all about parakeet

In addition to canaries, parakeets are the favorite birds to have at home as pets, thanks to their sociable and fun temperament; since they are animals that can sing and even imitate the voice of people. They are originally from Australia and today they have conquered the homes of the world.
They are known as Budgies as they are native birds of Australia. They are generally nomads and live in large groups that usually move in search of water and trees to inhabit. They are now commercially bred in different parts of the world in order to meet global demand.
General aspects of parakeets
These are small birds with an average weight of 35 g and a size of 17 cm. They are very sociable and in addition to canaries, it is one of the most popular birds thanks to its cheerful character and its ease of domestication.
They have 4 toes on each of their legs, 2 forward and 2 backwards; which favors the grip on the branches. They also have striking plumage with bright colors , yellow, green and blue being the most attractive. Similarly, black and white stripes stand out on his head, and his eyes are on each side.
Likewise, they are intelligent animals; since with due training and perseverance they are capable of learning to speak and of imitating human voices . Therefore, the sounds of parakeets is one of the most fascinating characteristics of these birds.
Types according to plumage
The types of parakeets can be classified according to the coloration of their plumage. Although in the wild and originally green, these birds have evolved and developed other attractive colors through mutations. For this reason, among the best known we have the blue parakeet and the yellow parakeet.
However, there are also other colors such as dark green, gray or mauve, yellow faces and cinnamon. In addition, we have parakeets that have lost the pigmentation of their plumage, they are albino parakeets that have red eyes and a characteristic intense white color.
Similarly, the lutino color is a mutation in green parakeets, resulting in deep yellow plumage. While the harlequin color, they are the parakeets with depigmented body areas.
How long does a parakeet live?
There are different factors that could determine the life expectancy of parakeets, such as its genetic variety or the habitat in which it lives. For example, the English budgerigar could live from 5 to 10 years, a shorter lifespan than its Australian conspecifics.
Australian specimens can live up to 15 years in captivity and 4 to 6 years in the wild. This is because in the wild they are very susceptible to attack by predators and diseases. Another factor that can reduce the life expectancy of these birds is the number of times they have young, which can cause stress and cause them to lose their feathers.
If you are interested in how to know the age of a parakeet, the answer is to observe the feathers on its head and eyes. The characteristics of a young parakeet is a striped crown that reaches the beak and the eyes are totally black. An adult parakeet, on the other hand, has a striped crown away from the beak and the eyes have gray or light brown colored irises.
Considerations for your successful life in captivity
Regarding their life in captivity, if these birds catch your attention, you should first consider offering them a comfortable place where they can feel safe. This can be resolved by purchasing parakeet cages. In the market there is more than one cage for birds that could cover the characteristics of size and accessories necessary for them.
You should also take into account that these are sociable birds that prefer to live in the company of their own species, so it is advisable to acquire pairs of parakeets; a parakeet for each male would be a good option.
Another relevant aspect is choosing the right place in the cage for parakeets inside the home. In this sense, you should put it in a place where they do not feel abandoned or alone; therefore, it is best to put it in a crowded place , where the parakeet or parakeets interact with the family and listen to the noises of the house. Likewise, you should avoid putting it near the kitchen, so that it does not inhale vapors or fumes.
You should not ignore the importance of incorporating distraction elements into the cage, so that the bird can play and feel comfortable. Therefore, among the care of the parakeets, in addition to its feeder and drinker, you must add accessories such as natural wood sticks, a bathtub, a limestone to sharpen its beak, sand specially designed for birds, ropes, wicker balls and nests.
Also, keep in mind how parakeets sleep and remember to cover the cage with a sheet and place it in the dark so they can rest. Otherwise, they will stay active all night playing, which could cause damage to their health.
not only birdseed
When we don’t know what parakeets eat, the first thing we usually put on their plate is canary seed. Although it is a food that nourishes them and is convenient due to its size, these birds also enjoy other foods and seeds.
In this context, the best food for parakeets and their food base could be millet, canary seed, wheat and oat seeds. Similarly, you can also feed them with vegetables such as lettuce, chard, spinach and carrots. Apple and banana are also fruits that they love and that provide them with nutrients.
On the other hand, if a parakeet reaches your hands newborn or a few days old, you should feed it with a syringe and with porridge during the first 3 weeks of life. Hence the denomination of papilleros parakeets or manually reared .