Those Loveable Parakeets
© Mary Wilson
When one starts to think about a first bird, parakeets generally come to mind. These small birds with big hearts fill our homes with melodic song and love. Yet, when you talk to someone about parakeets versus larger birds, you may get the impression that these tiny bundles of energy are the "yippy dogs" of birds. After all, it seems to the outsider, that you cannot do as much with the parakeet as you can with a larger bird. That is totally wrong. Parakeets can give as much love and enjoyment as a larger bird, at much less the cost.
Parakeets make excellent first birds for several reasons. The first is price. Pet stores charge around $20 for a parakeet, although you can find them from a breeder for as little as $5. Show birds, or the English Budgie (a larger version of the American pet store parakeet), will cost more, but that does not diminish their pet capability.
Cages for these little birds are inexpensive as well, but be sure to provide one with ample room. For a parakeet, I would recommend a cage at least 18 to 20 inches square. Like all birds, though, it is best to purchase as large of a cage as you can afford.
Parakeets need lots of toys. My parakeets especially enjoy the toys that I make for them at Bird toys by Nemglan Aviary. They love ringing the bells and attacking the dangling rows of beads. Birds need all kinds of toys, especially ones that they can chew. Parakeets do not destroy things like the larger birds, but they still love manipulating things with their beaks.
What to feed a parakeet? A parakeet will enjoy a balanced diet containing fresh fruits and vegetables, air popped (unbuttered) popcorn, birdy bread, a good pellet or seed mix. The key is variety. Parakeets may be finicky eaters at first, but will soon devour anything put in their food dish with relish.
Parakeets make great pets not only for their ease of care, but also for the enjoyment they give their owners. These little birds love nothing more than to sit on a shoulder, watching their owner go about their daily task. My mother's parakeet, Skye, enjoys watching television with her, cuddling, and simply spending time with her. Parakeets can learn to talk, and some have extensive vocabularies.
Go To Page: 1 2
