Small to medium-sized parrots, parakeets are distinguished by their long tail feathers, amiable nature, and kind demeanor. The term “perroquet,” which means parrot in French, is where their name originates.
The name “parakeet” refers to more than 120 species and subspecies of birds, the most popular of which being the budgerigar, also called the English parakeet. Owing to its size, the Alexandrine parakeet is often referred to as the Alexandrine parrot. It is the biggest parrot to be called a parakeet.
List of Different Parakeet Species
Rosellas and conures are all regarded as parakeets in aviculture, despite the fact that certain species could not have the required number of tail feathers on their tails.
Interesting Facts
- The Macedonian conqueror Alexander the Great is honored in the name of the Alexandrine parakeet, since it was he who introduced these birds to Europe from India following his victories in 327 BC.
- When it departed, the oldest parakeet ever observed was 25 years old.
- Despite sharing many of the same physical characteristics as parakeets, cockatiels are classified as members of the cockatoo family and are not thought of as such.
Habitat
Although parakeets are found in a wide variety of environments, the budgie is mostly located in Australia’s arid regions, while many other parakeets are found in South America’s rainforests.
Breeding and Mating
Although parakeets live in large flocks in the wild, they establish monogamous relationships where they pick one mate for life. The mating season occurs in April for the majority of species. The budgie, for instance, reaches sexual maturity between the ages of three and five months. Other species have different sexual maturity dates.
They wait to mate for at least ten months to a year in the wild, not starting to reproduce at such a young age. This period of time must also be provided to captive birds before forcing them to reproduce.
Typically, a female parakeet produces six to eight eggs, which take around eighteen days to hatch.
Lifespan
Generally speaking, parakeets live shorter lives than macaws and cockatoos. They live anywhere from five to fifteen years on average. Longevity in captivity is contingent upon several elements, such as appropriate and well-balanced nutrition, cerebral stimulation, sufficient socialization, etc.
Housing and Cage
Active avian creatures, parakeets like soaring around in their nest. In light of this, their living space should be as vast as possible; keeping several parakeets in one cage shouldn’t be too horrible of an idea, provided there is enough area for them all. A single parakeet should ideally have a cage that measures around 20 by 18 by 18 inches; however, if there are two of these birds, the cage size has to be increased to 30 by 18 by 18 inches. Ample space should also be available for perches, food, water, and toys.
Personality & Behavior
As was previously said, parakeets are gregarious, gregarious, and energetic birds. It normally doesn’t take them long to become adjusted to their human parents since, as in the wild, they also live in flocks. They also become used to their environment and captivity really rapidly. Among the parrot family, these clever birds are among the simplest to train.
Are Parakeets Good Pets?
The budgie, the most common species, is ranked third among pets, behind dogs and cats, making parakeets one of the most popular pets in the world. They are extremely well-liked as pets all over the world because of their amiable nature and low care requirements. Let’s examine the subtleties of owning these adorable birds as pets.
Do Parakeets Bite?
They do have a “fight or flight” response, just like any other animal, and they may bite someone if they feel trapped. However, this type of behavior is uncommon and amenable to instruction.
Are Parakeets Noisy and Loud?
They enjoy to sing, chirp, and squawk themselves silly and are frequently rather noisy. As it is in their natural inclination to send out contact calls to their flock to disperse and congregate, their noises may become quite loud at dawn and twilight.
How to Care for a Parakeet
Every day, swap out the used food and water trays for brand-new ones.
- Once every six months, give the cage a thorough cleaning; you may wait until approximately a year, but not more.
- As parrots need on sleep for good health almost as much as you do, make sure your parakeet gets plenty of it. You can persuade them to calm down before they fall asleep by dimming the lights. They will awaken with the first light of the morning. Certain animals could require up to ten hours of sleep per day.
- Parakeets are quite hygienic, so fill a birdbath with fresh water every day. Using a mist spray, you can also decide to join in on the fun yourself. Bringing your birds along to the shower is the third alternative, which would allow you to bathe your birds with them. It will only function, though, with the right training.
- Regularly cut the wings and trim the nails. To make sure their beak doesn’t get too big, put some chew toys inside their cage. As an alternative, you might place a balsa wood perch within the cage.
- Aid them in the process of molting, when their feathers shed their old ones and develop new ones in their place (a ragged look indicates that your bird has begun to molt). You may assist the later by removing the hard shafts from any spots it might find difficult to reach. The latter begin as pinfeathers in hard shells.
Diet
A regular meal of parakeet pellets, seeds, veggies, and fruits may be given to your feathery companion. They get plenty of calcium from cuttlebones, and they also get protein from eggs. In general, you can periodically feed parakeets whatever nutritious meal you might be eating, such as spaghetti, chicken, or wheat bread.
Fruits That Parakeets Can Eat
Fruits are a favorite food of parakeets; in particular, grapes, apples, pears, strawberries, melons, and kiwis are among their favorites. Provide these fruits to them as frequently as you can.
Chocolate and avocado should never be given to parakeets since they are poisonous and can cause major health issues.
Health Issues
In general, parakeets are very resilient. Even while some people may occasionally become ill, typical health problems include mites, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, appetite loss, plucking of feathers, itching, unusual droppings, etc.
Regular visits to the veterinarian, consistent engagement, and a balanced food can help prevent most of these problems.
Training of Parakeets
A parakeet’s intelligence makes training them a relatively easy undertaking. When you are teaching your bird, have the following points in mind:
When feasible, give out treats to birds for a job well done. This is a terrific way to provide positive reinforcement. On the other hand, it is strictly forbidden to provide negative reinforcement, like as yelling at the parakeet or hitting it, when it doesn’t understand what you have just taught it.
If you want your bird to learn and retain the techniques you show it, make yourself become its favorite friend. To gain your bird’s trust, engage in as much interaction as you can with it.
Can Parakeets Talk?
The capacity for speech in parakeets might differ among species and even among members of the same species. While female budgerigars typically do not learn to imitate as effectively as males do, male budgies typically do.
How to Teach a Parakeet to Talk?
Allowing parakeets to spend a lot of time with you and your family as you chat about your day is important since they can pick up on ambient sounds. The bird can also be spoken to directly. If nothing else, turn on a moderately loud radio near them so they may continue to hear sounds that they will someday be able to imitate.
Parakeet talking & Singing- Video Tutorial
Conclusion
In conclusion, the world of parakeets is a diverse and fascinating one, encompassing a wide array of species each with its own unique characteristics and behaviors. From the popular budgerigar to the majestic Alexandrine parakeet, these birds captivate avian enthusiasts with their colorful plumage, amiable nature, and intelligence. Whether as companions in the home or thriving in their natural habitats, parakeets bring joy and vibrancy wherever they go.