Parakeets are one of the
most popular pet birds! This is due to their striking coloring, cheerful
nature, small size, and because they are the least expensive of all exotic
birds. Originally from Australia, the parakeet in the wild flies in huge
flocks and family groups consisting of thousands of members. This
makes them very social birds and you will quickly become part of their
flock.
These birds have lots of personality. Parakeets are easily tamed and trained,
love to chatter, can learn to talk, are not loud or noisy like their
larger cousins, and come in a variety of beautiful
colors. They are a great beginner bird because of their ease of care and
personality.
The most common colors for
Parakeets are green, yellow and blue. Parakeets have many new mutations on the market which can make the price go from a normal range
of $10 up to $30.
In the wild, Parakeets are social creatures and
this is why they love
attention. This is also why these birds are capable of a strong
bond. If you would like your bird to bond to you, it is recommended that
you do not keep two birds in the same cage. Also we do not recommend
keeping a mirror. If kept with a mirror or other bird, your parakeet will not
bond with you. The lifespan of a Parakeet can range from 15 - 20 years making them, in some cases,
lifelong family members.
Differentiating between
the sexes can be fairly easy because as a male matures, his nostrils will become
distinctly blue and he may even have a blue tint to his legs. The mature
female will have pink of flesh colored nostrils and pale pink legs. As
youngsters, they will look very similar, only as they mature do the differences
show up.
Parakeets are not
considered great talkers but can learn several words well. They do love to
chatter though!
Danger:
Ceiling
fans, other pets, kitchen areas, toilets, etc. Keep your bird's wings
clipped to prevent escape.
Health:
The
common health problems with parakeets are mites and upper respiratory
infections.
Please see our Bird Care
Sheet for more information on how to care for a Parakeet
