The parakeet is one of the smallest members of the parrot family. The term parakeet covers many different species. The most common bird that the term parakeet covers is the Australian budgerigar. The Australian budgerigar is the color green in the wild. Through many years of selective breeding processes, the bird can be purchased in a variety of different colors.
The scientific term for the budgie is Melopsittacus undulates and fitting as it means song parrot with wavy lines.
Parakeets and budgerigars live a fly in flocks they are a highly social animal and in all fairness to the budgies they should not live as a single bird. Male birds are more likely to talk than female birds. But females are every bit as sweet. You can tell the gender of parakeet by the cere, the colored fleshy area above the nose. Males have a bluish or brighter colored cere whereas females have a brownish cere.
Purchasing Your Bird
Purchase the bird from a reputable breeder or pet store. Make sure the parakeet has bright eyes and bright sleek feathers. If he is huddled up and droopy looking he may be sick. Observe the bird for a while and make sure he is active and interested in his surroundings. Make sure his vent is clean and his droppings are well formed.
Cage
A wire cage is best. Wire cages can be sanitized easily. A square or rectangle cage is much better than a round cage. As with any bird the bigger the cage the better.
Parakeet Cage I have this cage, I like it because there are plenty of spots to insert perches of different diameters for healthy feet.
The perches should be of various diameters for optimal foot health. Try to provide at least three different perches on three different levels. Wood perches are better than plastic perches. Parakeets enjoy chewing and can ingest some of the plastic. One of these perches can be a swing. Keep the swing and perches away from the food and water dishes. You want to keep the bird from eliminating in his food or water because bacteria are going to form and the bird will become ill.
I recently bought some thermal perches. Most of these parrots came from the tropics and subtropics. I was thrilled with these thermal perches. They had a varying thickness for optimum bird feet health as well as keeping them warm. I thought my birds would be scared to death of something this different. Now it is the only place they will sleep. I don’t recommend these perches in the large macaw or cockatoo size though. Otherwise they are very safe. I wrote a review on this perch at Epinions if anyone cares to read it. Thermal Perch Here is a picture of the perch. 
Small Thermal Perch
Provide your parakeet with plenty of parakeet safe toys. Birds are intelligent animals and require mental stimulation. Rotate his toys frequently to provide variety.
Place a cuttlebone inside the cage. A cuttlebone is the skeleton of a cuttlefish. The cuttlebone provides calcium as well as keeping his beak worn down. A mineral block should also be made available.
Nutrition
The parakeet is vegetarian. He enjoys seeds, greens, and fruits. He should not eat dairy products. Parakeets or budgies cannot live on seed alone. They will meet an early demise. Any commercial food you feed your budgerigar should be additive free.
Many seed mixes are available for parakeets commercially. Provide protein to the diet using a small amount of wheat germ or cod liver oil. Contrary to many budgie owners is that parakeets do not need protein. They in fact do need protein.
No chocolate, avocado, caffeine, asparagus, rhubarb, or potato skin.
Provide your parakeet with fresh greens. Remove the greens from the cage after an hour or so to avoid spoilage. He will enjoy fresh grass. He will also enjoy and greatly benefit from seeds that have been sprouted. Small amounts of fruits can be offered. Many healthy foods that you eat can be offered to a parakeet. Always provide your parakeet with plenty of fresh filtered water.
Grit is not necessary and could in fact be harmful. Don’t use cage liners that have sand nor perches with sand.
Health
Birds have a tendency to mask illnesses. To insure your bird’s good health provide plenty of good nutrition. Keep his cage and accessories clean and sanitized. Keep the bird out of drafts and sudden temperature changes.
Clean the cages daily sanitize the cage weekly. Food and water dishes should be sanitized daily. Most harsh disinfectants are dangerous to birds. Never use piney oily smelling stuff like Pinsol. The safest disinfectant is Chlorhexidine. Learn more about Cholohexidine Safe disinfectant for birds
If you observe your bird displaying symptoms such as hunched over, droopy, wet droppings, or uninterested in his environment he is sick. Take your bird to an veterinarian.
Your house has many dangers to the bird. He may get hurt on a ceiling fan. He may drop into a pot of boiling water or an open toilet. He could ingest poisonous plants. The fumes from overheated non-stick cookware are poisonous to your birds. Aerosol can be harmful; an example air freshener. Use extreme caution when letting your bird fly in your home.
If you take good care of your parakeet the bird should live up to fifteen years.
Parakeets need 10-12 hours of sleep a day. He should have darkness and quiet. Cover his cage.
Birds can suffer from Coccidiosis. The symptoms of Coccidiosis are blood in the droppings, a soiled vent and the bird will look huddled up. This must be diagnosed with the use of a microscope. Take the bird to a veterinarian for diagnoses and treatment.
Parakeets should be kept in temperatures of no lower than 68-70F to no higher than 90F. During the day if they can’t get some direct sunlight (make sure part of the cage is shaded and watch that the bird doesn’t overheat) it wouldn’t hurt to expose the bird to a full spectrum light for a part of the day. Any animal with a skeleton structure needs vitamin D3.
Ornithosis: Psittacosis is a disease in birds that can be passed on to humans. The symptoms are runny eyes and blinking. Take the bird to a veterinarian for diagnoses and treatment.
Birds can suffer with mites and lice. Birds will act lethargic and become anemic.
Play and Training
The first thing you should train your parakeet is how to perch on a finger. Remain calm and speak in a calming voice. Gently press your finger into his chest until he learns to step up on your finger. Offer him praise and a treat. Parakeets can learn to mimic words. Repeat the word or phrase repeatedly. Male birds are much easier to train than female birds.
Train Your Bird to Talk This is the perfect DVD I had just recently discovered. Plus, it comes with a "Teach Your Bird to Talk" bonus video.
Birds enjoy sounds and music in the background. Keep the volume low. Birds suffer from boredom too! They love for you to talk to them. Even while doing your daily chores the budgies will enjoy the interaction. Parakeet or budgerigars can learn to talk.
Provide your pet with toys and treats. Pet stores have a great variety of toys available for parakeets. Put some of the toys away for a couple weeks and bring out new ones. Rotating his toys will provide him with new mental stimulation.
There are many healthy fun treats available for the parakeet. They will enjoy millet sprays, egg biscuits, seed sticks, fruit sticks and seed bells.
You might consider purchasing a bird playpen. The playpen has perches, swings, and ladders. Your parakeet will have a great deal of fun with a bird playpen.
Playpen for Budgies It wasn’t difficult to put together, even my ineptness managed it.
Parakeet actions can be a bit strange to a first time parakeet owners. The ultimate of a show of affection toward you would be for the parakeet to regurgitate, and if you’re not quick you will end up with a mouth full of goo. Don’t pull back in revulsion while your bird is showing love you would be turning down that love. Just do your best to keep your mouth closed, and then shower your baby with affection. This goo is what the mother parakeet feeds their young. It is only partially digested food.
Parakeets make a noise when content much like a cat purrs. It is a cute noise like a warble. Parakeets are not loud like many parrots and you can easily keep them in an apartment or mobile home park.
Summary
The parakeet is a brilliantly colored small parrot that makes a delightful companion pet. Their antics are fun to watch. They can be trained to talk and mimic your words. Keep his cage and accessories clean and disinfected. Spend time playing and talking with your bird. Provide him with plenty of mental stimulation with toys. You will have a good friend for many years to come. Above all else enjoy your pet budgie.
Here is a chance to learn a bit more about our beloved, sweet, crazy kids the budgies.
Parakeet Handbook
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