Learning how to take care of a parakeet is important so that your pet will have a long and healthy life. It’s something you should research before you buy your bird so that you can be sure that parakeet ownership is for you. Parakeets are loving companions that are easy to care for but, like any other pet, do require a commitment from their owners.
There are 4 basic areas of learning how to take care of a parakeet – housing, nutrition, training, and health care. You want to make sure your bird has appropriate housing for his own safety. Nutrition is key as it can extend the health and happiness of your pet. Training is essential to prevent boredom and for you to bond with your bird and health care is vital for obvious reasons.
Your birds home and area around it is the first step in learning how to take care of a parakeet. You want to buy the biggest cage you can afford and that will fit in your home, but get one that is at least 2 feet square. Make sure it is made of non toxic materials and has no edges or crevices the bird can get caught in. The bars should be no more than 3/4″ apart. Your bird wants to be part of the family so it is a good idea to put parakeet bird cages in a room that the family frequently gathers in like the living room. Keep the cage away from any drafts such as fans, or an air condition and even the heating vent as parakeets do not do well with sudden temperature changes. Keep the cage out of direct sunlight and away from any windows or doors that might be open. The draft from the windows and doors would net be good for your pets health.
Learning how to take care of a parakeet requires that you understand what he needs for proper nutrition. The bulk of your birds diet should be seed mixes or pellets. Make sure you buy him a high quality seed mix and don’t forget to feed him vitamins and minerals recommended by his vet. It is imperative to supplement his seed mix with fresh fruits and vegetables. Foods that are safe are peas, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, pineapples, apples, banana. Leafy greens are a must and you can clip them right to the side of his cage with a clip. You can even include sprouted grasses as an added treat. Foods that you must avoid include dairy products, avocados, fruit seeds, cabbage, potatoes, green beans, rhubarb, lemons, grapefruit, plums and, of course, chocolate, caffeine and alchohol.
Training is the fun part of learning how to take care of a parakeet. Your bird needs to trust you so that you can ensure his safety. Parakeets are very social and need to interact with you in order to be happy. If you invest just a little bit of time and patience you can have him trained in no time.
Last but not least, providing proper health care is important when learning how to take care of a parakeet. If you can, take your bird to a vet that specializes in birds, that way he or she will be up on all the latest treatments and preventive measures. Make sure you take your bird in for a check up once a year and rush him in if you see any changes in behavior. Birds are very susceptible to bacteria so make sure you clean his cage and food and water dishes every day. Also, make sure your house is a safe place for him to be in – no open windows or niches he can get stuck or hurt in and no non stick pans! The fumes from teflon cookware is toxic to birds so it is best to just toss them out and use only cast iron. It’s better for your birds and better for you too!