To no one’s surprise, dogs and cats are the most common pets in American households. But did you know that 6% of the population worldwide owns a bird? In 2017, approximately 20 million people owned birds as pets in the United States! The budgie, also known as a parakeet, is by far the most popular pet bird, due to their small size and affordability. They are extremely friendly and much like their sister parrot, love to talk.
You may be reading this and think “Well, now I want one!” which is understandable. They are great pets, especially for a first-time bird owner. There are just a few things you’ll want to know before you decide for sure. Let’s start with the history of the parakeet to give you some knowledge of this popular pet.
What is a Parakeet?
Parakeets are part of the Psittaciformes family – a type of parrot. Also in this family are lovebirds, macaws, parrots, cockatoos and many more. These birds mainly come from the southern areas of the world, specifically tropical areas.
The name parakeet means long-tailed parrot. This can be a bit confusing, as that matches a few birds in the families, so parakeets themselves are often referred to by their formal name – budgerigars or budgies. This roughly translates to “good bird”, so it’s obvious to see why they’re popular as pets.
Parakeets originated in Australia and typically live in large flocks, making them naturally sociable creatures. That’s what caught the eye of Europeans on a voyage in Australia. They noticed a flock of small, green birds in the sky, so densely packed together they almost couldn’t see the sun. In 1805, parakeets were officially discovered. It wasn’t until 1840 though that they became domesticated.
Their popularity began in Europe, when an English bird enthusiast named John Gould first brought them over. He was creating a book about Australian birds and quickly grew fascinated by the little green parakeets. He was even quoted as saying they were “the most animated, cheerful little creatures you can possibly imagine.”
His high praise made them a huge hit in Europe. Soon, most households owned parakeets. Though parakeets were native to Australia, they weren’t exactly common, which meant they weren’t plentiful enough to meet the demand for them. Australia quickly made the export of parakeets illegal, and thus the breeding of domestic parakeets began.
Parakeet Biology
Now we know how parakeets came to be pets, so let’s dive into the biology of this bird. Parakeets are very small, one of the smallest domestic birds in fact, and usually weigh less than a single pound. Their wingspan reaches only about 20 cm once fully grown. They grow very rapidly, reaching full size within 40 days on average. Their lifespan is about 8-12 years, significantly shorter than larger birds.
Perhaps the thing parakeets are most known for is their brilliant color. There are over 30 recognized color varieties of the bird, the most common being green and yellow and blue and white. Green is the parakeet’s original color, as it helps them hide from predators in trees in the wild, but over time, many variations have formed due to both accidental and purposeful genetic mutations. Color variations include: olive green, lime green, sky blue, cobalt, mauve, grey and a few more variations. The cere, which is right above a parakeet’s beak, reveals their gender. Male parakeets have a blue cere and females are brown.
Personality
While parakeet’s colors are impressive, their personality is what really makes them shine. Parakeets are playful, social birds who typically love to be handled, as long as they are socialized at a young age and used to human touch. They chatter and whistle, which makes them not as vocal as parrots and macaws, but they can still learn up to around 100 words. One parakeet is recorded to have learned about 1,7000 words in fact.
They are highly intelligent birds and very food motivated. With treats and training, they can even be taught tricks and to respond to verbal cues. They love to chirp and sing and mimic words they often hear, which is very entertaining and helps with their enrichment. Overall, they are gentle and docile birds, which makes them a good house bird for a home with children.
Housing
Parakeets obviously require different housing than other common house pets. While some parakeets can have free roam of the house, they do require their own place to call home, much like a dog with a crate.
The cage should be big enough for the parakeet to fly around in. Length is more important than height in this case, since birds mostly fly horizontally instead of vertically. They are very active birds and do require space to move freely. For one parakeet the minimum size cage you should get is 20 inches long, 18 inches deep and 18 inches wide. Unlike with dog crates, more space never hurts though.
To ensure parakeets stay safe, it’s important that the cage’s bars are no more than half an inch apart. Curious parakeets may find a way to get out, get stuck or fall out if they are any larger.
At night, you should cover a parakeet’s cage. This reduces noise and light that could disrupt their sleep. Parakeets need between 10 and 12 hours of sleep per night, so you may want to consider placing their cage in a quiet area of the house where they won’t be disturbed by humans who typically only sleep eight hours or so. Covering their cage also keeps their environment warmer which can help prevent them from catching a cold, which they are very susceptible to. Your home should be kept warm for them constantly.
When it’s morning, slowly and gently uncover their cage to expose them to gradual light. Just like a human, they want a gentle wake up call.
Food
The biggest key to a healthy diet for a parakeet is variety. This is because of their natural foraging instincts in the wild, where they eat many different things. Seeds are a good base for parakeets, but they are high in fat and should only make up a part of their diet. Pelleted diets are a better choice as they have more nutrition, but should not be the only thing they eat. Fresh vegetables and fruit are important to feed.
It’s important to be patient anytime you introduce a new food. Birds are prey animals and new things can be startling to them. Just because your bird does not immediately take to a new fruit or veggie does not mean they never will. Keep trying to introduce it and slowly figure out what your bird likes. Avoid avocados, chocolate, sugar and salt.
Some good foods to introduce are: apples, kale, pears, dandelion leaves, melon, romaine lettuce, kiwi, spinach, sprouted seeds, berries, grapes and oranges.
You will also want to introduce your bird to a cuttlebone, which is a lightweight, chalky object that is composed of 85% calcium. Calcium is essential to a bird’s diet and health, so providing one in their cage makes it an ideal way to ensure your bird gets the supplements they need.
Enrichment
As mentioned before, parakeets are very active birds. They need stimulation and enrichment to stay happy and entertained. There are many ways to do this, such as water activities. Parakeets love water, so providing them with a shallow container of water every few days to allow them to bathe themselves or play in is a great way to provide some fun. Remove it once they are done so they do not dirty up their habitat though.
Free flying time is critical, no matter how amazing a cage set up may be. Try to offer several hours each a day in a room that is safe for your bird. Be sure to cover up any wires or strings your bird could eat or get caught up in. Remember, these birds originated in the wild, so something as simple as a safe houseplant can be a great playground for them to explore and hide.
Toys are also very important for this bird. These toys should offer exercise and mental stimulation. Toys that hang in their cage to promote foraging are great, similar to snuffle mats for dogs. Other good examples include: trapezes, reflective bird-safe mirrors surfaces, toys that crinkle and jingle, etc. Just like humans, they will grow tired of the same toys, so it’s important to switch them out every month or so to help prevent them from growing bored of their toys.
Costs
Parakeets are one of the more inexpensive birds to own, especially compared to their larger cousin species, but they do still require a decent amount of money upfront and in the long run. As with any pet, they require food, shelter, veterinarian visits, toys, etc.
Up front costs include:
- Bird cage
- Pellet and/or bird seed food
- Food and water dishes
- Treats
- Perch
- Fruits and Veggies
- Toys
- Mirrors
- Cuttlebone
Other costs to consider:
- Vet bills
- Grooming
- Nail trims
- Carrier
- Cleaner for cage
In short
That was a lot of information about these adorable birds! Let’s sum up what we discussed in a pro and con list to make it easier for you to see if a parakeet could be the best pet for you.
Pros:
- Parakeets are extremely social, loving birds and are very friendly, making them a great family pet
- They enjoy being handled and are extremely affectionate
- They are extremely intelligent birds and can be taught full vocabularies
- Parakeets are relatively low maintenance pets and while they do require enrichment, they do not require walks or potty breaks
- In terms of house birds, they are relatively quiet
- They are a more affordable house bird
- Parakeets are readily available at pet stores
- They do not require too much space compared to other house birds
Cons:
- While they are more quiet than parrot, they are still vocal birds and if you are not prepared for a lot of noise, they may not be the best pet for you
- Their lifespan is only 8 to 12 years, as opposed to a macaw’s 50+ years.
- Parakeets are very sensitive to temperatures and must be kept in closely controlled environments
- They do still require regular exercise (free flying time) to remain healthy and happy
- Parakeets will learn small vocabularies, but not as much as a parrot or a larger bird
Like any other pet, parakeets require time and dedication. Just because they spend most of their time in a cage does not mean they can be ignored. Free flying is essential for them, as well as social stimulation and an adequate diet full of more than just seed you drop in the cage twice a day. Before you commit to a bird, be sure you are ready for the time and commitment they require.
If you’re a household ready to welcome one of these vibrant, fun birds home, do research into where you can purchase one from. Besides pet stores, there are both breeders and rescues who adopt out pet parakeets. You can visit with these birds and find the perfect match for your home in both age, coloring and temperament.