Parakeets are members of the Parrot family. They are native to Australia where they live in large flocks on grass covered plains. Today they are no longer imported, and Parakeets sold in the U.S. are raised domestically. They are often called by other names including the Budgerigar, or Budgie. 

Choose a cage that is specifically designed for Parakeets. At Elmer's Aquarium we carry over 40 styles of Parakeet cages. One of our salespeople will be able to show you which cages are recommended for Parakeets. Choose a cage that is large enough to allow it plenty of exercise. Most cages come with 2 perches. You can add another perch, or a swing if there is room.

Birds are tolerant of normal room temperature (60-80 degrees). It is very important to keep them away from drafts. Also keep the cage away from direct sunlight to prevent overheating.   A layer of cage paper should be placed on the bottom and replaced 2-3 times a week.  Your bird will enjoy a few toys added to the cage. Parakeets are particularly fond of mirrors and will often spend hours playing and pecking at a mirror. 

The most popular color varieties are the Green Parakeet and the Blue Parakeet. Other varieties are often sold as "Fancy Parakeets", and these include the Albino, Lutino (Yellow), and Harlequin (Blue and White). Be sure to buy a bird that is under 6 months of age, because young birds are easier to tame and train than older birds.

At Elmer's we sell only young birds from selected breeders. The age of all birds sold in the store is 7-12 weeks old.

You can keep Parakeets as singles, pairs, or groups. If you want two birds you can keep either two females, two males, or a pair. Parakeets are not difficult to breed, but in nature they are colony breeders and one pair kept by themselves will rarely breed.

A young Parakeet will do quite well by itself. In fact you will find that it is easier to tame and train a Parakeet kept by itself. It also makes little difference if the bird is male or female. Most Parakeet experts agree that they make equally good pets.

Your bird will be frightened when it is added to a new cage. Give him a day or two to get used to his new home before you try to handle it. Locate the cage in an area where there is a lot of family activity, and talk to it in a soothing voice as often as possible. During the first few nights cover the cage in the early evening.

 Birds have a very high metabolism. Even though they spend much of their time just sitting on a perch their internal engines are constantly racing so that they are capable of taking flight at an instance notice. They burn energy at a very high rate and require a calorically dense, highly digestible food. Diet deficiencies show up quickly in birds, and according to a recent national survey of Veterinarians, diet deficiencies are the number one cause of bird health problems.

Because of a pet birds nutritional requirements, coupled with the fact that many birds are picky eaters, we at Elmer's recommend that you feed your bird a quality seed mix along with an assortment of supplements and vitamins to insure long-term good health. Feed your bird a good diet and he will reward you by remaining alert, active, and disease resistant.

For a basic diet we recommend either the Abba Premium Parakeet Diet or Sun Seed Parakeet Mix. Both brands are packaged here to insure freshness.

Good supplements include Millet Spray, Honey Sticks, Dry Greens, Budgamine, or Oats and Groats. Try using some supplements (such as Honey Sticks) as a training reward, and let the bird eat it directly out of your hand. You can also offer your bird small amounts of fresh fruits.

A teaspoon of Grit (Parakeet Gravel) should be sprinkled on the floor of the cage or placed in a separate dish. Grit is eaten by the bird and kept in its gizzard. The grit helps the bird digest its food. Parakeet gravel can be purchased loose, or as gravel paper which contains both gravel and paper for the bottom of the cage.
A cuttlebone should be attached to the side of the cage. It will help keep the bird's beak in good condition, and it will serve as a source of calcium and other minerals. Replace the cuttlebone when the soft part has been chewed away. ( About once every 2 months).

Add fresh food and water daily. Remove the empty shells from the seed dish before adding new seed. (A seed dish that looks full may only contain empty shells.) Store food in a cool dry area. We recommend that you store the food in a sealed container to prevent insect infestation. Be sure to buy only seed that you know is fresh. Clean food and water dishes with detergent at least twice a month.

Your Parakeet will be eager to accept you as friend. Start by talking to it in a soothing voice. Parakeets enjoy attention and affection, and they quickly sense friendship. With patience and persistence it can be taught to sit on your finger or shoulder, and even say a few words and do some tricks.

One effective method to get your Parakeet adjusted to your home is to trim its wings. When you buy your Parakeet from Elmer's we will clip its wings at no charge upon request. Having it's wings trimmed is painless to the bird. It will be unable to fly for a month or two until the wings grow back fully. With its wings clipped you can open the door on the cage and allow the bird to climb around the outside of its cage. Once the bird learns that it can not fly it will stay near the cage, and it will be much easier to tame and train it.

Training periods should consist of several short periods each day. (About 10 minutes each.) Within a very short time you should be able to walk around the house with your Parakeet on your finger.

Parakeets are very bright birds and can become very entertaining pets. To enjoy your bird the most we suggest you purchase a book on Parakeet care and follow their training instructions.

Problems are rare, but should the animal die the following guarantee applies:
   *  Dies within 7 days. Replace at no charge
   *  Dies within 8-30 days Replace at 1/2 price

We would like to thank you for purchasing your pet from us. We want to make your pet ownership a very enjoyable experience. With 30 years of experience, we know that involves offering you top quality livestock and quality bird supplies. Just as important, we strive to maintain the areas most experienced sales staff. Our sales staff is trained in all aspects of bird care and will be glad to assist you. We also have a few bird specialists on our staff that can answer more technical questions.

We hope you will compare our pricing on pet supplies. Our volume buying helps us keep prices well below average retail prices. All of our foods are guaranteed fresh and we will gladly offer a refund for any bird food you are not satisfied with. We are particularly proud to offer the Abba line of bird foods. Abba food is recognized as a leader in nutritious bird diets.