Are Parakeets Low Maintenance?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Parakeets are a wonderful choice of pet bird, as they are

low maintenance

, friendly, and great for beginners. As a single pet, a parakeet is great, has a friendly disposition, and will bond strongly with their owner. However, parakeets are best kept in pairs because they are highly social little birds.

How messy are parakeets?


They Can Be Messy

– Owning a bird can be messy. You might find that a good portion of your parakeet’s seeds ends up on the floor, under their cage. While this can be easily cleaned up with a handheld vacuum, you should be prepared for a bit of a mess!

Are parakeets expensive to take care of?

According to Kiplinger, these are the average costs you should budget for if you’re considering a parakeet or other non-exotic small bird:

First-year cost: $295

.

Annual cost: $185 (plus unforeseen vet costs) Total lifetime cost (average lifespan of parakeet: 15 to 18 years): $2,885 to $3,440

.

Why you shouldn’t get a parakeet?

Parakeet Cons:


While they don’t squawk loudly, they can chirp constantly

. Short lifespan of 8-12 years (compared to 20+ for larger parrots). Relatively fragile health; can easily get sick with slight temperature variations. Also susceptible to tumors and liver problems.

Are parakeets cuddly?


YES. Parakeets are cuddly pets that like to be held

. They crave for love and attention from their owners and they won’t mind being touched, kissed, and even talked to.

What pet bird is not messy?


Budgies (or parakeets)

are tiny parrots that offer all the personality of their larger counterparts. While their small size means less of a mess to clean, they do require ample play and socialization.

Are budgies dirty?

Poop. A lot of people wonder, “Do budgies poop everywhere?” Well, we have some bad news for you –

they do

. They poop in their cages and other parts of the house. And while you can potty train a budgie, doing so is hard.

Do budgies like clean cages?


Budgie cages need cleaning at least once a week

. The bottom tray and all plastic toys and bowls should be scrubbed clean and washed in hot, soapy water. The bars will need washing too. Make sure everything is completely rinsed and dried before returning the budgie to his home.

How do you potty train a parakeet?

Do parakeets stink?

Budgies are a totally different ball game, not only do they have a particularly lackluster sense of smell, but

they don’t produce odor themselves

. Under good conditions, what budgies smell like is nothing, what they rub their heads on, or what they eat.

Do parakeets poop everywhere?

It’s no different when it comes to poop.

Some budgies will poop pretty much everywhere if you let them out of the cage

. Others prefer to poop in their cages, even if the doors are left open all the time. It is also possible to house train your budgies, but this takes time, effort, and patience.

Why are budgies so cheap?

As stated in my previous post, the main reason that budgies are “so cheap to buy” is

because of the birdie-mills which churn out birds with no regard of the health or temperament of either the adults or the chicks

.

Are parakeets or cockatiels better pets?


Cockatiels are better companions for the elderly, while the Budgie will make a better companion for the young ones

. It will be able to provide the constant playful support that keeps them busy through the day. Budgies will continue to vocalize as long as they play.

Are budgies good pets for beginners?

Budgies As Pets


Budgies can be excellent ‘starter birds’ for people who love birds and are ready to bring a pet bird into their life

. The budgie (budgerigar) is a small colorful bird from Australian that is both easy and inexpensive to care for.

Are parakeets good beginner pets?

Good Beginner Species to Consider

If you have a bit more time and have an interest in parrots, then you could consider parakeets (budgies) or cockatiels, which are smaller members of the parrot family and are friendly, relatively quiet, and easy to tame if you get a young bird.

Do budgies bite?

Budgies are very sociable, people-friendly pets. However, occasionally budgie owners have to deal with behavioral issues like biting.

Budgies bite for a variety of reasons

. If your budgie is biting, take some time to evaluate the behavior.

Is it okay to kiss a budgie?

Do you love your bird? That’s good but you shouldn’t get carried away with your affection. For instance,

kissing your bird is not healthy

and one reason for this is the disease Psittacosis. Psittacosis is a zoonosis, a disease which can be spread from animals (birds in this case) to humans.

Do parakeets need a mirror?


If you only keep a single bird then a mirror is a must have for when your parakeet craves some of that bird-on-bird quality time

. However – and it’s a rather big “however” – it’s always best to keep parakeets in pairs, whether a mirror is involved or not. Nothing can fully replace a flesh-and-blood companion bird.

What is the friendliest bird to have as a pet?

  • 01 of 08. Budgerigar. kerkla / Getty Images. …
  • 02 of 08. Cockatiel. Brenda Hughes / Getty Images. …
  • 03 of 08. Cockatoo. Jochen Schlenker / robertharding / Getty Images. …
  • 04 of 08. Hyacinth Macaw. …
  • 05 of 08. Dove. …
  • 06 of 08. Parrotlet. …
  • 07 of 08. Green-Cheeked Conure. …
  • 08 of 08. Hahn’s Macaw.

Are parakeets loud?

Are Parakeets Noisy Birds?

Parakeets are noisy, but not the loudest parrots

. If you get them in pairs, they will chatter almost constantly with each other. If kept alone, parakeets remain loud and talkative.

Should I get one or two birds?


You’ll still need to provide them both with foraging opportunities and toys

– or nasty behavioural problems can, and will, arise (plucking, biting, screaming). Birds kept in pairs may produce eggs – be prepared for health problems like egg binding in females, which is deadly, and the obvious result of baby birds.

Are budgies noisy?

In fact, they’re considered one of the quietest pet birds. For a pet in general, however,

they can be considered pretty noisy

. Even a single budgie will vocalize regularly, and since we don’t recommend keeping just one, you can expect a pretty constant stream of chatter and other noise.

How do I keep my budgie clean?

How do budgies keep house clean?

Do budgies like a bath?


Most budgies love taking a bath

. It’s pretty easy to do, as your budgie will do most of the work by fluffing up her feathers to let the water down near his or her skin. You should give your budgie a chance to take a bath a couple of times a week, especially if your home is dry.

How do you wash a parakeet?


Hold the bird gently, and use wet cotton wool balls to wash the dirty area, wiping down the feathers from root to tip

. Soap can cause irritation, so don’t add anything to the water, unless it’s a product made specifically for cleaning bird feathers.

How often should you change parakeets water?

Ideally, your bird’s water should be changed

twice a day or sooner if your bird is a prolific food dunker/water pooper

. Chances are good that your bird wakes up before you do, so don’t let his first drink of the day be a cloudy, debris-filled one.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.