Parakeet pros and cons of having this energetic little bird as a pet

Advantages and disadvantages of having a parakeet

Before you decide that a parakeet (also known as budgerigar) will make the perfect pet, you need to do some homework. Talk to people who own one, visit pet stores, and go online to learn more about the pros and cons of owning these cute little birds. They are full of energy and their activities and songs will make you smile and feel good.

Advantage:

The parakeet is a smaller member of the parrot family. They are very friendly and like to be handled, petted and talked to. Most of them can be taught to say a few words, but you often have to listen carefully as they usually speak very quietly. When shopping at a pet store or breeder, you’ll want to make sure the parakeet you’re interested in is an active bird that socializes with other birds.

You should always get a parakeet that is young and the way to do this is by looking at the markings on their beaks. Look for a parakeet that has bar markings to determine the age of the bird. A young parakeet will still have its markings and by adopting a young one, you can expect your parakeet to have a long and fruitful life.

A great advantage is that a parakeet is a pet that requires very little maintenance. You will probably have less to worry about with this pet than with other types of animals. A pet parakeet will not require daily walks or need to be taken to the park. This is a great advantage if you are not very active or simply do not have time to spend with your pet.

Parakeets are very intelligent birds that like to learn tricks and although it would be nice to spend 30 minutes a day on them, you can let them entertain themselves as long as their cage has plenty of toys along with another parakeet.

If you are looking for a pet and your apartment or landlord does not allow a larger pet, the parakeet may be the answer to your problem. This pet can keep you company and will interact with you as long as you do not break the contract with the owner.

Cons:

There are not many reasons not to have a parakeet as a pet. If you let them out of their cages to fly around the house, you will find feathers along with droppings around your house. If you forget to cover them at night, you will be entertained even if you don’t want to.

Your parakeet will need a fairly large cage so that it has room to fly around a bit. There should also be enough room for lots of toys and places for them to perch.

Another problem with having a parakeet as a pet is that you have to worry about the chemicals you are using in your home. The parakeet is very sensitive to chemicals in the air, as well as the pots and pans you may be using to prepare and cook your meals on a daily basis. Always make sure to keep the parakeet a good distance away from your home kitchen.

Cleaning your pet’s cage every day can be another hassle if you’re short on time, but it’s something you should do. It doesn’t really take much time, but it may be more time than you want to spend every day.

Another thing that can be a problem is that it is almost mandatory to have at least a couple of parakeets. They are very social birds and don’t do as well when you only have one. It’s not that much of a problem to have two instead of one, so get a pair. In fact, you would have to spend more time entertaining a solo rather than a pair as they will be entertaining each other.

As you can see, the pros really do outweigh the cons when you think about adopting parakeets. If you have children, they can be ideal pets as they are not too difficult to care for and children can interact with them. Another good thing about these pets is that taking care of them will teach your children responsibility. In general, parakeets make a good whole-house pet, especially ones that are busy and don’t have a lot of space.