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Tips
for the First 7 Days
Following these
will help your bird acclimate
happily to its new home
(From Dr. Lafeber’s book
First 7 Days)
- Place the cage up off the floor in a secure, peaceful and
preferably low traffic area.
- Do not place the cage in direct sunlight or in the path of a
heating or air conditioning vent.
- Cover the sides, back & top of the cage. Slowly move the cover
back until it is removed by day 7.
- Put seed in the cup and sprinkle some on the floor of the
cage until your bird is using the seed cup.
- Extra birds require extra seed cups. When adding a new bird, add
extra food cups. Two per new bird.
- Do not handle the bird for the first 7 days as it is already
frightened by its new surroundings.
- Refill the seed every day, removing empty hulls. The water cup
should be washed every day.
- Quiet birds are frightened birds. Move slowly until your bird is
active and acclimated.
- If your bird is not eating by the end of the second day, call
our store for more tips and adventurermation.
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Heather's
Parakeet Checklist
The parakeet is one of America’s most popular
pet birds. Their small size, bright colors, and cheerful disposition
make them perfect pets. Parakeets come in a large variety of colors
including pastel blues, yellows, dark greens, violets, solid whites
and almost limitless combinations of the same.
Young parakeets can easily be trained to sit
on your finger. It is calming to listen to their quiet chattering and
chirping. Some parakeets even learn to talk! They are playful and
inquisitive, wanting to know what makes a bell ring and “what is
behind that toy.” Parakeets normally live seven to twelve years, with
some living much longer.
Cage
Parakeets have modest tastes in cage sizes.
However, they won’t complain when a medium to large size cage is
chosen. Choose the largest cage your budget will afford. The cage will
need to be large enough for your parakeet to move around comfortably
inside. There also needs to be room for toys. Your bird needs at least
two to start off with, and would appreciate two more!
Most cages have food and water dishes
included, as well as two perches. Position the perches carefully.
Parakeets have long tails, so leave some space between the back of the
perch and the cage wall. Also, do not place perches directly above
cups. You don’t want to have your bird going to the bathroom in its
food or water dish.
Food
Parakeets should have a large variety of grain and millet seeds.
Abba® Parakeet food is an excellent choice. Abba uses a large
variety of seeds so that every bite is something different. The seed
is guaranteed fresh, too. Fresh seeds taste best. As this is their
daily diet, make sure they receive fresh food every day.
Parakeets hull their seed which means they take the “skin” off the
outside of the seed before eating it. This “skin” normally drops back
into the dish, so it may look like their dish is full, but if you blow
on it, the “seed hulls” disappear. And, because parakeets hull their
food, they do not need grit.
Water & Vitamins
Parakeets need fresh water, and their water dish cleaned, everyday.
Water left to sit for a long time will grow bacteria that is not
healthy for the bird.
When you change the water, add a few shakes of Nekton S to it.
Nekton S is a vitamin designed to make your parakeet’s diet complete.
It contains amino acids not found in a total seed diet. Amino acids
are important for good development of feathers. Nekton S also contains
important minerals and vitamins vital for good health.
Treats
Millet spray is their favorite treat. “Popcorn on a stick” is fun
to eat. For a parakeet in a new home, it is also a comfort food. A new
house away from other birds can be scary. But if your bird can see the
millet and feels safe eating it, then your bird will feel safe when it
decides it is time to look around the rest of the cage to check out
where the food and water dishes are located.
Honey sticks are another good treat. These require more persistence
when trying to pull the seeds off, so parakeets get a little exercise
while eating. Honey sticks come in a variety of flavors to add zest to
your bird’s life.
Parakeets also love and benefit from eating fresh fruits and
vegetables. Favorites include broccoli, leaves of flowering kale,
shredded carrots, peas, corn, slices of apple or pear, and grapes cut
in half. Experiment to discover what your parakeet likes best!
Cuttlebone
A cuttlebone has a soft and a hard side. You can easily press your
fingernail into the soft side, and this is the side that should face
the bird. Cuttlebone contains calcium for strong bones and iodine to
prevent goiter. It may take a while before a parakeet uses or chews on
the cuttlebone. A change of location may encourage use. Use a fork or
butter knife to scrape a little into the food dish if your bird hasn’t
used the cuttlebone after the first month.
Toys & Perches
And finally, toys. Toys are a vital part of a parakeet’s life. When
no one is around to chatter to, parakeets need something to do. There
are a lot of different types of toys made for parakeets. A “must-have”
for every parakeet is a bell. At least one toy should have a bell—if
not every toy! Bells are wonderful because they are shiny and pretty,
and if moved in just the right way, they make noise. Some parakeets
make waves in the fashion world by trying to wear a bell on the top of
their head.
Parakeets love bright colors. The more lively the colors, the more
interesting the toy. Little wood blocks, pony beads, and leather
straps are all excellent media for parakeet toys. Hang them near
perches for ease of playing, or hang them out in the middle of the
cage to encourage exercise.
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Wing & Nail Trimming
There are many reasons for keeping a
parakeet’s wings trimmed. Most obvious is to avoid the bird
accidentally flying out the door and out of your life. Other reasons
involve safety. There are many dangers in our homes including windows,
mirrors, open flames, boiling water, and open toilet seats—to name
only a few. Keep your pet safe by keeping its wings trimmed.
Another reason to keep them trimmed is for
training purposes. A parakeet that can fly is an independent bird. It
is really difficult to teach your bird to “step up” when it is hanging
out on the curtain rods. The trimmed feathers molt and re-grow within
a year. When your bird starts to get a little lift when jumping off
your finger, that’s a good sign that it’s time to have the wings
trimmed again.
Nail trimming is as much for our comfort as it
is for theirs. Normally, by the time the flight feathers have regrown
on your little friend, nails need to be trimmed as well. Keeping toe
nails at the proper length helps keep your bird’s feet healthy.
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Signs of Illness
Call your pet store or vet if you notice these
symptoms
- Diarrhea or wet droppings:
Caused by change in food or water supply,
stress or change of environment, too much fresh food or a bacterial
infection. Treatments include the addition of millet, ornalyte®,
ornabac® or hulled oats to the diet. Your vet may prescribe
an antibiotic for bacterial problems.
Caused by an upper respiratory infection, a
cold, dust, pollen or mold. Treatments include providing a clean and
draft free environment, and a call to your veterinarian.
- Puffy appearance
with feathers “puffed out” in the bird’s attempt to keep warm:
Usually caused by a draft for a prolonged
period of time (like 4 hours). Treatment: warm your bird by covering
the cage and placing a heating pad beneath the cage. Call your vet.
Call your vet.
Cause is probably “Scaly face mites” which
can easily be treated. Call your pet store or vet.
Probably due to goiter from lack of iodine.
Call your veterinarian.
Keep cuttlebone (great source of iodine)
available, and /or add a mineral supplement to prevent this.
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