Translated by Nick R
In this blog you’ll find everything you need to know to properly care for your new domestic Australian Parakeet.
Table of Contents
Why should you get an Australian parakeet?
Parakeets are the perfect companion for those who want to get started in pet bird care or have a new friend to have fun with. Even if you have children at home or live alone, it will be easy to start a relationship with such wonderful animals.
Some of the reasons why you should adopt a parakeet are:
- They are easy to maintain, ideal for new owners
- Their care is easy on the budget
- They are curious so you can play with them.
- You’ll be able to enjoy their unique singing
For me, they were one of the most precious companions I had as a child. They didn’t take much effort to keep them in an optimal space and they were very noble.
Why shouldn’t you have an Australian parakeet?
If you are hesitant to adopt a parakeet, here are some of the reasons why you should not:
- If you have asthma and are allergic to the bird’s dander or the mites that accumulate in its droppings.
- If you don’t have enough time to guarantee their basic cleaning and feeding, as this might not only affect your pet but also yourself.
- If you are not willing to know in depth the behaviors of your parakeet and the activities you should do with it.
- If not, ensure a clean environment of dust or any other element that is sensitive to the respiratory tract of your parakeet such as aerosols, perfumes and/or cigarettes.
Characteristics and behavior of the Australian parakeet
| Scientific Name | Melopsittacus undulatus |
| Common Name | Common Parakeet, Australian Parakeet or Budgerigar |
| Place of Origin | Australia |
| Habitat | Semiarid and Subhumid regions |
| Size | 18 to 20 cm |
| Weight | 30 g |
| Average sexual or reproductive age | 180 days |
| Maximum life expectancy in captivity | 21 years |
Parakeet’s physical characteristics can be similar to those of a parrot, and although they are related, we must not assume they are the same.
Color
- The most common Australian parakeets are green and yellow, but in captivity, the color range can be wider, such as white or light blue.
- As for their plumage, they usually have wavy patterns (hence their scientific name undulatus), and their wings and tails are pointed.
- Most wild specimens have yellow foreheads, and their cheeks are purple or black.
Size
They are much smaller than other similar birds, approximately 18 to 20 cm, and their average lifespan can be over 10 years if they are well cared for.
Sexual dysmorphia
One determining feature of these birds is sexual dysmorphia, which determines their sex and is found in the upper part of their beak, where their nostrils are. This part is called wax and will have a different color. In females, the wax can be brown, light brown, or beige depending if they are in the breeding season, while in males it will be light blue.
Note: Only until sexual maturity (approximately 180 days) will the color of its wax be established, so in chicks, the color is light or white.
Legs
Their legs have 3 toes and are designed to hold on to branches since they are climbing birds and their morphology is adapted to this type of activity.
Beak
Its beak is much larger at the top, covering the lower part of the same, thus being adapted for the consumption of seeds. Something of utmost importance is that it is in constant growth, and must be of care for breeding as a pet, but this will be a topic to be discussed later.
The behavior of the Australian parakeet
| Behavior in the wild | Behavior in captivity |
| – They inhabit semi-arid and sub-humid places, usually the interior of Australia. – They behave in flocks. – They are monogamous birds. – They make their nests in tree holes, using soft materials to keep them comfortable. – They lay 5 eggs per season and do so spaced between days or weeks. – They are smaller than some captive-bred parakeets. | – The habits of the parakeet will depend on your care as an owner. – Their behavior becomes more docile, curious, and sociable given the minimal danger they face.∙ – They should have a partner of the opposite sex since females are more aggressive and territorial. |
| Reproduction | |
| The breeding season occurs at any time of the year, but it is usual for them to nest when seeds are abundant or in the summer and spring seasons. | For domestic parakeets, you must provide a space for them to nest, as they will instinctively nest in an orifice that guarantees their privacy and warmth. |
| Feeding | |
| They are excellent food foragers, consuming seeds and plants such as spinifex and tusoc, fruits, shoots, and bark. Parakeets are very strict with their water consumption as they drink about 5.5% of their weight in water. |
Cage and ideal space for your Australian parakeet
As you may know, there is nothing a bird enjoys more than the freedom of flying and flitting from place to place, and as you may have read, in the wild they are constantly on the move.
However, if you don’t have enough space to raise your parakeet outside of a cage, I recommend you do it in a large, cornered cage, where your winged friend can move from one side to the other and have an exact sense of location. Approximately 45 cm wide and high by 60 cm long is fine.
Basic equipment of the cage for Australian parakeets
- Feeder
- Drinker
- Aluminum tray
- Newspaper
Regarding the necessary elements for their breeding, you should have a feeder and a drinking bowl, which you can place near wooden sticks inside the cage, so that they have easy access to their food and can spend the day, rest or flutter from one side to the other.
For your comfort and the cleanliness of the cage, you should also use newspapers at the base of the cage, where there is usually an aluminum tray that collects all the bird’s waste.
Suitable environment for Australian parakeets
In their daily life, be aware that, like most birds, their busiest times are at dawn and during the morning, when they eat, flutter and sing, while at midday and in the afternoon they rest as they don’t like being exposed to such warm environments. At night is the ideal time to go to sleep, which is essential to know how to take care of their habits.
- During the morning, provide them with a shaded and ventilated space where they can rest and shelter from the sun.
- At night, depending on the temperature of the place where you live, you have to provide a suitable environment for them, which ranges between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius. For this, cover the cage with a blanket that allows air to pass through, keeping them warm and preventing them from being exposed to light, which will keep them active. Likewise, try not to make loud noises that may alert your parakeet friend.
Daily grooming and care
The daily care of your parakeet will be important to guarantee its well-being, which is why constant grooming is a must.
We start by changing the newspaper or tray where the bird’s droppings and pieces of food are kept; you can do it every two or three days, depending on the number of parakeets you have and the size of the cage.
As for their food and drink, you must change it daily. You can clean the leftover seeds inside the feeder, and add a little more food until it is completely full. In the case of the drinking bowl, you should empty it and add more fresh water every day.
Remember! Clean any traces of droppings or feathers found in their food and water spaces, it is even advisable to do a thorough cleaning of the cage every month.
Grooming your parakeet is simple, initially, it’s important to know that by nature they constantly groom their wings to keep them shiny and healthy; however, you can complement this by keeping a small container with fresh or warm water, depending on the weather. You don’t need to do it every day, but you can do it when there is a lot of suns and you want them to cool off for a while.
Feeding the Australian parakeet
Australian parakeets feed mainly on seeds. Remember that not all of them are good for them, but the ones that are easily accessible for people who breed them as pets are birdseed or the mix that consists of a varied mixture of foods that will supply a little better the bird’s diet.
The ingredients that usually compose it are:
- Birdseed
- Oats
- Millet
You can give your parakeet other types of food in order to supplement their diet, recommendations can be broccoli, green leaves, and finely chopped carrots, among other vegetables, while in fruits you can offer apple, banana, or berries.
One vital and easily obtainable food supplement is cuttlefish bones composed mainly of calcium, which will help your winged friend to stay healthy while keeping the bird’s beak in perfect condition, as the parakeets will scrape the food.
Prohibited foods
Beware of some foods that may be toxic for your pet, such as:
- Avocado.
- Tomato leaves and stems.
- Nuts and seeds of some fruits such as apples and nectarines.
- Small amounts of chard, onion, garlic, or beet leaves can cause serious problems.
Needless to say, do not feed your parakeet food containing salt or sugar, as well as junk food and alcoholic or caffeine-containing beverages.
Basic health care
Something fundamental when adopting any animal is to know which are its most common affections and how to treat and prevent them, saving on extra care or visiting the veterinarian more than usual. These visits instinctively make your parakeet feel stressed or scared.
The easiest way to keep an eye on your winged pet’s condition is to constantly check its physical appearance, details of its beak, wax, legs and plumage, as well as its behavior, such as its feeding habits, bowel movements, and strange behaviors.
Some common diseases in Australian parakeets are:
| Problemas de salud | Síntomas y causas | What to do? |
| Hipertrofia de la cera: | A common condition in female parakeets due to a hormonal disorder caused by an abundance of protein in their diet, which can cause their nostrils to close. | Keep a balance in your parakeet’s diet by supplementing it with more food. Remember that the required protein levels for your pet are 10% of its diet. |
| Overweight: | Obesity can also occur if they don’t eat a balanced diet, this condition is of special concern because it makes them prone to lipomas or fatty tumors, and can lead to liver problems. | This condition can be treated by monitoring the bird’s diet and daily activity. However, it’s recommended that you consult a veterinarian in order to rule out any derived problems. |
| Sneezing: | If you live in a dry and cold place, your parakeet will probably sneeze from time to time. | Remember that these animals live in humid weather, so you can use air humidifiers. However, if you notice that the symptom becomes chronic, accompanied by shortness of breath or low mood, visit your veterinarian to rule out a virus or bronchitis. |
Best toys for Australian parakeets
As I mentioned before, parakeets are very curious birds and have a morphology designed to grasp and climb wherever possible. That’s why you can include swings, ropes, ladders, perches, and sticks that will stimulate them to be in constant movement from one side to the other; as some of the accessories you can include inside the cage or place where your parakeet stays.
As for toys, it will be essential that you interact between them and the bird to stimulate its curiosity. Elements such as balls or rattles are ideal for captive breeding, but also as a training element to get the bird used to leaving its cage.
You can add a house where they can rest for a while; as opposed to the nest, which is usually totally closed and allows the female to maintain her privacy while incubating her eggs. In these houses, the bird will be able to have privacy, keep warmth or de-stress for a while and give more security to its space.
Where to get an Australian Parakeet?
If you have doubts about where to find or adopt your new winged friend, I recommend you to look mainly in specialized bird stores, since there their care is much more specific than what you can find in a common pet store, where you can also find it since it is a popular domestic bird.
You need to check elements such as the type of cage, the cleanliness of the cage, the food they eat, and the number of specimens with which the parakeet is cared for in relation to the size of the cage, in order to know the conditions in which it will be adopted or acquired.
Also take into account its physical condition, such as its plumage, the condition of its beak and legs, as well as the state of mind it is in.
If in the place where you live, this species was already introduced and adapted to the wild environment, do not try to adopt it by force. A parakeet living without the care of a human will hardly adapt to captive care.
If by chance you see a nest, don’t try to take a chick, unless you have found it outside its home and in terrible conditions. In that case, you could consider adopting it and give it the necessary breeding care to survive outside the nest.
Conclusions
Definitely having a pet parakeet is not as easy a task as you might think, but surely with the necessary care and love you provide it can be one of the best companions you have in your home.
Resources: animaldiversity.org
