I, like most people out there, love pets. Furry, scaly, or feathery, it doesn’t matter to me — I love them all. And while I have many little friends, parakeets will remain my favorite. From Derbyan to Quaker, there are many types of parakeet out there, each more unique than the other. But choosing one of them is hard, especially when you don’t know much about them. I have prepared a list of parakeet species to guide any new pet owner in making this important decision.

What Are Parakeets?

Parakeets are birds that are part of the parrot family. It’s important to note that there is no “official” parakeet description, as the overall group includes hundreds of birds. However, most of them have tapered, long-tail feathers and small bodies. There are larger variants of parakeets but those are not usually kept as pets. While parakeets have all kinds of colors and feather patterns, the most common colors are green and yellow.

Types of Parakeet Species

While there are many different types of parakeets, most of them differ only in color or size. The overall behavior of these little friends is very similar, so choosing a parakeet is mostly a cosmetic choice.

Budgerigars (or Budgies)

Budgies are a species of parakeet native to Australia. They are considered energetic, friendly, and smart, making them the most popular choice for families. What’s interesting about them is the fact that they can learn how to talk. Budgies will pick up words or even phrases from their owners, as they are quick learners.

Adult budgies measure 7 inches in length and weigh less than 2 ounces. Furthermore, they are most commonly green or blue in color.

A common misconception people have is that they think Budgerigars are not parakeets. In fact, all Budgies are parakeets. The confusion stems from the fact that every country has different names for parakeets. And so, most US states call them Budgies instead of their real name.

Quaker Parakeet

The Quaker species is also known as the Monk parakeet. They are a small type of bird, measuring almost 12 inches and weighing less than 5 ounces. Most Quakers have bright green-colored feathers and live up to twenty years.

It’s worth noting that Quaker parakeets love flying, so they require a spacious cage. They are also very social, and will always enjoy the companionship of another Quaker.

Derbyan Parakeet

Derbyans are natives of Asia and usually live in Indian and Chinese forests. This species can measure up to 20 inches in length, and they live for almost 30 years. They have similarly-colored feathers to Budgerigars but their head is usually blue or light green. Even though Derbyans are a threatened species, they are still sold by some pet stores.

Alexandrine Parakeet

One of the largest parakeet species out there, the Alexandrine is a smart, social, and brightly-colored bird. This affectionate parakeet can live up to 40 years and has an impressive body length of 24 inches. But keep in mind that picking an Alexandrine parakeet means having a very vocal lifelong companion. You will need to be ready for daily chats with them.

In Conclusion: A Hard Choice

Overall, choosing from all the types of parakeet out there boils down to personal preference. There are many options and each one is unique and beautiful. I recommend doing your research and then seeing what fits your style best. However, no matter what option you choose, remember to always take care of your new friend.

I think everybody can agree that parakeets make for great pets. They are small, cute, and almost always in a good mood. It feels great to see them happy and vocal. Yet, no matter how well we take care of them, sometimes parakeets can get sick. And while pets can’t really tell us how they feel, there are ways to diagnose them. The most common way to do so is by checking their droppings. But what can parakeet poop tell us about their health? And what we can do to understand our little friends better?

About Parakeet Poop

Unlike most pets, parakeets try to hide any symptoms of illness as best as possible. That is a result of their “prey” behavior — signs of weakness are a death sentence in the wild. However, droppings never lie, and parakeets have a hard time hiding them.

The differences between birds and other pets continue as the parakeet’s digestive system is much simpler. The whole digestive process takes less than a day, and so, poop can provide information about recent food or activities.

It’s important to know that when it comes to birds, droppings are not just poop. They have three components — feces, urine, and urates. The first two are already familiar to us, but what are urates? Urates are a fluid secreted by the kidneys, mostly made up of concentrated uric acid. Those three components are usually released together, but any change in one of them should be a concern.

What Is Normal?

Anything, from diet to age, can factor into how normal droppings should look like. However, before deciding what is normal for your pet, you should inspect the poop for at least a few days. Also, keep in mind that parakeets produce an average of 40 droppings per day. There are a few things that parakeet owners consider as normal when it comes to poop: 

• Normal parakeet droppings shouldn’t smell
• Urine should be clear
• Urates are creamy-white and opaque
• Depending on the food, feces are either dark-brown or green.

What Is Not Normal?

Changes in color, consistency, and volume are the first indicator that something is not right. Furthermore, we should not confuse a temporary change with, for example, diarrhea. Like normal droppings, what is abnormal depends on many factors, but there are a few noteworthy signs:

• Colored urine
• Feces that have a bad smell and undigested food in them
• Feces that are yellow, rusty brown, or contain blood inside
• Yellow or green urates
• Larger feces that are watery or mushy
• A decrease or increase in the number of daily droppings

Before doing any kind of analysis, consider what your parakeet had to eat. Moist foods, like fruits and vegetables, will increase urine volume. Some fruits will also change the color of feces, like blueberry, for example.

Conclusion

All in all, taking good care of our little friends is very important. We can all agree that inspecting parakeet poop is not pleasant, but it’s essential nevertheless. With little to no other ways of communication, bird dropping changes should not be ignored. And don’t forget to call the veterinarian as soon as you notice something different. Always remember to be there for your parakeet and never ignore its needs.

Parakeets are generally energetic, talkative, exciting, and entertaining pets. They will make your life brighter both literally (with their vivid colors) and figuratively( with their singing and chit-chat). Still, it is important to note that male and female parakeets aren’t the same. They differ in color, behavior, as well as in the number of words they can learn and the way they sing. So, which parakeet gender is perfect for you? Stay tuned to find out!

Visible Differences

The biggest and most important visible difference between male and female parakeets is the color of their ceres. The cere is a spot of raised skin on the top of the bird’s beak. While the male parakeet cere is bright blue or violet, that of a female one is brown. The same hormone responsible for the color of the cere is responsible for the color of their legs: males have blue legs, females reddish. However, these differences don’t mean as much to owners as the way the bird acts and how friendly it is does.

Behavioral Differences

What really separates male and female parakeets is the way they behave. Males are much more talkative. They are able to learn more words or phrases, and they mimic human noises and intonation more readily than females. Male parakeets also love singing. They tend to be a little friendlier and more easy-going than female parakeets as well. They’re more relaxed and lively and love playing with you. They don’t bite as often, and their beak isn’t as sharp. Males also exhibit more head-bobbing.

Females, on the other hand, are a little different. They are a bit quieter, more subdued, and serious. Since they are the ones responsible for nest-building, their beaks are sharper. They are also much more protective and tend to bite more often. All of this comes from their maternal instincts and their need to protect their babies. They don’t bob their heads as often as males, and they aren’t as vivacious. They aren’t as ready to mimic human language and generally learn fewer words than their male counterparts. Still, they can form deep attachments to their owners, a bit more so than males, which again comes from their maternal instincts.

What Does This Mean?

Although it may seem that all of the above points to male parakeets being better pets, that isn’t always the case. Everything we have mentioned so far is simply a generalization of facts.

Every bird is a case for itself, and you might find female parakeets which are chattier or more physically active than males, or you might find males that don’t like singing. It is important to understand that the behavior of your pet also depends on the bond you form with them and on your own behavior.

While behavioral and physical differences are important, they shouldn’t be the only thing you consider when choosing the gender of your pet. Trust your gut, try interacting with both males and females before making a decision, and you should be fine. Remember that your pet will love you regardless of their gender, and choosing will be much easier!

Birds, especially parakeets, have become the perfect first pet for kids and beginners alike. Small, cute, and vocal, a parakeet is a nice addition to any family. However, what happens when our feathered friend doesn’t act like it normally does? Knowing the symptoms and what to do if they show up is important when taking care of a sick parakeet.

Sick Parakeet Symptoms

Parakeets are intelligent birds with certain habits. Even if some might try to hide their symptoms, always pay attention to any changes in their daily routine. There are a few symptoms that parakeets can’t hide, no matter how hard they try.

Ruffled or Dirty Feathers

The first thing you should look out for is anything feather-related. Birds tend to fluff out their feathers before going to sleep or when they are cold. But sometimes, fluffy feathers might mean respiratory problems. If you observe that for more than a day, call your local veterinarian.

Furthermore, birds are usually hygienic animals and, as a result, bathe often. Dirty or messy feathers are another sign that things are not going as they should. If that happens, look out for other symptoms and keep a track of any changes.

Red Eyes and Discharge

Any sort of discharge or liquid around the top of the beak is a sign of illness. The nostrils are right at the top of the beak, so any moisture near them is a problem. Finding the nose may be hard, but it’s very important to be on the lookout for anything suspicious.

While checking out the nose, it’s a good idea to verify the eyes too. Red, inflamed eyes point directly to respiratory or nervous disorders.

Habits

As previously mentioned, parakeets have their own habits. Anything from a lack of energy to reduced appetite is a big red flag. If your bird begins losing weight and isn’t as active as it used to be, an intestinal blockage might be at fault.

Tip: Be on the lookout for tail bobbing. Prolonged, repetitive bobbing of the tail can indicate respiratory problems.

Dropping Changes

We know that checking the droppings of your parakeet is not pleasant, but it’s something you should do often. You should especially watch out for yellow, brown, or black excrements. Those colors can be signs of internal bleeding.

Parakeet Care Tips

We recommend calling the vet as soon as anything is out of the ordinary. However, there are a few things you can do to avoid or ease your parakeet’s health problems:

• Examine your parakeet as frequently as possible.
• Feed your bird a varied diet that includes all the necessary nutrients and vitamins.
• Clean the enclosure at least once a day.
• Keep up the fluids intake and change the water every few hours.

Conclusion

All in all, taking care of our little friends is a big responsibility. Research and attention are the keys to a long-lasting friendship. Don’t be afraid to ask for professional help if you feel overwhelmed. Always keep in mind that you are the person they trust and depend on, so don’t let your parakeet down. And remember — a healthy pet is a happy friend!

Parakeets are, arguably, one of the most sought-after parrot species today, and for good reason. They’re bright in more ways than one and they’re phenomenal pets. But the key to living a harmonious life with our feathery friends is understanding all the different sounds and noises that they make. Today, we’re going to break them all down for you, and show you the meaning behind the melody.

1. Tweeting

One of the most important things all parakeet owners need to learn is the distinction between happy and unhappy tweets. The former is one of the species’ go-to sounds, and they’ll let it out every chance they get. Throughout the day, parakeets will tweet once a while, mostly to let us know that they’re still there and that they’re feeling good.

On the other hand, any unhappy tweet or a chirrup is usually much louder and lasts longer than the happy counterpart. With it, our beautiful budgies are trying to let us know that they’re experiencing a problem, and need our help.

2. Chirping

Chirping is definitely a happy sound and one that most parakeet owners love hearing. It can definitely take up different tunes and melodies, and go from a cool, mellow song to some high-pitched vocals.

Since it’s one of the most common sounds, it might also mean that it’s time to refill their food or water dishes. Also, if a parakeet is chirping every time we walk into a room, it might mean that it’s lonely and needs company.

3. Singing

Even though they’re not songbirds, parakeets can let out some noises that sound delightful to our ears. It could be chirping, whistling, chattering, snippets of human speech, or even a combination of some. When our parakeets are “singing” that means that they’re really happy, and feeling good.

4. Chattering

Chattering is another sound for the happy category, and it means that our birds are content. During chattering, parakeets will usually start repeating the words that they’ve learned from us, and they’ll do it for a while. Also, they’ll probably sit still, fully relaxed, and with their feathers somewhat fluffed to show just how chill they are.

5. Beak Grinding

Albeit unusual, beak grinding is something many parakeets do when they’re feeling good. They often do it while they’re eating or gritting, and it just shows that they’re relaxed and content. Essentially, it’s the equivalent of a cat’s purr.

6. Squawking

A squawking parakeet is probably one of the worst noises to hear. It’s not only upsetting to us, but it can also disturb other animals and birds in the vicinity.

Squawking is a dead giveaway that something’s gone awry, and we need to act on it right away. Usually, budgies will let out this sound when they’re afraid, have been injured, or have seen/imagined a predator.

7. Hissing/Chiding

Hearing that awful tssssk sound from a parakeet means that things are deeply wrong. Hissing or chiding is honestly one of the most unpleasant things to hear as parakeet owners, and it’s one that we need to act up quickly.

When a bird chides, it usually means that something or someone is invading its personal space. Also, it’s a warning to back off and steer clear of the budgie.

Final Thoughts

Parakeets are incredible when it comes to picking up and mimicking noises they hear. Them imitating us or a baby wailing, for example, is all pretty normal, and it means that they’re happy.

With that said, budgies are generally pretty low-maintenance birds who only require a bit of space, food, water, and our company. Keeping them content shouldn’t be too hard, but we should always keep one eye (or ear) open for any strange noises.