Food

[parrotlover]

What exactly should I feed my Paraket? I want to be able to give him foods that he/she would normally find in the wild. I was thinking different kinds of vegetable and and fruits. Can someone please name the kinds of vegies. and fruites I can feed the Parakeet? Also if you know what sort of seed mixtures and/or pellet mixtures I should use. Also which is better; seed or pellet?

[HungryBird]

I give my guys lots of veggies. They like corn the most but it is not the healthiest so they don't get it all the time. They really like baby bok choy and that is good for them. Try offering many different kinds of vegetables over and over again. Dark green leafy veggies are very good for them and birds seem more inclined to try leafy veggies.

As for seeds vs pellets I think both are fine IF they are good quality seeds/pellets and are given in moderation. I don't agree with the argument that the best pellet is the one they are willing to eat. If my birds refused to eat healthy pellets I would not give them a crappy brand instead, I would rather not feed pellets at all. The brands of pellets I feed are Totally Organic Pellets and Harrison's. You could also try UnPellet Mix, which is a very healthy alternative to the traditional pellet form because it has everything in the whole state instead of processed.

Seed brands I like are Volkman and Avian Organics. Totally Organic Pellets makes a few seed blends too but I haven't tried them yet. Should be good quality though.

My parakeets like Mayan Gourmet Mash from Avian Organics more than anything else in the world.

[parrotlover]

OK Thanks! Yea I was thinking of putting seeds and pellets together. That way they get the "best of both worlds" lol! But yea thanks. And I need to get food vitamins (not water because it can be dangerous for them by forming bacteria in the water).

[HungryBird]

I don't really feed any vitamins at all. I do give them bee pollen and red palm oil but that's about it. I think vitamins are best given under the instructions of a vet and if the vet doesn't tell you your birds needs them they are not to be given.

Have you started picking up bird supplies yet? Have you decided on a cage? Here are some things to consider:

-Getting a big cage with safe bar spacing. Parakeets need room to fly but you have to make sure the bars are not too far apart. I think my guys are in 5/8 bar spacing. A bigger cage is always better. Flight cages are probably the best.

-Getting a variety of perches. Now I'm not saying you have to turn into a crazy perch lunatic like I have but it is good to offer a variety of materials for perching. A rope perch would be great, I get the size small for my parakeets. I would suggest starting out with at least five or six perches, but of course more is better. You should definitely get at least one rope perch and one cholla perch. My parakeets like cholla perches more than any other kind. I would suggest getting only perches made with stainless steel hardware. I have a bunch of really nice ones from Things For Wings and The Birdsafe Store. I will post a link in a bit.

-Getting lots of toys that are good for parakeets. Parakeets are obviously different from other birds and have different toy needs. My guys prefer smaller toys as most of the big ones scare them. I think one of the best brands of toys for parakeets is Planet Pleasures. They have so many shredding toys and my birds just go crazy for them. I will go find some pictures of their favorites in a sec. I also make a lot of toys and find that my parakeets love toys made with balsa and yucca/kiote. Parakeets definitely need lots of toys and I get annoyed when people think otherwise.

-Starting him or her out on good food soon! My parakeets are the most stubborn animals in the world! They take forever to try new things. Just keep offering it and eventually they will try it. My guys refused to try Soak And Simmer for months and months and then one day they decided it was delicious and they have been gobbling it down ever since. Then I started adding red palm oil so they refused to eat it again. I covered their seeds in red palm oil and they refused to touch them. After a while they gave up and now they love red palm oil.

Have you decided whether you are getting one or two? If it is possible to get two that you know have already lived together successfully I would strongly recommend it.

[HungryBird]

Birch perches from The Birdsafe Store.





Went a little crazy during a perch sale at Things For Wings!





Two coffeewood perches and a bamboo perch from Persnickety Parrot.



Some Planet Pleasures toys.



I cannot say enough good things about this toy! Super cheap, super fun, super awesome. A must have!



A little frilly toy my parakeets love.



This one may be their second favorite toy, also a Planet Pleasures toy. I call it the shooting star toy.



This is a really big toy but they are not afraid of it. I stuff millet in the holes and they love it. Romeo has actually chewed up quite a bit of it even when there is no millet around.



And this one is also really popular.

Hopefully other people will post pictures of toys/cages/food that work well with their own parakeets.

[liz]

That is going to be one very loved and spoiled bird.

[parrotlover]

OK no i haven't bought anything for the parakeet yet but I'm getting ready and makeing room and prepareing and what not. I'm probably going to get the supplies a few days after the cruise. And yes I think I've decided on a cage. And I'm only getting ONE because I read that if you get two then they won't pay much attention to you but to each other instead. And the other reason is because I want to train it really good as well. HaHa Yea I plan on spoiling him/her lol!

[MikeRoger]

What exactly should I feed my Paraket? I want to be able to give him foods that he/she would normally find in the wild. I was thinking different kinds of vegetable and and fruits. Can someone please name the kinds of vegies. and fruites I can feed the Parakeet? Also if you know what sort of seed mixtures and/or pellet mixtures I should use. Also which is better; seed or pellet?

You can feed them commercial parakeet food. Put two tablespoons of parakeet seed and leave it in their food dish. They need vegetables as well, my two parakeets love spinach and celery, by the way they also need calcium-fortified grits to go along with the seeds, it is a necessity they can die without it, not to worry though they are sold at pet shops. Of course they love fruits, especially apples and do not forget fresh, clean water they need their water changed daily. Also stay away from poisonous veggies such as iceburg lettuce, its toxic. I hope this helpful to you.

[Hammertime]

gosh, they have more perches than there're trees!

[liz]

What exactly should I feed my Paraket? I want to be able to give him foods that he/she would normally find in the wild. I was thinking different kinds of vegetable and and fruits. Can someone please name the kinds of vegies. and fruites I can feed the Parakeet? Also if you know what sort of seed mixtures and/or pellet mixtures I should use. Also which is better; seed or pellet?

You can feed them commercial parakeet food. Put two tablespoons of parakeet seed and leave it in their food dish. They need vegetables as well, my two parakeets love spinach and celery, by the way they also need calcium-fortified grits to go along with the seeds, it is a necessity they can die without it, not to worry though they are sold at pet shops. Of course they love fruits, especially apples and do not forget fresh, clean water they need their water changed daily. Also stay away from poisonous veggies such as iceburg lettuce, its toxic. I hope this helpful to you.

I give mine romaine - but why is iceburg toxic?