Budgerigars,better known as budgies or incorrectly as parakeets are native to Australia,although,they have been introduced to most continents.They are popular as pets because of being extremely low-maintenance.Unfortunately,they are often viewed as comodities rather than true pets they so do deserve to be.They come in the show/English and pet/American varieties.They are intelligent pets and come in a myriad of colors.They are the perfect bird for beginner parrot owners.

  Budgies are generally shy at first,but with constant handling,they will become social birds.Once they are settled,they become extremely brave and will bite at unwanted intruders.If they are not socialized,they will be very bitey.

The secret to socializing parakeets is to clip the wings.To do this,you can wear a soft leather glove and slide the bird's leg between your ring and middle finger.Then,use your pinky to support the breast.Finally,use your thumb and pointer finger to hold the wing out and finally,cut an inch and a half of the feathers or however you feel is the correct amount.If you want to make it seem like they are not cut,leave four-ten feathers at the tip.Clipping alone will not socialize them.You must handle them daily.If they bite,just place them on your finger instead or starve them for an hour(leave the water)to make them hungry to coax them for handling.

  Do not use the tiny cages often bought with the birds.These are way too small and are not providing the proper necessities for the keets.Buy the ones that are pretty large.Buy the best you can.A minimum of  5 cubic feet should be used.You may also keep them in a vivarium with other parrots that are compatible with them.Be sure to provide perches of different shapes to prevent arthritis.Do not use anything with bars larger than 3/8 of an inch or risk injury to your pets.

For food,you may use the commercial bird seeds,but these provide a choice,which makes for an unbalanced diet.Instead use the specially formulated pellets for a balanced diet.These alone are not the best things.They should be supplemented by fruits,veggies,calcium supplement,and egg meal once in a while.They should not be fed veggies related to cabbage,avocados,chocolate,caffeine,insects,acidic fruits,such as oranges,green beans,or potatos.These are all very toxic.Provide spray millet either matured or green.Give dried fruit and small amounts of honey as treats either for training or just to show affection.

  Birds need toys to  both exercise their physical and mental aspects.You may use toys they can climb and chew on.You may also provide hamsterballs to let them explore the house in relative safety.They also enjoy hamster wheels and actually use them after a short while,just like rodents do.

  Males and females can't be sexed upon behavior since parakeets often do court others in their sex.The most accurate way is to see the color of the cere once they are 8-12 months old.Under this age is inaccurate.Check to see the eye is black with white surrounding it.Any younger and the eyes are pure black.Males have a purple or blue cere and will learn how to talk much more easily.Females have lighter,usually brown,pink,or white ceres.This method should not be used for lutinos or albinos.

  Breeding can be very hard or extremely easy.Most young are killed by other parakeets trying to find a nesting box.For this reason let them be raised in a separate cage.Many byoung also die of being neglected by a parent because of ignorant owners removing the father soon after being laid.Both parents have special jobs.Do not hand feed them.They are too small and you do risk their lives.

• Parakeets are known to be homosexuals and attempt
   to mate with each other.They become very bonded and can be very stressed if separated.
  

• There is only room for two birds,meaning they either bond with you or another bird.They will not bond with you,but they will still be tamed.A lone bird views you as a mate if it is tamed.A  pair will not interact with you a lot.
  

• They are life mates until one of them dies.If the remaining bird is infertile due to age,he/she will not mate.
  

• There are many color mutations,such as blue,dark,purple,blue,lutino,and hundreds of others.
  

• A male budgie named Puck holds the largest vocabulary of any bird.Parakeets are smart.