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Budgerigar Health
Housing:
Having a healthy Budgie means having adequate living conditions,
proper nutrition, exercise, and mental stimulation. A Parakeet’s
cage should be large enough to house himself, his toys, and his food
and water bowls. The Parakeet should be able to turn around freely,
flap his wings, hang upside down, and jump from perch to perch
freely. Rather then give specifications to how large a cage should
be, follow that rule of thumb and you can’t go wrong. You should
also purchase a cage as large as your budget can afford. Not only
should the cage be spacious, but also easy to clean. Keeping the
cage clean is important and necessary for optimal health.
A proper cage should have trays that can easily be
removed. This will make daily cleaning
quick and less of a hassle. Daily cleaning gives your pet a safe,
clean, and healthy environment. The cage should have a grill to
prevent the parrot from walking or touching his droppings. Like the
tray, the grill should be removable so it can be wiped down. The
cage needs to be washed weekly in a bleach solution of 1 part bleach
to 10 parts water. After being washed down with this solution, the
cage should be washed thoroughly with water again and set aside to
completely dry. The perches should also be washed and scrubbed with
the same solution, then washed again with water. Drying the perches
properly is important because wood harbors bacteria much more
readily then plastic and metal. A good cage will also have easy
access to food and water dishes. The dishes should be placed away
from perches so droppings will not fall into the bowls.
Diet:
Your Parakeet’s diet needs to be varied. Seeds are not solely the
diet of this parrot. Like its larger cousins, Parakeets are
omnivorous. Their diet consists of greens, protein, and grass
seeds. This means providing your parrot with a proper diet takes
some work. Grading carrots, cutting spinach, or providing slices of
fruit are required in their diet. Pellets and seeds should be used
as the base of their diet, but fruits and vegetables must be
included. Small cubes of cooked chicken or shredded turkey are
optimal for protein. Just be sure any meat is not kept longer then
an hour inside the cage for it can quickly spoil. Eggs are also a
great source of protein.
Exercise:
Along with having a diet that’s rich in nutrients, Parakeets need
plenty of exercise to maintain their health. Letting your Parakeet
walk outside his cage is encouraged, but caution should be used. A
small Parakeet can easily be stepped on. Having a play gym for the
bird is ideal and you should train your parrot to spend hours
there. If the Parakeet decides to wonder or fly off, simply pick
the Parakeet up and place him back on his stand. This can get
repetitive, but the bird will soon learn his boundaries and stay on
the stand.
Socializing:
Exercise is important, but ensuring the bird feels like part of the
flock is just as important. Parrots who do not feel included in the
family dynamics tend to develop psychological problems. A parrot
left alone will become bored and will develop mental problems.
These are social creatures that need and thrive on human
interaction, especially if they have no other birds to interact
with. Some will resort to picking and mutilating themselves.
Parakeets should be held and interacted with on a daily basis. All
members of the family should take part in holding, playing, feeding,
or some type of daily activity with the bird. This helps your
Parakeet become accustomed to everyone in the family, rather than
bonding to just one person.
A well socialized bird will not scream as much, bite
friends and family, or get scared when new people come around. This
does not mean a well socialized bird will not bite or scream, but it
is less likely to happen under these conditions.
To help your bird get use to new people allow the
guest to offer your little bird a treat or toy. This will help
lessen any fears the bird may have. Do not be discouraged if your
bird does not want to go to the guest at first. It takes time,
patience, and kindness. Soon curiosity and treats will win him over
Remember,
frequent interaction with your bird is a must; you are their only
mental stimulation, aside from their toys. This does not mean that
if you leave your bird in his cage for a day he will go crazy, but
if you want the most out of your pet’s personality, daily
interaction is crucial. |
