Tips on keeping your Parakeet Healthy
Tips to Keep Your Parakeet Healthy
Office of Public Engagement 2001 S. Lincoln Ave. Urbana, Illinois 61802 Phone: 217/333-2907 By Linda March Information Specialist University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine According to Dr. Ken Welle, a board certified avian medicine veterinarian, "When choosing a bird it is best to buy one from a reputable dealer." He explains that "parakeet" is a general term for a small, long-tailed, slender-bodied parrot, in the Psittacine family. Budgerigars are a specific type of parakeet and originate from Australia. These are commonly referred to simply as parakeets. A healthy bird will look clean, be active, be sitting up, and have smooth feathers. All birds in the facility should look healthy. It is important to have your bird checked by your veterinarian right after purchase, then at regular intervals for the first year, and then annually. Wild birds in the jungle hide illness as a means of self preservation. To uncover hidden illness, birds should have a blood sample drawn to help your veterinarian assess its health status. Like dogs or cats, birds can also be infected by intestinal parasites. A fecal examination will allow your veterinarian to determine what parasites the bird has and treat it accordingly. A Psittacosis test can detect the presence of this contagious disease that can make a bird weak, dull, stop eating and lose weight quickly. According to Dr. Welle, "A healthy bird needs a safe cage that is easy to clean. The cage should be lined with newspaper and the top layer should be removed daily. The perches should be scraped whenever they become soiled. Do not place perches in areas where the birds will contaminate the water or food with droppings." The perch should not be covered with sandpaper, because it will injure the birds' feet. The size and shape of the perch should also be changed periodically to help prevent sore feet. A balanced diet is very important for birds. Seed mixtures are not complete by themselves. They also need vitamins provided by vegetables and legumes, as well as protein and calcium from meat and dairy products. There are also complete diets available in pelleted form. "Birds are very social animals," notes Dr. Welle. "They need a lot of attention and someone to talk to." Safe toys can be offered to help occupy a bird. You can also provide a playpen outside of the cage for activity. Handling birds will help to calm them. Birds enjoy having their heads scratched. This imitates the mutual preening activity they do in the wild. Adding a little water to their greens or spraying them lightly with water will also encourage preening. If the bird is mean or aggressive it may benefit from having its wings clipped. This allows the bird to glide downward, but makes it unable to fly. Clipping, combined with frequent handling and patience, will usually settle the animal down. Just like teaching your dog to "sit," teaching your bird to talk requires repetition and patience. Not all birds will be able to talk. Dr. Welle says, "Some birds can make associations. Some have also been taught their phone number or address." Constant repetition of short phrases at frequent intervals is needed to begin teaching your bird to talk. As they learn words it becomes easier for them to pick up new ones. Birds can also be taught commands like "up" and "down" to make them get on or off of your finger. For more pointers about parakeets, contact your local veterinarian. |
