Prospective new bird owner - Parakeet questions

Question

I am thinking of buying a parakeet soon and I just have some minor questions. I know it is a lot to ask but it will be greatly appreciated! You don't have to answer all of the questions, just as many as you can. I will give 10 points. Thank you!

1. Is it ok to get just one parakeet? I am a student but the time that I am home will be devoted to the bird.

2. Is newspaper ok for the bird to p**p on? Just thinking about if they eat it. (the newspaper) Will it harm them?

3. Is it ok to wash toys in water, baking soda, and a mild detergent? If not what do you recommend?

4. Wing clipping - Should I do it? What would I use if I did it myself?

5. How do I trim her nails?

6. Howrecommendthe cage be for the bird to be happy?

7. What kind of food do you reccamend?

Answer 1

1. Yes it's okay to get one. They are usually okay by themselves. Just make sure he or she has lots of toys and maybe even leave thet TV or radio on for some company for him or her.

2. Yes newspaper okay. Just make sure you use black and white only. Or you could use paper towels. You're cage should have a grated bottom anyways so they can't get to it.

3. No. I'm too sure though. But I don't recommend it. I usually just use a little bit of dish soap and lots of water.

4. NO. If this is your first time clipping it's wings DO NOT DO IT! You could accidently cut it's wing wrong and it could bleed to death. I personally clip my parakeets own wings because I've been showed how it is done. When you get it from the bird shop or pet store they usually clip them for you and show you. If you do wish to get back to me on it and I can tell you. But i do not recommend you to.

5. DO NOT TRIM HER NAILS IF IT IS YOUR FIRST TIME ALSO! You could also cut her quik and it could bleed to death. But if you are determined to let me know and I will give you a link on how to do. If you are make sure to pick up some Kwik Stop at the petstore to stop the bleeding if you cut it wrong.

6. PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS LINK IT HAS PICTURES AND NOTES ON THE APPROPRIATE SIZE CAGE FOR A PARAKEET. http://www.budgieplace.com/def_cage.html

7. I really don't recommend the pet store food because they don't check it like they do for human food. But if you want to get it that's fine. beacause of the pet store food parakeets are prone to fatty tumors. I recommend buying some human whole grains such as oat groats, spelt, and hulled millet, and lafbers bird food non artificial colored pellets, and lots of greens. That's the healthiest diest. Here's more information video on what to feed your parakeet:

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/10821...

Answer 2

i dont know the answers to all of them but i used to have a parakeet,

2. usually the the newspaper in the cage is under metal and there is a tray to take the newspaper out.

4. DONT CLIP THE WINGS YOUR SELF TAKE IT TO THE VET!! it will cost more but it is worth it you can really damage the wing if you do it yourself.

5. in the cage you should buy cuttle bone i dont think it does much for the nails but it keeps there beak healthy.

7. i used  Premium Budgie  ( budgie is another word for parakeet) also Parakeets can be given bird vitamin supplements in their water 2-3 times per week if needed. They also should have a separate dish in their cage for bird sand and oyster shell.

  

Answer 3

Hello.

If you want the keet to bond with you , you should get a young hand fed one , and yes, have only one so it would bond with you instead of having 2 _ 4 of them and they don't care about you because they have enough companionship . I use news papers to put at the bottom of the cages ...I don't have any problem because they never touch it ( I guess the bottom is so far away, they can't reach it any way ) . I wash their toys with soap and water , and so far it is fine to them . I do clip the keets because I don't want them to fly high ( in case I forget to close the door ...I have 30 of them in the big flight cage , when they get out and fly high in the ceiling , it is a big chores to catch them all back . If you go to search in the net ...type in ...trim bird wings, they will have several websites to teach you how . I never need to trim their nails . Having a cage for a bird ...they usually advice you to have a biggest cage you can afford , but to me , a cage about 18x15 x 15 should be adequate for a keet with some toys to play and ofcourse food , water and snack . They eat parakeets seed , they love spray millets , hard bpiled eggs ( cut in hald serve shells and all every other day ) zupreem fruit snack for keets , brown bread , and some brocoli head twice a week should be good . If you don't know where to buy the keet , please go to www.hoobly.com to find a breeder near you . Good luck and have fun ! TM.

Answer 4

1. Yes it's ok, as long as you can spend time with the bird everyday. They are very social and need interaction on a daily basis.

2. Newspaper is ok, but you need to get this special stone/sand combo to put on the bottom of the cage on top of the newspaper, you can buy it at any pet store. They need to eat the stones to help with there digestion. No grated bottom, they need to get to the stones.

3. I always just used soap and hot water, I rinsed very thoroughly.

4. Have a professional show you how to clip nails and wings, you can injure the bird if it's done incorrectly. Check with your Vet to see if they can show you.

5. see #4

6. Do not get the bird a small cage, they are very active and like to spread their wings and flap them in the cage. Also I would recommend to let the bird out of the cage to exercise. ( just wait until you have the wings clipped and you have had the bird for a few days)

7. I would buy a bag of the cheap stuff and a bag of the expensive stuff and mix them. They also loved apples, lettuce and spray millet. And the treat sticks were very popular. And they need a cuttlebone.

Answer 5

1.yea its ok if u only have one u can teach it to talk.

2.i use it its fine.dont shred but fold it and but it on the floor of the cage.then put beddings on top

3.im sorry i dont know.just in case just wash with water. i think thatll be better.

4.http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/...

5.ask a vet im sorry i dont know.

6.dont know either *sorry*

7.they sell dailey mix. its healty for parakeets. for treats:millet(spray millet),fruits,salad mix,hard boiled eggs,cooled rice,sweet potato,raw or cooked vegetables.

!WARNING!-DO NOT FEED YOUR PARAKEET:AVACODO,CHOCOLATE,alcohol or anything with caffeine.

Also, you want to avoid cooking with non-stick cookware around your little guy. The fumes of overheated teflon can make them very sick.

Answer 6

1.  It is ok, and the the keet will be much more friendly and dependant on you, but if you are gone be sure you at least put a full size mirror in the cage so the little guy has someone to wistle at and keep him company when you are not around.

2.Newspaper is ideal.  Newspaper is printed with soy ink so it will be fine to be nibbled on. Nograted bottom, useless and messy and very hard to clean. No paper towels unless they arent treated with chlorine (not the white ones).

3. Just soak the toys in a 10 parts water to 1 part bleach mixture to kill bacteria, blech in this form will not be harmful to your keet.

4. You must clip if you take your birdy out of its cage. Look in the lost adds, they are full of ads for people whos birds have accidentally flown out of the house never to be seen again. It is not painful, you just have to clip a few secondary feathers and leave the main feathers, that way it wont look like the bird has his wings clipped and he wont drop like a rock and potentially hurt himself.

5. With the proper perch, you will never have to clip his nails. their nails are very tiny and do not hurt at all.

6. You should ge tthe largest cage you can afford.  My grandfather had his keets in a medium sized cage and just left the cage door open during the day (he is blind and is always home) and closed it during the night.  The keet was free to come and go as he pleased.

7. Viamin enriched Pellets mixed with some seed along with some oyster shell poweder of a cuddle bone.

Hope this helped!

Answer 7

1. No, he'll get lonely

2. Yes, it's ok

3. Yes

4. Yes, scissors, (it's really easy and doesn't hurt them)

5. Nail clippers, if you look closely you can see their vein, you need to be careful not to cut to close to the vein

6. I don't get the question

7.Any parakeet food is good, but you should also give them lots of fruits and vegetables

Answer 8

1.yes it ok to get one parakeet. but you will have to give it a lot of company

2.yeah a newspaper is ok for a bird to p**p on

3.No, just water. and a little soap. but MAKE SURE that you wash the soap of good.

4.i would leave it to the vet to do that. its complicated. you could accidentaly harm the bird.

5.with speacil kind of scissors.

6.pretty long of a cage

7.natural brid food at the pet store.

Answer 9

1. Yes

2. Yes it's fine

3.Yes

4. I would go to the pet store so you don't injure him/her

5.You can get sandpaper perch covers that will gently wear down her/his toenails

6. I'm confused about this question

7. Any seed mix