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Parakeets
as Pets
A parakeet
is perhaps the best type of bird to have as a pet. Parakeets
are inexpensive, easy to care for and entertaining. They provide
hours of amusement with their lively chatter, playfulness,
precociousness and curiosity. They're perfect for just about
everyone, from families with children to single people living
in apartments. Since 'keets are not quite as frail and delicate
as many other types of pet birds, they can live anywhere from
five to ten years if they are well-cared for.
With a
clean cage, fresh seed and water, an occasional treat, some
toys and other amusements, they will readily give you lots
of love, providing lively talk and song. "Spoiled" 'keets
usually get very excited when you return home from work or
school. Most 'keets adore attention, and will play with toys
in their cage (and just about anything else available to them),
in order to get attention from their owners or from other
nearby birds. Parakeets that are tame enough to be outside
their cages love to nibble on earrings and other shiny jewelry.
As a matter of fact, they chew and nibble on just about everything--clothes,
furniture and drapes being the most popular objects of their
attentions. Most parakeets also enjoy almost any kind of music
and love to "sing along" with whatever is on the radio. They
also love talking to other birds, both real ones outside and
those they hear on audiotape or compact disc. Many 'keets
never get tired of hearing birdcalls and will happily talk
back to any bird they hear, live or recorded.
Cost
Parakeets
are perhaps the least expensive type of pet to keep. Their
cost varies from $5.00 to $15.00, depending on where they
are purchased, either from a breeder or a pet store. Their
seed costs about $1.00 per pound, and generally lasts for
a week or two. Gravel is also a good idea to aid in digestion,
since parakeets, like all birds, have no teeth and swallow
their seeds whole. Gravel grinds up the seeds in their stomachs.
A cage is the most expensive item to buy, but this is a one-time
cost and varies in price, depending on the cage type. I do
not recommend the very small cages (the ones that have about
one cubic foot of space), because your bird needs room to
stretch its wings without bumping into its toys. The next
largest cage, which is at least two to three feet long and
half as deep, is fine, and the cost is about $50 for a high-quality
one.
You should
also plan to figure in the price of liquid vitamins in times
of stress or illness, seed treat and toys--most importantly
a swing and a mirror. Treats that are recommended include
millet sprays, honey treat, fresh greens (make sure you wash
them thoroughly first) and homegrown greens sprouted from
your bird's own seed. To sprout homemade greens, place a small
amount of seed in a saucer or bowl on a damp paper towel and
make sure the paper towel is kept moist. Fresh greens should
begin sprouting in less than a week. These are very nutritious
as well as safe--there are no pesticides in birdseed, so there
are no pesticides on or in the greens.
Another
item that should be kept in your parakeet's cage is either
a cuttlebone or a mineral block. This is to keep your bird's
beak trimmed, as well as to provide a source of calcium and
minerals in its diet. Your parakeet does not require the most
expensive toys available. It will be perfectly happy with
a set of rings to climb through and a mirror. Many birds are
very bright and may occasionally need different toys to maintain
their interest, so make sure you have two or three different
toys handy. Switch the toys every couple of weeks to prevent
your bird from getting bored.
Basic
Genetics
Originally,
parakeets were only available in shades of yellow and green;
the albino lutino, a yellow bird with pink eyes and white
cheeks, appeared only as a mutation. Albinos are genetic mutations,
unpredictable and unplannable for in breeding.
The blue-and-white
color combinations arise when the gene for color is double-recessive.
The gene for blue is "hidden" in the green gene, if it is
present, and there is no way to know for sure until the birds
are mated. There is no way to tell if a green parakeet's color
genes are both green, or if the green bird has one green and
one hidden blue gene. Therefore, it is difficult to get blue
parakeets from green ones. It is not possible to get green
parakeets from blue ones. Once a pair of blues is mated, that
color is the only one that will be produced, with some hue
variations. If you were to mate a blue parakeet with a green
one, though, the results could be either green or blue.
Once the
blues had initially grown in population and popularity, they
were bred with the green-yellow birds, producing even more
color variations, including multicolors, lighter-colored stripes
(cinnamons), and shades of gray mixed with both colors. With
an understanding of genetics, breeders have been able to generate
parakeets in almost every imaginable color combination, producing
an unlimited number of colorful birds.
Breeding
Parakeets
are fairly easy to mate, given a few simple conditions. The
cage needs to be big enough, the room temperature should not
be too cold (as a matter of course it should never be too
cold, or a draft can give your birds a respiratory infection),
about 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and a nesting box must be
present. Unusual situations sometimes arise with breeding
behavior. One parakeet of my own was so intent on laying that
she laid eggs underneath her seed dish not long after she
had hatched out a clutch of babies. These eggs were not fertile,
though, and did not hatch.
Contrary
to popular belief, parakeets don't usually mate for life,
although they have been known to. When selecting a pair for
breeding, make sure that the cock (male) is at least 10 months
old, and that the hen (female) is at least one year old. When
you have selected a breeding pair, put them together in a
cage of their own, unless you have an aviary with lots of
other birds. The ritual courting that parakeets go through
is actually quite amusing. The male will "preen" (pick through
feathers with his beak, using it like a comb) the female's
head feathers, feed her, and "dance" for her, bobbing his
head up and down rapidly and excitedly. This last act is sometimes
performed when the birds are not mating, as an indication
of excitement and immense happiness. There are birds who like
to dance when music is playing, singing along and bobbing
their little heads.
Wooden
nestboxes are available at most pet stores, or can be purchased
from someone who makes them. The nestbox must be the of the
following dimensions, or the breeding pair will not use it:
8-1/2 inches tall, by 6-1/2 inches wide, by 6-1/2 inches deep.
The opening of the box must be 1-1/2 inches in diameter, with
a perch about one inch beneath it. Depending on the type of
cage you have, the box can be attached to a special opening
that the cage has for this purpose, or if the cage is large
enough, you can actually put the box in the cage. Make sure
you do not place the nestbox either too high or too low. If
it's too high, the babies could fall out and be killed; if
it's too low, the female will not want to brood in it. Be
certain that you have easy access to the fliptop opening of
the box to clean it occasionally and to check on the babies.
If you put the nestbox in the cage, make sure that there is
still more than enough room in the cage for the breeding pair
to move around.
Nesting
material is unnecessary, as the female uses the feathers that
she loses when she sets to partially insulate and protect
the eggs from breaking. Seed and water must be readily accessible
to both the female and to the male; the male takes on the
task of feeding the female when she stays in the nestbox.
When the
female is actually ready to mate, she picks up her head and
lifts her tail. The male will then try to mount her, climbing
on her back and leaning over her side, holding on by one of
his wings and spreading the other one out for balance. If
the coupling is successful, the female should lay a day or
two after this. She will lay an egg approximately every day
or two until she has a clutch of about three to five eggs,
which may or may not all hatch. The eggs should begin hatching
after about 18 days, in the order that they were laid. The
female will hatch her eggs every other day if they are all
fertile. You should try not to disturb the box or the female
too much, as it will make her very angry and may cause her
to abandon the nest. Try to only handle the box when cleaning
it. With birds that are not too wild, you shouldn't have to
worry about the female abandoning the nest, but take care--birds'
instincts take over when they start setting and 'keets tend
to be very protective of their eggs. With a little luck and
a little patience, you should soon have an extended family.
Newborn parakeets are nidiculous (nest-reared), naked and
with eyes sealed shut when they hatch. They grow very quickly,
though, and are ready to leave the nest as early as four weeks
of age.
Care
Parakeets
are nearly hassle-free to care for. All they require are fresh
seed and water every day, a clean cage (cleaned about every
other day), and lots of love and attention. To keep the cage
clean, you will need to line the bottom of it with one of
the following: brown paper bag (printed side down), paper
towels (preferably of the undecorated variety), gravel paper
(which the birds will quickly chew up and shred), or a thin
to medium layer of gravel, which has to be changed at least
every other day, preferably daily.
It's best
to have at least two birds, since once bird by itself can
get lonely, especially if you are not home during the day.
Having two birds prevents parakeets from getting lonely and
depressed, though if you only have one bird, sufficient toys
can keep this from happening. If you have to leave your bird
home alone for more than one day, either leave it with a trusted,
cat-free friend or neighbor, or have someone check on it and
take care of it every day.
Make sure
you talk to your 'keet, and play music often, but not too
loudly. Most parakeets aren't too picky about what kind of
music you play. Music in general promotes good mood and good
health, which will make both you and your parakeet happy.
Finally,
don't forget to spoil your 'keet whenever you can. It will
return the love and affection you give it, and will quickly
win its way into your heart and become a member of the family.
Antoinette
Templet is a freelance writer and parakeet breeder who
resides in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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