How to Determine Gender of Parakeets

Determining the gender of a young parakeet can be very difficult. However, once the parakeet has reached sexual maturity (six months to a year), there are a few ways to determine parakeet gender fairly accurately.

1. Step1
   Look at your parakeet's cere (the colored band at the top of the parakeet's beak where the nostrils are). The ceres of sexually mature males are usually blue or purple, while female ceres are typically a pinkish-tan or brown.
   
2. Step2
   Observe your parakeet's behavior. Females tend to be more aggressive, and typically gnaw and try to nest. Males will sing and learn to whistle and talk more readily. Often, males are more physically active than females as well.
   
3. Step3
   Check your parakeet's cage regularly for eggs once the bird has reached maturity, especially if it also has a pink-to-brown colored cere. Eggs obviously confirm that you have a female.
   
4. Step4
   Contact your veterinarian and ask about DNA testing if you want to be positive about the gender of your parakeet.
   
   source:http://www.ehow.com/how_2123975_determine-gender-parakeets.html
   

Parakeet Care – How to Keep Your Pet Parakeet Happy And Healthy

Parakeets are beautiful and intelligent pets, but before buying one, it helps to learn a bit about good parakeet care. This will help ensure that you and your pet bird enjoy a long, happy relationship.

Parakeet Cages

Parakeets, also called budgies, require the proper cage. Make sure it’s a cage designed for small birds, with narrow gaps between the cage bars. Get the largest cage you can afford – it should have enough space for your parakeet to open his wings fully. The cage should have a swing, and at least two perches. Attach a cuttlebone to the side of the cage so your parakeet can keep his beak trim.

Make sure the cage has a pull out bottom drawer so you can easily keep the floor clean. Place newspapers or bird paper down on the bottom to absorb the droppings. You can sometimes find parakeet cages with a grated floor above the bottom of the cage – this will keep your parakeet off the dirty bottom.

Position the cage off the floor in a draft–free area. If you’re concerned about drafts, cover the sides or parts of the cage with towels to be on the safe side.

Parakeet Feeding

Give your parakeet fresh food and water daily. Buy a good seed mixture designed for parakeets and supplement their diet with vitamin drops and bird gravel (available in most pet stores). Whenever opening their cage, use caution and make sure all the doors and windows are closed – because a parakeet can escape in a flash. Also make sure no household predators are around (dogs, cats, etc.).

Parakeet Handling

Parakeets frighten easily, so try to avoid any noisy or sudden movements towards them. Take your time and be gentle whenever you’re around them, this will gradually gain their trust. You should immediately begin the process of getting them used to you and your hand. You can do this by placing your hand in their cage and leaving it there for 5 – 10 minutes, as often as you can. While your hand is in their cage, sing and talk soothingly to your parakeet and this will help establish a bond of trust. After a period of time, you’ll be able to place your forefinger under your budgie’s chest and he’ll hop right on your finger and stay there for longer and longer periods of time.

Parakeet Exercise

To stay healthy, a parakeet needs exercise – and this means flight. You should let your parakeet out of his cage to fly every day. Start out slowly, because a bird that’s been caged for a long time will be very weak in the beginning and have problems flying. Take his cage into a small room, such as a bathroom, and open the door to his cage. He’ll eventually get out and try to fly. There will be some crashes and frustration, but in a small room such as a bathroom, you won’t have to worry about him getting stuck behind a bookcase. After a week or so, he should be in flight–shape and then you can begin letting him out to fly in larger rooms.

Parakeet Health Care

Parakeets are susceptible to a variety of diseases, but the most common and potentially fatal is diarrhea. Keep an eye on her stools – they should be round and solid. If they are consistently runny, then she could have diarrhea. Think about any changes you might have made to your parakeet. Have you given her table food? Many table foods can be harmful to a parakeet and give them diarrhea, even seemingly harmless foods such as iceberg lettuce. Stick to seed and treats designed for parakeets and go to the pet store or call your veterinarian for an anti–diarrhea medicine designed for parakeets.

Good parakeet care doesn’t have to be complicated. Just take the time to give him attention and care on a daily basis. And it’s a good idea to invest in a good parakeet or budgie care handbook.
Learn more about Taking Care of Parakeets and other informative Pet Care Articles at http://www.petcarejournal.com – a website designed to provide you with information and resources that will help you get the most out of your pet keeping experience, no matter what type of pet you own.

Train a Parakeet – Train Your Parakeet to Talk

Parakeets are small, vibrant and lively birds that can be a wonderful addition to your family. While some parakeets learn to talk without coaching or training, some will require encouragement to get their beaks speaking. Some parakeets only start talking when their owners let them hear specific phrases, words and sounds. If you successfully train a parakeet to talk, you and your family will love your pet even more.

A nourished and well cared pet will more likely demonstrate an interest in repeating sounds as well as talking. A parakeet that is watered, well-fed, and has a mirror and other plaything in his cage is the best aspirant for speech training. This is for the reason that loved pets will want to gain knowledge on how they can communicate effectively with their master and provider.

It’s important to note that the male parakeets are distinguished as good talkers. So if you want to have an outspoken pet, it’s best to adopt a male parakeet. This doesn’t mean that female parakeets just make sounds and do not talk, but in general the female birds are slower in adapting new words and training a female bird might not give you the results you are looking for.

Remember, even if you choose to train a parakeet that is a male, it doesn’t give you a guarantee that it will talk. Some parakeets only become skillful in whistling, but talking is not a talent every bird of this kind desires to learn. You should be patient enough to see results. Some breeds of parakeets that are more likely to utter words are the Alexandrine, Australian, English, Plum-head and Ring-necked parakeets. They are also known for having the ability to distinguish individual objects and even people.
Parakeets find it easier to repeat or reiterate words exhibiting hard syllables. You should examine what words are more difficult to speak than others. One of the common phrases parakeets speak is “pretty birdie”. This specific phrase encloses hard syllables that make it effortless for talking birds like parakeets to repeat or mimic. You should think of words and phrases containing hard syllables and say them to your bird frequently.

Birds respond well with a dark surrounding. So when you start your training session, you should darken the room to get your parakeet’s full attention. Begin saying a phrase or word and repeat it several times. Teach your bird three times a day for about fifteen minutes each. Don’t get disappointed if your bird didn’t talk immediately. Put in mind that most birds take several days or even weeks before it speak the phrase or word you’re teaching.

If you go to work during weekdays, consider making speech training sessions on a recorded tape and leave it to someone who stays in your house. This will not only save you time and effort but the training will be more consistent with this strategy.

If you follow these steps to train a parakeet, your pet will start repeating sounds and words in no time. This will also make your pet the center of attention in your home, making you the proudest mentor ever.
To get free tips on Train a Parakeet please visit us at Parrot and Bird Training.

Parakeet Diet

Parakeets are very active, acrobatic little birds and as such they require a good balanced healthy diet! But why leave it there? If you were forced to eat the same meal day in day out you would slowly grow insane! Budgies enjoy a varied diet, fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables are all great examples of what can make up a great Parakeet Diet!

Your parakeet will love sharing all different types of fruits with you. Apples, mandarins and pears are often met with loving looks and affectionate nibbles! It’s very easy to help your little feathered friend out too, simply place a slice of pear, or whatever fruit you like, into your parakeets cage and they will do the rest!
Why not spice up feeding time as well! Turn this time into a bonding session with your parakeet where you can gain more trust and have some fun at the same time! Hand feed seeds and share pieces of mandarin or apple. You can even combine some greens with bathing if you offer your parakeet a wet lettuce leaf he or she can nibble and have a splash at the same time!

Green vegetables are another fantastic way of adding variety to your parakeet’s diet. Believe it or not, some parakeets will enjoy kelp, mustard leaves, cabbage leaves, dandelion leaves, broccoli leaves, cauliflower leaves and even Bok-Choi! There are some greens that can have a negative impact on your parakeets though! So if you are in doubt it is best to consult a vet as some greens can cause liver problems and calcium deficiencies.

If you are thinking about breeding parakeets diet is something to seriously consider! When hens are in breeding condition it is important to have a mineral block and also a piece of cuttlebone somewhere in the parakeet’s cage. A proper diet can mean the difference between unhealthy and healthy chicks.
Lentils, almonds, tofu, sesame seeds, and beans! No I’m not talking about last nights special at the Thair restaurant! Parakeets also enjoy these different nuts and grains and they can offer some more variety and nutrients to your feathered friend’s existence!

Parakeets are quite clever animals and that means they need more stimulation and excitement than they are probably given credit for! Seeds are a great staple for budgies and parakeets, but don’t forget to add some millet, nuts, grains, fruits and vegetables now and then to give your feathered friends some variety and stimulation. Your parakeet will thank you for their new exciting diet!
Timothy Augst is the owner of The Budgie Cage and has been a budgie enthusiast for some years.

Parakeet Care – How to Keep a Healthy and Happy Parakeet

As the happy new surrogate parent of your new pet, having a basic experience of some key points will make you very experienced on Parakeet care in almost no time flat.

There are plenty of things to take under consideration that you can at this time take for granted, that have to be considered when you have a parakeet living in the home. A healthy and chuffed parakeet will live for between 12 and 15 years with correct parakeet care.

However many birds succumb at a particularly early age due to preventable sicknesses, and scenarios. By learning to realise a few of these scenarios, you can increase the likelihood of sharing a long and excellent life along with your new pet.

When you have your parakeet home with you, it’s a smart idea to order him (or her) into the vet for a check up. Making this appointment inside the first week gives the bird an opportunity to settle into his new environment, and better to handle.

The vet will be in a position to evaluate your pet and supply any info you could need, and it is getting your new relationship with the vet, active. After the first visit, you need to take your parakeet to the vet for a check up at least annually. Naturally at any trace of difficulty take him straight away.

Good parakeet care isn’t different from caring for any other pet. Just like humans, parakeets can be afflicted by stress.

This can end up in many health issues and should be evaded as much as humanly possible. As an example, a parakeet living in a tiny cage and in a draft, will endure plenty of stress. The bird will become noticeably sad. An absence of exercise will also stress the bird, or cause obesity, which isn’t an indication of good parakeet care.

These situations are easy to avoid, by providing a spacious cage out of any draft, and taking your pet out of the cage every day for some exercise. A particularly crucial thing to think about is your use of chemicals round the home. Remember that your pet won’t only be in his cage, but when he’s exercising, there’s a chance he’ll be rambling, flying and examining other household areas.

Ensure that all cleaning items, like soap, cleaners, washing detergent, etc are all packed away out of reach. These chemicals and cleaning agents can be tragic when they come into contact with something as frail as a parakeet.

Be careful of other pets in your house. Letting your bird out to exercise as part of your parakeet care program, can be lethal if you’re not mindful of where any other pets are. Also tell other folk in the house that you are letting your bird out, so they can be aware too. A tiny nip from a dog can be fatal to your bird in seconds, and a pussycat, well we do not have to explain how a cat would react to see the family parakeet out and free.

The bacteria in a cats claws or saliva is sufficient to kill a bird with one little scratch, it does not have to bite.

Another often unconsidered fact that you need to consider before bringing a parakeet into your house (or any bird actually), is your use of non-stick (Teflon) cookware. Most of the people haven’t any idea that when heated, non-stick cookware offloads toxic smoke and these are very threatening for birds. The release of these poisons into the atmosphere in close vicinity to your bird could turn out to be lethal in moments.
Stephen Branch is a parakeets expert. Do You Want To Quickly and Easily Have the Perfect Parakeets: Healthy, Happy, and Thriving For Years to Come?
Discover more information about Parakeet Care, visit http://www.parakeetscaresecrets.com.

Teaching Your Parakeet to Perch on Your Finger

Teaching your pet parakeet to perch on your finger is easier than you think. Here is a step by step method to teach your pet parakeet on how to do this. You will enjoy keeping a parakeet even more if it is able to finger perch. Firstly, extend your index finger out with your thumb pointing upwards. Your index finger will act as a perch for your parakeet.

Speak to your parakeet in a calm manner while you slowly put your hand inside its cage gently. Rest your hand in the cage and remove it after a minute or two. This is to win your parakeet’s trust and confidence.

Find a short perch that is easy to move about and move it slowly towards the parakeet until it touches the bird’s lower abdomen or leg area. Maintain a gentle but constant pressure until the bird steps onto the perch. Hold the perch firmly and move it to another fixed perch in the cage for the parakeet to step off.

Use the same small perch but now lay your index finger lengthwise over the top of this perch. The parakeet thinks it is stepping onto the perch, but is actually stepping onto your finger. Use your finger and slowly move it towards your parakeet and gently press against its legs as you did with the perch exercise. By this time, your parakeet should be willing to step up onto your finger. Hold your hand very still at first, and then move it to a perch for the parakeet to dismount.

Practice this technique with your finger even outside of the cage. Gently withdraw your hand from the cage, allowing the parakeet to perch on your finger. Move to another area away from the cage and let your parakeet stay perched on your finger for a few minutes. With constant practice, your parakeet will mount on your finger without any fear.
Azmi Adnan is a writer and a bird enthusiast. Subscribe to his newsletter for fresh video clips on parrots and other bird species, ezines and interesting bird stories at his website http://www.power-to-live.com/parrot.html

Bird Cages For Parakeets – Choosing the Right One

Your new parakeet will spend most of his time in his cage, so the parakeet cage you choose for your pet is of great importance. Choosing the right bird cage for your parakeet will ensure that he feels comfortable and secure in his new home. Here are some important points to keep in mind while you’re looking for the best cage.

The first thing to consider is the size of the cage. Bigger is better. The cage must be larger than your parakeet’s wingspan. He needs to be able to stretch his wings without touching the sides of the cage. How would you feel if you were confined to a space where you couldn’t even stretch your arms out?

Parakeets tend to be more active than larger parrots. If you plan on keeping your bird in his cage 24/7, then the cage will need to be large enough for your parakeet to exercise. The minimum recommended cage size if you have one bird is 18″ wide x 14″ deep x 22″ high.

You should also take into consideration the shape of the parakeet cage. A rectangular cage is preferable to a round cage. Your parakeet will feel safer in his cage if he has corners to perch in. You should also consider the material the cage is made of. You’ll want a metal cage made of stainless steel or brass. A parakeet will destroy a plastic, wooden, or bamboo cage.

Some cages are painted, and this is not good because paint can chip off and it could be harmful to your parakeet. Powder-coating is okay since this method chemically bonds the color to the metal. Also be sure the cage is free of lead and zinc.

Another consideration for your parakeet cage is the size of the spaces between the bars. The spacing should be no more than 1/2 inch. Anything larger and your parakeet may get his head stuck between the bars and hurt himself. Horizontal bars are also preferable to vertical bars because parakeets like to climb up the sides of their cages.

Try to find a parakeet cage that’s easy to clean. Many cages have a tray in the bottom that can be removed for easy cleaning. A grate above the tray will keep your bird from coming in contact with the droppings at the bottom. Make sure the cage doors are large enough to easily remove food containers and toys for cleaning. The health of your parakeet is dependent on the cleanliness of his cage.
See this website for more information on parakeet cages. Or visit this site for great deals on bird cages.
Happy Shopping!

Essential Tips How to Raise Safely Your Baby Parakeets – Avoid Deadly Mistakes

Caring for an adult parakeet is one thing, but caring for a baby is another thing altogether. Babies, irrespective of what variety they are, need additional care and occasionally care only the natural parents know the easiest way to provide. For humans to go into the realm of rearing baby parakeets, you want to absolutely understand some basics so you only do good, and not damage.

Parakeets are a part of the parrot family, and as such are social creatures that love attention. They do make great pets and we will be able to simply take on the job of taking care of adults. What about baby parakeets?

Firstly, if you are trying to find how to look after your babies, it is due to either the mom refusing to feed the babies, or as you have received the parakeet, where there isn’t any mom present. Looking after baby parakeets is a fragile process, as they’re minute and really easily hurt. You’ve got to ensure that the nest is extremely low in the cage, and you want to also place some soft cloths (clean fresh material with NO chemicals, dyes, or foreign matter), round the nesting box to cushion any fall.

Understand that you’ll have to feed the baby parakeets. This process will be similar to that of a human baby, whereby the feed will have to be administered every 2 hours. If this isn’t done, your baby parakeet WILL die! This is critical so do not forget to keep a timer or alarm somewhere close by so you do not forget. To feed your parakeet, you’ll have to have some baby bird feeding mash, because typically the mom will regurgitate the food for the baby parakeets, and place it into their mouth. You’ll need to feed the baby with a syringe, being extremely careful not to bump it in so that the baby bird breathes it in. Baby parakeets have a curved neck, so feeding the bird could be a challenge initially.

Remember the recommendation you get from the vet or from the pet store, and make efforts to feed the baby extremely carefully.

Ask somebody to show the best way to feed the baby. You’ll need to be doing this for a minimum of a month, till the baby is powerful enough to leave the nesting box and fend like any adult would. Meanwhile don’t forget to:

Keep the baby birds nest area warm with soft cloths, so it simulates his mom sitting on him. If the mom is present, handle the baby with plastic gloves and always give it to the mom so she’ll look after him, after feeding.

Ask the pet store or your animal care center to show the right feeding strategy, and take notes. Always ensure that your baby parakeets are warm and loved. If for whatever reason you believe your baby is dying, take it to the pet store or your vet to see what can be done.

Feed the baby every two hours, and keep it warm or it’ll die!
Stephen Branch is a parakeets expert. Do You Want To Quickly and Easily Have the Perfect Parakeets: Healthy, Happy, and Thriving For Years to Come?
Discover more information about baby parakeets, visit http://www.parakeetscaresecrets.com.

Picking a Parakeet – How to Choose the Best Parakeet

If you have made a decision to get a new pet to introduce to your family environment, and a Parakeet is the pet you want then be certain to pay some attention to the things that you want to have a look for and understand, when picking a parakeet.

You must make sure you are getting a healthy bird, and preferably from a reliable and reputable source, like a parakeet breeder, or respected pet store. Make your selection, based on what it is you want from your bird, either a friendly interactive companion, or something more beautiful that can be admired from a distance.

The way in which a bird is raised, either by humans or its natural parents, determines the way the bird will behave around folks.

To obtain a pet that is to be kept in an aviary and can be admired from a distance, consider a parent-raised parakeet, this way he has not yet been too affected by human intervention and will act more natural in his environment.

On the other hand, if you want a playful bird that will interact with family and pals, a hand-fed bird is a much better choice. These birds are removed from the nest at a very early age, at which time they are cared for by humans instead of the natural parents.

Picking a parakeet is really quite easy. Actually obtaining your parakeet needs some care. Picking a parakeet isn’t something that you want to do gently, so make sure that you either (a) buy from a breeder (b) buy from a reputable pet store, or (c) Adopt a bird from an animal rescue shelter.

Parakeet Breeders dedicate a large part of their lives to parakeets, and are intensely knowledgeable when it comes to picking a parakeet. They are totally in tune with the care and training needed for your pet. One of the great things about purchasing from a reputable breeder is the fact that they are certain to coach you through the various stages of parakeet management.

An important thing to think about is that when you visit with the breeder, you need to naturally get the impression that the person loves birds, and that they are receptive to your questions both now and into the future.

Pet Stores should be reputable stores with a great reputation, and preferably with a specialty in birds. Picking a parakeet is a heavy consideration for you now, and the last thing you want is for a salesperson attempting to change your intelligence, or sell you things you do not want. Staff should be very knowledgeable and you must feel that you can approach them anytime after the sale, to gain help.

All animals in the store should appear healthy and clean, and food should be fresh. Take a little time and wander the store, conduct an investigation of sorts, and do not be afraid to ask questions.

Animal Shelters and bird rescue centers are a great source of animals, particularly birds. Birds are well cared for generally, receive all necessary health checks before being put up for adoption, and the cash you spend here, is usually going to a good cause as against somebody’s mortgage.

Take a look at your local council guides for information about centers in your area.
Stephen Branch is a parakeets expert. Do You Want To Quickly and Easily Have the Perfect Parakeets: Healthy, Happy, and Thriving For Years to Come?
Discover more information about Picking A Parakeet, visit http://www.parakeetscaresecrets.com.

Picking a Parakeet – Make the Right Choice

If you have made a decision to get a new pet to introduce to your family environment, and a Parakeet is the pet you want then be certain to pay some attention to the things that you must look for and understand, when picking a parakeet.

You want to make sure you are getting a healthy bird, and preferably from a reliable and reputable source, like a parakeet breeder, or respected pet store. Make your selection, based on what it is you want from your bird, either a friendly interactive companion, or something more beautiful that can be admired from a distance.

The way in which a bird is raised, either by humans or its natural parents, determines the way in which the bird will behave around folk. To obtain a pet that is to be kept in an aviary and can be admired from a distance, consider a parent-raised parakeet, this way he has not yet been too affected by human intervention and will act more natural in his environment.

On the other hand, if you want a playful bird that will interact with family and friends, a hand-fed bird is a better choice. These birds are removed from the nest at an early age, at which time they are cared for by humans instead of the natural parents. Picking a parakeet is really quite easy.

Actually obtaining your parakeet needs some care. Picking a parakeet isn’t something that you want to do gently, so make sure that you either

(a) buy from a breeder
(b) buy from a reputable pet store, or
(c) Adopt a bird from an animal rescue shelter.

Parakeet Breeders dedicate a large part of their lives to parakeets, and are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to picking a parakeet. They are totally in tune with the care and training needed for your pet. One of the great things about purchasing from a reputable breeder is the fact that they are certain to coach you through the various stages of parakeet management.

An important thing to think about is that when you visit with the breeder, you need to naturally get the impression that the person loves birds, and that they are receptive to your questions both now and into the future.

Pet Stores should be reputable stores with a great reputation, and preferably with a specialty in birds. Picking a parakeet is a serious consideration for you now, and the last thing you want is for a salesperson attempting to change your intellect, or sell you things you do not want or need. Staff should be very knowledgeable and you need to feel that you can approach them anytime after the sale, to gain help.

All animals in the shop should appear healthy and clean, and food should be fresh. Take a little time and wander the store, conduct an investigation, and do not be afraid to ask questions. Animal Shelters and bird rescue centers are a great source of animals, particularly birds. Birds are well cared for generally, receive all necessary health checks before being put up for adoption, and the money you spend here, is usually going to a good cause as.

See your local council guides for information about centers in your area.
Stephen Branch is a parakeets expert. Do You Want To Quickly and Easily Have the Perfect Parakeets: Healthy, Happy, and Thriving For Years to Come?
Discover more information about Picking Parakeet, visit http://www.parakeetscaresecrets.com.

Four Expert Tips For Taking Care of Parakeets

Parakeets are very popular pets.  They’re very sociable and playful.  They also come in many different colors, so you can easily find the perfect one for you.  If you’re thinking about buying one of these birds, there are a few things you’ll need to know.  This article will give you a few tips for taking care of parakeets.

Cage

The type of cage you buy is very important.  Make sure that the cage is big enough for your keet to flap its wings completely without hitting the side.  Also, the door should be big enough for you to easily reach inside to get your bird out.  Although there are cages available in many shapes, it’s best to get a rectangular design.

Bathing

When taking care of parakeets, it’s important that you bathe them frequently.  It’s best to do so two or three times each week.  Some birds like a dedicated water dish that they can use for bathing.  Others like it better if you use a spray bottle to mist water on them.  Whichever method your bird uses, make sure he has a bath in the morning.  This will give his feathers time to dry off before night.

Trimming

It’s important that your bird gets exercise time out of his cage.  If you let him out, it’s best that you have his wings trimmed so that he can’t fly away.  You will also need to trim his toe nails periodically whenever they get too sharp.  His beak will also get sharp and need to be trimmed with an emery board too.

Companionship

When taking care of parakeets, you should know that they are very sociable.  Your bird will feel a lot less lonely if you provide him with another keet to keep him company.  However, this will severely reduce the bond that you share with your bird.  This is due to the fact that birds would rather bond with each other than humans.
These are a few tips for taking care of parakeets. There are many more things you need to learn about proper parakeet care. So, click here now for even more parakeet information that you need to learn.

Proven Ways For Breeding Parakeets That Guarantee Best Results

There’s a huge difference between owning and caring for a parakeet, and breeding parakeets. Like every other animal, breeding requires a certain quantity of additional attention so that your breeding animals are always kept in the absolute best condition.

One of the first things to think about is that to maintain the absolute best health for the breeding pair and the offspring, is the breeding pair shouldn’t be related. They should also be freed from any illness or sickness, and show no appearances of any birth defects.

A clean health check from an animal health pro would give you the confidence to go forward with your planned breeding program. The breeding pair should also be more than a year old.

The cage you need to use for two breeding parakeets shouldn’t be any smaller in comparison to 20×20x20 inches, and it should always contain a wooden nesting box that itself is more than 12×12 inches. Correct nesting material should also be placed at the base of the nesting box to make it comfy, and this would ideally be pine chips or an analogous product.

Parakeets need a sundry diet composed of seed, top quality pellets, and heaps of fresh fruit and plants. Breeding parakeets should be supplied with a cuttlebone and a calcium supplement to guarantee the correct egg development, and also to help the hen regain nutrients she’d have lost in the midst of making her eggs.

Female Parakeets will always lay their eggs extremely shortly after mating. Many varieties of birds are the same, and it’s not unusual to find the parakeet laying one egg each day till all eggs have been released. There are typically between four and eight eggs in each clutch, however this could alter.

The incubation time for parakeets will be between seventeen and twenty days, but this too can alter by 2 days either way, and this is no cause for concern.

Your call on ways to raise the hatchlings will figure out how you treat them when they break out into actuality. If you’re going to tame the hatchlings as pets, then some breeders permit the natural parents to raise the hatchlings till they’re weaned, at which time they’re going to remove the babies to start them becoming familiar with humans.

Most babies are weaned when six weeks rolls around, and it is then safe to take them from parental care.

For specialised recommendation on breeding parakeets, you can contact other breeders to work out if there are any clubs around which will support new breeders, and occasionally the breeders themselves will be pleased to aid wherever they can.

You may also get lots of info from the Net and from books available thru your local book store, or at the library. Ensure that whatever recommendation you are listening to or reading the person offering the recommendation is experienced in the topic.
Stephen Branch is a parakeets expert. Do You Want To Quickly and Easily Have the Perfect Parakeets: Healthy, Happy, and Thriving For Years to Come? Discover more information about Breeding Parakeets, visit http://www.parakeetscaresecrets.com.

The Ringneck Parakeet

A ringneck parakeet is a medium sized parakeet bird that including it’s long tail feathers is about 16 inches long. The average lifespan of these parakeets is between 20 to 25 years.

In the wild the ringneck parakeet has a green body, however it’s possible to find domesticated ringnecks in just about every color imaginable.

You can find pied ringnecks, lutino ringnecks, cinnamon ringnecks, blue ringnecks, and gray ringnecks just to name a few.

Both male and female ringneck parakeets have red beaks, and on the adult males there is a black and rose ring around the neck.

There is a stage known as bluffing that an adolescent ringneck parakeet will go through that causes it to be more aggressive and prone to biting. Don’t use any aggressive means like slapping your parakeet bird, shaking your hand or yelling at it to discourage it from biting.

If you are aggressive with your pet parrot it will become afraid of you and it’s natural defense will be to bite. It’s best to remain calm and try to ignore it until it stops biting. Ringneck parakeets are good at learning tricks, they are excellent at mimicking speech and when they aren’t in the bluffing stage they are easy to train and handle.

They tend to bond to just one person and are known to be aggressive towards other birds or even people that get too close to the person they have bonded to.

You need to continue to interact with your ringneck on a daily basis even after it is tame. If it is left alone too much it will soon revert back to it’s wild and somewhat aggressive state.

Your parakeet also needs time out of it’s cage on a regular basis to play and explore. Just be sure to keep an eye on it. They will chew on everything in sight and can soon destroy your furniture or get themselves in trouble. Ringneck parakeets are playful, intelligent pet parrots that make a great addition to any home.
Learn more about the ringneck parakeet and other parakeet bird species at Pet Parrots Web.

Ringneck Parakeets and Parakeets in General – Small and Smart

There are many different parakeet bird species in the world, all with varying personalities, handling and feeding requirements. Although this makes every parakeet bird species very different, they are also similar in many ways. All parakeets are constantly on the go, curious about their surroundings and always playing with toys or exploring the world around them. Also, they all look very similar – small, colorful birds with long, tapered tails.

Parakeets are easy to take care of because they don’t have many specialized requirements, unlike larger parrots that are available as pets. They are also easy to tame and tend to get along with other bird species, making them a good choice for a child’s pet. They are also incredibly entertaining, having the ability to learn tricks as well as learn to talk. This can provide endless entertainment for you and guests to your home.

Ringneck parakeets or rose-ringed parakeets are easily tamed and trained choices for a household pet. They are naturally green in color with red beaks and the males have a black and rose colored ring around their necks (hence the name ‘rose-ringed parakeets’). However, it is possible to obtain different colored ring neck parakeets that have been specially bred such as the blue and cinnamon ringneck.

The only downside of ringneck parakeets is that they need a lot of attention as they tend to get moody and nippy if you don’t handle them daily. If your once gentle bird turns into a biting menace, resist your first instinct to be aggressive back as this will only encourage it to bite more. Instead, ignore it and be gentle so that it realizes that you aren’t a threat to its existence.

Their intelligence causes them to become bored easily and when they are bored, ring neck parakeets chew things. Thus, it is important to provide them with toys and other suitable objects to chew on or else you run the risk of them destroying something that you value.
It is always fun to know have parrots as pets. So if you are looking for some information on where to find details about pet parrots, then you will be delighted to know see a website like petparrotsweb. You can visit this extensive and informative site to know more about Parakeet Bird Species and Ringneck Parakeet.

Parakeet Training – Eliminate Bad Habits and Behavior From Your Parakeet

Parakeets can adopt some reasonably annoying habits, and it’s best if you do not like them, to coach your bird out of these habits. Parakeet training isn’t too troublesome and with some practice, you’ll see some truly fantastic results terribly fast.

Biting is one habit that must be purchased in order. Infrequently the biting is a technique to communicate with the owner, but there are much nicer and less unpleasant paths to communicate, so this behaviour should be stopped at each opportunity.

Biting is also a natural reply to fear, so there’s the possibility that your bird is scared of something, when he attempts to bite. This may be the results of making an attempt to reach in and remove him from the cage, or it may even mean that frightening clown mask that you could be wearing. Either way, it is thanks to a fear.

If you’re bitten at any point, even during parakeet training, it is highly necessary to keep calm. Don’t hit the bird or make an annoyed gesture towards it. Be mindful of the hazards of this and you accept them by putting your hands where they can be bitten. Infrequently the bird will bite as his technique of informing you he’s had enough, and wants some space, and let’s accept it, we do have a tendency to act selfishly often towards our pets.

We hold them when we’d like, touch them when we’d like, play with them when we need, and they do have a mind of their own.

The smartest thing to do at any point when he attempts to bite you is walk away quietly and do nothing. You’ll potentially find that as this occurs more, he is going to learn to trust you, and the biting may stop.

Feather picking is another thing that may become an issue for both owner and bird. It makes your bird look not attractive and it might be suggestive of stress or illness. If the bird is picking badly, there’s the likelihood of him leaving open sores on his body, and this can cause infection and other issues.

Always attempt to cross out medical problems for this behaviour before attempting anything more. If it’s a medical problem, it may become far worse quickly, so fast action should be undertaken. Your vet will be in a position to offer recommendation on the only way to deal with non-medical feather picking, and perhaps direct you to appropriate parakeet training.

Are you wanting to learn how to coach your pet to sit on a perch on command? It all begins with good parakeet training. When your parakeet is used to you putting your hand in its cage, put some soft background music on and ensure the room is quiet (except for the music).

Provide your pet with fresh food and water as you typically would every day, and ensure your pet is watching you do this. After the food and water are in place, pause for some moments, and then slowly take a perch from the opposite side to the parakeet.

Moving the perch round the cage meticulously, hold it at the same level as the parakeet and slowly move it towards your bird. Talk softly while you do this, and move the perch nearer to the bird’s feet.

If the parakeet flies away, wait some more minutes and try the same process again.
Stephen Branch is a parakeets expert. Do You Want To Quickly and Easily Have the Perfect Parakeets: Healthy, Happy, and Thriving For Years to Come?
Discover more information about Parakeet Training, visit http://www.parakeetscaresecrets.com.

Home For a Parakeet – Best Tips to Make a Perfect Home

Before you bring your parakeet home to your folks you would like to ensure that you have everything he wants set up. If you’re going to be housing him in a cage within, then an appropriate cage and accessories already set up and waiting for his arrival would be a great idea.

If on the other hand you’re going to put your new bird in a bird house, you need to have all that set up outside, prepared to just open the door and set him free. Both options make a great home for parakeet.

With a cage option, you must ensure that the cage is spacious enough for the bird to feel space. They like to fly, forwards not upwards, and they like to climb too so there are a couple of things to think about when employing a cage as home for parakeet.

Firstly the scale of the cage, which is truly dependent on the amount of residents there’ll be. As a minimum for one bird, the cage should be 16×16x16 inches, but there is not any harm in having a much bigger cage than this.

A special parakeet cage will come with a pull out bottom tray which keeps the bird away from droppings, and makes it straightforward to scrub the tray out.

You must confirm the birds head doesn’t hit the apex of the cage that his tail doesn’t touch the floor or sides, and there’s plenty of room for him to stroll, climb and have a laugh.

Talking of climbing, parakeets love to climb. Ensure that the bars round the cage are horizontal as this provides a more comfortable climbing experience, instead of vertical bars. You also have to make sure that the bars are spaced suitably apart so that your pet can’t put his head between them and strangle himself.

Ensure there are no sharp items in the cage environment and that there is not any lead anywhere. Lead can be lethal to birds. If on the other hand you are using an out of doors bird house for your new pet, and this can be home for a parakeet, guarantee there are no deadly plants or substances in the bird house. Make special care to see that there’s no lead metals anywhere, nor any sharp objects the bird could fly into.

Again with the dimensions of the openings in the wire round the bird house, confirm there isn’t any space for the bird to stab his head through. This can lead to hideous issues, completely avoidable by putting some attention to your home for a parakeet.

In every case, have lots of perches available. Differing kinds, and sizes mean the bird is inspired to get some great exercise, and with an outside bird house, really there’s no limit. You may have small enclosures he’ll fly into and hide, you may have tree branches, little bushes, natural water (pumped and filtered) pools, and lots of other items that keep him having a great time, and that gives him plenty of reason to play.

With an indoor cage confirm there’s sufficient room within for him to get to his food and water. You may have rope perches, swings, and other decorative items for your new pet to play on, making a great home for a parakeet. Mirrors and bells have frequently been seen in parakeet cages.

Cages should be cleaned out frequently ensuring there isn’t any waste around anywhere. Change and clean feeders daily and watch for dust and other particles getting into the environment.
Stephen Branch is a parakeets expert. Do You Want To Quickly and Easily Have the Perfect Parakeets: Healthy, Happy, and Thriving For Years to Come?
Discover more information about Home For Parakeet, visit http://www.parakeetscaresecrets.com.

Keeping Your Parakeet Healthy – Simple Tips

Keeping your parakeet healthy is what will make the difference between your pet living to the ripe old age of at least fifteen years, or possibly succumbing at a particularly young age due to avoidable sicknesses, for example. If your bird is healthy it’ll look clean, be active, sitting up, and have smooth feathers.

It is vital to have your pet checked by a vet in the first week of bringing him home, and at least yearly afterward. The most comprehensive way of considering a birds overall health and condition is to take a blood sample. As a strategy of self-preservation, birds in natural habitats, learn and know the way to cover their illnesses up. If they did not they’d be focused by animals of prey, and would be finished.

On the other hand, a fecal research of your bird is something the vet may perform to ascertain if there are any parasitic issues your pet could be having.

A healthy bird needs a safe and clean living environment and as you (the bird’s owner) are also the house maid in this situation, it is your job to keep all waste material from building up, and to modify the food daily and keep all the items in the enclosure clean.

Whenever the perches and ornaments within the cage become fouled, you want to scrape these and then wash them clean, with clean water only as another means to keeping your parakeet healthy. Don’t use household cleaning chemicals on your birds items.

Make certain that when placing perches in the cage that they don’t overhang the food bowls in such a manner that the water or food in the cage can become contaminated. Keeping your parakeet healthy relies on him having access to fresh clean water and food daily.

The cage should be lined with a paper, and the top layer should be taken out of the cage each day, leaving a fresh layer on the floor. Perches shouldn’t be covered in sandpaper as this may most likely harm your bird’s feet.

Also a great thing to do on a common basis is to switch the size and shape of the perches in the cage. For keeping your parakeet healthy, this will scale back the possibilities of him getting sore feet.

Birds enjoy a healthy diet. Seed mixes aren’t complete all alone, and your parakeet should be given necessary vitamins as supplied naturally by way of fresh veggies and legumes, as well as protein and calcium, which can be accomplished through the consumption of beef and dairy natural products.

Providing soft toys provides stimulation, and decreases stress. A good idea in the right environment is to have a bigger play pen outside of the cage so the parakeet can run, and fly further, and also play with bigger toys till he’s had enough.

You do not want to do that though if you have moggies in the house, or dogs either. Dogs and cats will lie noiselessly if they know they won’t reach the bird, but they’ll certainly be investigating the simplest way to break the play pen entry code, and the bird will also know they’re there.

Your vet is only a call away if you want help with something that doesn’t appear standard to you. Keeping your parakeet healthy is something you can do, but if a major issue happens, ensure you act quickly because birds can be terribly close to massive difficulty when they really show appearances of something being inaccurate.
Stephen Branch is a parakeets expert. Do You Want To Quickly and Easily
Have the Perfect Parakeets: Healthy, Happy, and Thriving For Years to Come?
Discover more information about Keeping Your Parakeet Healthy, visit http://www.parakeetscaresecrets.com.

Parakeet Cages Could House Your Bird For Up to 20 Years So Pick Wisely

Are you thinking of having a parakeet or do you already have one and need to buy a cage? You will have to take into consideration all the things your parakeet will need regarding his cage.

Bigger is definitely better when it comes to parakeet cages. Although this bird is a climber it also likes to stretch its wings and fly so you should not be looking at anything under 39″ x 20″ x 32″ for a pair of small parakeets.

Because they climb as well as fly you need both horizontal and vertical bars. They will use the horizontal bars as steps when they are climbing. Always make sure the bar space width is smaller than their head, you wouldn’t want them to get their heads stuck.

They are choosy little birds, they don’t like draughts and they don’t like to be near a kitchen and get the cooking smells or smells from the bathroom either.

Humidity is something you seriously must consider. They need a 60-70% humidity level so if you are keeping them in a centrally heated house you will need to use a humidifier kept on low to give them the atmosphere they need.

Parakeets love to play with toys, they just love to pull and tug at things so one of those rope toys is perfect for them. They also enjoy swings and ladders. If you give them anything to play with that was not specifically designed for birds you must make sure that there is nothing on it that can harm them, like breakable parts or any long strings that it might swallow.

They like a lot of perches set at different levels for interest. If you keep their food and water containers higher up, you need a perch nearby so that they can get at their food and drink. Always be sure the containers are not underneath anything else where the bird can perch and let his droppings foul his food and water. This could make him ill.

They really enjoy a cuttle bone firstly to shape their beaks,to get rid of any untidy edges and also it will provide them with much needed extra calcium.

You can even give them stone perches and they will use this to smooth their beaks out.

Always keep in mind that a parakeet can live anywhere from 15-20 years so their environment must be right for them. If you want happy, healthy birds then you must be prepared to spend time making sure that you choose the correct parakeet cages

All caged birds need to be let out of their cage each day. Even though you have provided him with everything he wants and needs in his cage, it is still necessary for them to be able to fly freely each day say for an hour or so.

Parakeets – Parakeets For A Buddy

Paraketts are one of the most affectionate, entertaining, intelligent and fun pets anyone could ask for.

If you want a pet that is low maintaince, high energy, loving, and that will provide hours, even years, of joy, a parakeet is for you.

Picking a pretty bird, setting up a nice cage and going about your life waiting to be “entertained” is not the way to get the most from your bird. Parakeets love interaction. Love to fly, be talked to, held and played with. The more time you spend talking to your bird, the more talkative they will be. Therefore, the more enjoyment and bonding you will receive. Be very hands on.

My family has had two parakeets. Sweetpea lived 7 years and Rugby 8 years. That is a great deal of time to get very attached and establish a real relationship. The key is to keep them “safe” from escaping to the great outdoors and keep their environment as “bird friendly” as possible.

With both birds we chose to let them fly free in their rooms. We did not clip their wings. It just doesn’t seem right for a creature that is born to fly, to not have that option. But again, their environments must be safe.

Sweetpea talked, sang, blew his nose (did his imitation of a person blowing) chased paper airplanes in the air and on the floor, played with his toys and gave us so many hours of fun.

Our second bird was given the name Rugby, by my husband, because he had a big white stripe on his blue belly, just like a Rugby shirt. He had many many more tricks in his bag than we could have ever anticipated. His favorite game was to pick up coins in his beak, fly around the room and throw them at a target or place them in his cage or wherever he chose.

We were very lucky with both birds, but there are some things to consider before you make the commitment to buy a bird.

1. A parakeet can live 15 years or more. Are you prepared for the responsibility?

2. If by chance your bird remained timid and shy and didn’t speak, how would you react?

3. Do you have enough time to devote to your parakeet? Time to whistle tunes, talk and

give a lot of attention to it?

4. Do you have other pets that might not get along with the bird?

5. If the bird is for a young child it will still be up to you to watch out for the bird.

6. It is best to have only one parakeet at a time in order for it to bond with you rather than another

bird.

If there is a parakeet in your future I wish you many, many years of enjoyment and fun.

Susan Rutter

http://www.read-by-ear.com
Susan Rutter http://read-by-ear.com

Getting to Know Your Parakeet – Top Secrets Revealed

Getting to know your parakeet is one of the most enjoyable things you’ll get to do with your pet, and even though it can appear a little uninteresting initially, one of the finest methods to become acquainted with your bird is to play with her or him.

Naturally there are more ways to become closer to your pet, but you want to start somewhere, and this is as good a place as any.

Start by learning how to hand feed your bird. One of the elementals in relationship building with any animal or person is trust, and the more that you can bond with your bird the more trust will build between you.

Getting to know your parakeet starts with these bonding experiences, and your bird will worship you for it. To start your bonding session, first take him out of the cage by placing your index finger on your bird’s lower stomach. This should coax him onto your finger. Ensure he’s relaxed. Next, put him up on the top of the cage and start speaking with him in a soft friendly demeanour. This is how your parakeet will recognize that you are being friendly.

After 15 minutes or so, let him go back into his cage. The trick is to do this each day, and after a few days your parakeet will become pretty close with you. The bond has started to develop, and this is something you’ll see occurring right in front of your eyes.

Be certain that you provide your pet with plenty of fresh food and water, and spend as much time with him as you doubtless can. When you’re with him, whistle a little and try clicking your tongue. This could keep him interested and it’ll seem sort of like you are talking with him. Do not do anything that’s likely to get him indignant.

Getting to know your parakeet will help with knowing when he could be annoyed. There are signs that your bird could be irritated, and a large amount of birds do this. They open and close their beak in a threatening kind of way, and it’s a sign to say, I’m getting a little pissed off, but in bird talk! He might also squawk and try to bite if he is indignant, show any of these signs and you need to know to give him some space.

Let your bird out every day to exercise, and confirm to cover any mirrors in the house, otherwise he may fly into them. It is okay to have a little swinging mirror in his cage, but this is much different than having a six foot mirror in the lounge above the fire. Be with him when he’s loose in the house. Clearly I do not mean this literally, unless of course your name is Tinkerbell, but be in proximity. He’ll know you are there, and he’ll enjoy your interest.

Ultimately as a means of getting to know your parakeet, always be mild with your pet. Birds frighten awfully simply and the very last thing you would like to do is inspire your pet to be frightened of you. It requires a lot longer (if ever) for you to unravel this fear, than it does to develop a friendly companionship that you’re going to both get heaps of joy from.
Stephen Branch is a parakeets expert. Do You Want To Quickly and Easily
Have the Perfect Parakeets: Healthy, Happy, and Thriving For Years to Come?
Discover more information about Getting To Know Your Parakeet, visit http://www.parakeetscaresecrets.com.

Taking Care of a Parakeet

Parakeets make absolutely wonderful pets. They will provide you with plenty of love and affection; however they require the same from you. While parakeets are truly amazing birds, they need a lot from their owners to stay happy and healthy. They are often loud and antsy, to be prepared for some possible sleep disturbances if you’ve never owned one before. Follow my tips and suggestions below for taking care of your new bird.

1. Before you purchase your parakeet, make sure that you have all of the proper supplies. You will need a large bird cage, bird toys, bird seed, cage bedding and a cage cover.

2. When you are picking out your parakeet, make sure that the pet store you choose is reputable. You certainly don’t want to end up with a sick or diseased bird. Do research online about the particular store you choose. Also, make sure that the store is incredibly clean, make sure the animals look healthy and well taken-care of, and make sure that the staff seems knowledgeable.

3. Once you’ve chosen your bird, transport him or her home safely. You will then need to find a good place in your home for the cage. If you live in a climate that has harsh winters, make sure that you aren’t placing the cage anywhere near cold drafts. Parakeets can easily catch a chill and perish because they are tropical birds and they do fair well in harsh weather. They are also very sensitive to smoke, so it’s best if you keep them away from your kitchen area. Also, make sure you rid your home of all Teflon. It is typically found on nonstick pans and it emits harmful toxic gas that may result in the death of your new bird.

4. Make sure to feed your bird every day. Parakeets eat a lot, so make sure they have plenty of bird seed. Also provide them with fruits and leafy vegetables, which will keep them incredibly healthy. It’s also best if you give them “grit” which is a substance that helps them digest their food properly. You can purchase this at your local pet store.

5. Put bird bedding on the bottom of your bird’s cage and make sure to clean the cage often. It should be done at least once a week to keep your bird’s environment healthy and safe.

6. Make sure to provide him or her with plenty of stimulation. There should be plenty of bird toys and perches for them to play with and on. Also make sure that you play with your bird often.

7. If you are gone from home for long hours at a time, you may want to get two parakeets. They are very amiable birds and enjoy the company of others.
As long as you purchase quality food, a large bird cage and give your bird plenty of love, you’ll will have a happy and healthy bird for years and years.

Lineolated Parakeets – Intriguing Facts About These Fascinating Parakeets

Known as Linnies this small parrot is just six inches tall, and allegedly therefore, is a pleasure to own. Most have a tendency to be friendly, are kept as breeding birds, and as pets. In all essence you could not ask for a better bird.

The Lineolated parakeet comes in green which is their natural wild color, as well as turquoise, mauve, blue, and a couple of others. The genetics are straightforward recessive with the exception of the Lutino, which is sex linked.

The Lineolated parakeets were imported into Europe in the 1970’s but have not caught on in the States till current years. There’s a terribly robust population in Germany, Belgium and Holland, but not too many other places.

Since the varied color mutations have become obvious, these birds not only appeal to collectors in the United States, but are also being introduced to the domestic pet market. USA citizens and others appear to prefer gaudy birds, and this is got something to do with why they are becoming seriously hip pets.

The birds can be sexed by the coloration of the tail, length of the tail feathers and the shoulder coloration also. However this is something for the trained eye, with even the breeders turning to DNA as a more reliable mechanism for judging the sex of the birds.

The Lineolated parakeets can be raised in flocks, and at standard flying weight they can weigh roughly 60gms. They do need lots of exercise so a bigger than standard cage would be wanted to raise them, as compared to other cage raised birds. As an example a cage size of 24×24x36 inches is advocated for a breeding pair.

The call of the Linnie is a chattering sound, and as a flock they can get extraordinarily loud indeed. In the early and later hours of the day the chattering sound appears to be much louder, but between these times, they’re essentially quiet, unless something happens to annoy them.

Linnies always appear to be conscious of any presence and they have good interaction with people. Some try to chat, but there were few reports thus far of people essentially hearing clear and accurate words.

The Lineolated parakeets are for someone who is attempting to find something bigger than a finch, but smaller compared to a cockatiel.

They do have growing wants, like their toenails can get long and curl. When this occurs they have to be clipped. They adore to eat fruit, doused seed, and some grain bread. Apple, cranberries and grapes appear to be favored, and make great nibbles. A good grade of parakeet seed should be used, and a good quality fruit mix (from the superstore baking isle) can be mixed with their seed.
Stephen Branch is a parakeets expert. Do You Want To Quickly and Easily Have the Perfect Parakeets: Healthy, Happy, and Thriving For Years to Come? Discover more information about Lineolated Parakeets, visit http://www.parakeetscaresecrets.com.

Stop a Parakeet From Screaming – Ways to Handle Your Pet With Care

If you have set your eyes on parakeets to be your pets, you are making a good choice because these are known as intelligent and beautiful animals. You must make sure though that you know the basic things about caring and how to stop parakeet from screaming before you proceed with the purchase. You may want to enjoy the bird as your pet, but you also have to consider the people living with you or near your house. These birds’ natural behavior is to scream when they were still living on their original habitat. They do such act in order to call the attention of other birds and as their means of communicating with their own kinds.

There are various things that you must learn more about aside from how to stop parakeet from screaming. If you will be able to be good to your pet, they will definitely reward that with good behavior and may even abide most of the things that you tell them to do. If this is going to happen, you will have fewer problems with their attitude. You will also be able to enjoy their company and be proud that you are the owner.

Here are some basic ideas about proper caring for the birds in order to keep them satisfied and to limit the times that they will resort to making loud noises.

1. You must find time to bond with them or teach your birds some tricks that you want them to follow. This is your opportunity to be close with the bird. This is your chance to start introducing your role as their owner.

2. Make sure that the bird is comfortable in the cage that you have chosen for them. Get the kind of cage that is intended for small birds with cage bars that have narrow gaps. The larger the cage, the better it will be so that the bird will have enough room to move about and open their wings fully. Choose the one that has a swing. It is also advisable to get something with at least two perches. You can attach a cuttlebone on the side of your bird’s cage where it can trim its beak whenever it wants to.

3. Your must make sure that you give your bird right amount of food and drink everyday. They will resort to making noises if they get hungry, so make sure that you handle the matter properly. You can buy a good mixture of seeds that are intended for these birds and you can give them with supplements like vitamin drops and bird gravel that can be bought in most pet stores.

4. You have to understand that they get frightened easily. You have to handle them with care and you have to be gentle whenever you try to approach and touch them. Do not make sudden movements and avoid unnecessary noises whenever you are handling your pet. You must be very careful, especially during the first few days that you have brought the bird home. This way, you will be able to gain their trust and you may also succeed to stop parakeet from screaming after some time.
To get free tips on stop a parrot from screaming please visit us at Parrot and Bird Training.

Signs of a Sick Parakeet Revealed

If you take care of your bird long enough, chances are he’ll get sick sooner or later. Since he will do his best to hide whatever is wrong, it’s important that you learn to recognize the signs of a sick parakeet. This article will share a few things to look for.

Droppings

One of the most common symptoms of a health condition is a change in your bird’s droppings. It may change color, be watery, or appear looser than usual. Also take note if you every spot seeds in the droppings. However, a change in droppings can sometimes be attributed to a minor cause such as a change in food.

Appetite

Speaking of food, one of the next common signs of a sick parakeet is a change in appetite. You should also be aware of your keet’s eating habits. That way, you can easily tell if it changes one day. So, be on the lookout for excessive eating or a reduced appetite. Birds with a reduced appetite will also start losing weight.

Feathers

The appearance of your bird’s feathers can also tell you if something is wrong. They shouldn’t be ruffled or puffed up for long periods of time. They also shouldn’t be discolored.

Discharge

The appearance of discharge can also tell you if there is something wrong with your bird. Sick birds can sometimes produce discharge from their nostrils or eyes. This may also be accompanied by sneezing or eye swelling. These are usually serious symptoms that require prompt veterinary attention.

Breathing

A sick parakeet may also experience difficulty breathing. You should particularly look for rapid breathing, wheezing, or breathing through an open mouth. Some birds will also bob their tail with each breath they take.
These are a few of the most common signs of a sick parakeet. If this is your first time caring for one of these birds, there are many things you’ll need to learn about parakeet care. So, click here now for even more parakeet information that you need to learn.

Four Tips For Buying Parakeet Cages

Before you actually buy a parakeet and bring him home, you should have a cage already set up for him.  As this will be where your new bird spends most of his time, it’s important that you pick out the right one.  This article will give you a few tips on buying parakeet cages.

Shape

An important consideration to make when choosing a cage is its shape.  There are many available shapes you can choose from.  It’s best to buy a rectangular design.  Never buy your bird a round cage because he won’t feel safe.  He needs a wall to retreat to when he gets spooked.

Material

You will also need to decide what type of material you want the cage made from.  Some of the best options include wrought iron and stainless steel.  Some cages may be made from brass, lead, zinc, or galvanized steel.  You should never buy your ‘keet a cage made from one of these materials.  Birds love to chew, and the toxic metals will likely kill them.

Size

One of the most important considerations when buying parakeet cages is size.  Never buy your bird a cage that’s too small for him.  At the very least, there should be enough room to allow him to stretch his wings fully without hitting the side of the cage.  You should try to buy the biggest cage you can afford.

Bar Spacing

It’s vital that you pay attention to the bar spacing of the cage you’re interested in buying.  The bars should be no more than 1/2-inch apart.  You don’t want your bird to try to stick his head through the bars and get stuck.
These are a few tips for buying parakeet cages. If this is your first time caring for one of these birds, there are many things you’ll need to learn about parakeet care. So, click here now for even more parakeet information that you need to learn.

How to Hand Train a Parakeet

Who ever said training a parakeet was hard is lying. Period.

I thought it would be sweet of me to buy my fiancé a parakeet for valentines day. She always talked of having one, and we could use a little noise around the house. What I mean by noise is the sweet chirping and singing of a new Budgie. This would have been the hardest animal we owned so far to train, or so we thought. We already have a cat, and cats come pre programmed to be a domestic, friendly, loving pet, that needs little or no training. Then we have two fish tanks, It was pretty tough teaching our guppies to roll over, or fetch, so we just let them swim around at their own free will. So it’s time for a step up, and take on a bigger challenge. This is when we got our bird, or should I say her bird.

Let me introduce you to Marty.

First off, let me start by telling you we bought our budgie at Petsm**t. Now we all know buying from a big box store like that only makes it harder to train. When you use these stores, the birds are handled like freight, like another item to stock on the shelf. Then they stuff the birds in a small cage with about a hundred more birds. So naturally they start to bond with each other, they interact, and react with each other (one bird flies they all fly). Then you finally pick the one you want, and the birds first real encounter with a human is usually some punk high school kid who just reaches in and grabs him. Pulls him away from his friends and family to stuff him in a small dark box with little holes. No that’s not scary at all, that’s not going to have an effect on the birds opinion of people, he’ll be fine, no problem right…….Wrong! This must have been pretty scary if not traumatizing. Next time I’ll use a local breeder and get one for a little more money but already hand tame.

So you did the same thing I did. I felt sorry, what am I supposed to do? Little guy, stuck in a strange place, he can’t leave. I’ll save you birdie, we’ll take you home and let you be free, kinda. First thing you notice is how gitty he is. He wants nothing to do with you, and would go to great extremes to not be touched by you, check out this video and you’ll see what I mean.

Does your parakeet do this? We can help.

Rules of buying a bird:
A) Buy as young as possible
B) Buy a cage big enough for him flap his wings and stretch.
C) Have plenty of food on hand, never run out.
D) Provide a safe environment for him.
E) Buy a cuttle bone and a mirror.
F) They like to rip things apart. I use manila rope.
G) Ensure you have time to dedicate
H) Get him some treats too, they love millet.

Now you have a bird at home and he’s afraid of everything and anything. We can get started.

(Week 1)
1. Firstly, leave him alone. Put the cage in a corner preferably, this way he doesn’t have to watch 4 sides at all times, this will help him relax. He can sit in one position and see everything that’s going on. If you don’t have a corner put him in, put him up high. If nothing else, put a towel over his cage draping two sides. This will really help him be less jittery. It’s nice if he can have some sun, but not full blown sun he can’t hide from. Make sure to cover him at night and uncover him each day (this is a good chance to do some talking). Talk to him regularly, as you pass the cage, from across the room, and don’t go in the cage, except to change the water and food. And for god’s sake do this everyday. He will build a small amount of trust, he’ll start to know you won’t hurt him. I would leave him alone at least two weeks. Just talking to him as much as possible. Let him hear your voice and get accustomed to it. He will watch your every move and learn your daily routines. This makes a more stable home for him at first that he understands better.

(week 2-3)
2. When he’s finally eating regular and chirping around, he is getting comfortable. This is a good thing. He knows you feed him and take care of him. He sees the same people everyday and starts to believe this is his “flock”. Now the fun part, You’re going to need a lot of patience. He is still not finger trained and this part takes time and patience. Bring the cage in a room that has little or no hiding places, (he will find them and you will be moving furniture to get him out, I promise). Once he’s in the room and you got it birdie proof, turn off the lights. I mean a dark room, no lights at all. Go in his cage and put your finger under his chest closer to the leg side and lift up gently. Talk to him as you do this, so he knows it’s you. Always use a soft voice and don’t let him see you mad or frustrated. This will only scare him more. When he steps up just find a resting place for your hand and leave it there. He has no idea where he is sitting, and you’ll show him soon enough. Do this every other night for a week, and try to do it at the same time, so he knows it’s coming. Once he steps up on his own you can start the next step.

(week 4)
3. Now he’s stepping up on your finger without even trying you say? Now the fun part. Grab a flash light, turn it on but standing on the floor (blocking the light). Once he’s up on your finger, slowly pick up the flash light to lighten the room gradually. He still don’t know it’s you holding him, but he’ll realize that as soon as his eyes adjust. Once he sees it, he’ll probably jump off and panic. Don’t worry put the light down (to darken again) give him time to adjust and start over. Work him like this daily or every other day. And soon you’ll see he’s sitting on your finger out of habit. It’s becomes something he does all the time, but, at this point, in his cage (safe place) during the day he wouldn’t consider going near you, this is all normal and will change as time passes. If you want to try to turn on the light in the room like i did, try. He might take well to it. Don’t be let down if he’s not completly trusting yet. If he spazzed out turn off the light and do it again. The trick is letting his eyes adjust to the dark.

Tricking him on our finger.

The lights were off for about 3 minutes or so.

(week 5-6)
4. So now he sits on your finger in his cage from the dark and he’s not that jumpy, WOW! Now it’s time to take him out of the cage. Still training in the almost dark, if you have any other pets this is the time to introduce them face to face, with no bars in between. Our cat is a good boy for the most part, he just want to smell him. We introduce them and talk to both the cat and the bird.

We remind the cat to be a “Good boy” and we pet him as he’s checking out the bird. This way he associated the bird as family and wouldn’t think to hurt him. Once he’s had his fill, he’ll walk away and get bored with the whole bird thing. Now have someone turn on a light in the other room. It’ll be brighter than the flashlight, and it’s like a shock to his eyes, and give you time to work with him. Always talking to him make step up over and over on your finger so he don’t get distracted. His eyes will adjust and chances are he’ll fly towards the light. Walk over there and pick him up with your finger, don’t grab him roughly and break all the work you already did. He’ll soon realize you’re coming to his rescue. Do this as much as possible and be gentle with him. This is a scary thing for him and your his protector.

(week 7)
5. Once we got him used to being on our finger it was time to start doing it during the day. It feels like lost progress, but he has to put it together on his own and will soon be jumping up on your finger whistling Dixie. You’ll be chasing him around his cage again, but it will all work out. Once you get him up on our finger, don’t push it, let him see what’s happening and adjust. Keep talking and drill the sound of your voice into his little brain. At one point you’ll be able to take him out. Chances are if he sees his cage, he will take off for it. So I got a little trick for this, see video below.

Getting him out. takes a little practice.

You get him up and turn around quickly so he can’t see his cage

Once he’s out, take him to where he can’t see the cage and won’t be tempted. He will always try to go to the cage at first but with clipped wings he’ll rarely make it, and you’ll have to “Rescue him” and bring him up so he can reach. This develops a bond because you bring him back home every time. Using the same trick to get him away from the cage, do to get him back. So he don’t fly from your finger but, step from your finger to his house.

(week 
6. You’ll soon see, he finds it more interesting to hang out with you, rather than be alone in the cage. What I did was make it more accessible for him. I put some rope in places where I do things, like my computer for example. There’s a rope going from a shelf to my computer monitor. He just sits there and watches me type. He finds that rather enjoyable and doesn’t fly away. He also like watching us do dishes, he whistles with the sound of the water.

He also likes to sit on top of our laptop while the wife does her internet thing. There are certain places he he likes more than others. I found any of the curtain rods in the hose he likes. I think it’s because he’s so high and he can see the whole room. When he does fly down he’ll wander the floor. Remember let the other animals check him out. If he’s not in danger let them interact with each other. My cat is funny, he chases him while the bird comes in for a landing. The bird in turn lands and walk towards the cat and the cat don’t know what to do so he jumps back. The bird want to check him out this time and the cats scared…lol it’s hilarious

(the rest of time)
7. Soon your budgie will be interacting with you, you’ll find him talking and squawking as you talk to people. He feels it’s his contribution to the flock. And if we stop, he stops, it’s so funny. He even tries yelling over us just to be heard, we acknowledge him and he stops. He just wants to talk that’s all. They are social creatures that need interaction. Just don’t ignore him and don’t abuse him. Teach your kids why and how to treat the bird. Remind them that he is little, and he trusts them. They need to make sure he don’t get hurt so he lives a long happy life.

Hope this helps I know it sure worked for me and I have video proof of it. Enjoy your bird, and remember he’s a part of your family now, treat him like it. Once he’s adjusted well you can put his cage anywhere. Try not to put him in direct sunlight he can’t escape from. Birds are a shade loving animal.
see photos and videos at: http://www.birdtrain.blogspot.com
Frankie Talarico
Bulk Woodworking Supplies
http://www.getneds.com