How to Choose a Pet Budgie Parakeet

Birds are joyful pets and budgerigar (budgie) parakeets are the ideal starter bird. Choose your new parakeet pet wisely.

Things You'll Need

• Proper Cage
• Proper Budgie Care Supplies

Instructions

1. Know how to age a budgie parakeet. You can tell a young bird from an older one by the black bands, or lack thereof, on the bird's forehead. The more bands or the darker the bands, the younger the budgie parakeet is.

2. Avoid picking budgie parakeets that may be sitting at the bottom of the cage. This is a sign of ill health.

3. Check the vent (bum) of the bird. Be certain there is no crusted feces on the vent area.

4. If you are particular on what sex you wish your new pet to be, check the cere. The cere is the fleshy part just above the beak. A male will have bluish tint and be more raised and rounded whereas a females cere will be white and flatter. This is easier to tell the older the bird becomes.

5. Talk to the birds and take note of the ones who are paying attention in a fearless way. These will likely be your easier to train (including to teach to talk) budgie parakeets.

6. Note the brisket (chest). Avoid birds with concave or skinny brisket areas.

7. Allow the budgies to sit on your finger if possible. In this way you can better judge if you may have a connection with that particular budgie parakeet.

Tips & Warnings

• Males are generally sweeter pets than females. An old rule of thumb for budgie breeders (of which I was one for many years) is to quickly sex a group of parakeets, simply insert your arm into the cage and pull it out. The ones who have attached themselves (bite) to your arm are the girls. Of course, this is not always true but it does bear warning as it is a fair generality.

• I suggest purchasing the younger, black banded birds for new owners. They are quicker to bond and relax in their new environments.

• NEVER buy a bird you 'feel sorry for'. Birds are known for their ability to hide illnesses until they are near death. If they look sick, stay away. And stay away from those caged with them as well.

Resources

• http://www.ehow.com/how_4396721_great-photos-articles.html