The Parakeets are Thriving
My cheerful and colorful parakeets are thriving here at the farm and enjoying every day in their large and airy cage on my light-filled porch.
I have 14 bright turquoise blue parakeets that joined my menagerie late last year. As many of you already know, I also have a couple dozen or so red factor canaries and a pair of charming Combassou finches. They are all very vocal birds, and the melodious song of my sweet canaries always makes me so happy. Caring for these birds requires time and diligence to keep their environments safe and clean. Every morning, the cages are wiped down and the birds are given a fresh buffet of seeds and other fresh greens to keep them happy and healthy.
Enjoy these photos.
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- During winter, the boxwood shrubs on my terrace parterre are covered in protective burlap, but during the rest of the year, my canaries, finches and parakeets enjoy beautiful views of the landscape through the floor to ceiling glass windows and door of my Winter House porch.
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- The birds love to see outside and watch the wild birds fly around. And, yes, the birds outdoors do use the holes I provide in the burlap to go in and out of their winter “pop-up” shelters.
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- Parakeets, Melopsittacus undulatus, are members of the Parrot family. They are relatively small and light birds, but with unusually long, tapered tails. All birds love to perch. I always use natural wooden branches that can provide many different perching levels. We change these perches regularly.
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- Parakeets often come in green-yellow or blue-green combinations. These blue colors come in many shades from gray to bright cobalt.
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- When cleaning, all the seeds are removed and the surface is wiped with a damp rag. Then, a bucket of fresh cob bedding is placed on the bottom tray.
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- I prefer this cobb bedding because it doesn’t stick or cling. It is also all-natural and 99-percent dust-free.
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- A thin layer is spread around the entire space. The sides of the tray are just about an inch tall, so the bedding is kept to about a half-inch thick.
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- Meanwhile, in my servery all the dishes are cleaned and filled with a variety of seed mixes. I am always looking for the best, most nutritious seeds I can find to keep my birds healthy. I provide multiple feed bowls with a buffet of seeds.
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- All the food is stored neatly in a drawer, so it is easy to access whenever needed.
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- The budgie is one of the most popular parakeet species. Besides being very friendly and playful, it is hardy and easy to maintain.
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- The filled seed dishes are all placed in the cage – some down below and others one level up. Parakeets have a very active metabolism and should be provided with a staple diet of fresh parakeet seed or pellets daily. It is important to be observant of what the birds eat and don’t eat, so adjustments can be made if necessary.
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- Several bowls of fresh water are provided at all times – again, some bowls on the floor and some higher in the cage.
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- The birds are eager to check out their buffets right away. Seed blends are designed to support the birds’ seasonal needs. These blends are carefully selected to provide the widest range of micronutrients for resting, breeding, and molting seasons. In addition to a pellet diet, I offer all my birds dark green and yellow veggies as well as a variety of fruits, and hard cooked eggs.
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- Parakeets prefer to be kept in pairs or small groups. This is a bonded male and female pair.
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- Here is another bonded pair. Look closely – the cere, located right above a parakeet’s beak, reveals the bird’s gender. A fully mature male parakeet has a blue cere, while a female’s is brown.
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- Parakeets who are harmonious and live together will bond and mate for life.
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- When birds become good friends, they will tap their beaks together in a kind of ‘budgie kiss’, and will preen each other’s face and head.
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- Parakeets are sweet, social little birds that enjoy interaction with each other and with their human companions, and can be taught to mimic sounds and words.
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- Parakeets are also chewers. They love to chew on paper, soft wood and toys. In my cage, these parakeets chew on their soft wooden branches.
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- Cuttlebone is an important dietary supplement for birds because it is a great source of necessary minerals and calcium, which helps birds with bone formation and blood clotting. Birds can use cuttlebones to help keep their beaks trimmed and sharp. I provide several at the bottom of the cage.
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- The cage should be placed off the floor in an area that is well-lit and away from drafts. I am glad their large cage fits perfectly on my indoor porch where I can visit with them every day.
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- If you choose to share your home with birds, remember to get the largest cage your home can accommodate, and the nicest cage your budget can afford. Birds need room to flap their wings and fly from perch to perch. It may take time and effort to care for birds properly, but in return, these birds provide wonderful company, song and curious, fun-loving personalities.
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