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Related Articles & Questions
- Food & Nutrition
Bird Food & Nutrition Guide for Pet Parents
Learn some quick tips for getting your fussy bird to eat full and varied diet that could include birdseed, fruits and vegetables.
Updated on October 16th, 2026
- Care Sheets
Parakeet Care: Your Complete Guide to Budgie Food, Habitat & Health
Learn how to care for parakeets (budgies), recommended diet and habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on October 23rd, 2025
- Care Sheets
Expert Care for Your Large Hookbill: Food, Habitat, Health & Happiness
Learn how to take care of large Hookbill, recommended diet and housing setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
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- Care Sheets
New Finch Owner: Master Finch Care for Food, Habitat & Health
Learn how to take care of your pet Finches, recommended cage size, diet & housing setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your local Petco.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
- Care Sheets
Master Medium Parakeet Care: Essential Guide for a Long, Happy Life
Learn how to care for a medium-sized parakeets, recommended diet & bird cage setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
Training & BehaviorNew to parakeets? Essential care tips for first-time owners.
Parakeets, also called Budgerigars, are small members of the parrot family and they can become good mimics. The average adult size is 7 inches long, head to end of tail. The average life span is between 10 to 20 years with proper care. A well-balanced Parakeet diet consists of: Specialized pellets should make up 60-70% of diet, fresh vegetables and fruits and small amounts of fortified seeds Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorine-free water, changed daily. Do not feed birds: avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate, caffeine or alcohol; it can cause serious medical conditions. Avoid sugar and high fat treats. Things to remember when feeding your Parakeet: Fresh food and water should always be available. Vegetables and fruits not eaten within a few hours should be discarded. Remember, treats should not exceed 10% of total food intake. Housing Parakeets acclimate well to average household temperatures, not to exceed 80°F; be cautious of extreme temperature changes. The habitat should area that is well-lit and away from drafts. A habitat approximately 18"W x 18"D x 18"H, with metal bars spaced no greater than 1-2" apart, makes a good home for one Parakeet. A flight habitat is strongly recommended. It is best to provide the largest habitat possible. Perches should be at least 4" long and 3-8" in diameter; a variety of perch sizes to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis is recommended. Perches should be at least 4" long and 3-8" in diameter; a variety of perch sizes to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis is recommended. A metal grate over the droppings tray will keep the bird away from droppings; line the droppings tray with habitat paper or appropriate substrate for easier cleaning. To avoid contamination, do not place food or water containers under perches. Parakeets can be kept alone to bond with pet parent or in pairs to bond with each other. Different birds she not be housed together. Normal Behavior Parakeets are talkers, but their little voices are sometimes hard to hear. Active and need daily time out of their habitats to interact with family. Keep in pairs if unable to devote daily interaction time. Provide foraging toys, which provide important mental stimulation. Housing Maintenance Clean and disinfect the habitat and perches regularly; replace substrate or habitat liner weekly or more often as needed. Replace perches, dishes, and toys when worn or damaged; rotate new toys into the habitat regularly. Ensure that there are no habitat parts or toys with lead, zinc or lead-based paints or galvanized parts as these can cause serious medical issues if ingested by your bird. Do not use a lot of cleaning agents around your bird a natural cleaner. Grooming & Hygiene Provide filtered, chlorine-free, lukewarm water regularly for bathing; remove the water when done. As an alternative, mist the bird with water. Clipping flight feathers is not necessary, but when done correctly it can help prevent injury or escape; consult an avian veterinarian on what is best for your bird. Nails should be trimmed by a qualified person to prevent injury to the bird. Signs of a Healthy Animal: Active, alert, and sociable Eats and drinks throughout the day Dry nares and bright, dry eyes Beak, legs and feet normal in appearance Clean, dry vent Smooth, well-groomed feathers Common Health Issues Chlamydiosis: Appetite loss, fluffed feathers, nasal discharge, green stool. Seek immediate avian veterinary attention. Diarrhea: Fecal portion of stool is not formed. Multiple causes from diet change to internal parasites. Consult with an avian veterinarian and ensure proper diet. Feather plucking: Bird plucks own feathers; may be due to boredom, poor diet or other illness. Consult your veterinarian and relieve boredom with attention, new toys or new space. Mites (scaly face and leg disease): White deposits on eyes, beak, legs, and feet. Consult your veterinarian. Red Flags Beak swelling or accumulations Fluffed, plucked, or soiled feathers Sitting on floor
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Food & Nutrition
Why do my parakeets chew perches and only eat from high food dishes?
It is not uncommon for birds to chew at one particular spot on a perch. It looks like you have a number of wooden dowel perches in the cage - you could try to vary these by providing Manzanita wood perches (they look more like branches) and this may provide them with some areas that they can clean their beaks and wear their nails as well. For your question about the food dishes - it is very common for birds to only utilize materials (including food, water, toys, and perches) that are at the top of their cage. The reason for this is that they typically live in the trees, so they like to be high up the majority of the time. I would advise removing the dishes that are down low, and only providing dishes high in the cage. You can still provide multiple dishes if desired, in case you have some competition for food among the birds in the family. I hope that answers your questions, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & NutritionWhat budgie food provides all nutrients, so I don't need vitamins?
A good quality commercial pelleted diet such as Harrison's, Lafeber, KayTee Exact or Pretty Bird can provide complete nutrition. You can supplement with small amounts of a fortified seed mix as well as a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Food & Nutrition
Bird food has mouse droppings. What can I feed my bird temporarily?
If the food is full of mouse droppings it is best to purchase new food ASAP. While treats can be given, they are not a balanced diet, and a new food should be purchased and given as soon as possible to avoid any illness or GI upset. In the future, placing their food in an airtight storage container made from plastic can help prevent rodents from getting to it.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
- Health & Wellness
Are backyard bird feeders really safe for the health of wild birds?
Hello. No, I do not think so. The biggest concern about birdfeeders is how they attract predators including sparrow hawks & cats. Some folks claim we are turning wild birds into seed junkies & this is very bad for their livers ( I am always telling my clients to get their caged budgies & cockatiels off of an all seed diet ). But most wild birds do supplement their diets & do migrate after fueling up on the energy filling seeds. Bad seed ( moldy ) can kill birds with aflatoxin. And the spilled seed can attract vermin which can carry disease. Some folks recommend only feeding during the cold weather to help migratory birds & to only buy the best & freshest seed you can. Cost matters, so stay away from the crappy dollar store bags of bird seed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
