in the wild), various shades of blue, white, gray and yellow. Parakeets are 7″ to 9 3/8″ in length from bill to tail. The life expectancy of the average parakeet is 12 to 14 years.
Care and feeding
Fresh food and water must be provided daily. Although seed has been the traditional staple of a bird’s diet, most experts recommend pelleted food as the way to go. Seed mixes provide variety, but they do not always provide optimum nutrition, and are on the messy side. We recommend a high-quality pelleted food that’s formulated for Parakeets. Be sure to offer fresh veggies and fruits to your bird every day. Dark, leafy greens are packed with vitamins, and many birds also enjoy grated carrots and broccoli. Common fruit favorites are apples, pears, melon and kiwi. Take care to remove any uneaten food after a couple of hours, and please do not give your bird avocado, cherry pits, rhubarb or apple seeds: these are toxic. Cuttlebones are necessary for added calcium and to keep your parakeet’s bill trim.
Parakeets are tropical birds, and they sure can eat like it. They need a wide variety of foods in their diet to stay healthy. It's a lot of fun to offer your bird a tasty variety of things to eat. You will find that your parakeet has his own taste preferences! Learn what he likes, what he doesn't like, and what his very favorites are. Here is a list of foods that are safe to feed to your parakeet.
Veggies
Vegetables are actually a very important part of a parakeets diet. They contain many necessary nutrients that may not be available in a typical store-bought seed diet. Some veggies that are safe to feed to parakeets are:
· Lettuce
· Broccoli
· Carrot (shredded, preferably)
· Corn
· Peas
· Spinach
· Celery
Bite-Size is Best
Anything you feed to your parakeet should be cut up into small, bite-size pieces. Otherwise, he will have trouble breaking chunks off by himself.
Fruits
Parakeets love fruits. However, just like in a human's diet, these should be fed to your parakeet in moderation. Fruits are high in natural sugars that can be bad for your parakeet when consumed in large quantities. Some fruits that parakeets enjoy most are:
· Apples
· Oranges
· Bananas
· Pineapple
· Grapes
· Mango
· Coconut
Keep It Fresh
While all these foods are safe for a parakeet to eat, you should only feed your bird fresh fruits and veggies. Dried or packaged fruits especially may have added ingredients that are bad for your feathery friend.
Nuts
Parakeets love to eat all different kinds of nuts! They are tasty, and full of nutrients that your parakeet probably isn't getting anywhere else. Some of their favorites are:
· Almonds
· Pistachios
· Peanuts
· Walnuts
· Pecans
Make sure that any nuts that you give your parakeet are chopped. Parakeets cannot eat them whole. Also, any shells should not be included. Your parakeet won't bother with those.
Bread
Your parakeet will enjoy eating whole grain breads, broken up into small bits. Try to stick to simple whole grain breads, though. Sweet breads and other varieties may contain ingredients that are harmful to parakeets.
Housing
Parakeets are very playful birds, so be sure to provide a roomy cage with plenty of toys and perches. The minimum dimensions for a cage are 20″ long x 12″ deep x 18″ high, however the ideal size is 40″ long x 20″ deep x 32″ high. A cage with horizontal bars on the sides is nice, as they love to climb. Provide one or two perches about ¾” in diameter and dishes hanging from the side for feed and water. Try to place the perches away from dishes so the food and water dish do not become soiled with bird droppings. Branch perches will give hours of chewing and climbing pleasure while exercising and trimming the beak and nails however we recommend that you buy commercially available branch perches as outside items can harbor parasites and toxins. Do not use sandpaper perch covers as these can cause serious foot irritation and infection.
Be sure the spot you pick for your cage has good light and is well ventilated, though free from drafts. It should be away from doors and windows where direct exposure to sunlight can make it overly warm. Also, placing it at eye level or higher will make the bird feel more secure. Average daytime temperatures can range from between 60oF to 70oF with nighttime temperatures down to 40oF. As a rule of thumb, ambient temperatures comfortable for you should be adequate for your bird. Whether your bird is sick or healthy, be sure to watch for tell-tale signs of temperature-related discomfort: cold birds will often remain fluffed up for extended periods of time, and overheated birds will hold their wings away from their bodies and pant. The cage should be covered at night to retain heat and prevent disturbances.
Maintenance
The basic cage care includes daily cleaning of the water and food dishes. Plain newspaper is fine on the bottom of the cage; be sure to change paper daily to prevent the spread of disease and illness. Weekly you should clean and disinfect the cage. With warm soapy water, wash and completely dry the perches and toys whenever they become soiled. Do not use cat litter on the bottom of any cage, since birds can eat this and die.
Handling and training
Take it slow at first and let the parakeet get used to you and its new surroundings. The key to training is trust (from your bird) and patience (from you). When you need to hold your parakeet, place your palm on it’s back and wrap your fingers around the bird with your thumb and forefinger on either side of its head. Parakeets sometimes do bite, but it is not usually a painful or dangerous.
Activities
Free flying time is very important. Try to offer several hours a day in a bird safe room. A bird-safe houseplant is a great playground for any parakeet. Set it across the room from the cage, so that they fly back and forth. This will provide them with ample exercise and entertainment. Be sure to provide your parakeet with toys and mental stimulation. Rotate toys after a month or so to discourage boredom. A shallow bath is a great joy for a parakeet. This should be in addition to any water dishes in the cage. Plastic planter dishes work great- fill it with lukewarm water and place on the cage floor away from any perches. Clean it daily as you would the bird’s other dishes.
Potential Problems
If taken care of, the parakeet is a hardy pet well worth the money and effort! The most common problem with parakeets is feather plucking. This is usually caused from loneliness and boredom. Therefore, it’s important to interact with your bird and provide it with a friend.
Some signs of illness to be aware of are droppings that are not black and white, feathers that are ruffled, lack of appetite, wheezing, molting out of season, and lethargy. Some of the common illnesses and injuries your parakeet could contract are broken wings or legs, cuts and open wounds, overgrown beaks and nails, ingrown feathers (feather lumps), feather picking, false molt caused by mishandling or a poor diet, confinement cramps in the legs from a cage that is too small, weight loss, heat stroke, shock, concussion, egg binding, diarrhea, mites, colds, baldness, scaly legs, sore eyes, tumors, loss of song, constipation and diarrhea. Contact your vet immediately if you suspect any injuries to your feather friend!
Care sheet provided by Fantastic Beast’s Exotic Rescue
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