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Considering a parakeet once again.

S

Shinjite

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For those who may not know, a few years back I lost my precious little Peeper, a male parakeet, due to old age. Now I have decided to get another. I've studied up on them, and know more about them than when I last had one. Here is a list of supplies I have made up just now, I plan to buy them with my visa gift cards and petco gift cards I've gotten. (No animals will be bought from petco! ^_^)

1. Penn Plax Bird Bath with Universal Hanging Clips

2. Kaytee Supreme Daily Blend Parakeet Food

3. Avian Select Macramé Bird Ladder

4. Avian Select 7 Step Wooden Ladder for Small Birds
11" Height - 7 Steps

5. Prevue "Casbah" Cage (Really cool looking cage at petsmart.com, I couldn't resist it!)

6. Natural Wood Bird Perches from MAC's Creatures and Critters

7. Boodar Deluxe Swing N' Perch for Birds

8. Avian Select Flavored Cuttlebones
5" Length - Vanilla (x 3)

Is there anything else I need? The cage comes with a built in perch and water/food cups. Veggies will be purchased during grocery shopping. What veggies should I get?
Please let me know! I really want a parakeet again, and I want him to be healthy and happy. (Yes, I do have the money to buy all of the supplies myself, and the parakeet as well.) Is there anything special I should know? I'm also going to purchase a book about parakeets next time I visit petco.
 
You sound like a terrific owner, I think your parakeet is going to live in luxury.
Parakeets like to bath, maybe get him a little ceramic dish to bath in rather than the hanging bath.
Just a thought, you might consider an English Budgie, I have both parakeets and a budgie and the budgie is a bit larger and to me, prettier.
 
I'll try the ceramic dish. Would a slightly large (but not too large) dish from the reptile section work? Like a ceramic bowl a bit bigger than one used for a leopard gecko...that size. Or should I get a different one?
 
Here's my Parakeet Check list in case anyone is interested.
ParakeetItemCheckList.jpg

Let me know if I need anything else! I think the cage has cups with it, but I'm going to buy some just in case.
 
I just learned that you should have grit to help the parakeets to break down food in the stomach. Can I find this in the bird section of petco or some other petstore?
 
I found the grit at Walmart. Same place I got the cuttlebone for my birds.

Parakeets are great. I just lost one out of the blue recently. They are very personable once you get past the biting stage LOL. :rofl:

Are you getting a baby or and adult one?

I saw your list. If you are interested, I am now selling these cages. They work great and are much larger than the ones you listed. All you need to add for the birds are whatever toys you want for them. It comes with the bowls, bath, and perches.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/pp_classifieds/showproduct.php?product=15064
 
Thanks SPJ, I'll try walmart when I get the supplies. Parakeets are great, I've had one before...but it was a trained adult who was owned by my aunt who used to breed them. She stopped breeding, so I got the male. He was very sweet! I named him Peeper, because he used to never stop "peeping" at night when I was trying to sleep. LOL! I only kept him for a year before he passed away, but my aunt had him a LONG time before that. He used to nibble on my fingers occasonally, and he used to crawl through my hair. LOL. He was the greatest. I wish I had some pictures to show you, but we didn't have a digital camera back then. About the cage, I don't think I'll be able to afford it as of right now. I think it would be easier to buy one from a store. (I found the cage I was looking for at petco when I picked up the book about budgies) Thanks for offering though! It's a very nice cage, I'm sure someone will buy it.
 
Not a problem.
I love the cage (no mess and easy to clean) so I decided to sell them as well as use them. LOL.

I was surprised by the selection of bird items at Walmart and some of the prices are a LOT cheaper than the local petstores areound here.

Make sure you post pics when you get the new parakeet.
 
grit is for

still on hulled seed. Most birdseed for domestic birds bought over the counter is cracked hulled or hulless. At least when raised budgies it was.
 
I will SPJ. I hope that I can go out and get supplies tomorrow or Friday, and get the parakeet the next day. So I can set up the cage and make sure everything is set for him. I'll take some pics as soon as he's settled in.
I just got the book on parakeets. It's An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet--The Budgie. I took a look at the cages the parakeets were in, and to my surprise they were clean and well cared for! (Then again, they aren't reptiles, so of course they're going to be cared for. *sarcasm*) But they didn't have any albinos. Fortunately, I know a place where they do have albinos! Or at least they did last time I was there. At Emerald square mall in attelborough (sp?) mass., they had an albino parakeet in the small pet store there. (Too bad their leos are on sand. But at least it's not calci sand!) Anyway, I'm printing out the checklist I made on my dad's new printer and hopefully going out sometime soon to get supplies. Wish me luck with my parakeet! ^_^ I hope he friendly and learns to whistle and talk. I almost got peeper to say hello before he passed away...he said more of an "ewo". (Eh-woa) LOL! It was the cutest thing! I'll never forget him...he was my first animal with scales.
 
Ok, I just got the check list I made printed. Now just to find someone who'll drive me to petco. Maybe my grandpa has the day off...I'll ask around.
 
Lucille's info is right on. Grit is unnecessary for hookbill birds, i.e. birds that hull their seeds. Grit is for birds who do not hull seeds such as doves, it helps them grind the seed down.
 
Ok. I won't get grit then. (Even the book I got said that if you use grit, only use a pinch of it every few weeks.)
 
Today I hoppe to go out and buy supplies. And then maybe tomorrow or the next day I'll go and get a parakeet. I even picked out some names.
Azure--Latin-bluish color (only if I get a blue one...but that's unlikely)
Cigala--Native American-Little one.
Gryphon--Greek-Mythological Beast
Sanyu--Japanese-Happiness
Satu--Japanese-Fairytale
Wing--Chinese-Glory
Zhi--Chinese-Wisdom, Healing
Which one do you like best?
 
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